I am not rich!

[cloudless]

Whenever my friends see my EOS300D, they say I am a rich guy. I am very annoyed when I hear that. I am not rich! I just think the 300D is very well worth the price for me. My friends are just as rich (if not richer) than me, I just spend money on something important to me, and save money on other things.

If I were really rich, I would be using a 1Ds with an L lens already!

[Cadwell]

Only one thing is certain... if you continue to spend money on cameras and all those lovely, tempting lenses... you'll only become poorer :wink:

[Ikinaa]

This may be a bit harsh, but ... who cares what others say about your money ? (except perhaps your wife... she can hurt you :twisted: )
It's the same when people say 'I wouldn't spend so much on a camera'. It's not their problem exactly. If photography is your hobby, live it, buy what you want, as long as you can afford it, of course, because if you don't, perhaps you will regret it some day.
The actual moment is important, of course the future is important too, but some day the day in the future will be the actual day, ...
I'm not saying that you should live the actual day as if it was your last...
Live the actual day, but keep the future in mind...

[RichardtheSane]

I agree with you there.
Buy what you can when you have the opportunity, I am glad I did.
Sure, when I spent over £3000 on camera gear in just a few months my friends thought I was mad, and what would I need that much photo gear for?
Some still do, but I really don't care. It is more than a hobby to me, it defines what I do to an extent.

Now, I doubt I could afford to buy any photo gear, and won't be able to for a while - but I have what I need to get the shots I want. :)

[Andy_T]

Just 4 things:

- Congratulations on getting your 300D :)

- I didn't think it was annoying for Chinese people if their friends touted them with being rich ... one often cited difference to Westerners is that in China it's quite normal to ask other people about their salary ... which would be a big no-no in Europe/US.

- I like your BLOG!

- If your friends tell you again 'you must be rich' when they see your camera, you can reply with a smile '... not any longer, since I got this :)'

Regards,
Andy

[BoySpot]

Do any of your friends (who should be a bit more supportive by the sound of it) play golf? If so, they probably spend a pile of cash on clubs, memberships, drinks afterwards etc. They are just as entitled to do this to. All that matters is that you are able to do what you want and it isn't harming anyone else.

[scottbergerphoto]

How about a corrolary to that. Sometimes when I show my pictures taken with my 10D and printed on an Epson 2200, people will say, "Wow, you must have a good camera!" (No skill required?).
Scott

[roanjohn]

But are you European??

Ro1 :lol:

[JZaun]

For the first time in my life and many many cameras, I bought what I wanted and not what I could pay cash for. Me and master card owned a 10d for a couple of months together. Now I bought what I wanted and I could care less what others think about the cost...This one is for me...

ENJOY and ignore othes comments.

[TeraGram93013]

Sure, when I spent over £3000 on camera gear in just a few months my friends thought I was mad, and what would I need that much photo gear for?

Could be worse.

I've actually had people say "What does a stay-at-home-mom need with a camera like that?"

I've yet to really go off on anyone in response to that, but it does make my blood boil. Generally (after recovering from the involuntary squint which should sear through them) I just smile, Vanna-wave towards my daughter and say "well she is incredibly beautiful. I needed a great camera to take her picture."

And..

"Bet you ran your credit cards up to the limit on THAT purchase!"

This one I have responded to on several occassions. That particular line assumes that our credit limit is so low as to be soaked by a camera and a few moderate lenses [i]and that I'm stupid enough to soak it on one non-emergency purchase.

My general reply is "no, I paid cash", which I did. I love it when their eyes pop in response. I guess I run into too many people who have no concept of saving for what they want.

Then there's the ever annoying question "How much did you pay for that?" which I generally try to deflect. And what kills me about this question, in particular, is that the folks that seem to ask it most are the ones driving late-model humongous SUVs, BMWs or other luxury vehicles. Did I stop them and ask how much they paid for their car? NO! Meanwhile I'm driving a 14-year-old Volvo. Of course I'm an anomaly according to most Southern Californians. What I drive isn't an A-number-One Priority. To me a car is just transportation, not a statement about what is important to me.

gah

[nosquare2003]

Just 4 things:

- I didn't think it was annoying for Chinese people if their friends touted them with being rich ... one often cited difference to Westerners is that in China it's quite normal to ask other people about their salary ... which would be a big no-no in Europe/US.

Regards,
Andy

I'm a Chinese but I've never heard it. Hmm, so shall I ask what's your salary? :P

I agree that Chinese like to compare. But we usually don't ask directly. We will judge others wealth by ourselves.

Cloudless, just ignore them. They don't really mean you're rich IMHO. And even if you are / were rich, it would not be any of their business.
Cheers

[Andy_T]

Just 4 things:

- I didn't think it was annoying for Chinese people if their friends touted them with being rich ... one often cited difference to Westerners is that in China it's quite normal to ask other people about their salary ... which would be a big no-no in Europe/US.

Regards,
Andy

I'm a Chinese but I've never heard it. Hmm, so shall I ask what's your salary? :P


I really thought that would be some kind of prejudice, too. However, when we visited my wife's relatives in Taiwan, there were sure some that did ask this question, what my car cost, how much my house was, etc... :)

When I told them what my salary was and how much of it I really get to keep after taxes :(, they just shook their heads in disbelief and asked us why we didn't stay with them.... which would actually not be that bad an idea, if I was able to get a job as an illiterate (in Chinese)...

Regards,
Andy

[BenjaminL]

Also they don't sue each other as often as people in US. :twisted:

[Belmondo]

I AM RICH!

I don't have much money, but I do have my photographs. What better way to remember the fullness of life and all the good things that we enjoy every day.

(I took my 'sappy' pills this morning. Forgive me.) :lol:

[CyberDyneSystems]

....Then there's the ever annoying question "How much did you pay for that?" which I generally try to deflect. And what kills me about this question, in particular, is that the folks that seem to ask it most are the ones driving late-model humongous SUVs, BMWs or other luxury vehicles. Did I stop them and ask how much they paid for their car? NO! Meanwhile I'm driving a 14-year-old Volvo. Of course I'm an anomaly according to most Southern Californians. What I drive isn't an A-number-One Priority. To me a car is just transportation, not a statement about what is important to me.

gah

Tera,

You took the words ight out of my mouth! I'm driving a 1986 Corrola I paid $850.00 for... when soemone in a $28,000.00 SUV thinks I spent too much on a camera... grrrr

//rant mode on;

At least my camera is not also contributing to the destruction of the environment in it's use on a daily basis,. nor is it connected directly to the reasons that fanatics flew airliners into the WTC... :evil:

//rant mode off

[NILOLIGIST]

cloudless,

You are RICH!! You have a wonderful camera that you LOVE and you have all of us.

Being rich doesn't always mean money, happiness, good friends and a wonderful fullfilling life qualify too.

NiL,

[Andy_T]

I've actually had people say "What does a stay-at-home-mom need with a camera like that?"

I've yet to really go off on anyone in response to that, but it does make my blood boil. Generally (after recovering from the involuntary squint which [if I had laser vision] should sear through them) I just smile, Vanna-wave towards my daughter and say "well she is incredibly beautiful. I needed a great camera to take her picture."


Teragram,

I agree with everything you said!

Just ... I looked through your BLOG, but could not find a picture of your daughter among all the nice pictures... mind sharing some?

Kind regards,
Andy

[TeraGram93013]

Just ... I looked through your BLOG, but could not find a picture of your daughter among all the nice pictures... mind sharing some?

I used to have a lot of pictures of my daughter on my f'log. I removed them after a few (insert a long string of descriptive words used such that a sailor would blush) ahem.. what I mean is, less-than-nice individuals posted comments that made me want to filet those individuals with a rusty hatchet.

This group tends to be a lot more reserved and polite, so maybe I'll put one up in the Sharing folder later today.

[Andy_T]

This group tends to be a lot more reserved and polite, so maybe I'll put one up in the Sharing folder later today.

That would be nice.
I don't think there will be a need for any rusty hatchets on tihs forum. :lol:

BTW, I also created a BLOG at the site you gave today.

I tried to crosslink the picture I posted there to the share photos section ... however, it did not work (picture not visible).

Did you ever experience this problem?

Kind regards,
Andy

[cgratti]

Whenever my friends see my EOS300D, they say I am a rich guy. I am very annoyed when I hear that. I am not rich! I just think the 300D is very well worth the price for me. My friends are just as rich (if not richer) than me, I just spend money on something important to me, and save money on other things.

If I were really rich, I would be using a 1Ds with an L lens already!

I get the same thing from my friends, but they fail to realize that while they are going out every weekend to clubs dropping $80-$100 I am home not spending money and saving for something like this.

Oh well, when they want a picture charge them, saying you have the cash to booze every weekend, you can pay me to get you your photos.

[tpinchback]

Whenever my friends see my EOS300D, they say I am a rich guy. I am very annoyed when I hear that. I am not rich! I just think the 300D is very well worth the price for me. My friends are just as rich (if not richer) than me, I just spend money on something important to me, and save money on other things.

If I were really rich, I would be using a 1Ds with an L lens already!

My friends say the same thing!!!

Then you go look in the back of there Mazda Rx-7 and see their stereo system that cost them 2000 dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is rediculus!!!

Not to mention there rims and tires that set them back 3000 grand.
also body kit 750
panit job 1200
spolier 500
nos ????
new seats ????
get what i mean???

He droped all this cash into is car just too be ripped off!!!

That sucks, for him.

[SWPhotoImaging]

Hmmm, you mean that if I sold my humungous SUV, my motorcycles, my fly fishing gear, and my golf clubs, I could buy even more Camera gear???

I gotta go write some classified ads . . . . . see ya later.

I'm gonna be RICH!!

[cloudless]

Wow many thanks for many of you sharing your experiences. Now I know how to answer my friends. Photography could be a very expensive hobby, but it is very practical and valuable too. Last night my mom asked me to take a pictures of some flowers she bought, she said "they are so beautiful, please capture them before they fall."

P.R.I.C.E.L.E.S.S. !!

Andy, thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you liked it.

[RichardtheSane]

I gotta go write some classified ads . . . . . see ya later.

I'm gonna be RICH!!

Not for long.... ;)

[Ikinaa]

cloudless,

You are RICH!! You have a wonderful camera that you LOVE and you have all of us.

Being rich doesn't always mean money, happiness, good friends and a wonderful fullfilling life qualify too.

NiL,

NiL : You got it right...
I don't know why everyone defines 'rich' with 'money'.
I'm RICH, because I have a wonderful wife, two wonderful kids (5 years and 7 months) who are happy when I come home in the evening, so what would I want more?