A new year, a new purchase?
Wednesday 31 December 2025, 13:31 by Nando Harmsen | 1,613 views | 5 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
There is no point buying new equipment if you do not need it. Still, it is sometimes nice to have something new. A new camera, a new lens, or a useful accessory. Are you planning a purchase in 2026?
Do you buy photography equipment because you can never have enough, or because you always want the latest of the latest? Then you suffer from GAS, Gear Acquisition Syndrome. If that makes you happy, that is perfectly fine.
It makes more sense to buy something only when you need it. That way, you save money and can spend it on other things. A photography trip, or a workshop or course. The latter is an investment in becoming better at photography.
But workshops or courses alone are pointless if you do not go out and take photographs. So you have to head out. Somewhere nearby, or on a proper photography trip like the trips I lead to Lofoten in winter and autumn, and Iceland in summer.
Then, of course, you want good equipment that allows you to photograph the things you want to photograph. If you have everything you need, that is great. But sometimes it is nice to have something new anyway. That can be new or second-hand, of course.
Is there any equipment you have your eye on? Something you might want to buy in 2026? A new lens or a replacement lens? Perhaps a new camera? Or another tripod. A flash, a backdrop? Or a new camera bag?
I am thinking of expanding my vintage lenses in 2026, meaning old or antique lenses, with two or three new old lenses. But there are no plans for a new camera or another modern lens. But who knows, that may still change.
Are you planning to expand or replace your equipment? Is it because you want to upgrade or have to upgrade? Or simply because you enjoy buying something new? Perhaps you would like to join me in Lofoten or Iceland. Or take an enjoyable workshop closer to home.
Share your plans for any possible purchases in a comment below this post. I am very curious about your intentions.
About the author
Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.
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5 comments
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MacBigfoot wrote on Wednesday 31 December 2025 at 14:55
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I enjoy playing around with old cameras and analogue photography. Just the way you work with them, and everything that comes into play before you have an image.
Translated from Dutch.
In that respect, I’m currently saving up to expand my collection of analogue cameras, lenses and accessories. It doesn’t all have to be expensive, it’s about the enjoyment.
I’ve also found that playing around with old lenses is a lot of fun, and I want to do more of that too, perhaps using a simple full-frame mirrorless with an adapter instead of the Olympus for that (I find that more difficult because of the crop factor). -
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MacBigfoot wrote on Tuesday 17 February 2026 at 18:04
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Maybe I’m seeing it wrong, but suppose I want to photograph a nice foreground with characteristic bokeh in the background using a Helios: because of the narrower angle of view on the Olympus, I have to stand farther away to get the same thing in the frame, which makes it more difficult to create nice bokeh.
Translated from Dutch.
In any case, I found it less easy to achieve on my Olympus than on my Leica typ-240, with the same Helios. -
Nando
wrote on Wednesday 18 February 2026 at 10:14
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Of course, photographing is different. The angle of view is smaller, which means you should no longer consider the lens a standard focal length lens but a short telephoto lens. This means you have to stand farther away from your subject to get it in the frame, which consequently affects the way the depth of field (or the lack thereof) looks.
Translated from Dutch.
Use the lens as a short telephoto, then. But don't try to achieve the same result as when you use it on FF. -
Liesbeth Verkade wrote on Tuesday 6 January 2026 at 13:35
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If I were to want to buy something new this year, it would be a small compact camera with which I can shoot RAW images. Sometimes it is a bit of a nuisance to lug my larger 90D around. Apart from that, I am completely satisfied with the equipment I have now, so why buy anything new?
Translated from Dutch.
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