Brenda Landrum

Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) – the compulsive, often uncontrollable urge to acquire gear beyond what is necessary. It’s driven by the feeling that the latest gear will make one a better photographer plus fueled with the fear of missing out and the high of getting something new. 

I’m no stranger to this syndrome but somehow over the last 6.5 years I’ve been able to avoid it. November 2019 is the last time I purchased a camera. I made the jump (it was a much bigger deal back then) to the mirrorless Canon R body. I purchased the EF to RF lens adapter with it so that I could continue to use the EF lenses I already had and that is the last time I’ve purchased gear. No, I do not own any RF lenses. I can get sucked in like anyone else in wanting to purchase a new version or start replacing my EF lenses but then I realize that what I have works perfectly fine. I’ve even gone as far as rent the coveted camera but typically remind myself that my gear is still good. So here is a little run down of what I use.

The Canon R body, EF to RF lens adaptor and the Canon 50mm 1.4 lens is my go to. I probably shoot 90% of my work with this setup. The 50mm works so well for me. It’s how I see the world and this lens has been a work horse. I only attach the Sigma 100mm macro when I want to get crazy close in my floral work. I don’t love the Sigma lens, it’s focusing is clumsy but again it’s what I have and I make it work for me. I also own a Lensbaby Composer Pro + Edge 80 Optic. I love how this lens creates a tilt shift effect and when I need to break away from the norm and get a little more creative this is the lens I use. I actually haven’t used it in quite awhile so it might be time to through it on the Canon and play. The other lens is a Canon 28mm that I hardly ever use. My style of photography just doesn’t gravitate to a wide angle lens. This lens was purchased when I was shooting weddings for when I found myself in tight spaces. It sits in my camera bag most of the time. 

Here are a few images from the Canon R and three of my most used lenses.

The Fujifim X-T1 and I have had an on and off relationship over the years (I think I bought it in 2016). I really wanted this camera is be my go-to but I think because I have shot Canon for most of my photography career that my brain does not shift to the Fuji dial setting system. I shoot manual all the time. I like having complete control over the exposure of an image. With the Canon, the shutter speed is set with my pointer finger and aperture is set with my thumb on the turn dials right by the shutter release button. Yes, we’re still working with dials here but what trips me up with the Fuji is that to turn the shutter set dial I have to completely let go of the grip to get my fingers onto the dial on top of the camera to turn it. Plus the settings jump pretty far like 250 to 500 so I’ve let go of the grip to turn the dial but it’s too far so then I grab the grip to turn the thumb dial to set it to say 320 or 400. It’s a minor thing but it does slow me down more than I would like so I have struggled with this camera. I’ve often thought about upgrading it and trying a different style from Fuji but you guessed it, what I have works. 

I own two Fuji lenses; the 23mm pancake and the 35mm 1.4. You read all about why I love the 50mm above so the 35mm on the Fujifilm crop sensor makes the lens like a 50mm for me and what I most use on the Fuji. I wanted the 23mm pancake lens to make the camera more portable to put into a small bag or even hang from my neck. Both of these lenses I have been very happy with and if I would upgrade to a newer Fuji interchangeable lens camera I would definitely continue to use these lenses. 

The Fuji X-T1 has been more of a point and shoot camera for me but I have recently been playing around with some custom recipes which makes me shoot in jpg (yeah, I typically shoot in RAW and then edit how I want) and it has been fun playing around with that. If any Fuji camera users have any tips for me please share.

That’s my camera gear! All 2 cameras and 6 lenses that I’ve had for many years. I’m very thankful that this gear has held up so well that I haven’t had to replace anything due to it breaking. That doesn’t seem to happen as much these days with many things. 

I would love to read what your favorite set up is right now. Your iPhone, a Canon G7 or maybe you got your hands on the new Fujifilm X100VI that everyone is talking about on Instagram because it’s sold out. Please share in the comments!