New Sony, New Leica. Yay, I guess.

New Sony, New Leica. Yay, I guess.

I am frustratingly satisfied with my existing cameras — frustratingly so because I'd really love to get excited about some of these new offerings. Buying equipment is, let's admit, fun! My inner pragmatist, however, keeps looking at the results that I'm getting from my existing equipment with the disappointment that all of my cameras and lenses are performing beautifully in every way that I need. Perhaps that's the problem — need versus lust. I would just love to go spend about $5000 on a new system — assuming I have $5000 to flitter away — which of course would mean I would not spend that same $5000 on paper and ink, travel and access, or training and education.

Are you familiar with the term "opportunity cost"? In classic economics, the opportunity cost of something is what you cannot acquire after you've allocated your finite resources to what you do acquire. This applies equally to cash and time as well as effort and energy. For example, the opportunity cost of attending a workshop is that you are not out photographing on your own. The opportunity cost of watching the Godfather trilogy for the fifth time is that you no longer have those six hours for printing in the darkroom.

The new cameras from Sony and Leica (in all honesty all new cameras from all manufactures that are announced each and every week ad infinitum) all represent an opportunity cost for something else we could be doing with the time we spend researching, the money we spend buying, the hours we spend testing, and the effort we spend mastering our new stuff. It's fun, it's seductive, and it's a part of photography that I actually do love — but I also recognize it's all a part of photography it takes me away from my larger and more important goals of trying to make meaningful art. Hence, I both patronize and curse dpreview.com. In the long run I may be powerless to resist — but I may be successful in the short term. Hello, my name is Brooks…

Comments

[Markus Spring]

Well spoken. Maybe it's a question of (my) age, but this photokina's news leave me colder than any other before. Fully aware that I still do not really master what I do have, I seem to have finally gotten that this wouldn't change with "something even better". Not good for the manufacturers of all those precious new and shiny items, but - opportunity cost wise - for me.

[Godfrey]

Yes, it's very enticing to get caught up in all the new camera foo. Some great products out there.

The new Sony RX1 is appealing to me. As is the new Leica M .. A very solid and full featured update to the M9, which I'm already very happy with. Both are simple and direct kinds of cameras. Not much else tickles my fantasy much so I'm not wasting much time looking at other specs.

My photo budget includes much more money to fund going places and making photographs rather than buying more equipment. As it should be. :-)

Equipment is transitory. Photographs endure.

[Jeff Morley]

Nikon D-90, about a hundred years old in 'product-cycle' years. Just fine for me.
Just bought a Sony NEX-5N with the kit zoom, and a Sigma 30mm lens. Smaller, lighter, pretty happy with it so far.

But now, suddenly....I'm thinking 'a second body' (another NEX-5 or 7) would be a worthwhile purchase.

Thanks a lot, Brooks. :-)

[nicos]

Another rambling Brooks diarist entry that leads to no where...

Leave out opportunity cost and focus more on photography. Let the Washington ruling class figure out the opportunity cost of a $17 trillion debt situation that stuffed up the World Economy ...

Now lets follow your logic about opportunity cost in Photography

Not long ago you photographed a Welder at your local Naval Dockyard

You spent many days --or was it weeks ? shooting 300 frames to get that elusive shot ( really that many ? -- professionals get the shot right in about one in five ; was it bad lighting ?: use light modifiers and flash; was it composition ? : use image design and color. Did you plan the shoot? -- if you had, you would of gone in and shoot at maximum , say 10 frames )

So where is the opportunity cost in all this ? -- since you are genius
and can cost and price every photography activity

If you shot 10 frames and got the job done, you could of had more time to :

1) have a meaningful discussion with you wife; taking her out to a nice dinner

2) studied Beowulf in the first folio

3) challenged yourself by learning ancient Greek or Latin

4) And listened to more Glen Miller, Joni Mitchell and Led Zeppelin

Do you see how vapid and stupid your idea is when you apply opportunity
cost to photography projects ?

I am waiting for Podcast 1000 - quantum mechanics and photography; how you rationalize for what has no reason or connection in your ever pursuit in the structure of creativity.

Keep at it !