350d or College money?

[Issac Brock]

You decide...

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Well...will you have the money eventually to pay for college? If not, save it. If you will, get the camera.

[Sophia]

Very easy - college lol.

350d = Luxury
College = Necessity

I'm pretty sure, some will disagree. :D

--sophie

[liza]

These days, you pretty much need post-secondary education to stay competitive in the workforce. That's what we try to impress upon our students in my school. You can buy a camera later when you've graduated from college and are making enough money to support yourself.

You might also consider asking for the camera as a high school graduation gift. :)

[zacker]

School... its a no brainer. take it from someone who didnt go anywhere after HS and ownes a camera... It aint really making me any $$.
-zacker-

[Issac Brock]

Aww..but that's no fun. I might be getting a new summer job though, in which case I'll have both :)

And I'd like the camera as a gift, but the laptop I'm on right now was my gift ;)

[R_Metzel]

School first! I decided to "buy things" during and after high school instead of saving for college. That was 10 years ago. I am finally starting college this fall. Sure I had a nice car, apartment,tv,motorcycle.... But I was breaking my back at a job I hated. So I sold all the needless junk I bought and paid for my entire 4 years of tution. And like Zacker said, you wont make crap off an xt compared to a BS or BA. Not unless you are a photography god or get a once in a life time break. Take it from me and zacker, go to school when you have the chance. I may have my school paid for but now I am 27 and have bills up the *bleep*. So I have to work full time and go to school full time. The older you get, the harder it is gonna be to go.(Sorry, but I learned the hard way. Just trying to save you from taking the wrong path)

[jbkalla]

Plus, hey! In 7yrs you'll be able to afford the best camera and lenses money can buy, due to your outstanding, high-paying job! :-)

[SuzyView]

Save your money for school. Unless you are independently wealthy, everyone has to put in their time. Camera equipment can wait, your job is to learn, earn a degree and then you can get whatever gear you need. Don't let photography distract you from your schooling, unless that's what you are studying. Money is a tool or an investment in the future. I got hand-me-down camera equipment since I was 20. I haven't really done any real purchasing of gear until my 30's.

What equipment do you have now for your photography?

[philpereira]

Definitely save up for school if you really have to decide between the two. Although, having gone to some of the pricier schools for both my undergraduate and graduate studies, I can easily say I'll still be paying student loans when my future children will be going to college! lol

[SuzyView]

Went that route, as well. My hubby and I met at college and both our families were poor. We paid our own ways through for the most part. So, we were paying loans for a very long time, but when it was over, we bought 2 new cars, same price per month as the loans. Now we are putting our 2 boys through and that's a whole other story.

[Issac Brock]

What equipment do you have now for your photography?

Powershot a75 of my own, powershot a95 of my dad's that I can use, and a film SLR but its really old and doesn't work too well.

[Sophia]

Isaac,

If you have a camera right now, just save your extra money for college. After you graduate, that's the best time to buy a camera that you really like (and lenses too).

My parents gave me a camera as a high graduation gift and I used that until I graduated from college. I studied again (masters) so I can't buy my own camera even I have my extra buck (I work full time). So last christmas, my parents gave me G6 (but I was planning to buy a rebel xt). I decided to just use my G6 coz Rebel XT will temp me to buy lenses. I'm going to school again for my PhD and, buying an extra camera is not in my plan. Well, after I graduate, instant 5d! lol.

--sophie