GAS GAS: Please share your latest near acquisitions - a.k.a. "what did you ALMOST buy"

[Glevum Owl]

This evening I decided against the Olympus 300mm f4 Pro lens despite a good base price from my favourite camera shop and the current cashback offer in the UK.

My wife asked a very good question: " Would you use it?" Hand on heart, I had to say no. I'd probably use it because I had it and not have it because I needed it.

In addition, it's a big lens by M43 standards and I was concerned how it might handle with the smallish OM-D EM-5 MkIII. I don't have a camera bag big enough either.

Darned head overruling the heart.

 

[Hendrik]

Over the weekend, for the x-tieth time, I considered and then decided not to buy an Olympus E-M1X. It's getting to be a habit...

 

[John King]

This evening I decided against the Olympus 300mm f4 Pro lens despite a good base price from my favourite camera shop and the current cashback offer in the UK.

My wife asked a very good question: " Would you use it?" Hand on heart, I had to say no. I'd probably use it because I had it and not have it because I needed it.

In addition, it's a big lens by M43 standards and I was concerned how it might handle with the smallish OM-D EM-5 MkIII. I don't have a camera bag big enough either.

Darned head overruling the heart.

Mark, the 75-300 MkII is almost as good optically, a lot smaller and lighter, and far, far less expensive. Not weather sealed, but for about 1/5th the price, who cares?

The IQ is ± the same as my FTs 50-200 MkI at less than 1/4 the price, new.

I use electronic shutter at over about 150mm, mainly because I'm old, buggered and a bit unsteady.

It does not come with a lens hood! However, the JJC one is cheap, but tends to need some gentle modifications to the bayonet moulding so that it fits. A little bit at a time, with some graphite lubrication with a pencil worked for mine.

 

[Glevum Owl]

Mark, the 75-300 MkII is almost as good optically, a lot smaller and lighter, and far, far less expensive. Not weather sealed, but for about 1/5th the price, who cares?

The IQ is ± the same as my FTs 50-200 MkI at less than 1/4 the price, new.

I use electronic shutter at over about 150mm, mainly because I'm old, buggered and a bit unsteady.

It does not come with a lens hood! However, the JJC one is cheap, but tends to need some gentle modifications to the bayonet moulding so that it fits. A little bit at a time, with some graphite lubrication with a pencil worked for mine.

Hi John,

Thanks for the input. You’re right; the price difference is huge and raises
questions of exactly what one gets for the extra money.

The 75-300 was last year’s ’almost purchase’. I dismissed it as not fast enough (I shoot a lot inside). Another attraction of the 300 was the compatibility with my MC-14 converter and a future purchase of the MC-20.

The fact remains that I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I’ve needed anything greater than my current 150 (210 with the MC-14). Go way back beyond my M43 days and there are still only maybe a dozen occasions I’ve wanted more ‘reach’ than I had at the time.

My wife’s objectivity = 1, my GAS = 0.

 

[John King]

Hi John,

Thanks for the input. You’re right; the price difference is huge and raises
questions of exactly what one gets for the extra money.

The 75-300 was last year’s ’almost purchase’. I dismissed it as not fast enough (I shoot a lot inside). Another attraction of the 300 was the compatibility with my MC-14 converter and a future purchase of the MC-20.

The fact remains that I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I’ve needed anything greater than my current 150 (210 with the MC-14). Go way back beyond my M43 days and there are still only maybe a dozen occasions I’ve wanted more ‘reach’ than I had at the time.

My wife’s objectivity = 1, my GAS = 0.

Exactly. I got a really good deal on mine (AUD 399) and ditto with my f/1.8 25 bought at the same time. My FTs 50-200 + EC-14 + MMF-3 started to get too heavy and unwieldy for me to use casually.

 

[Glevum Owl]

This evening I decided against the Olympus 300mm f4 Pro lens despite a good base price from my favourite camera shop and the current cashback offer in the UK.

My wife asked a very good question: " Would you use it?" Hand on heart, I had to say no. I'd probably use it because I had it and not have it because I needed it.

In addition, it's a big lens by M43 standards and I was concerned how it might handle with the smallish OM-D EM-5 MkIII. I don't have a camera bag big enough either.

Darned head overruling the heart.

Confession time. Soon as I'd posted the above I came across a couple of occasions when I did need far more reach than my kit gave me, so.........
GAS - GAS: Please Share your Latest Acquisitions Big and Small

 

[Carbonman]

This evening I decided against the Olympus 300mm f4 Pro lens despite a good base price from my favourite camera shop and the current cashback offer in the UK.

My wife asked a very good question: " Would you use it?" Hand on heart, I had to say no. I'd probably use it because I had it and not have it because I needed it.

In addition, it's a big lens by M43 standards and I was concerned how it might handle with the smallish OM-D EM-5 MkIII. I don't have a camera bag big enough either.

Darned head overruling the heart.

Save up for the 150-400mm f4.5 instead! (Only half kidding).
As you can see from my gear list, I have far too much equipment. The 300mm Pro was almost permanently on my E-M1 Mk III until I got the 150-400. The 300mm is very sharp but you have to work on your technique a lot to be able to acquire and track BIF.

 

[John King]

Save up for the 150-400mm f4.5 instead! (Only half kidding).
As you can see from my gear list, I have far too much equipment. The 300mm Pro was almost permanently on my E-M1 Mk III until I got the 150-400. The 300mm is very sharp but you have to work on your technique a lot to be able to acquire and track BIF.

Graham, where's your gear list, please?

 

[Carbonman]

Graham, where's your gear list, please?

Just posted the bodies and lenses to my sig. It doesn't let me post all the bags and accessories. See below.

 

[John King]

Just posted the bodies and lenses to my sig. It doesn't let me post all the bags and accessories. See below.

Thanks, Graham.

I listed all mine in a link in my footer block, here:

John King

John King - Cameraderie - Photography forum community for sharing photos, information, and discussing camera gear. 📷

cameraderie.org

 

[Matero]

I almost bought Pixii Camera. But spent the money on Leica VE 24-70 F2.8

Pixii is tempting concept, a little away from the mainstream, and simplistic photographing process with many possibilities with M-mounted lenses. But, it seems to be more Linux computer than camera, although there's good on that, too. And something on the pictures I've seen on web, are those not thoroughly processed (thought of) or is there something on the tones and sharpness, which keeps me wondering.

Anyways, Mattias Burling seems to like it, a lot.

 

[Glevum Owl]

Save up for the 150-400mm f4.5 instead! (Only half kidding).
As you can see from my gear list, I have far too much equipment. The 300mm Pro was almost permanently on my E-M1 Mk III until I got the 150-400. The 300mm is very sharp but you have to work on your technique a lot to be able to acquire and track BIF.

Ah, thank you but too late. See post #26 above. Like the man said: "I can resist anything except temptation."

 

[Glevum Owl]

Today I almost bought a grip for the Oly M5. I played around with all my lenses and decided against it. With a good wrist strap and continuing use, I’m finding the ‘naked’ camera a perfect fit for my small hands even with the bigger lenses.

 

[agentlossing]

Today I almost bought a grip for the Oly M5. I played around with all my lenses and decided against it. With a good wrist strap and continuing use, I’m finding the ‘naked’ camera a perfect fit for my small hands even with the bigger lenses.

I got a half case for the EM5 II, but sold it right away as I just prefer to appreciate the small size all on its own.

 

[MiguelATF]

A nice, lightly-used Fuji X-E3, on craigslist.
Was tempted but dithering back and forth about whether I should go for the X-E3 - or hold out for an X-E4.
The universe made the decision for me, when it disappeared...

 

[agentlossing]

A nice, lightly-used Fuji X-E3, on craigslist.
Was tempted but dithering back and forth about whether I should go for the X-E3 - or hold out for an X-E4.
The universe made the decision for me, when it disappeared...

The prime reason the XE4 intrigues me is for the stripped-down buttons. I'm curious whether it can be reliably operated without the swipe and tap interface Fuji is pushing with it - if it could be boiled down to pure photography essentials with the dedicated dials and you could avoid menus most of the time.

 

[drd1135]

I keep looking at the A7C. I have E mount lenses and the 7C has very sticky AF-C/Tracking to use with grandchildren.

 

[pdk42]

I’ve come close on several occasions to buying a Leica Q. Last time a guy on a local Oly forum was selling his - but I just can’t justify the sort of money it goes for. I still lust for one, but I suspect I’ll never do it!

 

[John King]

I’ve come close on several occasions to buying a Leica Q. Last time a guy on a local Oly forum was selling his - but I just can’t justify the sort of money it goes for. I still lust for one, but I suspect I’ll never do it!

Paul, I've owned two Leica film outfits, one in the 1960s and the other in the mid 1990s.

I would never buy another one. Beautifully built, but ...

 

[mike3996]

Looking to buy/refresh my collection of memory cards. Looking at the prices I'm so glad my most demanding camera appears to be satisfied with V60 cards (34€/ea vs 100 €/ea for V90).