It's great to be poor!

[Duncan Frenz]

So, I hear there is this thing called a 'recession' or something like that... ;)

The bad news is I have three kids and am poor. The good news is I had three kids and was poor before the recession.:D So, my situation hasn't changed and I haven't had to make any more sacrifices than what I was already making. I still can't afford this hobby, but I never was able to anyway.:lol:

While there have been numerous threads with regard to the economy and our photography purchases, I still see people buying as much equipment as before the downturn.

My question is, are people still buying as much but settling for a less expensive model or are you cutting your spending in other areas? For instance, are you getting a 50D instead of a 5DMkII, maybe eyeing a Sigma instead of a Canon lens, less purchases altogether, or full steam ahead be damn the economy?! Who is still making purchases but settled for less?

[TheHoff]

I still see people buying as much equipment as before the downturn

No offense but I don't think your anecdotal thread reading counts as a statistically valid survey of forum purchasing activity. You may still read threads about new gear purchases but if there were 20% fewer of them, do you think you'd notice out of the 10,000 (?) new threads posted here weekly?

Anyway, I've certainly cut back.

[Duncan Frenz]

No offense but I don't think your anecdotal thread reading counts as a statistically valid survey of forum purchasing activity. You may still read threads about new gear purchases but if there were 20% fewer of them, do you think you'd notice out of the 10,000 (?) new threads posted here weekly?

Anyway, I've certainly cut back.

I realize that it is not scientific in any form. I am just saying that it doesn't appear to be affecting too many. I understand that it has hurt quite a few people's ability to spend, I am wondering if it has merely changed purchases for lesser gear or stopped purchases altogether for people. I know the answer will be different for individuals. Those who couldn't afford it before, certainly can't afford it now, and such as myself it hasn't changed my habits. I was curious if there were others like myself, who are in the same boat regardless of the recession.

[JeffreyG]

I don't know about other forum members, but I do know the following as regards me.

1) Companies are emphatically not buying the heavy industrial equipment that my company makes.
2) My company is spending borrowed money to stay afloat while waiting for sales to resume.
3) My bonus which is a significant percentage of pay was zero for last year.

[nphsbuckeye]

Nothing like graduating college in this mess.

[cdifoto]

I'm a professional wedding photographer who does NOT sell useless gadgets as my real income so of course I've been broke the whole time.

:D

[bric-a-brac]

Nothing like graduating college in this mess.

amen. stupid, stupid me. time to put off the real world a little longer by taking out a loan, going to grad school, and crossing my fingers that there will be a job for me to pay it off when I graduate again in 4 more years. :p

[Skrim17]

I've had an interesting experience, I got a large raise this year, almost 12.5% and great $ back from Uncle Sam. I put it all in the bank and am trying not to spend a penny...you never know what's going to happen!

[dave kadolph]

We are a two photographer house--and it has affected our spending on related equipment.

We were on a steady upgrade path--the money is still there but the threat of being without an income also looms large!

The Alienbees and triggers will have to wait--as well the as the 1 series upgrade and the transition to better and faster glass.

The upgrades are still an option--but the price has to be right.

BTW--has anyone else noticed the bottom seems to have fallen out in the sellers forum--no traffic to speak of. :confused:

[LeuceDeuce]

I don't know if I've slowed down purchases because the economy is bad, or because I'm happy with my current kit as it is. I suppose the economy keeps me from making completely frivolous purchases. I'd like to get an off camera lighting setup, but I don't shoot many portraits so I can't really justify the purchase beyond "I'd like to try it". I'll wait for better days to make those purchases :)

[Quad]

I stopped in August but that was not due to the economy exactly. Prior to that the US dollar was very low (I buy in Canadian dollars) and US prices had not gone up yet but it was obvious they would plus I was in a financial position (ie I had the cash) to gear up so I did. I was going on a 6 month trip so that helped convince me as well. Anyhow now I am very happy with what I have (I bought good stuff) and am not buying much (well except I splashed out for a 5D2 but really did not need that one but I feel better with 2 bodies). Even if the economy gets real good that is not likely to change.

I think I am far from typical but not in my lack of buying. Sure we are told to spend but it is better to save and let others spend the economy into health. So everybody spend buy lots, let me know how that goes.

[Bosscat]

I and most in my area have been living like this for the last decade, since the downturn in the tobacco industry, so I have no idea what anyone is complaning about. This is just normal to me. This big meltdown hasn't changed life for me at all. I have always just scraped buy, since being run out of the tobacco industry, by government policy and the anti-smoking movement.

So I scrimp and save, and buy what I need and want.

[hmcart]

I am fairly new to slr photography and opted to buy a pre-loved 350D for under $350 for now and pay cash for it while a friend of mine opted to put a Nikon D60 on credit and pay for it for the next 2 + years. So yes I guess the "recession" did affect my choice, but to be honest with ya'll I am very pleased with what I got for now :)

[Here and There]

I've been wanting to get a DSLR for about 2 years now and during that time I was working as an hourly employee w/no benefits (prior to that I was in college working part time). I saved a lot cause I didn't know what was going to happen with my job and never got around to buying a DSLR. Last December, thank God, my hard work paid off and I got hired as a permanent employee. I feel my job is fairly secure, though nowadays you never know. Regardless of that I'm enjoying my hobby, but I'm very judicious with my purchases.

[LowriderS10]

It's slowed me down...my company scrapped profit sharing as well as our annual 5% raise on Jan 1 effective immediately back in December. Additionally, we laid 621 ppl off in December and another 100+ just the other day. I never know when I'm next.

The Cdn dollar crashed, so stuff out of the States isn't as cheap as it used to be.

Thankfully, I'm very happy with the gear I have and can still afford to buy new gear if I really want to...but now I just have to REALLY REALLY REALLY want it before I put my cash down on something photo-related

[yogestee]

Coming to live and work in a developing country has recessioned proofed my wife and I.. We are paid in USD as the Australian Dollar is faring pretty badly against the USD.. My wife's terms of employment she doesn't have to pay tax,,I'm paying 10%..

At the college where I'm working enrollments have never been higher,, we are turning students away.. Enrollments are out stripping the resources of the college,, an extra block of 18 classrooms is being built right now..

As for me buying more gear,,I have enough at the moment..

[MJPhotos24]

Well - from my forum browsing equipment sales are down and not equal to or more than before. The good thing is there's a lot of used equipment that is in great shape selling kind of cheap, which if you're not being hit hard by this mess could help one out. I've noticed some great deals that are not being taken and people forced to lower it even more in hopes to sell stuff right now taking a huge hit. I've put off a couple of purchases until after the baseball season to make sure it's going to be put to good use in other sports but all around I've already spent a lot more this year on equipment than last year - and only bought a couple new things (of course one was a hefty purchase) that I need.

My buying habits have not been affected at all, I still will only buy what I need to get my job done. Big difference when you do this full time vs. a hobby, if being held back by the gear it's time for an upgrade so you can expand. I have three things on my list already that will be added to the bag (1 new body, 2 lenses). Nothing has changed, only thing doing is making sure I stop anywhere I was spending stupidily, i.e. making things streamline more as not to waste money.

[SuzyView]

This is an interesting thread as I've thought about this sometimes. I have been wanting a 5D2 for several months and know I would get one soon. But since they were in demand, and very few people could get their hands on one, I bought mine a month ago without thinking about the consequences. I knew I needed it. But I would have purchased sooner and not on credit. I've got it almost paid off now, so in one month, that's about how long I tend to like to float the credit. But I know many people are holding off purchases for food and necessaries. It's what we do when times are tough. It's also the right thing to do, especially if this is a hobby. For work, I think most will hold off to pay for what they need. I know if I need a certain lens, I'll wait the few weeks or months to get it instead of settling. It just saves buying a few times.

[nphsbuckeye]

amen. stupid, stupid me. time to put off the real world a little longer by taking out a loan, going to grad school, and crossing my fingers that there will be a job for me to pay it off when I graduate again in 4 more years. :p
I don't want to prolong college by avoiding the market, because in doing so, I'm putting myself into more debt. If/when I go to grad school, I want a clear cut plan, not one of avoiding a career.

[400dabuser]

The recession has made me really think not only about what I buy, it about where I buy. I really scour the net to find the cheapest possible place I can buy....recently, I purchased a lens, that was going for nearly £200, got my new lens for just under £190

[julioangelortiz]

I started this hobby during this recession, so go figure. ;) I'd say it's made me budget conscious and I've basically stuck to getting the most I could out of the cheapest I could get. $119 for my Canon PowerShot A590IS didn't break my bank. That's why I paid $50 for my Konica SLR and didn't go out and spend $500+ on a DSLR... I figured that could wait until next year and that these two cameras would be great training wheels for a while.

Though I also really want a Canon G10. But thanks to the economy, I'm holding off. :lol:

[blueM]

My photographic purchasing department is closed for now. Pay cuts bring a dose of reality. At least I am still working.

[neilwood32]

I am in the fortunate position to be fairly secure financially (my wife works for the NHS and i work for local governement so are fairly secure jobs)

I havent stopped spending but I only spend when i have spare money. I dont load up credit cards or take loans to get gear.

One day that 5DII will be mine but i guess it will be a while before the cash is there:rolleyes:

[amonline]

Hasn't slowed me down much... bought $11k worth of new stuff in Jan/Feb, but I suspect new taxes are going to be my issue next spring. :rolleyes:

[chauncey]

Duncan my friend, when you talk about your children, you are not poor.
I'm retired and we live on SS and my six children and we are wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.

[number six]

amen. stupid, stupid me. time to put off the real world a little longer by taking out a loan, going to grad school, and crossing my fingers that there will be a job for me to pay it off when I graduate again in 4 more years. :p

Looks like a good strategy to me, if you can swing it.

-js

[Licepic]

I just got started in this very expensive hobby in this recession and I want to buy everything, but I can't. My job is somewhat secure from what I can tell and no pay cut thus far. However I live in California and every imaginable tax is going up. The registration for my cars just doubled. I gotta pay the State before I can play...:cry:

[TeeTee]

Buying more of what I need, less of what I want.

Though in the past year the business side of my photography has shot up. So I need more gear! The real pain isn't the recession as I never was a debtor, but rather the 30% price hike as a result of the weak pound. Now that's a killer.

[sidg]

I asked a similar question yesterday over in the Market Watch forum as I had not seen this thread. I'm noticing that prices do seem to be going down on used equipment. Not sure if it is everywhere but have seen some great prices from what look like respectable sellers on e-bay lately. I'm still in the acquisition mode of this new hobby and have funds that I can spend though they are not unlimited. Right now I find myself waiting, watching, and wondering when the time is to pull the trigger and get the things that I want (no, not the things I need as I'm not making money now or in the forsee able future).
It is tough because I know some people are selling gear so that they can put bread on the table for themselves and their kids and I hate to take advantage of someone else's hardship. That doesn't mean that I'll pay more than the market value or won't look for the best deal though.

[Duncan Frenz]

Duncan my friend, when you talk about your children, you are not poor.
I'm retired and we live on SS and my six children and we are wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.

There isn't a day that goes by that I take my children for granted. I cherish and fight for every moment I can spend with them. Of course, by 'poor', I meant money.
My intention of this thread was to see if there were others who are unaffected by the current economic climate simply because they do not earn more nor less and budget the same.

While I struggle with bills, I am a man of immeasurable wealth as you have pointed out.

[form]

The economy has affected me, but it hasn't impeded my purchasing very much because every piece of equipment I get was earned by photography work, which, for me, is still peaking. I'm getting lots of work every month now, doing well enough with the job to buy new equipment as I go along, and soon my collection will be complete. Then I can finally make a profit!