What's in my bag and why?
Part I: Feeling good about it and getting on with shooting...
My Addiction
Ever since I began shooting, some four or five years ago, I have maintained significant concern regarding what gear I own. More accurately, I have been concerned about what gear I do not own. As a geek and techie I admit to a certain degree of gear fetish.
My first digital camera purchase was a Konica Minolta DiMage Z5. Within 3 months, I had purchased a Canon 10D dSLR. Six months later, I upgraded to a Canon 20D. The following year, I purchased a Canon 1D Mark IIN. To supplement this, I required a backup body. I purchased a Canon Rebel XTi. Along the way, I picked up lenses covering 10mm to 500mm and tripod systems to support them. Camera bags, filters, light meters, CF cards, batteries, binoculars... you get the idea. To be fair, I was using all of this equipment.
Somehow, my camera bag never felt complete. It felt... heavy!
Awakening
In 2007, I attended a photo workshop on the Olympic Peninsula. It meant some serious one-on-one time between myself and my gear. I spent days shooting, and really understanding what worked for me and what didn't. Conditions were miserable, so it really tested me and my camera bag. I began to optimize.
This year, I committed to optimizing my kit. I sold my Mark IIN and replaced it with a Canon 40D. I shipped the Rebel XTi to my father. Several lenses were sold off. Camera bags, spare tripods, duplicate accessories... sold. The amount of cash in my secondary checking account soared! I sat back and reflected on my experiences during that workshop. I thought about what I had wished I owned. I thought about what simply didn't work out. I thought about what really delivered great results for me.
Carefully, I restocked my camera bag, holding myself to what I had learned.
Zen
One of my coworkers is also one of my shooting buddies. During the last few months, I have been telling him, "I am so happy with my gear! There's not a single lens on my wishlist right now. Sure, if a 300mm f/2.8 fell from the sky, I wouldn't complain, but seriously... nothing is on my B&H wishlist."
I am, for the first time, completely satisfied with my current gear. I have no cravings. I have no itches. I have no credit card debt.
Most importantly, I have all the time in the world to shoot.
Change
Before
Canon 1D Mark IIN
Canon Rebel XTi
Canon ELAN II
Olympus Stylus Epic
2 Rolleiflex TLRs
Canon 17-40 f/4
Canon 24mm f/2.8
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
Canon 28-105 f/4-4.6
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 70-200 f/4
Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6
Canon 100mm f/2.8
Canon 400mm f/5.6
Sigma 500mm f/4.5
Tamron 1.4x teleconverter
Sigma 2.0x teleconverter
Kenko extension tubes
Cokin A complete filter set
Pentax Digital Spotmeter
Canon 420EX Shoe Flash
Tamrac Expedition 3
Lowepro Nova 4
Lowepro Mini Trekker AW
Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW
Manfrotto 3021B-Pro Tripod
Gitzo G1325 Tripod
Manfrotto 486RC2 Ballhead
Manfrotto 3229 Tilt-Head
Kirk King Cobra Gimbal Head
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After
Canon 40D
Canon G9
Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5
Canon 17-40 f/4
Canon 24-70 f/2.8
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 70-200 f/4 IS
Canon 100mm f/2.8
Sigma 500mm f/4.5
Kenko 1.4x teleconverter
Kenko extension tubes
Singh Ray Warming Polarizer
Singh Ray 2-3 stop ND Grads
Pentax Digital Spotmeter
Canon 420EX Shoe Flash
Lowepro Mini Trekker AW
Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW
Gitzo G1325 Tripod
Really Right Stuff BH-40
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Cured?
Certainly not! I love new gear!
My career pays well and I enjoy a certain degree of freedom when purchasing new equipment. However, I have set strict guidelines for myself and I am following them. This year, out of necessity, I may invest in a Singh Ray 3-stop reverse ND grad filter. I will not, however, use my bonus to add three new lenses to my kit... simply because I can.
Additionally, here a few things accomplished with the funds I have so far recaptured:
- Paid off an auto loan in two years instead of four
- Paid off a lingering student loan
- Paid for a week-long photography workshop in Crested Butte
Most importantly, there's that zen feeling when I'm shooting. All things in the bag are in balance.
Jamie, JFP
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