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 2.5kg, 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 five at the moment, and only two had seen any use. Lenses, not so much, although I have a 35mm I have rarely used.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

I would say not in terms of photography. I've had stuff I've not used very much, but they were purchases of things I thought would be useful, a gimbal head being the worst of those, bloody awkward things!
I've bought plenty of irrational things outside of photography though

 

[SPB-universal]

Bags that is my downfall, already had a sale of 4 bags. Then I got more...... just cannot find one I am really happy with although the Billingham rucksack is one I keep coming back to or the Hadley 2020. Monopod that I hardly use. Too many lenses - spoilt by good zooms. New year resolution - must try harder to kill GAS.

 

[Unframed Dave]

Bags that is my downfall, already had a sale of 4 bags. Then I got more...... just cannot find one I am really happy with although the Billingham rucksack is one I keep coming back to or the Hadley 2020. Monopod that I hardly use. Too many lenses - spoilt by good zooms. New year resolution - must try harder to kill GAS.

I can relate to the bags thing. Dozens of them have passed through my hands.

If I had drive, I'd design a modular range, sadly it's all driven off.

 

[SPB-universal]

I can relate to the bags thing. Dozens of them have passed through my hands.

If I had drive, I'd design a modular range, sadly it's all driven off.

Indeed I have often thought of designing a bag, but don't have the skills to make one, and not sure where I would go to make it. My design would be split on four levels, the closest so far is the Wandrd backpack PRVKE 15. I like the rear opening of this backpack.

Where I have marked Hard Bottom, I don't want velcro, instead a hard sewn in bottom or very thickly padded sewn in.

Maybe where I have marked Camera with lens on the side the lens section could extend into the above section, to carry a longer lens.

Then a hard bottom again and all the accessories like flash, batteries etc.

The straps have to be very comfortable and no metal sliders / buckles (I hate them always dig in the wrong places).



But sometimes I think a square box like I had in the dim past but this time not aluminium.

 

[Killtimer]

Bags that is my downfall, already had a sale of 4 bags. Then I got more...... just cannot find one I am really happy with although the Billingham rucksack is one I keep coming back to or the Hadley 2020. Monopod that I hardly use. Too many lenses - spoilt by good zooms. New year resolution - must try harder to kill GAS.

Bags are my addiction as well, online sales events my downfall. Someday I will learn that the description never matches the product. Mind you, I've been searching for the perfect wallet for over 60 years...

 

[SPB-universal]

Bags are my addiction as well, online sales events my downfall. Someday I will learn that the description never matches the product. Mind you, I've been searching for the perfect wallet for over 60 years...

Wallet never been an issue! Not much to put in it (LOL)

 

[Sean2260]

Funny & ironic I see this post today of all days. For the first time in my life I actually....returned something lol.

Few years back I bought a tripod gimbal off Amazon. Panning was kind of sticky, didnt like it much. Couple years later the brand Neewer had a newer model, it was cheap, so I bought it. Works great, but is heavy. So last week for some stupid reason I decided to buy this K&F tripod gimbal because it was a lot lighter and I needed the weight savings. Was OK, but I just felt I really did not need this now, so I initiated return and dropped it off today. I usually am never this smart, more lazy and just hold onto crap.

Now bags....4 so far since 2021, am considering on a different one next year. I think either I have a camera bag addiction or finding the perfect one is impossible. Leaning towards the former.