TP: Your greatest regret in photography - the one

skm.sa100 wrote: ABDurbs wrote: Not buying the Zeiss 24-70, 16-35, 85 and the 70-200G when they were still affordable

Not getting out enough to take pictures. (BTW I've just ordered a Zeiss 16-35 and I'm awaiting delivery - Might get me out more!)

stripestripe wrote: My motto: You Buy Cheap - You Buy Twice

Mine: A fool and his money are soon parted.

My biggest regret is buying zoom lenses in the mid to telephoto range (i.e. excluding 16-35 and anything that reaches beyond 300mm). As I see video reviews cropping up of the new FE 70-200 2.8 II, with reviewer waxing lyrical about the amazing close-up portraits and great background separation, I'm reminded of how easy it is to be sucked into this. But ultimately they're advocating for the 135 1.8. Personally, primes make me a better photographer. I guess you could argue that I'm therefore a bad photographer if I need constraints to do my best work (and you're probably right) but it's the paradox of choice - the more choice we have, the harder it is to make the right one!

Until only the last year or so, I've always felt I needed zooms in the bag to make sure I had every possibility covered. In the early days I'd shoot a wedding with 24-70 and 70-200 because I was told these were 'wedding essentials'. But now with the confidence to do things my own way, I love running with 35, 85 and 135 primes. The difference from 35 to 85 to 135 is small enough as to be negligible, and I simply love the 90% of images from these three - versus the 90% mediocre I get from 24-70 and 70-200.

My regrets:
- no backup, so I lost about 75.000 digital pictures on one event
- selling camera's to get newer ones. Why didn't I keep my Dynax 5D, Sony A350, A77, A7i, A7Rii?
- not yet starting a course to improve my skills...

Lots to do!

Not buying the Zeiss 24-70, 16-35, 85 and the 70-200G when they were still affordable

The worst investments I've done were buying a second hand KM 7D which broke way to quickly.
I was lucky to get some money back on the investment but the cash I spend on it was way too much and the camera was way more then I needed as a beginner.
Was used to my dad's 5D and got lost beyond believe. I had a good time with it but it had the common issue and I sold all my gear. To my luck I found a great set of lenses on a flee-market later that lead me to buy a Sony alpha 580 which worked way easier to start with :)

overeema wrote: Selling my MC 2,8/135 decades ago after purchasing a MC 1,7/85 to make room in my bag (and purse) for a MD 4/200. The MD 4/200 has never disappointed me, but in retrospect I would rather have kept my 2,8/135 and bought a MD 4,5/300 instead.

I don't know about the 4.5/300 (though I think I've seen them around) but the 135/2.8 is pretty easy to find. When I picked one up last year I had the choice between at least 3 including 1 MC version and 2 MDs. The one I bought only cost me 80 euros. I have an 85/2 that cost me I think 200 and saw an 85/1.7 in a store that was going for over 400 euros.