Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs

Simoli · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

when they ask? I get the question all the time. Wondering why others tell or don't tell what they paid. To me it doesn't really matter if they know or not (as long as it doesn't get back to my wife). What I don't know is what the person asking is thinking given a really low or high price.

When I flew RC helicopters I would get the $$ question alot also. I always answered as accuratley as I could. My thought then was that if they were asking they really didn't know and maybe they were trying to evaluate if this was a hobby for them or not. But for photo gear I don't think the question is for the same reason.

Just your thoughts. I'm not looking for the "it's none of their business" type of response, if you feel that way then I would like to know why you think that.

stathunter · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

I don't tell anyone....... most will say: "is that digital?" or "Wow! that must have cost a few hundred!" when in reality it was more like 6K......... but I do not tell anyone. The important part is do you know how to use it.

Twisted Image · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

I just tell people....Well it's not cheap...I pretty much leave it at that

polarbare · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

I tell if they seem genuinely interested. Some times people just want to get an idea of how much it would take to do what I do. There's no reason for them to think sports photography is going to be cheap, nor do I go on and on about how much I've spent. They ask, I answer.

Palladium · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

I just tell me that it's more than my car and leave it at that

DStanic · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

It depends who I am talking to. If it's my mom, I will lye and make up a lower number..lol. My wife I am honest to since I have not bought any $1000range lenses yet.

If I am talking with other "gear heads" I am proud to say how much I paid for my gear since I buy mostly used and hunt for the bargains.

brecklundin · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

nobodies business but my own. As far as my neighbors, friends and family are concerned, business is always bad, clients don't pay and it is by the skin of my teeth I survive every month. Granted the latter two are true more times than I would like...

If people think you're always broke, they not only never assume you can afford something (as in they never ask you to go places that cost money) they also never ask for any money.

It's funny how none ever take notice that I have nice things, I take care of the things I have but I live very cheaply and simply. I just don't show off what I have.

martines34 · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

It's not a contest of mine is bigger then yours.

It really isn't anybody's business.

I tell people that I'm retired and it is my hobby.

I think it is rather rude to ask anyone what they have spent on anything unless they are a personal friend and they are wanting to shop for an equivalent item.

JackLiu · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

No one has asked what my photo equipt cost. However, they may comment "that's a very fancy camera" or "that camera looks expensive." Just me.

beaconlightboy · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

I don't think it really matters. Generally i tell my clients that you get what you pay for, if you want a photographer for $800.00 then you're getting that quality equipment and they are definetley in the wrong place. I make mention to all clients that we use the best stuff and price accordingly. Well.. actually we are pretty cheap as wedding photographers go, but not $800.00 cheap.

jruberto · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

In fly fishing, we have a joke. "I hope my wife doesn't sell my gear for what I told her I paid"

wyofizz · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

If they ask I'll tell. Why not?

CAL Imagery · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

Rarely. I don't buy stuff to keep up with the Joneses (but I have a fan club because of my 3) and I'd rather not say. I find it hard to explain to my friends why my camera can take better pictures than their cell phone.

iAMB · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

Unless someone is generally interested in it after we have been talking for a while, then ill say. And that goes for my other hobbies such as cycling and RC. If they just come up and ask, I just say its a canon camera and is a hobby and leave it at that.

Stealthy Ninja · 6th of May 2009 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jruberto

In fly fishing, we have a joke. "I hope my wife doesn't sell my gear for what I told her I paid"

After your dead I assume. Very apt for photography too.

Some things a better left unsaid. Don't ask don't tell. etc. etc.

Funny thing would be if you told your wife you sold your lens for $1000 and she says:

"Wow! You bought it new for $50!!!"

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#1
Simoli Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northville, MI Posts: 654 IMAGE EDITING OK	Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs when they ask? I get the question all the time. Wondering why others tell or don't tell what they paid. To me it doesn't really matter if they know or not (as long as it doesn't get back to my wife). What I don't know is what the person asking is thinking given a really low or high price. When I flew RC helicopters I would get the $$ question alot also. I always answered as accuratley as I could. My thought then was that if they were asking they really didn't know and maybe they were trying to evaluate if this was a hobby for them or not. But for photo gear I don't think the question is for the same reason. Just your thoughts. I'm not looking for the "it's none of their business" type of response, if you feel that way then I would like to know why you think that. __________________ Jim www.simoli.net \|\| Gear List

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#2
stathunter Cream of the Crop Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Prev Michigan - Now Irvine CA - SoCal Posts: 5,390 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs I don't tell anyone....... most will say: "is that digital?" or "Wow! that must have cost a few hundred!" when in reality it was more like 6K......... but I do not tell anyone. The important part is do you know how to use it. __________________ Scott Location: Southern California "Do or do not, there is no try" My Facebook Page /My Website

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#3
Twisted Image Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abington, PA Posts: 213	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs I just tell people....Well it's not cheap...I pretty much leave it at that __________________ 30D--70-200F4L. Sigma 24-70 2.8 5D mkII + BG-E6 grip & 580 EXII

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#4
polarbare Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Natick, MA Posts: 575	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs I tell if they seem genuinely interested. Some times people just want to get an idea of how much it would take to do what I do. There's no reason for them to think sports photography is going to be cheap, nor do I go on and on about how much I've spent. They ask, I answer. __________________ Brad Moore My Sportshooter Page Polarbare Photo Blog Photojournalist for Bostonist.com

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#5
Palladium Goldmember Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Not the Left Coast but the Right Coast - USA Posts: 3,820 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs I just tell me that it's more than my car and leave it at that __________________ For Sale: Gitzo GT3541LS Tripod http://photography-on-the.net/forum/....php?t=1234081

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#6
DStanic Cream of the Crop Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 6,117 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs It depends who I am talking to. If it's my mom, I will lye and make up a lower number..lol. My wife I am honest to since I have not bought any $1000range lenses yet. If I am talking with other "gear heads" I am proud to say how much I paid for my gear since I buy mostly used and hunt for the bargains. __________________ 5D, 30D, Powershot S100 Sigma 24-60 f/2.8-SOLD.. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 . Canon 85mm f/1.8 http://dstanic.zenfolio.com twitter.com/DStanicPhoto

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#7
brecklundin Goldmember Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,179 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs nobodies business but my own. As far as my neighbors, friends and family are concerned, business is always bad, clients don't pay and it is by the skin of my teeth I survive every month. Granted the latter two are true more times than I would like... If people think you're always broke, they not only never assume you can afford something (as in they never ask you to go places that cost money) they also never ask for any money. It's funny how none ever take notice that I have nice things, I take care of the things I have but I live very cheaply and simply. I just don't show off what I have. __________________ Real men shoot Pentax because we're born with our own Canon's!! {Ok...ok, some of use just have a PnS but it it always makes me happy! } Pentax K5, K20D, Three Amigos (Pentax FA 31/1.8 Limited Silver, Pentax FA 43/1.9 Limited Silver, Pentax FA 77/1.8 Limited Silver), Pentax DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited, Sigma 24-60/2.8

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#8
martines34 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 92	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs It's not a contest of mine is bigger then yours. It really isn't anybody's business. I tell people that I'm retired and it is my hobby. I think it is rather rude to ask anyone what they have spent on anything unless they are a personal friend and they are wanting to shop for an equivalent item.

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#9
JackLiu Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ventura County, Calif., USA Posts: 558	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs No one has asked what my photo equipt cost. However, they may comment "that's a very fancy camera" or "that camera looks expensive." Just me. __________________ "Love life and life will love you back. Love people and they will love you back." Arthur Rubinstein.

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#10
beaconlightboy Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: PA Posts: 269	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs I don't think it really matters. Generally i tell my clients that you get what you pay for, if you want a photographer for $800.00 then you're getting that quality equipment and they are definetley in the wrong place. I make mention to all clients that we use the best stuff and price accordingly. Well.. actually we are pretty cheap as wedding photographers go, but not $800.00 cheap. __________________ Canon 30D Canon 20D - backup Canon 24-70L Canon 70-200L Canon 28-135 f/3.5-f/5.6 USM-IS Canon 70-300 USM-IS (1) 580EX (2) 550EX (1) 420EX Still trying to figure out the darn E-TTL

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#11
jruberto Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 82 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs In fly fishing, we have a joke. "I hope my wife doesn't sell my gear for what I told her I paid"

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#12
wyofizz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,227 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs If they ask I'll tell. Why not? __________________ Dave - Fuzzy Hashing makes me itch.

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#13
CAL Imagery Goldmember Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: O-H Posts: 3,286	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs Rarely. I don't buy stuff to keep up with the Joneses (but I have a fan club because of my 3) and I'd rather not say. I find it hard to explain to my friends why my camera can take better pictures than their cell phone. __________________ Christian Facebook Fan Page! Website Blog D800 + Zeiss = I'm going to Southeast Asia!

6th of May 2009 (Wed)	#14
iAMB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: St. Louis Posts: 673 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Do You Tell People How Much Your Gear Costs Unless someone is generally interested in it after we have been talking for a while, then ill say. And that goes for my other hobbies such as cycling and RC. If they just come up and ask, I just say its a canon camera and is a hobby and leave it at that. __________________ 5Dc, EOS-1n, AE-1 24-70mmL , 50mm 1.8 Full Gear List "I'm so far behind, it looks like I'm winning" -Adam

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