Confessions of a LBA (Lens Buying Addict) Long Post.

[apetty]

Hi, I'm Adam and I am a Lens buying addict.

 

I have been into photography for more than 10 years now. In that time I have

gone from a Canon Rebel G to the Canon 40d. With the Rebel G, I had the kit

35-80 lens, a 70 -300 tamron, a 17-35 phoenix, and a sigma 500mm (These number

are approximate, I still have most of the lenses, I just don?t remember the

exact sizes). With these lenses I covered the areas I wanted to. I of course had

all filters and other little things that helped me get what I wanted out of

photography. That was in 1996 - 1997ish. I went on a few trips to try to hone my

skills. I took a class and even had my own black and white studio in my bedroom.

It was all very plain and simple.

 

In 1999, I met my wife and the interest in photography waned. My rebel took a

back seat to the Digital Sony Macivia (sp?) then a few Olympus cameras . I was

happy taking snap shots with my Olympus 3mp camera. When my daughter was born,

it captured the first moments of her life as well as some of her first crys with

the built in microphone. I was happy, it was October of 2003.

 

That December I happen to look in the window of Cameta Camera, in Amityville NY,

on my way home from work. In the window was a poster the new Digital Rebel

(300d). I think this was the start of my LBA.

 

I went home and thought about the camera. After a few days and getting a credit

increase in one of my credit cards, I went and plucked down around $1400 for the

camera, lens and some extras.

 

I was happy again. I had a camera I could use with my old lenses. It was

digital. It was mine. So I was happy for another 2 years. I would take the

camera to the parks with the kid, parties with friends (I am the annoying guy

that always has his camera at the keggers and birthdays) and once in a while I

would get to go and do some of what I call Hobby shooting, (pictures only for me).

 

In the photos from these outings, I noticed the picture was not sharp. I thought

it was the camera; I tried to sharpen them in post processing but was still not

happy. So I did not enjoy the camera as much as I could have ( I found out,

early in my LBA that is was the cheap Tamron 35-70 zoom that was the problem,

and probably why I got a LBA to begin with)

 

During this time of relative unhappiness with my camera, I purchased a Sigma

170-500mm lens. I had an older Sigma 500 lens that did not work with the rebel,

so I sold it. Sold some stock I had in the company I worked for and bought the

lens. I was going to use it for wildlife. Got it, and used it a few times

trying to get bird shots. They tend to fly away when you go out the door banging

into everything with your tripod and making a ton of noise. I also tried to do

some moon shots with that but never got anything I was proud of. So it stays in

my closet most of the time ($600 or so I could have saved for something else).

 

Then as the people I was hanging around with at work started to get into

photography, I saw the XTI was coming out. This was new, exciting and an upgrade

to my obviously flawed Rebel (not really but this is what I thought then) So

with bated breath, I waited, and the day I knew the XTI was available, I flew

down to Circuit city and bought one of the first ones. I was so happy. (Another

purchase I did not need to make add that to the $600 for the sigma and that?s a

total of around $1350, I?m not going to include assorted accessories I acquired

for the XTI)

 

Sometime between the 300D and the 400D, I managed to get a hold of the nifty

fifty. I really enjoyed this lens. It was a prime lens, F1.8, and it was about

$60 and it took awesome pictures. You can see the LBA, picking up steam from

here. A few months later, seeing the success with the 50mm, I happen to get more

money from someplace and I used it on the 35mm f2. Nice, but noisy in the AF.

Overall, nice, I liked it. Did I need it, not really (running total of $1800

give or take)

 

Also during my XTI days I feel it is important to mention that I had two of

them. On a trip to NY my original one was broken. Not thinking I could trust

it, I bought another XTI (I should have went to the 30d or 40d but I don?t

always make good decisions when it comes to spending money) . I repaired the old

one myself about 6 months later. (Another $700 I could have used elsewhere. It

would have cost about $200 to fix so I make the Running total $2300 (isn?t that

a 5d at this point?))

 

Now, it should be said at this point, it was 2006, about 10 years after my first

SLR. And I still didn?t really understand what I was doing. When taking

landscapes, I would crank the F-stop up to the low to mid 20?s and let the

camera do the rest. (I still let the camera do some of the work but not nearly

as much as I did then)

 

In October 2007, my LBA kicked into high gear. I was doing a lot of reading on

message boards and the like about how the kit lens that came with the XTI was

not good and it was soft or whatever. I did not have an issue, but if others

had problems, maybe that why my photos are not what I want out of them. I

started not being happy again. So, with Christmas around the corner, I convinced

those giving me gifts that year to chip in with me to buy the Sigma 10-22mm as a

gift. They agreed and I got the lens 2 months early and was happy. It did not

replace the kit lens but I decided at that point I wanted the wide angle more.

This one I can say was a good purchase so it does not add to the total money wasted.

 

I also came into some other money and was able to get the 85mm 1.8 lens. I was

very happy with this lens. Out of the box I took some great shots of the wife

and kids(I have 2 at this point) and all is well with the world. Was it needed,

not really, I had the 50mm and did just as good of a job, I got caught up in the

hype of the lens and was in the grip of LBA. ($350 more to the running total of

$2650)

 

It is December 2007 now, and talking with some friends, who don?t know how to

work their 30d other than automatic mode, (its better than my camera, it?s a

higher model so it must be better, right). They seemed to be making money taking

pictures of others, I thought that would be great for me. So I bought a light

kit, backgrounds, posing stands, got some business cards, and prepared to make a

second life as a professional photographer. Well one problem with that, I am

not a business person, or a sales person, so needless to say, it went nowhere.

(I am still available for taking pictures of your kids LOL) So I was not happy.

(About $1000 spent here. So that makes the total $3650. That?s almost a 5d with

a L class lens I believe)

 

In this time I also started to do some stock photography. I had back in the 300d

days bought a Vivitar 80mm macro lens with absolutely no idea how to use it. So

I started making scenes with dice and cards and what I could find in a dollar

store. I uploaded my pictures to various web sites and actually sold about $5

worth of pictures. But the amount of work I put into it, and my lack of

creativity and laziness, pretty much stopped me from doing it much more. It was

fun for a few months.

 

Now, in April of 2008. I made some moves around financially and was able to buy

the 40d. I also, bought a new 70-300mm with IS(very cool) and USM. To replace

the kit lens that I sold with the XTI, I bought a 17-85mm USM IS. I like both

lenses. (none of it was absolutely needed but it?s a 40D and it had better

features than the XTI and 300D, worth the upgrade for the viewfinder alone so I

did not include it in the total, the 70-300 with IS is very worth it so not

including it in either. And I needed and all around lens so I think the 17-85

was worth it, given the fact I sold the other one so not in the total either. I

should subtract the net $450 I got from selling the XTi and assorted parts total

= $3200)

 

So I have every angle from 10-500mm. (on a cropped sensor, more like 16mm-800mm)

With all of this buying, my pictures have improved, but I am sure they would

have gotten better with the original Rebel 300D, if I gave it the time I should

have, to let myself improve. I would have been up $3200, more than enough to

buy the 5d or replacement of it. But would I need it.

 

Now I should be happy. I have decent glass, not ?L? quality but over all pretty

good. A normal person would say, you don?t need another lens. Put the money

away, save it. Buy a good flash (have 2 of those) But as I said in the

beginning, I am a lens buying addict; I am starting to wonder if I should get

the 24 f2.8 or the 28 f1.8. I don?t need one, but as with all addictions, I want

one of them to make me happy.

 

I guess the reason of the post is to try to share with others, what a LBA can do

and how it?s not really worth it. With all the "what lens should I get" posts,

maybe someone will read this and rethink whether or not they need a new lens.

 

So step one is admitting you have a problem. Step one, done!

 

Another step in some programs is helping others with the same problem, maybe

this will help .

 

 

[jeff_higdon]

Very entertaining!

 

Now go read Shel Silverstein's book, The Giving Tree.

 

It will only take a few minutes.

 

You post reads just like it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Giving-Tree-Shel-Silverstein/dp/0060256656

[ken munn]

Welcome to the madhouse.

 

My local store has a load of used Ls at the moment. I keep drooling, and stroking my credit

card.

[apetty]

If I only had the available credit

[J.W. Wall]

Fun post. I feel compelled to suggest that you need a telephoto zoom, like the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. (And maybe a photo class at your local community college or such, which might be a cheaper and more useful overall investment in photography.) Good luck from a fellow LBA (also a recovering CBA with Computers).

[elliot1]

Sounds like you need another lens or two.

[PuppyDigs]

Sometimes it helps to distract yourself with new audio gear, musical instruments,

women, booze, guns, motorcycles, etc. It's best not to limit yourself to lenses.

[ben_quinn1]

Its in your personality, if it was not lenses it would be something else. There are worse things to be obsessed with e.g., women, drink, motorbikes.....

[arie_vandervelden1]

Interesting story.

 

They say that the typical shutterbug starts with a kit zoom, and then gets frustrated with limited range. He/she then buys a superzoom, but then gets frustrated with image quality. He/she then discovers primes, but then gets frustrated with carrying around a big heavy bag full of gear. He/she then switches to L zooms, but even this gets to be too heavy after a while. He/she then ditches all SLR gear and buys Holgas and Dianas because the camera doesn't matter it's the vision that counts.

[aubreyp]

Excellent comment Arie. I'm in the middle there where you've said "big heavy bag full of gear"... I love my primes though.

 

PS Ben: What's wrong with motorbikes? They make cameras look cheap!

[jason_hall4]

LOL at Puppy Face! Yeah, don't put all your eggs into one basket.

 

Jason

[david_wu6]

"I took some great shots of the wife and kids" ...

 

"I was happy again"

 

As long as you continue to have these, you don't have a problem, as long as you don't carry any balance on CC.

[w_t1]

I feel yore pain brotha. I am a recovered LBA myself (at least that's what the wife thinks!). Here's a similar article written for LF, but applies to digital, and any hobby or life in general: Tom

 

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/chasing-magic-bullet.html

[roger_smith4]

I'd suggest getting hooked on printing and to prolong the fun to try out third party inks and papers, dedicated black and white inksets, and more!

[michael_ziegler2]

WT..wonderful article and spot on. I have accumulated 12 lenses and 3 cameras (20D,5D and 1Dmk3) and many books over 3 years in the quest to "be better". I did the same thing when I actively played tennis (had about 6 rackets).

However, I must admit I'm having fun doing it.

[apetty]

WT Great Article. Magic bullets are not the answer. Which is what I was trying to say, but he did it much better.

 

Arie, I think that describes me to a T. But I do love my primes as well.

 

Ben, Absolutely correct.

 

Puppy, I did the guns, and audio thing. But I always come back to cameras :)

 

Thanx for giving me a place to vent :)

[photo_dark]

awesome article. There is some truth to it, but it depends on what you are using said lenses for. There is a good reason to own some good f2.8 zoom lenses or nice primes if you are actually making money doing weddings and such.

 

If it's just a hobby, then it's no different than anything else..... the grass is always greener on the other side.

[frolickingbits]

Stop buying all those super-tele lenses, and get yourself a good pair of shoes :)

At least you're only a lens buying addict.....I purchased a set of studio lights a while ago, and keep buying more and more diffusers, cases, grips, arms, stands, the list goes on. It's easier to justify the purchases when it's your business, but it still doesn't lessen the cost any...

I have a grand total of 7 lenses, with a little over $3000 invested, but I use my 100mm macro and my 50mm f1.8 more than any of my other lenses. I really should send the 35mm f2 back to get fixed, though-I knocked my 5D flat on its front with that lens mounted. The camera is fine, but something got knocked out of alignment in the lens.

[benbangerter]

I think this about sums it up:

[benbangerter]

Now, can we extend this discussion to include kayaks? Puppy...?

[yakim_peled1]

Hi,

 

My name is Yakim Peled and I'm an L-coholic..... :-(

 

Happy shooting,

Yakim.

[nhut-nguyen]

I don't see any problem here...looks like you need to add the EF 16-35 f/2.8L, 24-70 f/2.8L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS

After you buy those lens, you should consider an EF 400 f/2.8L IS or EF 600 f/4.0L IS

 

Remember there's no such thing as an addiction, it's because you want to do it and it makes you feel good. You are fine my friend, perfectly fine!

 

cheer

[lukeap69]

I think this is what I am becoming now. Better hold my hand (card)...

 

Thanks for sharing, this might save me some bucks...

[zml]

Hey, put all your photo gear in a shoulder bag and go on a 40 mile trek in the Rockies. You'll come back lighter and cured :-)

[bueh]

<blockquote><i>I am starting to wonder if I should get the 24 f2.8 or the 28 f1.8.

</i></blockquote><p>

Small fry. Get the EF 24mm f/1.4 L USM instead if you have the need for a lens with this focal length. If I am not mistaken, you already have three zooms that feature 24mm (kit lens, EFS 17-85, Phoenix super-wide).

<p>

And why get all those consumer zooms? Buy primes or pro zooms, if you can't take great pictures with these lenses, it's you! This should stop your spending spree pretty fast.

<p>

Buy used gear. Much more financially sound and you will only make minimal loss if you decide against one lens.

<p>

In the end, it is only money! And it is (was?) <i>your</i> money. If buying stuff makes you happy, there is nothing wrong with it unless you accumulating debts for your LBA. I could never afford all these purchases, but I can totally understand you...