Glassware at Pago
For as long as I’ve owned my Nikon (2002), I have had a wish list of glass that always seems to add up to around $10K. Every time I upgrade my gear, another item of desire replaces it. Today’s fantasy list:
- 200-400 VR +$6000
- 16-35 VR $1200
- 24 mm tilt/shift $2000
- used 70-180 micro $1800
- Sigma 15mm fisheye $600
- Singh-Ray Variable ND $400
Total: $10,200. How can that be? It’s always the same amount, no matter what I have already bought. And what does it mean? Clearly, those crafty camera engineers will always be tempting me. That’s their job, and they do it well.
Daydreaming about more glass is fun once in a while. Scott Jarvie’s inspired use of an 8mm lens and ring flash shows how much fun a specialty lens can be. But is a shortage of optics really what is keeping me from making my pictures? As I reminded my students last month, I made this picture with a Nikon D70 and the 18-70 kit lens. It’s pretty good on the technical side, and today, every entry-level Nikon and Canon exceeds that camera’s specs. Gear, or lack thereof, is no excuse to stay home and think about the pictures I “coulda-woulda-shoulda” taken IF ONLY I HAD [fill in the blank] lens.
I know this today: when I start wasting time shopping for optics, it’s time to pack my bags with the gear that I have and go make some pictures. Now.
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One Comment
Great post Ann. Thanks you for the wonderful reminder.