What is your Least Used Piece of Gear?

[scottburgess]

Now it is the 300F2.8. I use the longer glass - this is for my wife to use if she wants a mini-great white

Man, you've got a great supportive wife. My wife would say "why do you need another lens"?

I got my wife hooked on photography. Now she says, "Can we buy another lens?"

 

[dppaskewitz]

Now it is the 300F2.8. I use the longer glass - this is for my wife to use if she wants a mini-great white

Man, you've got a great supportive wife. My wife would say "why do you need another lens"?

I got my wife hooked on photography. Now she says, "Can we buy another lens?"

I've tried. I've really tried. How did you do it?

 

[scottburgess]

I got my wife hooked on photography. Now she says, "Can we buy another lens?"

I've tried. I've really tried. How did you do it?

We would go hiking, except I would end up stopping every tenth of a mile to photograph something for an hour. She started bringing books along to read while waiting, but that didn't work very well. I was shooting film at the time and got her to try it with my spare camera, but she didn't like the lack of immediate feedback and asked me to get a point-and-shoot digital. I got a full featured Panasonic with great zoom range, knowing she's a geek and would quickly outgrow it. A year later she says, "This won't do what I want it to." So I got her our first digital Rebel XTi, which made us both happy!

That was fortuitous for me, too. I was shooting Brownie Ladyslippers one day and took a couple photos with her camera so she could see... After I saw the scanned film images side-by-side with the digital, I used up the last of my film and got another XTi. It wasn't because of resolution--it's that I was so used to compensating mentally for the slide film colors that I was blown away by the color accuracy. Now I'm in love with the digital work flow, too.

I had done shows for some years, but when she had some good pieces put together I encouraged her to do her first show during a busy Arts Alive weekend--I played crier on the street below the gallery space, sending dozens of people up to see her work. She had a blast! We both had pieces in a big regional art show, and it was fun to sit together in the gallery and watch people huddle around our work and listen to what they said.

So basically my wife learned photography in self defense. But she loves it, and is branching us out into astrophotography and still life, while I go ever deeper into macro. We love being able to spend the time together, sharing the beauty of nature and turning some of it into art.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Folks.
We go walking, I stop every tenth to take a picture, I stop just long enough not to get grabbed by the ear and dragged forwards like a mother used to grab a rebellious teen! (metaphorically speaking)
Did you have to tough out this phase to get where you are or are you just that lucky?

Cheers Graham.

I got my wife hooked on photography. Now she says, "Can we buy another lens?"

I've tried. I've really tried. How did you do it?

We would go hiking, except I would end up stopping every tenth of a mile to photograph something for an hour. She started bringing books along to read while waiting, but that didn't work very well. I was shooting film at the time and got her to try it with my spare camera, but she didn't like the lack of immediate feedback and asked me to get a point-and-shoot digital.

 

[RLPhoto]

I would have said my light meter a few months ago and now I can't stop using it. It's very practical.

But my least use piece of kit is my 40 mm panny. It just sits there in neglect in my camera bag as an object used only when I don't use a 50mm.

 

[mackguyver]

I would have said my light meter a few months ago and now I can't stop using it. It's very practical.

But my least use piece of kit is my 40 mm panny. It just sits there in neglect in my camera bag as an object used only when I don't use a 50mm.

There's definitely a common theme of little love for the 40mm. It's a great lens for the money, but other than stitched panos and serving as a body cap for some, it just doesn't seem to fit in most people's workflow.

 

[scyrene]

I might add I don't use my 9-stop ND filter more than a couple of times a year. But those photos are some of my favourites (if a little predictable), so it has to stay (it's also useful for photographing sunspots!)

 

[ecka]

I would have said my light meter a few months ago and now I can't stop using it. It's very practical.

But my least use piece of kit is my 40 mm panny. It just sits there in neglect in my camera bag as an object used only when I don't use a 50mm.

There's definitely a common theme of little love for the 40mm. It's a great lens for the money, but other than stitched panos and serving as a body cap for some, it just doesn't seem to fit in most people's workflow.

And yet its CR image gallery has more pages than some popular Ls .

 

[scottburgess]

We go walking, I stop every tenth to take a picture, I stop just long enough not to get grabbed by the ear and dragged forwards like a mother used to grab a rebellious teen! (metaphorically speaking)
Did you have to tough out this phase to get where you are or are you just that lucky?

We would go hiking, except I would end up stopping every tenth of a mile to photograph something for an hour. She started bringing books along to read while waiting, but that didn't work very well. I was shooting film at the time and got her to try it with my spare camera, but she didn't like the lack of immediate feedback and asked me to get a point-and-shoot digital.

I prefer to think of it as having chosen wisely.

"Come to the Dark Side, they make great lenses. Luke, you can capture embarrassing candids of the Emperor. He has forseen this. It is your destiny. Join me and together we can photograph the galaxy as father and son."
"Uhhh, okay!"
...and they lived happily ever after.

 

[RGF]

Now it is the 300F2.8. I use the longer glass - this is for my wife to use if she wants a mini-great white

Man, you've got a great supportive wife. My wife would say "why do you need another lens"?

She got another viola. And let me tell you, wood is more expensive than glass

 

[RGF]

Now it is the 300F2.8. I use the longer glass - this is for my wife to use if she wants a mini-great white

Man, you've got a great supportive wife. My wife would say "why do you need another lens"?

I got my wife hooked on photography. Now she says, "Can we buy another lens?"

Glad to buy her what she wants. Just sold her 2 Rebels T4i and bought her 2 70D. She was jealous of my 1Dx in Botswana so I'm hoping that the 70D will keep her happy (with 100-400)

 

[mackguyver]

She was jealous of my 1Dx in Botswana so I'm hoping that the 70D will keep her happy (with 100-400)

After reading that, I'm glad my life isn't into photography. Were she into photography, that would make things might expensive for me! She's the same way with other stuff. I bring home a new phone, she has to have a new one, too, I get a new laptop, she wants one, too - you get the idea. The worst so far was when I brought home my current car which was a somewhat extravagant purchase. I ended up saying it was her birthday present knowing full well that she'd never drive it. She was all excited but as I thought - a few days of dealing with two seats, limited trunk space, and really harsh suspension took care of her desire to drive the car. It's been my 'daily driver' ever since ;D

Maybe you should let your wife have the 1D X for a day, but make sure it's a shoot where you leave the tripod/monopod at home and she has to hand hold it all day. That should do the trick

 

[JonAustin]

The worst so far was when I brought home my current car which was a somewhat extravagant purchase. I ended up saying it was her birthday present knowing full well that she'd never drive it. She was all excited but as I thought - a few days of dealing with two seats, limited trunk space, and really harsh suspension took care of her desire to drive the car. It's been my 'daily driver' ever since ;D

Don't keep us in suspense ... what did you buy?

 

[mackguyver]

The worst so far was when I brought home my current car which was a somewhat extravagant purchase. I ended up saying it was her birthday present knowing full well that she'd never drive it. She was all excited but as I thought - a few days of dealing with two seats, limited trunk space, and really harsh suspension took care of her desire to drive the car. It's been my 'daily driver' ever since ;D

Don't keep us in suspense ... what did you buy?

A Porsche, but nothing fancy compared to other members of this forum. I told my wife I was going to buy something sensible this time around like a Honda Accord or something...but I love cars 8)

 

[jdramirez]

The worst so far was when I brought home my current car which was a somewhat extravagant purchase. I ended up saying it was her birthday present knowing full well that she'd never drive it. She was all excited but as I thought - a few days of dealing with two seats, limited trunk space, and really harsh suspension took care of her desire to drive the car. It's been my 'daily driver' ever since ;D

Don't keep us in suspense ... what did you buy?

A Porsche, but nothing fancy compared to other members of this forum. I told my wife I was going to buy something sensible this time around like a Honda Accord or something...but I love cars 8)

I'd have to put my gut in the passenger seat effectively making the car a 1 seater..

 

[mackguyver]

The worst so far was when I brought home my current car which was a somewhat extravagant purchase. I ended up saying it was her birthday present knowing full well that she'd never drive it. She was all excited but as I thought - a few days of dealing with two seats, limited trunk space, and really harsh suspension took care of her desire to drive the car. It's been my 'daily driver' ever since ;D

Don't keep us in suspense ... what did you buy?

A Porsche, but nothing fancy compared to other members of this forum. I told my wife I was going to buy something sensible this time around like a Honda Accord or something...but I love cars 8)

I'd have to put my gut in the passenger seat effectively making the car a 1 seater..

LOL and not the most suitable car for outdoor photography with it's 4 inch ground clearance . I keep saying I'm going to buy an old beat up Jeep or something as a third car so I can get to the places I'd really like to shoot that don't have paved roads.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Mackguyver.
First since when has a Porsche been nothing fancy?
Second don't buy a jeep, rentals go anywhere!

Cheers Graham.

The worst so far was when I brought home my current car which was a somewhat extravagant purchase. I ended up saying it was her birthday present knowing full well that she'd never drive it. She was all excited but as I thought - a few days of dealing with two seats, limited trunk space, and really harsh suspension took care of her desire to drive the car. It's been my 'daily driver' ever since ;D

Don't keep us in suspense ... what did you buy?

A Porsche, but nothing fancy compared to other members of this forum. I told my wife I was going to buy something sensible this time around like a Honda Accord or something...but I love cars 8)

I'd have to put my gut in the passenger seat effectively making the car a 1 seater..

LOL and not the most suitable car for outdoor photography with it's 4 inch ground clearance . I keep saying I'm going to buy an old beat up Jeep or something as a third car so I can get to the places I'd really like to shoot that don't have paved roads.

 

[mackguyver]

Hi Mackguyver.
First since when has a Porsche been nothing fancy?
Second don't buy a jeep, rentals go anywhere!

Cheers Graham.

The worst so far was when I brought home my current car which was a somewhat extravagant purchase. I ended up saying it was her birthday present knowing full well that she'd never drive it. She was all excited but as I thought - a few days of dealing with two seats, limited trunk space, and really harsh suspension took care of her desire to drive the car. It's been my 'daily driver' ever since ;D

Don't keep us in suspense ... what did you buy?

A Porsche, but nothing fancy compared to other members of this forum. I told my wife I was going to buy something sensible this time around like a Honda Accord or something...but I love cars 8)

I'd have to put my gut in the passenger seat effectively making the car a 1 seater..

LOL and not the most suitable car for outdoor photography with it's 4 inch ground clearance . I keep saying I'm going to buy an old beat up Jeep or something as a third car so I can get to the places I'd really like to shoot that don't have paved roads.

Graham, there's nothing humble about a Porsche of course, but my model is not in the same league as some our other members who own Ferraris and 911 Turbos

 

[Zv]

Hi Mackguyver.
First since when has a Porsche been nothing fancy?
Second don't buy a jeep, rentals go anywhere!

Cheers Graham.

The worst so far was when I brought home my current car which was a somewhat extravagant purchase. I ended up saying it was her birthday present knowing full well that she'd never drive it. She was all excited but as I thought - a few days of dealing with two seats, limited trunk space, and really harsh suspension took care of her desire to drive the car. It's been my 'daily driver' ever since ;D

Don't keep us in suspense ... what did you buy?

A Porsche, but nothing fancy compared to other members of this forum. I told my wife I was going to buy something sensible this time around like a Honda Accord or something...but I love cars 8)

I'd have to put my gut in the passenger seat effectively making the car a 1 seater..

LOL and not the most suitable car for outdoor photography with it's 4 inch ground clearance . I keep saying I'm going to buy an old beat up Jeep or something as a third car so I can get to the places I'd really like to shoot that don't have paved roads.

Graham, there's nothing humble about a Porsche of course, but my model is not in the same league as some our other members who own Ferraris and 911 Turbos

Ya'll can't compare with my one seater mama chari bicycle now. Comes complete with a broken basket, squeaky brakes that barely work and a removable seat (read; broken seat). With a range of 5 km (or as long as my arse can handle) puts your Porsche to shame.

Disclaimer - perhaps some beers were consumed before writing this post!

 

[JonAustin]

LOL and not the most suitable car for outdoor photography with it's 4 inch ground clearance . I keep saying I'm going to buy an old beat up Jeep or something as a third car so I can get to the places I'd really like to shoot that don't have paved roads.

Nice ... enjoy! (And remember that the name "Porsche" has two syllables.) For my money, Jeeps (specifically Wranglers) are the best go-anywhere vehicles ever made.