A little bit of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)

So … I’m back from Shanghai, having tasted the power of a 50mm lens (80mm with a 1.6 crop factor).

What would that 40mm pancake lens I’ve been reading about do? Hmm…

That 600D has been hiding away in my closet for a long time, and now I’m beginning to think that with a small-sized lens, it might be a good street camera.

A 40mm would be a bit extravagant if you already have a 50mm lens.

Just zoom with your feet, I’d say.

But given the crop factor, it would mean 64 mm, a justifiable difference from 80mm.

So, yes, I headed off to Tsim Sha Tsui with the intention of not buying that Canon 40mm F2.8 pancake lens.

According to the Canon HK site, it goes for HK$1480.

I inquired about the price at Suning and the staff whispered HK$1380 conspiratorially.

I crossed the road and went into a small shop called Echo Audio and it’s HK$1100.

Yes! I made some money! A yummy pancake!

Roland Lim has a lot to say about buying cameras in Hong Kong.

Beware of those shops with “Tax Free” signs. Consumer goods are tax free everywhere in Hong Kong.

I’ve always been mindful of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).

Every time something fascinating appears, I remind myself it’ll be old news a year later.

First there’s Sony RX100, followed by RX100 MII, and now it’s RX100 MIII.

Ditto Fuji X100 and X100S. You can’t keep up.

I’m mindful of planned obsolescence when it comes to digital cameras – that’s partly why I’m into film cameras.

A Leica M6 would still be majestic 10 years later and hold its value at least on EBay.

You can’t quite say the same with digital cameras.

So anyway, a 64mm would fit between my Leica 50mm Summicron and that 80mm (50mm Canon nifty fifty).

I could be indoors and still be unnoticed despite the loud flipping of the slr mirror, given the distance.

This person spotted me but carried on as before.

The pancake is not as intimidating, compared to if I had my 18-135mm lens.

The fact is, no one noticed me.

The 600D with the pancake looks really small. (Though it is a bit loud).

He didn’t even look up.

Maybe I look like a tourist with a camera, in a tourist area.

He spotted me, but went on walking past me.

I’m in the MTR (subway) and no one stopped me.

I am invisible…

My camera looks like a toy.

Do I exist?

If I take a picture and no one sees me … do I exist?

People are too immersed in themselves…

Too immersed in their phones…

Finally – someone noticed!

Thanks for reading!

And if you like this post, you’ll like my portfolio.