Overbought Equipment?

[Russell]

Hello Everyone,

I thought it might be useful to everyone to talk about... that little secret... that one little piece of equipment that you spent a lot of money on...

** - Which you don't use very often

OR

** - Which didn't live up your expectations.

So what is that piece of equipment for you?

Thanks,

Russell Schutte
www.russellschutte.com

 

[Iron Flatline]

Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS L... used it three times, just not my style of shooting.

Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro... great lens, I just never shoot macro

 

[Ockie]

Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX HSM

on about 80% of the shots I keep thinking it should be sharper... bought a monopod, I thought it was because of hand shaking.. but still... oh well, great lens anyhow

 

[Garbz]

Polariser. When I need it it's at home and when I have it it's an overcast day.

/Edit: Sorry didn't see about the bit that said spent lots of money on. :er: I guess the battery grip comes close because technically I didn't need it, and couldn't afford it, but now I have it and use it always so I don't feel guilty about buying it.

 

[usayit]

Canon 70-200m f/2.8L IS USM - Wonderful zoom that I love and hated. This is claimed to be one of Canon's best zooms and a staple in the wedding photographer's work. I purchased this expensive lens brand new based on those reviews and samples. Used just a handful of times till I realized that I was miserable carrying the weight and that it didn't fit my style. I was sad the day I sold it but I have no regrets.

Lesson learned... reviews should be taken as a opinion and photography (and the equipment we use) is a very personal choice.

Other equipment that didn't meet my expectations... Canon IX lite APS SLR. Boy.. what in the world was I thinking.... lol

 

[Iron Flatline]

Oh, and the Leica Digilux 1. What a P.O.S!!!!

 

[usayit]

Wow... Iron.. never heard you say P.O.S and Leica in the same breath.. hehe lol

 

[Mike_E]

Tokina 80/200 f2.8 that I got for some of the same reasons usayit gave. Turns out I'd rather walk a mile than carry that thing around my neck 3 blocks. I still use it on occasion but I've got a Nice example of a Nikon 70-210 that's a third of the weight.

 

[soylentgreen]

The Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG was a total bust for me. Got decent reviews and was 1/3 the price of the Canon equivalent, so I said "What the hell, I'll try it." Great build and finish, but that's about it. Slow AF, no HSM motor, so-so optics.

My upgrade to the EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS was with regret because I parted with my f/4. Thought I could use the larger aperature and IS more, especially with the 1.4X TC, but honestly, I thought my pictures with the f/4 were sharper and more consistent. I never had to worry about image quality or "fuzziness" with my f/4 all the way down to 1/30. My f/2.8 was a crap-shoot until I got past the learning curve of how to use it. Just had to get a feel for it and it's nuances. Took me about 3 months though! Now the only thing that bothers me is the weight. Its like an albatross hanging around my neck. I wince when I have to use it over my EF 300 f/4 L IS. Time to drag out the cinder block!!! Great for working out your neck muscles though.

 

[Alex_B]

bought a Canon EF 75-300 (mkI) in my early Canon days. Not an expensive lens for me today, but it was at the time I bought it (lower income ).

Well, often I did not have the lens with me when I would have needed it, or it was in my backpack when I had a great wildlife shooting chance, but then by the time I got it out ... those animals were gone

I did use it 4 times in over 10 years or so and in those 4 times I was not impressed with image quality at all. So I sold it at ebay recently, for quite a lot of money considering it that old but not a collectible yet

Apart from that, I had a few pieces of equipment which I thought useless soon after I bought them, but often, a couple of months later I started using them and got happier and happier with them and now could not live without them anymore
.

 

[Sideburns]

Either my kit lens or a crappy 10 dollar UV filter. Both just sit in my bag...I know 10 bucks isn't a lot....but I mean...I'm a student. 10 bucks is 10 bucks I can't save for stuff I need lol.

 

[Alex_B]

Either my kit lens or a crappy 10 dollar UV filter. Both just sit in my bag...I know 10 bucks isn't a lot....but I mean...I'm a student. 10 bucks is 10 bucks I can't save for stuff I need lol.

Ebay is your friend ... sell the filter for 15

 

[Russell]

Well... I think... I'm prepared for this... Prepared to defend my position...

I think you might all throw something at me... I'm the proud owner of a Canon 5D... and, to me.... for most everyone... this is a piece of equipment OVERBOUGHT!

There... I said it... Now let's see if I can breathe when you're all done beating me up.

My reasoning is this:

1. You can get damned near this quality out of a lesser camera. Unless you print monster prints there's no reason to buy the megapixels. (and many upsize programs do a phenomenal job to upsize too!) (Compared to most photographers, I print VERY large)

2. A variety of high quality lenses can increase your range and capabilities more than an expensive camera body. (Instead of a 5D, you could buy a Rebel, get the built in lens and buy two L series lenses or a handful of higher quality lenses to complete the package).

3. Cameras do not take pictures — photographers do. And most cameras are far more capable than most photographers.

There are some situations which negate these arguments - for example if a high end camera offers a specific feature that is critical to your style of work (mirror lockup for example, wasn't available on lower end Canons until recently). And for those really tough all weather people maybe a rugged professional camera is appropriate - but I'm very sure that most cameras are tougher than most people when it comes to getting up early, trampling through swamps, and bumping into wild animals.

So... there... I've said it. This was going to be my original "overbought" item when I started this thread... but I feared the whiplash! Now I think I'm prepared...

Unless you have the means and the reasons to purchase at this level (or higher), I think the 5D is an overbuy! If you don't have a budget approaching at least the $8-10K mark, you're better off spending your money in other ways.

Who's on my side?

Russell
www.russellschutte.com

 

[Iron Flatline]

Welcome to the Forum. There's no taking sides here, and if you think you over-bought by having a 5D, you're perfectly welcome to that opinion.

I think what the Original Poster (OP) meant was what expensive piece of gear did you buy that's just laying at home. I assume you're using the camera - right?

 

[Iron Flatline]

Oh wait - LOL -you ARE The original poster.

Well, in that case I misunderstood you.

In that case, I would argue that my entire list of photo gear is overbought. I don't really NEED a Leica camera, a digital Rebel is good enough.

Look, I don't NEED a Porsche either - but it is fun to own something highly qualitative, even if I know my equipment can out-perform me any day.