Is there a 12 step program for camera addicts?

NightBird

Regular
Location
Sydney, Australia
Name
Darren
I've made it to step one already, I admit I have a camera addition. Now to get everything I have except for my Fuji & M43 gear on eBay over the coming two weekends.

Any motivation accepted. I'm going to find this very difficult (Though am so looking forward to having a 12-40 2.8)

I'm doomed.. I have the urge before I even sell anything.

H.E.L.P! :)
 
"addition"? Me thinks that is one of those Freudian slips.;)

First step is to admit this. You are not alone, Darren. Over in The Watering Hole, you'll find plenty of kindred spirits - several of whom remain "on the wagon".

In all seriousness, perhaps the best thing is to hand over your checkbook, credit and debit cards to a responsible party...though this isn't a cure, I know.
 
I've made it to step one already, I admit I have a camera addition. Now to get everything I have except for my Fuji & M43 gear on eBay over the coming two weekends.

Any motivation accepted. I'm going to find this very difficult (Though am so looking forward to having a 12-40 2.8)

I'm doomed.. I have the urge before I even sell anything.

H.E.L.P! :)

NightBird,

I feel your pain.

From my response to this post: HOWL! Where I See Camera Makers Going (with apologies to Allan Ginsberg)

"I know what you're thinking, punk," hissed Digital Harry to his new editor, "you're thinking, 'Did he peep pixels on six new cameras or only five?' -- and to tell the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement; but being as this is a bridge camera, with the most powerful zoom lens in the world, whose focal range will blow your perspective clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I want to peep pixels or shoot pictures?' -- well do you, punk?":D

It's a question I have to ask myself frequently: do I want to engage in pre-purchase foreplay or shoot pictures? Maybe asking yourself that question might help just a little.

Cheers, Jock
 
I finally dealt with it (temporarily), by trading down, to the lowly G1, and the oly 14-42 IIr. In doing this, I am "running backward" from temptation, and helping the kids to improve their gear, for their young family pics. I am amazed at how little I have "stepped back" in picture quality. Everybody is happier.:)
 
If you truly want help, my suggestion would be to stay away from the classifieds, and don't read about new cameras.

No reviews, no previews, no user experience reports, no nothing. Instead, you can read books about composition and exposing correctly. Subscribe to a couple photography magazines (or find them at your library)......and I'm not talking about the ones that are 80% gear reviews. (Here's a few..... Focus Magazine, Blind Spot, Aperture, Black & White Magazine...there are many others)
 
I don't know if I have 12 steps, but here are the steps that cured my addiction:

1. Spend all your time researching cameras until your family no longer recognizes you
2. Spend all your money buying cameras
3. Print out and compare shots and try to really tell if there's actually a difference
4. Go to DPR and objectively ask yourself "am I like that guy? Man, does he need to get a life or what" then unsubscribe from DPR and all other photography gear sites (except maybe this one :)
5. Think about the number of times someone ELSE (i.e. not you) actually looked at all those pictures you took with all those cameras
6. Try to resell your cameras, and lose a lot of money
7. Tally up all your lost time and money, and think about what else you could have done with that
8. (this one's important) have a meeting with your financial adviser, and let him/her tell you the amount of money you will need, to put your kids through college

Cured! At least, it worked for me :)

edit: avoid TCSV videos, too!
 
If you truly want help, my suggestion would be to stay away from the classifieds, and don't read about new cameras.

No reviews, no previews, no user experience reports, no nothing. Instead, you can read books about composition and exposing correctly. Subscribe to a couple photography magazines (or find them at your library)......and I'm not talking about the ones that are 80% gear reviews. (Here's a few..... Focus Magazine, Blind Spot, Aperture, Black & White Magazine...there are many others)

Luke,

I do believe you are, as the Brits say, "Spot on."

Cheers, Jock
 
LoL! :tongue:
Even though I came away with 2 items, I still managed to significantly downsize when KEH came to my local brick n' mortar store :)
 
I've made it to step one already, I admit I have a camera addition. Now to get everything I have except for my Fuji & M43 gear on eBay over the coming two weekends.

Any motivation accepted. I'm going to find this very difficult (Though am so looking forward to having a 12-40 2.8)

I'm doomed.. I have the urge before I even sell anything.

H.E.L.P! :)

You should try working in a camera shop mate!!!!!! All those new toys, I want them ALL....ALL I tells ya!!:D
 
I'd like to start this meeting today (It's morning here) by thanking everyone for their suggestions. I'm sure many of you would make great mentors. In fact, a number of your suggestions are really valid.

I've often been really, really tempted with the one camera one lens prescription, and on those occasions I've had the willpower to leave home with just one camera, I've felt very 'free'. And I hadn't missed anything. I picked up a film camera a couple of months ago, and have managed to take a couple of rolls of film. Though haven't had them developed as yet. Not sure I'd have the commitment or will for the Leica solution Amin :)

I do have a selection of photography books sitting in my desk shelf, and have managed to pick them up and read more as of late.

I know our winters in Australia generally aren't particularly cold or miserable in most places, though I think it's the danger time all the same. Sitting in front of the computer in a warm room, hours at a time looking a store discounts, ebay, gumtree etc.. Motivation for early mornings and evening photography that I like so much really drops off.

My little baby sitting on the desk beside me (Currently an E-P5, not my daughter). All shiny and blingy, beautiful clicky dials and that reassuring selector and power switch. That dark and mysterious LCD that pops into colorful high definition action in a second, beckoning me to explore here menus and functions. I'd look so sexy wearing that 12-40 2.8 you know, I would hear her whisper as I slept.. And I would perform so well for you. This 20mm 1.7 you have me in right now is nice and light, it's just all the wrong colour for me.

Argh. I said today I would start gathering my gear, and making some tough decisions, so that's what I'll do.
 
I think I understand where you are.
Looking at your photo, if that pile were my lot, I'd keep the XPro1 a few lenses and the RX100.

But then again.. maybe the X20 and the Nex5 also... aaargg. No, no I would keep the XPro1 and RX100
I hate to think what camera bags you might have to carry all that lot.

I sometimes dream of becoming a minimalist, and sell everything and just buy a RX1.
Then I say but I will need my GR and on it goes. Heck I succumbed to a DP3 last week as they were "on special"

Last year my dad passed and only today my mum and brothers and I were going through "stuff".
Sometimes certain objects bring back an emotion and those were the ones we kept, others are just baggage - "stuff".
 
I've solved my camera addiction. Recognizing that I have an addictive personality was step one. Then it was a simple matter of transferring my attention to something that didn't involve me going broke.
 
I think the link that Amin gave is a good one to read, however I do not believe one needs to go back to film, as the author Mike suggested.

Darren, how about eliminating all the cameras and lenses you haven't used in the last year, sell them off and then pick one of your remaining cameras and one lens and use that set up for the fall and winter in Australia and then reevaluate after your first month of really good weather? These are arbitrary suggestions about the number of months... I will say that we had a couple of photo challenges a while ago - it started with A Single in January (one camera/one lens - photographing every day...and it was "an eye opener" for many with regard to needs vs lusts)... This might be an approach. You can use your Flickr account and make a set for your daily photos - your choice to post them here or just keep your link/photos private but it might well be helpful as a tool and a means to an end?

If this is a really serious problem and there are financial issues at stake, then I think there are real 12 step types of programs out there that might be worth looking into. I know there are some members here that have had real problems and are moving in positive steps forward.

P.S. You're already an accomplished photographer, Darren - and it seems to me that you do beautifully with any set up you choose.
 
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