[jpyykonen]

This is really something you don't want to think about. It's a hobby after all. If it was a business then you might think it more. But some of the best things about this hobby is the thing that if you buy used and seek for good deals then you hardly lose any money when you sell the stuff. Cameras lose their value over time but good lenses won't. It may be expensive hobby but with little bit planning and patience you may not lose that much money after all. In many hobbies gear loses it value when used but in photography the value lost is very low (if bought used).

When I bought my first Pentax seven years ago I was sure I won't be spending lots of money in photography stuff. Manual lenses were good and "enough". I was happy to take similar photos with fraction of a cost of "pro" gear. I was sure I will never spend 200€ in one lens. After few years I started to buy AF lenses. I bought three lenses at 200€ and thought that was absolute max. Then also my GF did got interested in photography more seriously and my "plan" went very well until last year. Then the whole thing "exploded". Only last year I spent little over 2000€, most expensive lens being 400€. And now when I look the price of Sigma 150-500 HSM OS at 750€ I think it's pretty cheap. And I'm planning about buying 1000€ lens (DA* 300/4). I did a calculation of all things I have bought (cameras, lenses, flashes, bags, filters, tripods, memory cards, accessories, software etc.) today and the result was shocking. The total cost combined with my GF is over 7000€. How in the hell I could afford that? If somebody told me 2 years back that I had that much photo stuff I would said he's crazy.

It's just too easy to buy knowing that "you don't lose much when you sell it again"

[LeDave]

In less than a year I spent on a k-5, da 18-55 wr, da* 50-135, 16-50, af540fgz, 67mm and 77mm b+w Mrc uv filters, genuine d bg4 grip, two extra d li90 batteries. All brand new. Then a cla'd mx and m 50 1.7. I would say I spent $3,650 in eight months.

[stanic]

This is really something you don't want to think about. It's a hobby after all. If it was a business then you might think it more. But some of the best things about this hobby is the thing that if you buy used and seek for good deals then you hardly lose any money when you sell the stuff. Cameras lose their value over time but good lenses won't. It may be expensive hobby but with little bit planning and patience you may not lose that much money after all. In many hobbies gear loses it value when used but in photography the value lost is very low (if bought used).

When I bought my first Pentax seven years ago I was sure I won't be spending lots of money in photography stuff. Manual lenses were good and "enough". I was happy to take similar photos with fraction of a cost of "pro" gear. I was sure I will never spend 200€ in one lens. After few years I started to buy AF lenses. I bought three lenses at 200€ and thought that was absolute max. Then also my GF did got interested in photography more seriously and my "plan" went very well until last year. Then the whole thing "exploded". Only last year I spent little over 2000€, most expensive lens being 400€. And now when I look the price of Sigma 150-500 HSM OS at 750€ I think it's pretty cheap. And I'm planning about buying 1000€ lens (DA* 300/4). I did a calculation of all things I have bought (cameras, lenses, flashes, bags, filters, tripods, memory cards, accessories, software etc.) today and the result was shocking. The total cost combined with my GF is over 7000€. How in the hell I could afford that? If somebody told me 2 years back that I had that much photo stuff I would said he's crazy.

It's just too easy to buy knowing that "you don't lose much when you sell it again"

nice! I spent 4000 € in 2 years since I got the K-x and 18-55 DAL but feel at the moment I have enough stuff (but that 300/4 arrgh )
now I am trying to focus more on b&w process at home, 35 mm (Z1p) and 6x6 (Pentacon Six Tl) so I`m looking forward to it too

[EarlVonTapia]

Based on some quick calculations off the top of my head, I've easily cleared $2000 CDN on cash spent for "photography stuff". It's probably closer to $2500 with all of the little odds and ends I've spent. The biggest chunk came from dropping $800 for the K30 (I got it before any sweet holiday rebates were around).

Not bad for three months in.

I will say that I feel like I'm reaching an equilibrium point. There's only one or two lenses I want to "upgrade", but more importantly, there are some I just want to sell off because they aren't seeing enough action. I dislike the idea of having expensive lenses sitting around doing nothing. Either they produce good photos for me, or they go!

[steve1307]

My lovely wife spends at least twice as much on her sewing machines, materials, magazines, patterns, yada, yada as I do on my photography. In fact, she has her own room with six 6-drawer dressers (from Ikea) with all of her stuff stored inside. Ya think I have my own "photography" room? Not a chance!!

I know that feeling. My wife has a dedicated room (well its a very large laundry) with a built-in wardrobe 1/2 of it filled with material, in addition to the sewing table, and some half finished projects. She's given away most of the quilts she's made so far.
The latest hobby involves bits of coloured paper, presses and stamps. There are 3 IKEA draws for this.

I've got a couple of draws in the spare room which have to be relocated when guests come to stay.


Still I don't mind as there are no questions on the spending. I figure I've cracked the $10K barrier* in my current kit in the last 3 years.

Hey , I havent spent anything so far this year. Oh ..... there's a GPS on order, and a better tripod in the wings but thats it, honestly.


*barrier is a figure of speech, there is no barrier.

The images and the enjoyment in capturing them is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

[dave kitson]

Reminds me of the old photographer whose big worry was that if he died unexpectedly, his wife would sell his kit for what he had told her he paid for it....

dave k

[jpyykonen]

Reminds me of the old photographer whose big worry was that if he died unexpectedly, his wife would sell his kit for what he had told her he paid for it....

dave k

Hey , I havent spent anything so far this year. Oh ..... there's a GPS on order, and a better tripod in the wings but thats it, honestly.

Oh yes, the GPS (I guess you mean the O-GPS1 unit). I've been after one for sometime but haven't pulled the trigger yet

[rbefly]

Since I got back into photography (with digital) in 2009, about $3,300 USD.
I had a few SMC-M lenses saved from my film days, and an ME Super that was recently CLA'd for $85.00 by Eric. Since then I've picked up a black ME, black MX and winders for both.
My K10D and K-7 together total $1,000, both used.
So, about another $2,000 for all the lenses in my sig, not counting the K110D, DA18-55 kit lens, DA50-200, M100 Macro and a few other lenses I gave to my sister when I upgraded from the starter gear.
The single most expensive lens? A Vivitar Series 1 VMC 1:2.5 90mm Macro w/matching PK 1:1 adapter- $272. The "Bokina", worth every penny.
Followed by a DA 1:4.0 16-45mm, $250 used, and an SMC A 135mm 1:2.8 $250.
Least expensive, an F 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, $40.00 and an M 1:1.4 50mm $51.00.
(I know, I know, I stole that one! An eBayer that didn't realize what they had)
Roughly $1,100 per year, doesn't seem like a very high price for all the fun I've had.
This doesn't count accessories like tripods, battery grips and small items like filters, etc.
But it's hard to put a price on enjoyment!!!
Ron

[Wired]

Oh god.... you had to make this one didnt you?

Camera bodies: $8840 (SPII, MX, ME, K1000, MZ6, Agfa range finder, Kodak P850, Q, K100D (x2), K20, K5 (x2), K30, Nikon J1, Nikon AW100, Nikon Coolpix, Sony NEX5N, D600)
Lenses: $8565 (Tak 50 1.4, Tak 135 2.5, M28 2.8 x2, M50 1.7, M50 2.0, M135 3.5, M 200 4.0, M75-150, FA 50 1.7, FA 28-80, FA 28-105, FA 77, DA 10-17, DA 18-55 (x2), DA 50-200, DA 40 limited, DA*16-50, DA*55, DA*50-135, Tamron 90 di macro, Tamaron auto 28 2.8 M42, Sigma 30 1.4, Sigma 70-300, Vivtar 70-210 macro, Vivitar 28 2.8, Nikon 85 1.8, Nikon 50 1.8, nikon 145 3.5, Nikon 105 f2.5, Nikon 24-85...)
Flashguns/strobes: $1820 (AF540 x2, AF220, SB700, Elinchrom Dlite4)
accessories (tripods, backdrops, gels, filters, monitor calibration, repairs): $3530 (elinchrom speed triggers, Lastolite hilite, reflectors, stands, etc. etc.)

$22,755. Most of that in the past 5 years. Luckily a lot of my vintage stuff (M lenses, K1000, MX, ME, Agfa, MZ6) were free or incredibly cheap (under $50) I also didn't include trades in that number, just raw money exchanged.

I can see myself probably have at least another $5000 to spend over the next year with stuff that is currently available/announced. (ie: no FF Pentax or K5 APS-C replacement, either of which would be quickly added). That list is: Nikon 70-200 f2.8, Nikon 135 or 105 f2 DC, Pentax FA 31, Pentax FA 43, Pentax MX-1.

eeep.

edit: oh god, I just recalled... I've also spent money on software, books, magazines, courses.. probably another $2000 minimum there.

on the plus side, when I started taking paying gigs this past spring (June) I've earned $4500.


Couple that with guitar/music gear, automotive related junk, paintball, other misc hobbies now in the closet (model trains, slot cars...) I think I got a problem...it's called go big or go home, and its hurting my savings account.