Irrational purchases?

[RogerSmith]

Ever bought, or considered buying, a lens or other piece of equipment you probably will use little, but just frankly want it for some reason? I used to want a very fast 50mm, never did get one. Would have used it maybe once a year at an event for portraits, maybe.
But now that Sigma 200 f/2 just speaks to me. I shoot wildlife, can't imagine it doing anything my excellent Sony 70-200 2.8 II can't do. But the sample images really look lovely! Keep reminding myself that $3K+ it would cost would get me somewhere to find more critters to photograph!

 

[Unframed Dave]

I don't think I've ever made an irrational photography based purchase, my logic being that everything has a purpose at some point.

On the other hand, I've owned 3 boats, riddle me that?

 

[iamdlewis]

Go with a trip.

I've gotten a couple of "I just want this" type purchases but all combined are less than $1k.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Yeah Roger, I got the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 because it was basically the best portrait lens for Sony APSC for years... but do I do portrait photography? Not really. So it was irrational that I prioritized the acquisition of this lens, just because of its status as "the best".

To be fair, its an awesome lens, but I use it so infrequently that in hind sight I wish I had saved the money for a better macro lens instead.

 

[THXGEEK]

Regret? No.

I only buy what I can afford and if I can't afford it, then I save up for it. If I don't use it enough or it no longer 'speaks to me' (like all of our favorite toys), they I sell it and use the proceeds for the next favorite thing.

But now that Sigma 200 f/2 just speaks to me.

Yup, same here. I'm thinking it would be fairly awesome for snagging low-light critters when I'm chilling out on my deck or hiking back to my car in the early evening...


I can more easily rationalize FE lenses these days because my MegaDap+ adapter allows them all to be used on My Nikon Z8. Two-fer!

 

[AlphaWorld]

Ever bought, or considered buying, a lens or other piece of equipment you probably will use little, but just frankly want it for some reason? I used to want a very fast 50mm, never did get one. Would have used it maybe once a year at an event for portraits, maybe.
But now that Sigma 200 f/2 just speaks to me. I shoot wildlife, can't imagine it doing anything my excellent Sony 70-200 2.8 II can't do. But the sample images really look lovely! Keep reminding myself that $3K+ it would cost would get me somewhere to find more critters to photograph!

Well, now, I bought the 50-150 f/2, despite its overlap with the 70-200 f/2.8 GM II, and I can attest that the f/2 to f/2.8 difference is visible, so I can believe you’d see a difference. I owned the Canon EF 200/2L IS lens for some years, too. The Canon was w.5kg, and that was a lot, especially on a 1D or 1Ds (which were the cameras I was using at the time).

So you might find it useful. Or not. Only you can guess.

Have I bought camera gear that I ended up getting little or no use from? Tripods, definitely - I think I have four or give at the moment, and only two had seen any use. Lenses, not so much, although I have a 35mm I have rarely used.