is photography your most expensive hobby?

DeadJohn · 01-30-2014, 10:06 PM

I see others beat me to "tripping in the park". It only costs $25!? Every time I try it the cops arrest me and bail's much more expensive.

wullemaha · 01-31-2014, 12:53 AM

Originally posted by DeadJohn

I see others beat me to "tripping in the park". It only costs $25!? Every time I try it the cops arrest me and bail's much more expensive.

It gets better once you know all the cops.
I set up a flat-rate payment for $250 per month with them, all trippings included.
I still have to pay for their coffee's once in a while though...

Fluke · 02-01-2014, 01:23 AM

I've spent more on photography in the last two years than anything else, but both my modest music recording studio and my sailing dinghy cost more.

Don't get me started on discussions of audiophile gear. As a long-time designer of professional audio equipment, that crazy market makes my blood boil!

Nesster · 02-01-2014, 05:45 AM

After all this time, I finally read the title of this thread as "Is Pornography your most expensive hobby?"

RonHendriks1966 · 02-01-2014, 05:50 AM

I would say yes, but I spend more money on my car for drives to make pictures. In sports you have to travel and that costs more then camera gear and all nessacery to present images.

Wired · 02-01-2014, 08:22 AM

It is now

I'm also a guitarist/musician/producer, with the producer taking more of a back seat the deeper I get into photography. Truth be told I've earned more money in photography in one year than I have in 15 from the music industry. I probably have way more sunk into music gear than I ever will in photo gear until I break out further into the industry, this year is promising though.

I've calculated it up recently for insurance, and just for the music gear I OWN now is over $20k. That doesn't include all the stuff I sold to get myself out of debt years ago...I've probably put in $40k since I started paying for my own gear including cost to maintain and consumables. For photo gear... I'm just under $18k right now total including sold stuff, I'm lucky that a lot of my M series and film bodies I got for next to nothing or free. I can also only see myself throwing another $3000 into gear this year unless Pentax does something crazy....

I've had many hobbies though. At one time I was juggling: restoring and hot rodding cars, miniature model railway, RC cars, RC planes, slot cars, photography, music, and video gaming while still getting enough time out with the then fiancé and friends. Now it's just music, photography, and cycling. But cycling shouldn't count as in the summer I use it for commuting.

It's sad and shocking to do the math for insurance on everything you own. My home premium went up quite a bit, and I've started looking at dedicated camera insurance as I've now got a long term contract.

Originally posted by Fluke

I've spent more on photography in the last two years than anything else, but both my modest music recording studio and my sailing dinghy cost more.

Don't get me started on discussions of audiophile gear. As a long-time designer of professional audio equipment, that crazy market makes my blood boil!

thanks for reminding me about my passion for vinyl collecting and comics. great, add two more onto the current hobbies. going to have to cut one out I think

dansamy · 02-01-2014, 08:26 AM

Originally posted by Nesster

After all this time, I finally read the title of this thread as "Is Pornography your most expensive hobby?"

Well, if it caused the big D, alimony plus child support could certainly make that a rather pricy hobby...

Burgian · 02-01-2014, 02:11 PM

Photography is SOOO much less expensive now than it was when I was shooting film in 35mm, 6x6 and 4x5 cameras. I can't believe the money I spent on photography back then.

kosmoejtg · 02-01-2014, 06:16 PM

Originally posted by BrianR

Yes. Unless "Owning Too Many Cats and their Associated Vet Bills" counts as a hobby.

We have two senior dogs that we adopted a little over a year ago. They are great dogs, but talk about expensive! It makes my camera costs seem trivial.

saladin · 02-01-2014, 06:20 PM

comp rifle shooting would be FAR FAR more expensive than photography per time spent. But i don't do too much range time anymore.

**TedH42** · 02-01-2014, 06:38 PM

Adding together photography in the distant past of the film era, and now in the present digital era, I think I may have passed my astronomy/telescope expenses. I have everything that I need for astronomy, but photography has continued to require improvements in equipment. But those FA limiteds are worth it, and they reduce any urge of mine to keep up with the newest stuff. LBA on the wane, and no film-related recurring expenses.

StepOne · 02-02-2014, 01:14 AM

Photography is as expensive as you want it to be. I had the "LBA" addiction, but bought old M42 or K lenses, so was cheap. When i had quite a few, i realized that i'm not using all that stuff, and kept just a few. Now i just look at the new lenses, but have no urge to get those, as i have other things to spend on, first one being my 2 years old son

abacus07 · 02-02-2014, 02:46 AM

Cycling (touring) is getting pretty close but photography is still my most expensive hobby. If I had more money I would have even more expensive hobbies though.

Serpiente · 02-02-2014, 07:06 AM

Yes it is.. Travelling is very expensive, but my main goal is photography. So travelling to locations is part of photography. My kit is maybe €3000 and all my photography trips since I have a DSLR are around €7000.

kosmoejtg · 02-02-2014, 12:00 PM

I had a friend who has an interest in photography as me how much I had spent so far. Up to that point i hadn't really focused on it. I think it comes to about $3k in the past 14 months but that only counts the larger items, even if they were gifts. All the little things like memory, filters lens case, mini tripod, cleaning supplies, etc add up as well. It kind of scared him off because it can become very consuming and easy to get drawn in deeper and deeper.

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01-30-2014, 10:06 PM	#106
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	I see others beat me to "tripping in the park". It only costs $25!? Every time I try it the cops arrest me and bail's much more expensive.

01-31-2014, 12:53 AM	#107
wullemaha Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Tokyo Posts: 503	Originally posted by DeadJohn I see others beat me to "tripping in the park". It only costs $25!? Every time I try it the cops arrest me and bail's much more expensive. It gets better once you know all the cops. I set up a flat-rate payment for $250 per month with them, all trippings included. I still have to pay for their coffee's once in a while though...

02-01-2014, 01:23 AM	#108
Fluke New Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 16	I've spent more on photography in the last two years than anything else, but both my modest music recording studio and my sailing dinghy cost more. Don't get me started on discussions of audiophile gear. As a long-time designer of professional audio equipment, that crazy market makes my blood boil!

02-01-2014, 05:45 AM	#109
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	After all this time, I finally read the title of this thread as "Is Pornography your most expensive hobby?"

02-01-2014, 05:50 AM	#110
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	I would say yes, but I spend more money on my car for drives to make pictures. In sports you have to travel and that costs more then camera gear and all nessacery to present images.

02-01-2014, 08:22 AM	#111
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519	It is now I'm also a guitarist/musician/producer, with the producer taking more of a back seat the deeper I get into photography. Truth be told I've earned more money in photography in one year than I have in 15 from the music industry. I probably have way more sunk into music gear than I ever will in photo gear until I break out further into the industry, this year is promising though. I've calculated it up recently for insurance, and just for the music gear I OWN now is over $20k. That doesn't include all the stuff I sold to get myself out of debt years ago...I've probably put in $40k since I started paying for my own gear including cost to maintain and consumables. For photo gear... I'm just under $18k right now total including sold stuff, I'm lucky that a lot of my M series and film bodies I got for next to nothing or free. I can also only see myself throwing another $3000 into gear this year unless Pentax does something crazy.... I've had many hobbies though. At one time I was juggling: restoring and hot rodding cars, miniature model railway, RC cars, RC planes, slot cars, photography, music, and video gaming while still getting enough time out with the then fiancé and friends. Now it's just music, photography, and cycling. But cycling shouldn't count as in the summer I use it for commuting. It's sad and shocking to do the math for insurance on everything you own. My home premium went up quite a bit, and I've started looking at dedicated camera insurance as I've now got a long term contract. Originally posted by Fluke I've spent more on photography in the last two years than anything else, but both my modest music recording studio and my sailing dinghy cost more. Don't get me started on discussions of audiophile gear. As a long-time designer of professional audio equipment, that crazy market makes my blood boil! thanks for reminding me about my passion for vinyl collecting and comics. great, add two more onto the current hobbies. going to have to cut one out I think

02-01-2014, 08:26 AM	#112
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	Originally posted by Nesster After all this time, I finally read the title of this thread as "Is Pornography your most expensive hobby?" Well, if it caused the big D, alimony plus child support could certainly make that a rather pricy hobby...

02-01-2014, 02:11 PM	#113
Burgian New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 10	Photography is SOOO much less expensive now than it was when I was shooting film in 35mm, 6x6 and 4x5 cameras. I can't believe the money I spent on photography back then.

02-01-2014, 06:16 PM	#114
kosmoejtg Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Dundee Illinois Photos: Gallery Posts: 103	Originally posted by BrianR Yes. Unless "Owning Too Many Cats and their Associated Vet Bills" counts as a hobby. We have two senior dogs that we adopted a little over a year ago. They are great dogs, but talk about expensive! It makes my camera costs seem trivial.

02-01-2014, 06:20 PM	#115
saladin Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: outer eastern melbourne, australia Posts: 427	comp rifle shooting would be FAR FAR more expensive than photography per time spent. But i don't do too much range time anymore.

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02-01-2014, 06:38 PM	#116
TedH42 F/8 & Somewhere Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,412	Adding together photography in the distant past of the film era, and now in the present digital era, I think I may have passed my astronomy/telescope expenses. I have everything that I need for astronomy, but photography has continued to require improvements in equipment. But those FA limiteds are worth it, and they reduce any urge of mine to keep up with the newest stuff. LBA on the wane, and no film-related recurring expenses.

02-02-2014, 01:14 AM	#117
StepOne Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Botosani Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 285	Photography is as expensive as you want it to be. I had the "LBA" addiction, but bought old M42 or K lenses, so was cheap. When i had quite a few, i realized that i'm not using all that stuff, and kept just a few. Now i just look at the new lenses, but have no urge to get those, as i have other things to spend on, first one being my 2 years old son

02-02-2014, 02:46 AM	#118
abacus07 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Taiwan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,075	Cycling (touring) is getting pretty close but photography is still my most expensive hobby. If I had more money I would have even more expensive hobbies though.

02-02-2014, 07:06 AM	#119
Serpiente Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 154	Yes it is.. Travelling is very expensive, but my main goal is photography. So travelling to locations is part of photography. My kit is maybe €3000 and all my photography trips since I have a DSLR are around €7000.

02-02-2014, 12:00 PM	#120
kosmoejtg Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Dundee Illinois Photos: Gallery Posts: 103	I had a friend who has an interest in photography as me how much I had spent so far. Up to that point i hadn't really focused on it. I think it comes to about $3k in the past 14 months but that only counts the larger items, even if they were gifts. All the little things like memory, filters lens case, mini tripod, cleaning supplies, etc add up as well. It kind of scared him off because it can become very consuming and easy to get drawn in deeper and deeper.