My wife is an avid reader and until she bought a Kindle last year we seemed to have a delivery from Amazon almost on a daily basis, and she was a preferred supplier of secondhand book to the local hospice charity shop. Now with the Kindle in operation she has vastly reduced her expenditure on reading.
Remarking on this she asked me, "How much do you spend on photography each year?".
That brought me up short and I just quoted a figure that I thought wouldn't provoke a negative reaction or the justification for more new shoes and handbags. In fact I haven't got a clue. Most of what I buy comprises Permajet paper, printing ink, mounting card, a couple of magazine and club subscriptions and exhibition entry fees. If you spread the equipment costs over the time you've had it I suppose it could all add up to quite a lump. I think I'll stick to the original figure I quoted, which amounts to perhaps a couple of pints a week. 8)
Have you any idea how much do you spend?
probably much more than my wife thinks!
At this point people either think I'm showing off or am very luck, or both. I retired from my first career in 2009 & was able to spend about £25,000 from my pension commutation in photography gear.
I returned to my first career but as a civilian 3 months later getting almost the same salary I was getting before but with a pension on top which has left me in the lucky position of having a far better lifestyle than I had before, having used my pension to pay off all my debts.
I have since then bought bits & pieces whenever I've felt like it. in neaerly 3 years I've prob spent nearly £30,000, this doesn't include all the petrol money I spend travelling over the south & midlands following American football and soccer photography on almost every weekend I don't work.
I know I'm in a better position than most people but I did work 30 years to achieve it.
Nice position to be in.
Well, moving somewhat downmarket, I am allowed about €30 per month for accessories and the like, and generally I manage to save up about €500 a year for other bigger bits. Although this month I need a new camera bag and they are on special offer this weekend for about €30. Trouble is the car needs four new tyres and an MOT, so I can't get one while the offer is on :'( . Savings pot is at zero after the eBay purchase last month of a Metz macro flash unit.
It's only money, and I don't use a bag very often anyway.
Quote from: Cathus on August 28, 2011, 09:29:57 AM
probably much more than my wife thinks!
At this point people either think I'm showing off or am very luck, or both. I retired from my first career in 2009 & was able to spend about £25,000 from my pension commutation in photography gear.
I returned to my first career but as a civilian 3 months later getting almost the same salary I was getting before but with a pension on top which has left me in the lucky position of having a far better lifestyle than I had before, having used my pension to pay off all my debts.
I have since then bought bits & pieces whenever I've felt like it. in neaerly 3 years I've prob spent nearly £30,000, this doesn't include all the petrol money I spend travelling over the south & midlands following American football and soccer photography on almost every weekend I don't work.
I know I'm in a better position than most people but I did work 30 years to achieve it.
Sounds as though you've worked hard to achieve a disposable income of Germanic proportions.
If your spending it in ways that the less enlightend would consider slightly frivolous, then your putting it back into the economy and helping us all on the road to recovery.
It's the only decent thing to do! :tup:
Graham. :)
I've been fairly lucky, families grown up and left home, wife at work & Train Driving paid fairly well. Just been able to acquire the last few bits to round my kit off - but in fairness my wife knows pretty much how much i've spent.
Thankfully i have pretty much most of what i want (or need) to get me by the lean times ahead. Though that does give me more time to get some pics and develop my post processing skills, maybe even increase my abilities with Photoshop.
However, as i often say, kit doesn't buy a good photographer :-\
Um, probably not a good day to answer this.
£1579 on a 70-200 2.8 IS Mk2 this morning....... :P
:2funny:
8)
£30,000 is a ridiculous amount to spend on gear, OK if your in the business yeah I could imagine that as a good studio set up.
if I had that I wouldnt spend it on that, expensive kit doesnt mean great images, OK a good long lens a good macro lens a nice wide angle a few filters,
I think its more about the eye of the photographer than how much you are able to spend on kit,
Ive seen people with point and shoots images better than people with expensive kits images that are well carp.
suppose over the 2 years Ive spent about £7000, to get above mentioned
so Id have £2300 left to see the world and get some stunning images :tup:
Now you know what I spend my cash on, travelling and experiencing the world :tup:
Urm how much have I spent travelling over 10 yrs £60000 3 or 4 (2 week) holidays a year
Just booked to go to Goa, but will be travelling around India in Feb :tup:
Quote from: Just Dave on August 30, 2011, 09:57:26 PM
£30,000 is a ridiculous amount to spend on gear, OK if your in the business yeah I could imagine that as a good studio set up.
Not really, as just four lenses could push you to that amount, and that wouldn't include the Sigma 200-500mm F2.8. :o
Well I have obviously spent more than I should - but i do try to buy second hand lenses where possible and sell old stuff to buy new. It's a case of having what you need to make the most of the opportunities to photograph the things you like. Of course you can shoot wildlife or sport with a tiny compact but it would be a tad frustrating if that was the major part of your hobby. On the other hand, if you're into things like street photography it's a lot more about simply having an eye for a picture and the equipment is less important - often the smaller and lighter the better. As I don't smoke, drink, have a car, eat out or go on holidays don't feel too guilty about having one expensive luxury 8)
I've just got back from our capital city, and while i was there I went to worship at the Shrine Of All Things Nikon (Grays of Westminster), and I did'nt spend anything!.....But I could have done...oh yes I could have done. :)
Not that much in all honesty, my camera was a twin lens kit with a bag and a memory card for £530.00, most of which was vouchers I only put about £200.00 towards it as the vouchers I had "won" at work over a period of time and had saved them up.
I've bought two lenses on fleabay for a total of £130.00, I bought a lens from ffordes for £65.00, and bought 2 lenses from a chappy at camera club for £50.00 (for the pair not each!!!) and my dad gave me a lens he'd picked up in a box of bits at an auction...
Got a cable remote for about £7.00, and a filter for about £4.00, my flashgun was an Xmas pressie, my lowepro bag was a birthday pressie as was my tripod all from my wife, and my sensor cleaner kit was bought using a voucher that my in-laws bought me.
The only other thing I have really bought has been a memory cards cheap from 7dayshop got an 8gb for about £12.00 and a spare battery from amazon for £20.00....
The rest of the money spent is actually on ink & Paper (we already had the printer) and getting some shots printed by DSC (thanks to Irv for the heads up on that one) and camera club membership/exhibition entry fee and going out on shoots...so not much but if someone was to give me say £5000.00 and say I could only spend it on camera gear I don't think I'd have a problem spending it so any contributions are gratefully received ;)
£60,000 is a ridiculous amount to spend on travel. You could buy a load of travel books and watch the National Geographic channel and have £59,000 left over to spend on camera gear.
If I had £60,000 I wouldn't spend it on travel. What have you got after it? just memories, with camera gear you have something which can give you pleasure (and income) every day for many years to come.
;)
(and I wouldn't get my images into the back papers of the daily nationals if I was using a point and shoot)
Amateurs ;)
I just got in from shooting an art installation (no, really). It took a couple of hours and was done for a few quid and some favours. I just totted up that the bag contains about 9 grands' worth of kit (including the laptop - I was shooting tethered). I had a parcel waiting for me containing a £1,400 lens that a mate has lent me because mine needs a £6-700 repair which can't be done for the weekend. My wedding bag is insured for £30K.
On the flip side....in Peru there were a bunch of keen nature photographers. I was severely (and I mean SEVERELY) outgunned. A couple of people had spent $1,000 each on rental charges. Nikon shooters would have a backup of 70-200 + 1.7 converter on a D700. Main lens would be a 200-400 or maybe the 600/4 on a pro body. Canon shooters had their toys too.
One lady had literally no clue how to use her gear (I don't mean that in a nasty way - she freely admitted this and was grateful for any tips). In the past year she has taken 350,000 shots and burned out 2 shutters. Some of the pictures are awesome. On her last photo trip she wrote off $10K worth of kit (dropped it in a river). She's well off enough to be able to afford stuff like this and doesn't have anything she'd rather spend her money on. So she chooses to buy Nikon kit I can't justify owning.
Did I get kit envy? A little. It's hard when you're struggling for shots on a 200 watching people pick stuff off with a 600 on a gimbal mount.
Did they get better shots than me? Yep. With wildlife you really can buy your way to better pictures.
Does it bother me? Nope. I spent the day shooting stuff that was really really hard no matter what kit you have and the small percentage of shots I landed kept me happy all day. But then I was using about £4K worth of kit ;)
Quote from: Cathus on August 31, 2011, 11:27:40 AM
£60,000 is a ridiculous amount to spend on travel. You could buy a load of travel books and watch the National Geographic channel and have £59,000 left over to spend on camera gear.
If I had £60,000 I wouldn't spend it on travel. What have you got after it? just memories, with camera gear you have something which can give you pleasure (and income) every day for many years to come.
;)
(and I wouldn't get my images into the back papers of the daily nationals if I was using a point and shoot)
These are just different priorities. Which one you chose is up to the individual. There is no right or wrong except on a personal level.
Personally I think spending money on clothes is an unfortunate necessity (you only have to see me to realise that), but I can see why a pair of designer jeans are worth the money when they are filled by Mrs H. ;D
More than I should have and less than I might have!
Do have a tendency to 'magpie' gear, so have 3 x Canon dSLRs, 2 x Sigma dSLRs and 1 x Canon P&S - but I do actually use them all! But they're spread over the last 7 years - probably works out @ about £2k/year and all served me well to get into various publications (nationals, CD cover, etc)
I'd agree that, to a degree, you can 'buy' into wildlife but, TBH, whilst a big lens gets you closer so does a bit of fieldcraft! The only real lens on my wishlist is the Canon 100mm IS or Sigma 150mm OS - the stabiliser will allow me to take more images in more varying conditions but I very much doubt they'll be any better than the ones I work at getting now.
Quote from: Jonathan on August 31, 2011, 11:43:16 AM
Amateurs ;)
I just got in from shooting an art installation (no, really). It took a couple of hours and was done for a few quid and some favours. I just totted up that the bag contains about 9 grands' worth of kit (including the laptop - I was shooting tethered). I had a parcel waiting for me containing a £1,400 lens that a mate has lent me because mine needs a £6-700 repair which can't be done for the weekend. My wedding bag is insured for £30K.
On the flip side....in Peru there were a bunch of keen nature photographers. I was severely (and I mean SEVERELY) outgunned. A couple of people had spent $1,000 each on rental charges. Nikon shooters would have a backup of 70-200 + 1.7 converter on a D700. Main lens would be a 200-400 or maybe the 600/4 on a pro body. Canon shooters had their toys too.
One lady had literally no clue how to use her gear (I don't mean that in a nasty way - she freely admitted this and was grateful for any tips). In the past year she has taken 350,000 shots and burned out 2 shutters. Some of the pictures are awesome. On her last photo trip she wrote off $10K worth of kit (dropped it in a river). She's well off enough to be able to afford stuff like this and doesn't have anything she'd rather spend her money on. So she chooses to buy Nikon kit I can't justify owning.
Did I get kit envy? A little. It's hard when you're struggling for shots on a 200 watching people pick stuff off with a 600 on a gimbal mount.
Did they get better shots than me? Yep. With wildlife you really can buy your way to better pictures.
Does it bother me? Nope. I spent the day shooting stuff that was really really hard no matter what kit you have and the small percentage of shots I landed kept me happy all day. But then I was using about £4K worth of kit ;)
It's not all about how much kit costs :2funny: horses for courses to a degree ;)
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11049/normal_Littlelight.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=10439)
About 350 quid and a handy little bridge it is too :legit:
When I posed the original question I didn't mean "how much gear have you got?", but I meant how much does it cost on a day to day, week to week basis. I suppose however if you buy equipment regularly that will inflate those day to day, week to week figures.
Once you have got the equipment you need, or think you need, it works out a fairly affordable pastime.
I've got two Sony bodies, one converted to IR and four lenses one of which is rarely used, a Sony NEX which is nearly always with me, and which I find I use more and more and a tripod gathering dust and cobwebs somewhere in the garage.
I learnt my lesson from my past incarnation when I had every gadget and filter known to man, which like my tripod were bought after reading equipment reviews and quickly consigned to the back of the cupboard.
Just had a quick roll call and I think I have spent about £3,500 on equipment, and that includes a decent Epson 2400 printer. Spread over 4 years it doesn't sound too much and it allows me to do all I want to do. Which I suppose is what it's all about.
I suppose, theoretically, with digital, if you buy something that will do all you want for a good while and print very little, the running costs can be almost zero. The trouble starts when you can't resist all those 'upgrades'... :dance:
:dance: :dance:
Quote from: beauxreflets on August 31, 2011, 02:40:56 PM
It's not all about how much kit costs :2funny: horses for courses to a degree ;)
About 350 quid and a handy little bridge it is too :legit:
Nice :D
Talking of horses for courses, I took 3 cameras to Peru. Each with a different job. Each of these pictures pretty much couldn't be taken by the other cameras.
(http://homepage.mac.com/jonathan_ryan/filechute/fuji.jpg)
(http://homepage.mac.com/jonathan_ryan/filechute/p7000.jpg)
(http://homepage.mac.com/jonathan_ryan/filechute/nikon.jpg)
To get the thread back on track ;D
I reckon that now that I have a nice lens collection 2 cams, bags, pods etc, I spend on average around 70-100 notes a year.
Last year I did treat myself from my redundancy to a Bigma at 1200 quid but this years spend will only be on a card or two and a vari filter. Next year will be the same unless a cam dies or needs a repair.
RR
Alf
Well. I've got the cameras I aspired to when I went digital 11 years ago. I have from 14mm to 200mm in 2.8 lenses with a 300mm 2.8 all of which I've justified with my gig work. (Sort of.)
Also have 50mm and 85mm both at 1.4 So I'm now find I "Need" a 35mm 1.4
This year Iv'e sold more gear than Iv'e bought and I appear to be going through a period of rationalisation based on usage rather than wantage.
So. (What was the question again?)... Oh yes, I rekon I can budget on £1,000 on a year on year basis.
Now watch me go and blast that out of the water!
Graham.
Quote from: Hinfrance on August 31, 2011, 01:27:17 PM
These are just different priorities. Which one you chose is up to the individual. There is no right or wrong except on a personal level.
which was exactly my point, someone spends their cash on one thing someone else spends it on something else. I wouldn't criticise anyone for how they chose to spend their money or time.
Isn't it funny how whenever a photography thread talks about expensive equipment, people - who to be fair usually haven't got that equipment - have to mention that it's not about the gear and how it doesn't make you a better photographer.
They are of course very wrong when it comes to my situation, has having all that gear made me a better photographer? bloody right it has.
anyway, I just got a new negative scanner delivered today, bought 2 second hand old film cameras on Ebay last night (£15 & £11) and am off to the loft to grab a whole bunch of files of negatives to have a digital play with. Before dipping back in time for a foray into film photography.
Garry said. "They are of course very wrong when it comes to my situation, has having all that gear made me a better photographer? bloody right it has."
Same here. I think it's fair to say, at least on this site ( ;)), that we all know that it's the photographer not the camera that makes or breaks the picture.
Pre digital I would rekon on getting one good (to my eyes) picture every 6 gigs, and Im not exagerating. Now with the gear I have at my disposal I am happy to turn up at any venue confident that I can cope with pretty much anything, and that the only thing that will let me down is me.
To get to this happy state of affairs I have had to pay whatever it cost. I started off down the second hand route as that was the only way I could afford it, but for what I wanted my gear to offer, I really needed those fast lenses.
Handy helpfull hints based on my experience:-
1) Work hard and make the most of whatever opportunities come your way.
2) Marry someone who earns more than you and who has no expensive hobbies. (And is blind to all your faults.)
3) Don't have any children.
Foolproof I tell you...foolproof! Graham.
Graham points 2&3..................NOW YOU TELL ME! ;D
I find the secret is to have a wife who always goes out on a Thursday & arrange to have your deliveries then ;)
Quote from: Alfonso_Frisk on August 31, 2011, 05:01:48 PM
To get the thread back on track ;D
I reckon that now that I have a nice lens collection 2 cams, bags, pods etc, I spend on average around 70-100 notes a year.
Last year I did treat myself from my redundancy to a Bigma at 1200 quid but this years spend will only be on a card or two and a vari filter. Next year will be the same unless a cam dies or needs a repair.
RR
Alf
Whoops me tell porkies. :-[ :-[
The leg iron has just reminded me that I also bought another monopod and a replacement grip for the D200 a couple of months ago
And heres me thinking she took no notice of my spending habits. ;)
RR
Alf
I know a goodly few 'togs, both pros and dedicated amateurs, and I don't know anyone who's become a better photographer with better gear. Better images, yes without a doubt, but not better photographers (and I know a few who've the best gear and are just serial snappers). Personally, I've found my photography has declined somewhat with better gear as I've tended to get lazy and lean on the gear whereas before I'd have to really work to get the most from the subject. That's not to say I'm displeased with the results and I most definitely have a higher hit rate now, just that I got closer to that killer shot to which we all aspire!
Markulous, well you know two now!
and as for getting lazy with better gear, don't judge others by your own standards ;), I find quite the opposite as I want to go out and push the gear and my skills and thereby become a better photographer.
Quote from: Markulous on August 31, 2011, 01:53:09 PM
I'd agree that, to a degree, you can 'buy' into wildlife but, TBH, whilst a big lens gets you closer so does a bit of fieldcraft!
Fieldcraft isn't much good if you are one side of a valley and the target is on the other. By the time you get over there it's gone. :o
In some situations better gear helps you get the shot. Faster glass lets you focus quicker, which is a must for bird photography like Swifts and Swallows in flight. ;D
Love the second shot JR. :tup:
Not sure about the panning on the third! ???
Quote from: Cathus on August 31, 2011, 10:26:13 PM
and as for getting lazy with better gear, don't judge others by your own standards ;), I find quite the opposite as I want to go out and push the gear and my skills and thereby become a better photographer.
Which is why I used the word "Personally" rather than the word "Generally"! ;)
Quote from: Oldboy on September 01, 2011, 12:08:51 AM
Fieldcraft isn't much good if you are one side of a valley and the target is on the other. By the time you get over there it's gone. :o
LOL! If it's the other side of the valley, you're not going to be close enough whatever you've got! ;D
Good af is certainly a must for things like swallows and swifts - not sure if it's faster glass though as I think my most successful shots have been with a D90 and 70-300vr - not the most expensive combination. A willingness to patiently stand and track birds swooping across the sky for a long period is probably more the key here ;) I'm constantly amazed by the casual chat about 500mm and 600mm on Birdforum and the amounts some people spend on bird photography. I recently picked up a book aimed at amateur bird photographers in the 70s/80s when we used film. It was assumed that as as amateur your longest lens would probably be 300mm at most unless you used a mirror lens and there was a lot of concentration on fieldcraft and getting closer. Unfortunately I always seem to find that there's a river or lake in between me and the bird which does'nt help!
To answer Alan's original question.
This year:
- Less than the wife spends on shoes. :doh:
- Less than the kids spend on activities. ???
- Less than I spend on Beer and Gin. :beer:
Although I haven't spent much this year. I can't think of any additional equipment that I either want, need or would take me to the next level. To me, it's strictly a hobby and the current set of equipment is adequate for purpose (adequate being a personal judgement call).
In the previous years I have spent ~100-200 € on courses (on at Doorhof's studio, and one with Tim Wallace). Both were very interesting and provided me with greater insight into how they work and techniques - well worth the money and more valuable than a new lens. (It would be very interesting to go on one of JR's courses, but sadly Kent is not a normal destination).
So, most expenditure now is down to consumables, which for digital are quite quite low (compared to film), or courses.
H.
As they say ' Its not what you've got its how you use it ' , but then recently my wife came across a Canon 100-300 lens in perfect condition which a few years ago I would of been very proud of but compared to my Canon L lenses it was a none starter so I sold it immediately.
To put an actual figure to what I spend could be a bit difficult as now that I have my photographic business money is always prioritised to the unusual and unexpected things that crop up so new ( or secondhand ) kit is bought when cash flow allows.
My wife has always been very supportive with my photography and knows that if I order something new I would of tried all other options first. I am pleased to say that I no longer own kit that is never used but temptation is always there.
Quote from: Dave on September 01, 2011, 10:23:00 AM
As they say ' Its not what you've got its how you use it ' , but then recently my wife came across a Canon 100-300 lens in perfect condition which a few years ago I would of been very proud of but compared to my Canon L lenses it was a none starter so I sold it immediately.
To put an actual figure to what I spend could be a bit difficult as now that I have my photographic business money is always prioritised to the unusual and unexpected things that crop up so new ( or secondhand ) kit is bought when cash flow allows.
My wife has always been very supportive with my photography and knows that if I order something new I would of tried all other options first. I am pleased to say that I no longer own kit that is never used but temptation is always there.
Dave. I fear you used the word which is key to the whole issue... TEMPTATION.... The only thing I find impossible to resist! :2funny:
Temptation? but I thought you visited Grays of Westminster and came away empty handed ::)
Quote from: greypoint on September 01, 2011, 11:10:22 AM
Temptation? but I thought you visited Grays of Westminster and came away empty handed ::)
Yes. It was a funny old day.
Graham.
Did I mention?...I've been to London you know!
Dave. I fear you used the word which is key to the whole issue... TEMPTATION.... The only thing I find impossible to resist!
Graham. One way to beat temptation is to find a bit of kit your interested in on e.bay. Put in a ridiculously low bid then when your out bid you won't be disappointed and the urge to buy will go away ( for a while )
Thinking of the exam question - not a lot.
I had a bit of a spending spree 3 years ago and now I've got everything I need (though, not everything I want ;) )
Current expenditure is probably about a fiver a month for a magazine...
Quote from: Markulous on September 01, 2011, 06:58:30 AM
Quote from: Oldboy on September 01, 2011, 12:08:51 AM
Fieldcraft isn't much good if you are one side of a valley and the target is on the other. By the time you get over there it's gone. :o
LOL! If it's the other side of the valley, you're not going to be close enough whatever you've got! ;D
Wouldn't be a problem with this lens! :-*
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/reflex8002000/cat.htm
Quote from: Oldboy on September 01, 2011, 12:25:28 AM
Love the second shot JR. :tup:
Not sure about the panning on the third! ???
Thanks. Doesn't surprise me you don't like the third shot. I'm pretty sure when I do my count up at the end of the year it will be in my top 10 favourites. That's why it's fun to shoot for myself now and again.