I am in serious trouble...Please Help!

Nasixi said:

You think you got problems? The guide price for this lens in the UK
is £1500 i.e. $2,888! How the hell I am supposed to justify that to
my wife?

Simon

Click to expand...

Easy. Tell her you'll do the dishes and laundry for 2 years.

Hello mate

If you saved the money by doing extra work - where's the problem??

Dude, its your hobby and it keeps you happy.

Maybe remind your missus that you COULD be spending money in casino's or Gentlemen's relaxation bars instead ;o)

Good luck, and post some pics when you get chance of your lovely new purchase!

...good ol' open communication (about everything - how much money you've got in your stash, what you're saving up for, why you want it...)?
Much easier than damage control in my experience!

Sorry but I don't know what I'd do in your shoes... I hope I'll never need to know!

Good luck
Paul

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

Luckily my wife hasn't noticed the difference between the kit lens and the 85mm f1.4, what she did notice how significantly more pictures were keepers........trouble is the 70-200 is big I would say that honesty is the best policy,

Smix.

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

--
capturing pattern and form - http://www.s-image.co.uk

Sorry, I didn't mean that to sound 'preachy' - apologies in advance if it did!
Cheers
Paul

Paul Tatterson said:

Sorry but I don't know what I'd do in your shoes... I hope I'll
never need to know!

Good luck
Paul

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

Yep. Just after the argument commences, you start to cry first.

Works every time.

Seriously - wish you luck.

oh God, this is one of the very best post I've ever read. Keep it up !!!
Gab

brokenz said:

Repeat after me, "You know honey I never realized that this hobby
was going to suck me in so deep. I guess I knew something was wrong
the first time I started playing with some photos I had taken with
you. I looked on the screen at what I had captured and realized
that this was perhaps the most important thing I was going to do in
my life. I mean I was so blessed to have been granted a lifetime
with someone like you but it is only one lifetime. It just doesn't
seem right. I knew that I'd have to leave something behind as proof
of what a rich man I was for having been with you. Ever since then
I've been obsessed with gear. I mean people that do this for
celebrities, politicians, models, they buy only the best gear. They
don't play at this. I have to take it this serious. I might only
get one chance one day to capture your true essence. I've done
nothing that does you justice yet so when my one chance comes I'm
not going to blow it. I guess I get a little nuts sometimes when it
comes to you but even after all these years it's just so hard to
restrain myself sometimes. You still do that to me."

Women are like cars, cameras, fear, and taxes. You have to learn
them and then master them. I'm not saying this will work for you
but I'm sure you could modify it for your particular situation.
This is just off of the top of my head. I've spent my life learning
how to tell women the lies that would make them happy. Enjoy.
--
http://darkangel.smugmug.com/

Click to expand...

--
------------------------------
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice ...

THomasAdams said:

Best regards,
Thomas

Good luck! Enjoy the lens, and by no means let her use it to clober
you Not covered under warranty!

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

--
http://www.photosbytom.com/gallery/

Gear:
Camera (digital)
Camera Non-digital
Another Camera, non-digital
A point and shoot Digital (Notice I did not call it a camera )
Lenses: Long, Short, and in between.
Flashes
Some extras.
ICQ#36762366

Click to expand...

-- Hmmmm......you're gonna die!!! BUT, you may have a bit of hope IF you go ahead and buy her a ring on same charge card!!! In the future, buy the ring first!!! Good luck.
DaveL
'It's Gator time!'

Always remember that it is easier to get forgiveness than permission!!

I generally go with the distraction technique.....

Tell her your girlfriend ok'd it....She will quickly forget the lens and zero in on the competition.

Problem solved.

ST

THomasAdams said:

Best regards,
Thomas

Good luck! Enjoy the lens, and by no means let her use it to clober
you Not covered under warranty!

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

--
http://www.photosbytom.com/gallery/

Gear:
Camera (digital)
Camera Non-digital
Another Camera, non-digital
A point and shoot Digital (Notice I did not call it a camera )
Lenses: Long, Short, and in between.
Flashes
Some extras.
ICQ#36762366

Click to expand...

I faced a similar dilemma with my wife a few weeks ago, but bad for different reasons. I wanted a cheapo zoom telephoto. Got permission to buy a used Tamron 70-300. Didn't like it. Brought it back. Still needed a 70-300 (or thereabouts). Then, we bought a house (we close next week). We both committed to scrounging money for the next several months so we can get a few home improvement projects done. Still needed that 70-300. Couldn't stop thinking about it. Bought it ($275, after rebate). Told her as I was leaving what I was going to do. She said no. I left anyway, bought the lens. Love it (for what it is until I can afford something better, like your lens). We didn't speak for three days. Okay. It was worth it, and proved a point. When I started to point out how much she spends on shoes, makeup, clothes, haircuts (over $100 a pop), her bookclub parties, etc. compared to me, I thought she would burst with anger: "that's not the same." "No," I said, "it isn't, but what is important enough for you to spend money on, you don't ask me, but I should ask you to spend money on stuff that's important to me?" No way. I'd rather be divorced than live under that double standard (I didn't say this).

So, we're talking again, and have a new plan. We each get an allowance of $75 per month to spend without permission, on whatever we want. If I want to save up for a lens, okay. The only problem is, she gets the $75 per month, plus the shoes, makeup, clothes, haircuts, etc. Oh well. I certainly don't want to start wearing makeup to prove a point.

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

--
So many things to learn and so little time. Does that make me a dilettante?

Nikon is like a dealer. The drug: photo gear. They dragged us into this, got us hooked, and then leave us to our own devices when it causes domestic discord. Nikon should be ashamed of themselves. They owe us some kind of backup. I think they should have a support hotline for us when we are in the doghouse for buying a lens, a flash, a new body, whatever. They should offer to send a couple's therapist over to help us work it out. C'mon Nikon, stand behind your product for cripes sakes, or else quit making products we can't help but buy. Its not our fault, after all.

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

--
So many things to learn and so little time. Does that make me a dilettante?

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

--
Please visit my blog (swedish):
http://hambern.blogspot.com/

My wife encouraged me to get into digital photography. I think she had a $300 point and shoot in mind, however.

Oh well, thanks for the advice.

Shutterbugin said:

Cuz you are going to need it. Thank god my significant other thinks
I have an eye for photography, and she encourages me to go after my
passion. This is the only advice I can provide - explain to her
your passion, your need to improve your photography, and that in
order to live a happy life, you need a $1500 lens ;-). Is she into
photography? DOes she have an appreciation for a perfectly exposed,
in-focus, SHARP a$$ picture? Maybe when she sees the results the
lens can provide, it will convince her it is a wise investment?

Everyone knows that women control the money in this world (how many
husbands have said here that their wife 'allowed' them to buy a
lens ;-).

Click to expand...

Of course, I did consider the money order but didn't want to have to wait the extra few days to get the lens. I think I may opt for the intercept the statement idea. Or maybe I could call the credit card compony and ask them to start sending the bill to my office. Yes, thats a great idea. She'll never know!

Jeff Morris said:

I have a hard time justifing some of the lenses I buy. Just do the
right thing that any man would do.

1.) Intercept the statement.
2.) File it after you pay the lens off.
3.) Don't say another word unless she brings it up.

If you placed $1,600 in the account during the same period I am
sure she will not say much if anything at all.

The 70-200 is built the way many pro lenses were years ago. It is
a real treat.

Enjoy it!
Regards,

Jeff Morris
Homecinemaman

Adams, Gutmann, Steichen, Stigletz, Weston. they lead by example.

Click to expand...

At the risk of sounding more like a "marriage advice" forum, Jeff is right. Do all of these things. If it slips through the cracks and she finds it, remind her that it was money you made on the side that otherwise would not affect the family finances in any way. If it didn't put you guys into any debt, it's just an expensive toy that is PAID FOR, so what difference would it make?

I say enjoy it, but make your first pic with it of her and the kids. Throw the dog in there too and make it a family portrait.

Cheers.

Jeff Morris said:

I have a hard time justifing some of the lenses I buy. Just do the
right thing that any man would do.

1.) Intercept the statement.
2.) File it after you pay the lens off.
3.) Don't say another word unless she brings it up.

If you placed $1,600 in the account during the same period I am
sure she will not say much if anything at all.

The 70-200 is built the way many pro lenses were years ago. It is
a real treat.

Enjoy it!
Regards,

Jeff Morris
Homecinemaman

Adams, Gutmann, Steichen, Stigletz, Weston. they lead by example.

Click to expand...

--
'I have high friends in places.'

No no JoJo. I was not giving advice, I was asking for it. If you buy the 70-200vr you didn't do it on my recommendation. If I were going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Zimbabwe, however, I think I would definitely do it. Hey, We are going to China next winter to adopt an infant girl. Thats it! She surely wants me to have the best available lens to document this monumetal moment in our familie's life! Thanks for the advice JoJo. You Rock!

jojo2 said:

Boy, I know how you feel... I've been struggling about the
purchase for just the same reason. Have a once=in-a-lifetime trip
to Zimbabwe coming up and want to have the best lens I can afford.

Ahhh, but how to get this around the hubby? (see, it's not always
the woman who controls the $$!) He'll never 'get' it that a lens
can be more than the body itself.

So I see what the secret is... Just go ahead a take the plunge,
worry about the consequences later! Sounds like great advice to me

• thanks!

Click to expand...

You, my friend, are a poet. No women could possibly resist such flattery. I shall memorize this speech just in case the "hide the statement" idea doesn't work. Thanks.

brokenz said:

Repeat after me, "You know honey I never realized that this hobby
was going to suck me in so deep. I guess I knew something was wrong
the first time I started playing with some photos I had taken with
you. I looked on the screen at what I had captured and realized
that this was perhaps the most important thing I was going to do in
my life. I mean I was so blessed to have been granted a lifetime
with someone like you but it is only one lifetime. It just doesn't
seem right. I knew that I'd have to leave something behind as proof
of what a rich man I was for having been with you. Ever since then
I've been obsessed with gear. I mean people that do this for
celebrities, politicians, models, they buy only the best gear. They
don't play at this. I have to take it this serious. I might only
get one chance one day to capture your true essence. I've done
nothing that does you justice yet so when my one chance comes I'm
not going to blow it. I guess I get a little nuts sometimes when it
comes to you but even after all these years it's just so hard to
restrain myself sometimes. You still do that to me."

Women are like cars, cameras, fear, and taxes. You have to learn
them and then master them. I'm not saying this will work for you
but I'm sure you could modify it for your particular situation.
This is just off of the top of my head. I've spent my life learning
how to tell women the lies that would make them happy. Enjoy.
--
http://darkangel.smugmug.com/

Click to expand...

Call Dr. Phil...Theme of show...Photographer's in crisis

Such keen insight in to the psyche of a women...Oh...but...you are a women. And one who sounds truly, much like my own wife....And, of course, you are right. (Oh, how I hate to say that to a woman...LOL!) This is exactly what I should do.

My wife is an awesome woman. She will support me. While $1500 is a lot of money it is not something I can't afford if I really want it and I do. There will be no nights in the dog house for me, you can believe that. Thanks Adria.

Adria said:

Be up front, tell her outright how much you earned and how much you
spent BEFORE she gets the statement. If she's like me, she will
definitely notice its absence, so interception is a bad idea.

Tell her how happy photography makes you and that this lens is the
BEST money can buy and you'll never need another in that focal
range, ever.

Then buy her something pretty.

--Adria

JDFowler said:

I took the 70-200vr plunge today...thanks to the many post on this
board and especially the review by one tao.design. After rebate it
will come in just under my $1500 budget. The money is some I saved
up doing odd jobs.

My wife knows I have some money and I told her I was going to buy
"a nice lense" with it...and she's cool with that. Problem is, she
doesn't really know how much I have. Of course, I had to order the
lense with the charge card. When she sees a charge for a $1600
lense she is going to do you know what with a load of bricks.

Spending $1000 on a camera was quite a pill for my wife to swallow.
Spending $1500 (after rebate) on a lense for said camera is likely
to throw her into coronary arrest. She just isn't going to
understand.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be greatly
appreciated.

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/adriainpdx

Click to expand...