Much higher up-front costs with digital perhaps, but much lower
operating costs.
Spend $10,000 up front or spend it on film and developing costs.
Don't forget, when you shoot digital, you don't have to wait to get
your pictures developed, or be at the mercy of someone elses idea
of good color.
I didn't post in the "How big is yours" (hobby expenses that is)
thread, but will re-cap my hobby expenses here, as the $$$ seems to
be important to some in this thread.
I already had a Canon Rebel G with a Tamron 28-300 lens (
a Speedlite 380 flash (
for the D30), I now have a superb DIGITAL setup.
Add a Sigma 15-35 lens soon (
Add an upgrade up to the 550 EX flash (
and I'm at $4200.
If I had it, I would gladly spend $5500 to trade up to the 1D and
be done spending money.
So, for $9700 (spread out over 4-6 years) I can have a pro setup.
It is JUST my hobby, but I, like the other poster, don't
smoke/drink/golf/boat/ski/surf/collect anything/chase women or any
other expensive hobby. I take pictures, and mostly of my family.
I spend all my free time WITH my family. I process my pics in the
living room with my family. I'd say that's a good hobby, wouldn't
you?
I could have kept the money, but then I would have been a very
bored man with $10,00 more in the bank, than I already have.
You go to work and make money to do several things. Pay bills,
take care of your family's needs, take care of others needs, save
for retirement, and have fun. If it weren't for the fun, there
would be far less motivation to take on all the rest.
Photography is a very rewarding hobby and well worth the $10,000
investment. I'm sure any of you would spend a similar amount on
any hobby you were interested in, if you had that much disposable
income. Don't forget, I spent only $3200 so far, and that over a 4
year period. That comes out to 800/year or $66 per month. $16.50
per week, or about the cost of 2 six packs of micro-brewery beer a
week, or 4 mixed drinks in a bar. Give up drinking, and YOU could
have a D30, too!
Try collecting guns as a hobby, with high quality pistols going for
$700-$800 and spending $16 for bullets, to punch 50 holes in a
piece of paper. When you're done, you just have a piece of paper
with holes in it, albeit, rather close together holes, if you're
any good!
Or buy a $6000 jet ski and use it 10 times a year.
Don't even mention boats!
As for the E10, I rejected that camera (for myself only, to be
sure) because of the noise levels. I wanted blue skies, not
speckled skies like I got from my C2100 UZ. The D30 gives me what
I wanted and more. And an affordable hobby to boot (for just about
anyone who can budget). And I can expand my hobby as far as I want
to go. Now that's a good deal.
Enjoy your E10/E20 cameras, your D1* cameras, your Sony 707's, etc.
And take lots of pictures of your family, so you can remember them
when you get old.
Ted
I guess I am confused here! While I love digital and I own two
digital cameras, I am wondering about something here! If you are
going to spend $10,000 aren't you better off just staying with Film?
Just a thought!
Jason
