When you more gear than your need, what next?

[hth]

I have slowly accumulated a little too much gear and feel a bit disturbed by it. I want to concentrate on taking photos, not worry that I have too much gear.

In any case, can anybody who have been in this situation comment on what they did fix the situation and in retrospect say if that was a good idea or not.

My idea is to put my gear on two shelves. One for gear that I actually use, and the other for dust collectors (that would be most of the stuff intially).

Then after one or two years, I will seriously consider offloading the gear that is not in active use.

During that time, if I find that I must have something from the dust collecting shelf, I can move it to the active one.

It is also OK to borrow stuff from the dust collector shelf for pure fun of using it, and that does not mean it automatically has to move to the active shelf.

(The worst thing is that I have sort of a GAS attack to get an old 30-ies screw mount Leica...)

/Håkan

[rover]

Selling is the answer. And sell to get the one big prize that you want. I did just this to buy my Leica. I sat on the floor surrounded by cameras figuring out what I was going to throw in my bag one day and decided that I was crazy. So I sold everything, sorta. I did buy my Leica and now I don't fight with myself over what to take out with me. Don't get me wrong, I still have a bunch of collectors, but not as many cameras bought to use without the real possibility of getting used.

[GeneW]

Rover's way is the sane way. Now let me tell you about the RFF way ...

Start selling what you're convinced you don't use. Enjoy the glow of simplicity and 'de-cluttering'. Bask in it. It won't last ...

The little promptings start building gradually into GAS... Then start buying. Too good a deal -- buy another one. Always wanted to try out one of those ... buy again. I'm really sorry I sold such and such -- replace it.

It's a cycle. Now you get to start all over again...

Gene

[Tim]

Gene, that'd never happen. Would it?

[Rob]

I keep my RFs and others on a mantle shelf. When it gets full, things get sold. Your idea of two shelves is a good one also.

[Flyfisher Tom]

Hth,

I second the opinions above that selling the ones you have on the inactive list is probably the best way to go. Certainly when you pack up for a trip on vacation or on the street, you can't carry everything. Try to decide which ones you are most likely to use and pare down the other ones. It won't be easy, of course. But try to pare down one item every few weeks or months and pretty soon, you will be down to what you want most.

[thmk]

Selling is a good advice but I have tears in my eyes looking at the current prices for good analog equipment. I am contemplating about selling my Leica SLR kit (2 cameras, 5 lenses) because I do not use it but even this equipment only goes for a trifling sum.

[Nikon Bob]

Why feel disturbed? I am sure this is how a lot of collectors started.

Bob

[rover]

Originally Posted by GeneW

Rover's way is the sane way. Now let me tell you about the RFF way ...

Start selling what you're convinced you don't use. Enjoy the glow of simplicity and 'de-cluttering'. Bask in it. It won't last ...

The little promptings start building gradually into GAS... Then start buying. Too good a deal -- buy another one. Always wanted to try out one of those ... buy again. I'm really sorry I sold such and such -- replace it.

It's a cycle. Now you get to start all over again...

Gene

Well, I have bought lenses since my sane actions, yes, a confession.

But I have been looking at my stuff and I will be listing some more FS/FT things this weekend. More thinning...

[Tim]

[quote=thmk] I am contemplating about selling my Leica SLR kit (2 cameras, 5 lenses) QUOTE]

Hey thmk....what sort of Leica SLR kit? You haven't got an original Leicaflex and 50 'cron, have you?

[rover]

I thought you were selling stuff Tim.

[FrankS]

Originally Posted by rover

I will be listing some more FS/FT things this weekend. More thinning...

Great. Now I can't make any plans for this weekend.

[Flyfisher Tom]

Tim has fallen off the fence already ;-)

[back alley]

i too thought that rover was a bit 'nuts' to sell off so much stuff, with the main goal to simplify, until i started to show some of the same symptoms.
too many fixed lens cams were staring at me every time i went out shooting. i started to feel guilty.
yet i felt this need to buy more stuff.

i sold all the smaller cams and then decided to sell off my lovely little bessa r kit.
i thought i would feel really bad after wrapping it all up and shipping it out. but no remorse.

now i'm buying a few more lenses and bits and pieces to make my kit more user friendly.

use it or lose it.

joe

[thmk]

[quote=Tim]

Originally Posted by thmk

I am contemplating about selling my Leica SLR kit (2 cameras, 5 lenses) QUOTE]

Hey thmk....what sort of Leica SLR kit? You haven't got an original Leicaflex and 50 'cron, have you?

Sorry, no Leicaflex. Just an R-E and R3 Electronic (Germany) with 3cam lenses (2.8/35, 2/50, 2/90, 2.8/135 and 4/180).

Cheers
Thomas-Michael

[Doug]

Håkan, I think you have a very rational plan... Be slow and thoughtful in buying AND selling. I do like the two-shelf idea, and I guess I actually do something similar. THE shelf in a back closet is for gear not currently used, wrapped to protect from dust. Active gear is kept nearer to hand. And there is a slow interchange. Gear that is always on the shelf, shuffled to the rear, could be in danger of disposal...

[Doug]

Oh, and I was going to add that it's less bother to have a GAS attack if you find the gear on your second shelf!

[Kin Lau]

Originally Posted by hth

When you more gear than your need, what next?

Sorry... you lost me there How is that a problem

Besides, I don't think I could find two shelves large enough.

[hth]

Thank you all for your answers.

My old plan was to have (all) the gear I need. When I go out, I can just assemble the kit I need for the moment. It will in most cases this will just be a body and one or two lenses.

I think that I will take the two shelves approach and proceed slowly and don't care what I use and what I do not use, it will sort itself out over time. I should just get that feeling that "I should use a particular camera since it has not been used for a while" out of my mind.

I think I even will accept the GAS attack and eventually try out a really old Leica when I find a good deal on one.

Does anyone know the going price for a Bessa T101 (minus heliar lens) or the Pentax 43/1.9 LTM? I did not find much clues at Ebay looking at old auctions, seems like they do not keep much of a history there..

/Håkan

[Doug]

Originally Posted by hth

Does anyone know the going price for a Bessa T101 (minus heliar lens) or the Pentax 43/1.9 LTM? I did not find much clues at Ebay looking at old auctions, seems like they do not keep much of a history there..

I got my 43mm Pentax-L from another RFF member for $500 and thought it was a steal. I've been told this limited edition of 2000 lenses was not marketed outside of Japan.