How much $ have you spend on your camera, lens, gears, accessories, etc...

wuzzittoya wrote in post #13893160
Oops! Yes - typo. $6K, not 60! He wouldn't let me get that carried away...

I'm grateful for the amount, but still trying to get about three thousand more out of him? ROFL

Now THAT is much more believable LOL

If ONLY I had spent that much this year I wouldn't be as stressed hehe....... Yikes!

328iGuy wrote in post #13893181
Now THAT is much more believable LOL

If ONLY I had spent that much this year I wouldn't be as stressed hehe....... Yikes!

If only you had spent $60K instead of 6?

Or if only you got to spend $6k?

I'm still trying to talk him into two more lenses... The poor man...

In my defense, there's some extra money now and he's someone who believes the economy will be in complete free fall in a few months. I'm using this as logic to complete my camera kit (and maybe get me a nice solar recharging option) so my ability to take pictures, etc., will not be affected by economic constraints and I can still pursue my passions (photography, writing and music).

wuzzittoya wrote in post #13893208
If only you had spent $60K instead of 6?

Or if only you got to spend $6k?

If ONLY I had spent $6k

wuzzittoya wrote in post #13893155
What is the purpose??? LOL

Dunno....but there was quite an argument about it early on in the thread.

Some claim that this kind of thread (which pops up from time to time) is more about "who has the most money" than being anything constructive about photography.

Some argue that since this can be a "hobby", like boating, or cart-racing, then the question is some kind of "gauge" to show ones position.

For me, I simply can't justify earning nothing while spending a lot....which is what some do, I suspect. But asking what people make from photography is a little too rude for my British mind.

skygod44 wrote in post #13893380
Dunno....but there was quite an argument about it early on in the thread.

Some claim that this kind of thread (which pops up from time to time) is more about "who has the most money" than being anything constructive about photography.

Some argue that since this can be a "hobby", like boating, or cart-racing, then the question is some kind of "gauge" to show ones position.

For me, I simply can't justify earning nothing while spending a lot....which is what some do, I suspect. But asking what people make from photography is a little too rude for my British mind.

You're British! I was wondering, since some of what you said suggested you are gaikokujin (I guess that is more polite now)... someone from abroad living in Japan. Had a good friend from high school who lived in Japan for a while, and Japanese friends in America, too. I think that for many it's kind of a consolation - "geez, am I crazy spending this much?" and for others an insecurity thing "I have enough invested that I must really take this seriously, just look."

For me... well, I just can't help but chime in on threads sometimes... curiosity? Maybe a smidgen of guilt and being overwhelmed at how much I have put into it this year without really getting money back from it yet.

skygod44 wrote in post #13893380
For me, I simply can't justify earning nothing while spending a lot....which is what some do, I suspect. But asking what people make from photography is a little too rude for my British mind.

I have never made a cent, it has only ever been a hobby for me.

I want to earn money from it, but it is all going back into gear. Ultimate goal - have my kit "finished" including a full-frame and 7D (future upgrades with predecessors in each as time and money provide) and lenses for everything I like to shoot (which is quite a variety)...

328iGuy wrote in post #13893406
I have never made a cent, it has only ever been a hobby for me.

Wow. I simply couldn't do that.
All respect to you....because if it was only a hobby to me, I'd stick with the Rebel range, plus maybe a couple of average zooms and a couple of average primes.

wuzzittoya wrote in post #13893403
You're British!

Yep. But we're very mixed-blood, so a bit of French, Welsh and Irish is also in the recent mix.

Well, one of my backgrounds is art. Nothing world shattering, but I've been good enough to make money at it. And I enjoyed 35mm photography, as I said before to you, starting several decades ago....and I made money at it....so it makes sense to me to treat digital photography as a creative outlet in which I can also earn some cash.
A hobby, to me, is like badminton, cycling, or paragliding - all of which I do for pure enjoyment/relaxation/h​ealth/social reasons.

wuzzittoya wrote in post #13893448
I want to earn money from it, but it is all going back into gear. Ultimate goal - have my kit "finished" including a full-frame and 7D (future upgrades with predecessors in each as time and money provide) and lenses for everything I like to shoot (which is quite a variety)...

Wuzzi, it'll never happen. There will alway be some new piece of kit which could improve your photos/make photography easier/etc.
You have been warned.

skygod44 wrote in post #13893380
For me, I simply can't justify earning nothing while spending a lot....which is what some do, I suspect.

Everyone is different. I don't mind the thought of giving someone I like a framed photo for their wall for free. I don't feel the slightest need to 'recoup" anything as reimbursement for the gear that I have bought for my hobby or the photo paper, ink or frame.

I spent a lot of money on my car, everytime someone rides in it, I don't switch a meter on. I also paid a crap load for my house and leather lounges etc. I don't ask for reimbursement when someone enjoys the comforts of my home that I paid good money to purchase and furnish.

If I let people have a go at skiing or wakeboarding behind my boat, I don't go cha ching "that will be $20.00 thanks".

It's always amazed me how "tight" some "photographers" tend to portray themselves on photography forums even towards their own family members when it comes to giving some photos away.

wuzzittoya wrote in post #13893448
Ultimate goal - have my kit "finished"

LOL good luck with that. There will always be something new coming along that will get your consumer juices flowing

Most of the photographs on this thread are awesome!
If the usage is mainly web upload and sharing and printing upto 8x10..

I would say "who needs SLR", little too much.. but Digital camera are getting richer day by day..

fotoworx wrote in post #13893623
Everyone is different. I don't mind the thought of giving someone I like a framed photo for their wall for free. I don't feel the slightest need to 'recoup" anything as reimbursement for the gear that I have bought for my hobby or the photo paper, ink or frame.

I spent a lot of money on my car, everytime someone rides in it, I don't switch a meter on. I also paid a crap load for my house and leather lounges etc. I don't ask for reimbursement when someone enjoys the comforts of my home that I paid good money to purchase and furnish.

If I let people have a go at skiing or wakeboarding behind my boat, I don't go cha ching "that will be $20.00 thanks".

It's always amazed me how "tight" some "photographers" tend to portray themselves on photography forums even towards their own family members when it comes to giving some photos away.

Interesting points, though I can't see a parallel between a owning a few sofas and doing photography. I guess though that, as you said, photography is your hobby.
Mine isn't.
So I doubt I'll spend huge money on, for example, a 5D3 when it comes out because my clients really wouldn't know/see the difference.
I shoot PR/classical concerts professionally, so "recouping" money is kinda part 'n' parcel.
And my 7D gets the job done beautifully, within spec, efficiently, quietly(!), and with a choice of lenses, exactly appropriate to the job.
I'm thinking about a 24-70LII.....but I might go with the Tamron because its cost-effectiveness might be a lot higher. Don't know yet. We'll see.
Oh, and "family/friends"? Of course, they get a good discount.

Wow SkyGod & fotoworx... you really think I can never be content?

I was hoping that if I got the current generation of lenses (enough to do everything I wanted) I would be okay with occasional body upgrades if things were suddenly amazingly improved... ~sigh~

Okay - and maybe lens upgrades in the future if people are still buying from me here and there...

My husband is a tolerant man, but I don't think I'll get ten grand a year out of him ad infinitum.

Neat on the heritage, SkyGod - I've got a lot of fairly recent mix myself (going back two generations) but that's pretty common in the US, I guess...

German/French (Alsace area), American Indian, and English (from Cornwall).

Sounds like a neat job... You aren't ever getting a full-frame?

wuzzitoya, you don't need 10K to have a complete kit, especially for what you are shooting (pictures of chickens and stuff). honestly, even 6k is enough for an amateur. i spent no more than 2k on my kit and i think it's sufficient enough that i shouldn't blame my equipment for bad photography or missed shots.

that is, unless, your hobby is collecting shiny new white things. in that case, your hobby/passion is not photography but consumerism. to claim otherwise is offensive to real photographers.

328iGuy wrote in post #13893406
I have never made a cent, it has only ever been a hobby for me.

I've earned a few hundred dollars...but couldn't be bothered by it. I don't care if I don't make a cent. I enjoy this hobby Looking back at some family pictures, I realized that later on, regardless of how much money I have, I couldn't take those same pictures again...

We have them up in a photo frame in our living room. Brings back so many memories everytime I gaze back at the pictures.

And I'm a student- 18 yrs old. All I ever do is work, study, sleep. I don't play any video games, watch TV, party actively unless invited to do so, etc... Taking photos is the only thing I do for fun ...Well I do read in my spare time and enjoy it, but this is funner Although I do think this is cutting into my time... I should really be studying harder to get into that Honors Computer Science and bumping up my average for Graduate School...

Although a while ago, I was promising myself I'd stop after my 5DII... of course that didn't happen. Then came the TS-E, ONA Union Street, and soon going to be a 50 1.2 or 16-35... I feel my photos haven't gotten much better despite all this spending, but I've definately been enjoying myself. But I feel guilty for being so young and having about 5000 in gear, although only the XSI, 55-250, and 100L were gifts- others all I worked for myself.

But Photography is only the beginning... I have 2 years left of this Bachelor's Degree... I enjoyed building computers back in the day... and I'm having trouble resisting the lure of nice cars... I can see where this is going once this schooling is over