No, of course we are going to put it in Focus not talking about energy prices. But GAS we all know: the Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Sure, that Nikon is great and, thanks to your GAS, you've accumulated an impressive amount of lenses over time. But maybe that new Canon with two extra megapixels is even better. Suddenly, your life revolves around that new Canon camera, and you actually can't sleep well until you've added it to your arsenal. GAS is a modern disease. A very expensive disease.
I myself have amassed a fine collection over the past year. In all honesty, apart from my Sony A7 IV and A7R IV and a dozen prime and zoom lenses, I don't need anything more. I really know how to manage in any situation and in any light. But every time a new Sony camera or lens comes out, I get a little itchy. However, during a walk with the dog this week, the realisation suddenly came. The realisation that if you are always looking for something new, you never really get to know what you already have.
Therefore, I would like to introduce a new abbreviation: REM. Rest And Mastery. If you keep immersing yourself in what you already have, you will automatically become a better photographer. And that restlessness about new gear will go away by itself.
Photography, of course, is not about your camera. It's about how well you know your camera. If you really know it, you don't have to worry about it. Because if you have to photograph an event in poor light, you automatically open your aperture without looking. Then you know how slow your shutter speed can be without your handheld losing focus. Then you can change your batteries with your gloves on. Then you know in which situation raw is actually an unnecessary luxury. Once you know without thinking which camera settings are best at any given moment, you can focus on the watch. If you can focus on looking, you will naturally become a better photographer.
So does that mean you can never buy a new camera or lens again? No, of course not. Nonsense. But thanks to your REM, you might be more likely to invest in a 50mm F1.2 as an upgrade from your 50mm F1.8, rather than an A7R V as an upgrade from your A7R IV. Thanks to your REM, you buy more purposefully. You then invest in what you needed have. Because in the end, a better camera does not make you a better photographer, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you that!
Next time you want to give GAS, kick the REM first. Agreed?
This article previously appeared in Focus Magazine (the best photography magazine in the Netherlands), for which I was allowed to write a column every issue in 2023 and 2024.