Should I continue to spend on gear?

I've been into photography on and off for about 20 years. I had some entry level and mid range film gear in the late 90's to early 2000's. Entry level and mid range dslr gear when I got into digital some years ago and left the hobby and settled for some higher end compacts and a superzoom.

 

I've recently got back into photography with mirrorless olympus and panasonic bodies. I think I've used or owned all the GF and E-pl models released form 2013-2016. I've also had all the mki OMD's and now I have an E-m1 and 2 "pro" lenses in the 12-40 and 40-150 2.8.

 

The thing is, I'm a lazy photographer recently. I've learned enough over the years that I know what I'm doing most of the time, but I don't always apply the techniques that I've learned or read about and sometimes I just shoot in P mode most of the time and don't even bother to check the values before I press the shutter button.

 

My pictures are ok, not great, but that's never stopped me from enjoying myself with a camera. Especially going hiking and walking around the city I like to have one around.

I live in a big crowded city, there's lots of things to photograph but I've found I've been taking pictures of the same things and places over and over again just with different cameras.

I've also never learned to do much post processing beyond cropping and adjusting brightness and colors a bit. I've made some efforts to learn a bit more but I just don't have the patience.

 

 

Lately, it seems I'm more into buying and replacing my gear than the actual photography. I'm wondering now if this attitude and approach of mine warrants the cost of using higher end stuff or maybe I should take a step back from spending.

 

 

EDIT: Sorry about the spacing, I don't know why it's come out with all my paragraphs bunched up like this.

Why don't you instead go to a local program or school and take a couple of photo classes, with other photographers and a teacher? You might really fire up your enthusiasm for taking photos.

(...) Lately, it seems I'm more into buying and replacing my gear than the actual photography. I'm wondering now if this attitude and approach of mine warrants the cost of using higher end stuff or maybe I should take a step back from spending.

Some people buy a couple of lunch boxes to carry their lunch to work. Others buy many lunch boxes to form a large collection but never carry a lunch in them.

If you like to collect gear and then not use it, that's fine--if it gives you pleasure. Just be sure you're not spending too much money on gear to the detriment of you and you family.

If you want to move in another direction, you might consider concentrating on photography by choosing one of the cameras you already have (and its lenses and accessories). Then try to see how far you can go with that set of equipment--like you might do if you were unable to ever have any other equipment.

Just 2 cents.

You said the following:

I've recently got back into photography with mirrorless olympus and panasonic bodies. I think I've used or owned all the GF and E-pl models released form 2013-2016. I've also had all the mki OMD's and now I have an E-m1 and 2 "pro" lenses in the 12-40 and 40-150 2.8.

Given that you are asking I assume you are not a collector or who just enjoys having new stuff. FWIW, at my camera club I know people who have gone from dSLR to mirrorless and they prefer that. Some of them don't have that many gear even with their former system. One fella went to Myanmar a few times and ran a exhibition in town, had some interest with the Myanmar Embassy the the local govt tourism body as well the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He and many others I know just have 1 or 2 bodies and 2 or 3 zoom lenses. Most of them choose zooms because it does the job and it is convenient and they don't need to buy primes, or macro, or a lighter lens for occasions and any stuff like that.

I personally just have 3 zooms and 2 primes. A no. of them are the older ones and bought used. Never have I been told they weren't as good at my camera club meeting. I even used a Nikon D70 6MP once this year and no one spoke a word. For me I rather go to places be it a national park, a local fashion show or sport match, street market etc ....

"He who dies with the most toys wins."

Surely this was originally intended to be ironic? It was meant to suggest that "money does not buy you happiness": another hackneyed phrase.

I read this recently. Sorry, don't remember who said it . . .

We spend a lot of money buying clothes, but we spend our best times naked.