Some people have too much money on their hands

[ladyjai]

My mind is boggling over some of the $ amounts being tossed about and materials some of you have. I'm curious, how many of you are professional photographers, and can at least use that as an excuse for your major purchases, and how many of you are merely hobbyists with a big wallet :lol:

I know there are likely many many folks here who have resources as limited or more limited than I, maybe you can speak up and make me feel better :lol:

well, at least I'll know what I'll want in 3-6 years when I can actually afford a DSLR and related gadgetry :biggrin:

 

[paradise]

Jennifer, it's different for everyone. Some are pros, and some do semi-pro work once in a while. Some of us just like to get close to that "perfection". Some have bigger budgets and some dont. I thought I was spending a lot, but comparing to some, it's nothing.

Dont fret too much, I have seen your pics, you are doing very well with your equipment. Just read a lot here, and get as good as you can w/out going overboard, and you will be fine. Your spendings should match your needs and your budget.

 

[benny]

Hi Jennifer,

Don't worry about equipment, or trends. As long as you are happy with a picture, nobody can tell what's it's taken with. Unless you have the EXIF data attached of course.

I do believe that whilst compact digital cameras may be restricted in some ways, but its inconveniences can be circumvented with a better understanding of techniques. Film cameras are king of course (for the time being), but is just not as convenient in my opinion. As least in the instant review department.

Keep shooting!

Cheers,

 

[meriadoc]

Don't freak out....

As for me - I work at a camera store, but I also do portraits and such on the site when i'm asked.

But, I save my money to get what I want..

 

[Andreas Werth]

But, I save my money to get what I want..

That´s it!
If the subject is important for you and you really enjoy working on it, you will save up the money and renounce other things. I try to get some extra money by selling fish - not from the market, but from my tanks ;-)

 

[ladyjai]

ROFL

naw, i'm not freaking out, just amused.

very cool,

Jessica

 

[paradise]

So, now we amuse you, Jessica? J/K

yeah, just like Andreas, I am constantly selling fish to finance my equipment.
I buy small fish, enjoy growing them out and then get rid of some, usually making some $$ on the transaction. I like having new photo subjects and the tanks are not the same all the time.

 

[Erin]

Troublemaker. :}.

I was going to stay away from this thread but my fingers are faster than my brain. As you know, I'm completely new to photography other than my compact digital. I'm not new to myself though. I know when I want to do something I want to do it right. I'm fortunate that I'm in a position to be able to make those decisions. I like to be as "close to perfection" as I can afford to be so I purchase the best I can afford and then hope and struggle to grow into that equipment.

Erin

 

[Tony7683]

I'm a poor Air force guy, making minimum wage and I am currently below poverty level in the area I reside (Howard county, MD, one of the richest counties in the country) So I feel all of you out there on the forum who are hard-pressed for money. But, I make do with what I have: a 4 year old camera (ancient, omg......), no flash except for a cheap slave that doesn't really work tht well, lol, and my rainbowfish [the best part of the deal ].

Amidst the thousand and even multiple thousand dollar cameras, I still managed to snag Photo of the Month last year with a shot of my pride and joy male M. Boesemani. (You'll be able to see it in the POTM gallery) I'm a pretty good success story for this forum, making something out of nothing what seemed to be a horrible camera that I thought I had made a mistake buying!

So, the moral of the story is that there are good photographers whose expensive cameras help them take good pictures, and then there are excellent photographers who learned to utilize what they had early on in the hobby and now make the most of their steep investments every day!


Tony

 

[Not Done Yet]

So, the moral of the story is that there are good photographers whose expensive cameras help them take good pictures, and then there are excellent photographers who learned to utilize what they had early on in the hobby and now make the most of their steep investments every day!

This is SOOO true. I shot a show in seattle....and there was a guy standing behind me with seriously 2700 bucks worth of camera in his hands.....and his pics weren't $2100 better than mine....not to be concieted or anything, but i expected them to like blow my shots away and be freaking awesome....and they were just alright.....almost every shot was in the mathamatical middle of the pic.