I'm turning into a gear head. Help!

[Phoenix_Jackson]

You might have come across some of my posts where I mention I have a "future lens line-up" and saving up for it.

Yes, I know it's ultimately up to the user, and yes, I know I could live with what I have and just keep honing my skills. But hear me out.

Do you ever have some plans of buying a lens, maybe currently saving up for it, or recovering from a past lens expense, then all of a sudden a good deal is up for grabs? This has happened to me quite a lot recently (whether camera gear or something else). I'm still recovering from my latest purchase and at the same time, saving up for another big one. Then here comes another dude seemingly desperate to sell his 200mm f/2.8L. I am very much tempted for the reasons:

1. I got a nice manual zoom lens (80-200mm f/4) and I often use the long end. But I often crave for wider aperture.
2. I miss AF once in a while.
3. Price went down -$300 from original price (which is standard price new)
4. It's prime and it's "L" (not a very good reason but still...)

Really though, it's bugging me because it's delaying me from my next real purchase. Also:

1. Seemingly too desperate to sell (price went down too fast: -$300 in 4 days).
2. Seriously, I already have a zoom with that focal distance.
3. I don't use AF that much right now.
4. It'll use up 80% of my funding for the supposedly next lens.
5. WHAT'S NEXT? Another lens that I don't necessarily need?

I don't know what you call it, but yeah, it's been happening a lot this year. I plan for a good lens but then a steal (IMO) comes out, and leaves me broke. Can anyone relate to this?

[metallion58]

Yep, You've got the gear bug alright !
Now it's just a matter of making a choice (is the future lens more important than the current "steal") and sticking to it.
Sounds simple but it's not.
It does take willpower.

[Jonbar18]

I'm right there with you. I've been looking to buy a flash for the past couple weeks, but now am considering buying the playbook instead, which is EVEN MORE expensive. But how could I not, its $300 off (now 200), and can run ICS (ice cream sandwich-the new kickass android)

[Doug Sundseth]

If you had a lot of willpower (i.e. way more willpower than I have ), you could buy the lens at the discount price, sell it at a fair market (presumably higher) price, and use the money to finance the lens you really want.

FWIW, I just picked up a couple of Clik camera holders that I wasn't looking for at all, just because the price was really good, and I'm sure they'll come in handy Real Soon Now™.

Hmm, maybe I shouldn't be "helping".

[Phoenix_Jackson]

Yeah, I thought of re-selling after enjoying it a bit. But it's not a good candidate for resale. It was originally bought from gray market (which is one of the biggest reasons it hasn't been bought yet), and locals don't like a non-white L lens. It's currently priced at about $650 (brand new here is $1.1k... without accessories!) so it's not really a "steal" internationally speaking (I only compared it to local pricing).

But yeah, I'm resisting it as much as I can. I was able to resist a C/Y 85mm Zeiss ($500), a 10-20mm f/4-5.6Sigma ($325 and one I quite regret), Canon EF 24-70 L ($850), flashes, filters... they just keep coming! It would be nice if someone offers me a deal with one of the lenses I actually have on my list, for a change.

But thanks for the replies. I feel a bit stronger now that some people could relate.

[Tzetsin]

I wouldnt envy you if you bought that lens at all. even for cheaper. Its not selling because its a 200mm non zoom. wtf is it good for really?? I mean, dont get me wrong, primes are awsome... when you NEED to use one.

Primes are only good when you need the ABSOLUTELY best image quality, and you have a pack animal to carry them all. Get yourself the 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 2.8s, then splurge for the primes in the focal length you use the MOST. Seriously. (get the 24-105F4 instead of the 24-70 if you want a better walkabout lens)

those 3 lenses will give you every focal length your going to likely need. If you need more than 200mm, then get the 2x teleconverter (gen2). All BS aside, you want to cover as many focal lengths as you can in as few lenses as you can get.

I dont include specialty lenses. Each to their own there.

[jcspenny]

I know exactly how you feel. I've been saving for Canon's EF 70-200mm 2.8 L. I love my little 55-250mm but I'm starting to feel that I've outgrown it. This time of year especially, when the weather starts to get colder. I take a lot of pictures of my friends riding and when they start riding indoors I always wish for a telephoto with a wider aperture.

There are other lenses I want, too. I think the 85mm 1.8 will be my next purchase after the 70-200mm. Every now and then I consider splurging and buying it now instead of waiting to buy the zoom first.On the one hand, I would have a new lens to play with while I continue to save for the zoom. But, in the end I decide that anything I want the 85mm for, I can use my 50mm instead.

Is there another lens you have, or one that you're saving for, that you can use instead of the 200mm, or will that lens bring something new to your photography? If you find yourself wishing for a wider aperture when using your current zoom then it sounds like you'd benefit from it, but is there something on your want list that will also help? How upset would you be if you ended up missing out on this lens? If you don't think you'd be too upset then you probably don't want it as much as you think. I always ask myself questions like these before buying a new lens and most of the time they stop me from spending my savings on something that I don't need. The few times I have decided to spend my lens savings on something else these questions helped me make sure it was something I could really benefit from.

[ArmySoldier777]

Originally Posted by Tzetsin

I wouldnt envy you if you bought that lens at all. even for cheaper. Its not selling because its a 200mm non zoom. wtf is it good for really?? I mean, dont get me wrong, primes are awsome... when you NEED to use one.

Primes are only good when you need the ABSOLUTELY best image quality, and you have a pack animal to carry them all. Get yourself the 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 2.8s, then splurge for the primes in the focal length you use the MOST. Seriously. (get the 24-105F4 instead of the 24-70 if you want a better walkabout lens)

those 3 lenses will give you every focal length your going to likely need. If you need more than 200mm, then get the 2x teleconverter (gen2). All BS aside, you want to cover as many focal lengths as you can in as few lenses as you can get.

I dont include specialty lenses. Each to their own there.

I think primes definitely have their place, and I'd say about 80% of my shooting is done with primes. So it's all up to individual preference. Personally, I'd jump on the 200mm, I've been looking to add it to my collection.

As far as the gear bug.. I definitely have it too lol. Most of the time I can keep it in check, but sometimes deals are just too good to pass up lol. Between camera gear, and firearms, I wonder how I buy groceries