“Gadgetitis” Causes GAS

Sam Tip

Sam Tip

Suspended / Banned
Messages
288
Name
Sam
Edit My Images
No
Surely GAS is just a symptom.

Recently I switched from a laptop to a powerful mini PC. Then, more or less by accident, I got into gaming, and now I’m chasing down an Oculink Dock Station to help me lift bigger images and drive AAA games. There’s no end to it because for decades I’ve been suffering from an underlying condition called “gadgetitis.”

In his 1957 book Photography, Eric Samuel de Maré writes, “Do not overload yourself with gadgets.” He then quotes E. O. Hoppé: “’Gadgetitis’ is a psychological condition induced by the desire to compensate for an inferiority feeling...I believe that photographers should pay far more attention to studying photographs than apparatus.”

It’s not just about updating camera gear more often than we should. It’s about the need to get into technology, devices, tools—playthings and gadgets. For some enthusiasts the difference between need and want has never been more blurred. Too many of us get dizzy chasing our tails.
 
Sam Tip said:
In his 1957 book Photography, Eric Samuel de Maré writes, “Do not overload yourself with gadgets.” He then quotes E. O. Hoppé: “’Gadgetitis’ is a psychological condition induced by the desire to compensate for an inferiority feeling...I believe that photographers should pay far more attention to studying photographs than apparatus.”

It’s not just about updating camera gear more often than we should. It’s about the need to get into technology, devices, tools—playthings and gadgets. For some enthusiasts the difference between need and want has never been more blurred. Too many of us get dizzy chasing our tails.
Click to expand...
Hilarious! Made me guffaw. Thanks for brightening my morning.
 
Last edited:
Sam Tip said:
In his 1957 book Photography, Eric Samuel de Maré writes, “Do not overload yourself with gadgets.”
Click to expand...
I owned a copy of that book for decades and it may still be hanging around somewhere.

I can't say I ever found any inspiration in it ... I think I kept it for the same reason some people wear hair shirts...
 
I'm a sucker for tech and such.

Phones, cameras, mechanical watches, earphones, fitness tech, speakers, road bikes, mountain bikes, running shoes, you name it.

I just enjoy it. Few days ago I was researching and looking at the new M4 MacBook Air laptops (only got a 16" M4 MacBook pro recently). Looking at the whoop band and Amazon's new offering and the ultra human ring, when I have a fenix 7 pro solar sapphire on...lots of stuff I don't actually need but I just love it

I have calmed down a lot over the last 20 years though (I'm 43 in July).

I can't take my money with me and if the bills are paid and savings done then I don't see any harm in it. I won't get into debt or take credit for things however. I may stick a large purchase on the CCard but that's to keep the wife happy with the Tesco points lol.
 
Last edited:
I'm not too bad on gadgets, but every now and then I get obsessed with some bit of kit. I have a holdall full of filters, I think I've got the full set of grads, the couour ones, even the green.. Plus loads of effect ones, mostly never used.
Recently I've been trying to talk "err indoors" into night vision goggles (a tad pricy) Sadly I'm my own worst enemy. She keeps asking what I do I need them for, seeing in the dark isnt the right answer apparently....
 
Tech for techs sake doesn’t interest me. Camera gear is just tools to my way of thinking. I’ve got 2 Nikon bodies, a few lenses and a few compacts. They all have a use for me - I purchase based on a particular use or project I have in mind.

But I’m also a bit lazy and tend not to sell them on after I no longer have a use for them, although I’ve just sent 3 lenses to Wex that I’ve not used for a while.

But books, don’t ask me about books. I’ve way too many and still buy more. I get more joy out of these than gear.
 
You think you have the kit that fully meets your needs and then you discover that gadgetitus can also go in a low tech direction. You can buy 20 years of DSLRs that offer a unique and strangely satisfying user experience. Then 60 years of SLRs that are even more mechanical ...
 
I don't think the latest tech interests me at all. The only lens I bought at launch I think was the 35GM - but that wasn't just for the new 'tech' as such - it was just a lens that ticked all the relevant boxes.
 
As someone who works in the home improvement industry, there's definitely something to be said for having the right tool for the job. There are always innovations to make tasks easier, better, more efficient, and it shouldn't be seen as an issue to seek, discover and desire such tools.

That said, I have a whole cupboard of photography gadgets, and several have never seen the light of day! I guess I'm just waiting for the right job for the tool now :)
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Tech for techs sake doesn’t interest me. Camera gear is just tools to my way of thinking. I’ve got 2 Nikon bodies, a few lenses and a few compacts. They all have a use for me - I purchase based on a particular use or project I have in mind.

But I’m also a bit lazy and tend not to sell them on after I no longer have a use for them, although I’ve just sent 3 lenses to Wex that I’ve not used for a while.

But books, don’t ask me about books. I’ve way too many and still buy more. I get more joy out of these than gear.
Click to expand...

I’m the same with books, every time we go into town the first thing I do is check out the charity shops for nature books
Have found some nice books though but I haven’t read the ones I already have
 
LeeRatters said:
I don't think the latest tech interests me at all. The only lens I bought at launch I think was the 35GM - but that wasn't just for the new 'tech' as such - it was just a lens that ticked all the relevant boxes.
Click to expand...
I think the only gear I've brought at launch is a filter adapter (through kickstarter).
I did once buy a camera shortly after the launch of it's successor. My proper cameras are all now more than 10 years old (I do have a Raspberry Pi camera that's newer)
Most of my many lenses have been out of productions by the time I got them, so it's not new that gets me, but I do have GAS
 
I'm better than I used to be with this.

I think right at the outset of getting into photography a little more, I was frustrated I wasn't getting the results I wanted.

Most of that was down to me, not my kit.

I would make certain exceptions for when you're right on the edge of what your kit's capable of. Too short a focal length, too long a focal length, no macro, not good enough for low light etc. But realistically, the more time I spend taking photos, the better they get.

Currently I'm on a vintage lens and mirrorless camera phase. Using a MKI Sony A7 and Minolta lenses. But just cos I'm using old kit, GAS doesn't go away.

This time last year I had a Minolta Film camera and one lens. And watched a video about using old lenses on modern cameras.

Now I have (I think) 14 lenses, plus picked up a further two Minolta cameras along the way. Plus I bought the Sony purely to use with vintage lenses as my Canon 5D wouldn't work with the adapter.

I then upgraded the 5D to an R6ii to use, but actually I prefer the Sony/Minolta set up.

I know I don't need any more at the minute though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top