Downward trends
By day, I wear my software development hat. There is a word that we use in software called ‘refactoring’. Basically, when you refactor code, you change the content of the code without changing its output or functionality. You make it smaller, cleaner, easier to understand and maintain. This is a benefit for future developers, or for yourself. Step one is to get it working correctly, then, if you have time, refactor to make it better.
I find that I’m constantly refactoring my camera equipment. Sometimes it will swell to what I consider unmanageable size, where I have lots of things that I don’t use for a very, very long time. In other words, some of the equipment, it could be said was bought with the mindset of: Well, I thought that it was a good idea at the time. Another cause for this refactoring is changing tastes or subject matter.
So, here I am again with this feeling to ‘refactor’ and reduce. I’m down to one camera, now. My D300. I have an 11-18mm, which I’ve not used in at least 6 or 8 months, perhaps more. A 200-500mm zoom, which, again I’ve not used in about the same time. These may end up on e-bay soon. That would leave me with a 50mm f/1.8, an 18-270mm (DX) f/3.5-5.6, and an 80-200mm f/2.8, and one 90mm f/2.8 macro. Two FX lenses, two DX lenses. I find that I send to stay in the middle range and don’t so much venture out into ultra-wide or telephoto. I’m quite comfortable there. I want to start taking portraits and using flashes. A full-frame camera is still on the horizon, I just don’t know when.
Oh well, food for thought. Refactoring costs $$$, though. Thoughts are free!
Hmmm…interesting thoughts.
I have stuff that I don’t use often but when I need them for a job they are there. Some of the stuff I have is only for jobs and rarely if ever used in my casual photographic pursuits. Some of it could have been rented and I intended to rent some of it but it was unavailable when the need arose so I had to bite the bullet and buy it…but I remind myself…I will always have it next time.
It is tough to see something that I think oh wow I wish I had that when I did this…it is a better feeling to know have the right tools when I need them.
If I did not want to pursue clients and jobs, I probably would reduce my gear significantly…who am I kidding? No I wouldn’t, I could but probably wouldn’t lol.
That is a really wonderful and clean black and white image.
You get rid of you D40? I thought that was your light weight carry-around?
@Earl: Yep. I found that I just wasn’t carrying it around much at all. So, I sold it. It actually sold on eBay in about 9 minutes!
My photography “trajectory” could be described as downward. Since I bought the LX3 that is the camera I use and the Canon SLRs have been sitting in the bags. Availability is now more important to me than sharp lenses or extra image quality I would get from the SLR.
Most of my photos end up on the web or viewed on a monitor so it really doesn’t seem to matter. I almost never print anymore.
Being able to be spontaneous is good. Having a camera always around is good. Being inconspicuous is good.
The only exception is birding, which still needs that 500mm lens.
Neil M.