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Am I crazy?

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NKND200 said:
First, let me clarify that I am not a professional photographer,
i.e. I do not make money with photography.

I was doing yesterday all my gear inventory, and between December
2005 and now I spent around U$ 7K between my D200, lenses, ball
head, tripod, etc.

I know that is “nothing” if we compared with the ones that make
money with photography, but someone that has photography as a hobby
is this insane or not?

Of course in terms of fun I can not measure in U$, but I start to
be worried if I am losing my mind :)
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I have spend 14k in yeah and a half, and I'm not pro as well, I don't spend all my money for it, I get the stuff I need first, my wife doesn’t work, we have 1.5 year old daughter, they always come first, then I need to save a bit just in case, and the rest goes to my hobby.
 
Maybe, and I too. I went to digital a couple of months ago and spent about the same, and I want to spend more.

But it's a noble hobby we have: capturing time in some small way. So to me the expense is worth it, even if I have to eat peanut butter sandwiches for a while.
 
straight jacket that is!

I've just been looking at acquiring a second flat screen monitor, you know, for the photos :-)

Was wondering if I am in fact crazy, and found this thread.

Think I'll go ahead with the purchase, thanks for the logical reasoning (and inspiration) to say "Yes" to myself.

Perhaps we're all crazy, or perhaps we all just dream...what is life without dreams?

Londongal
 
............you need to look at it this way. What other hobby has you looking for the beauty in life? Is it healthy to always be looking for the beauty in life? I think I'm a better person for it.

My damn sticks cost me $1500! Damn near as much as my d200. With all my gear I'm crowding 12,000 and I like to shoot/go lean. I don't like bags full of optics as it slows me down !!

ray

--

'When trying to make art, don't make the camera do all the work.' from CBS Videographer Darryl Barton at NPPA boot camp.
 
Last year, I spent $1500 on professional photographers (not counting prints) taking portraits of the extended family. I did not like the results and I could have used more poses.

This year, I plan to spend $0 because I have my own studio. I can print all the 20 inch by 30 inch I want for $20 (or something like that) on the web. The family can have all the large prints they want.
 
You're not crazy. It's fun. If you get married, make sure you tell her "my money is my money, and I'll decide how to spend it, not you." Learned my lesson first marriage. And if she don't like it, don't marry her.
--
Dana Paul Franz
[email protected]
http://dfranz.smugmug.com
'That's what Jagulars always do,' said Pooh,
much interested. 'They call 'Help! Help!'
and then when you look up, they drop on you.'
 
I think a better question would be why do you feel you need to spend so much money on gear? Compared to most of the people here my setup was very cheap. I think I spent around $1k on a used d1 body and 3 lenses (50mm 1.8, 28-105D and 70-300 ED). I do have $1k on a full 4 light alienbees studio setup but I really don't use it as much as I should, and maybe another $200 for a bogen 3021bpro and 3-way pan head

If I spent $15k (or 10k or whatever the amount) and I wasn't producing outstanding images I would feel like I wasted my money. Only now do I feel like I am being limited by the noise and resolution on the d1 (other then that it is an excellent body) and the glass I have is great except for the 70-300 which I do plan to replace with a 300mm Ai lens at some point (all of $600)

I can think of much better things to spend the money on then photo gear that really wouldn't produce vastly better images (because the gear isn't the limitation, I am)

I can understand needing to spend lots of money for pro sports or wildlife,wedding, etc work but for a hobby? nah....

my flickr account

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trakeen
 
Some people are absolutely crazy in my opinion. I recall one fellow last year moaning about not being able to pay his rent although he had a D70, D2X and D2Hs along with a 70-200 VR. I was not very sympathetic to the fellow and got fussed at myself by some other forum members for being too hard on the guy. My recollection is that this guy, who complained about not being able to pay his rent on time, decided to just go buy a D2Hs after the shutter broke on his D2X, rather than sending his D2X in for repair. But then maybe the guy is crazy like a fox if he has folks or friends that will bail him out whenever he needs and he can spend thousands of dollars on whatever gear he wants on a particular day. Some of us with kids to feed and mortgages that will get foreclosed if we don't pay them have to spend our money a bit more wisely.

That said, if you can afford it, then I don't think you are crazy -- you're just having a good time.

--
Good shooting,

Gene
North Carolina
 
If you are enjoying yourself and the bills are paid then there is no harm.
NKND200 said:
First, let me clarify that I am not a professional photographer,
i.e. I do not make money with photography.

I was doing yesterday all my gear inventory, and between December
2005 and now I spent around U$ 7K between my D200, lenses, ball
head, tripod, etc.

I know that is “nothing” if we compared with the ones that make
money with photography, but someone that has photography as a hobby
is this insane or not?

Of course in terms of fun I can not measure in U$, but I start to
be worried if I am losing my mind :)

-----------------------------------------------
NKND200
http://nknd200.zenfolio.com/
Click to expand...
 
light_bouncer said:
Nothing to worry about I'd say. My brother has a good saying - "one
should work for the life, rather than live for the work". Get the
drift? ;-) Money is well spent if it brings you pleasure this way
or the other, so go enjoy it!
Click to expand...
That was very well said light_bouncer!

--
Speed is significant and interesting but accuracy is downright fascinating
http://www.pbase.com/pradipta
 
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