is this something to be proud of?

CameraMan wrote in post #15606081
I look at it like this... A professional card player gambles away LOTS more money than that in a given year. If he's any good then he makes up for that loss with winnings.

Buying camera gear is a gamble. Not knowing if you're going to make that money back over a certain amount of time is certainly a gamble. Some of us take that gamble and it pays off. Others, well, maybe they have another income that allows them to play around with their money a bit.

I'm happy to say that I have spent close to that amount over a 4 year period and it has paid for itself 4 times over within the last couple years.

This is assuming that we are making money from photography. A lot of people posting on this topic are just hobbyists.

singer.rick wrote in post #15606128
This is assuming that we are making money from photography. A lot of people posting on this topic are just hobbyists.

That's why I said:

Not everyone has that sort of luck.

Before photography my hobby was going out to the desert with my sandrail. #1.motorhome 145k...#2. sandrail 52K...#3.enclosed trailer 7k....plus each trip was well over $1000 x 8 times a year.My wife will take the photography bug over the desert bug any day of the week!

flashpoint99 wrote in post #15606390
Before photography my hobby was going out to the desert with my sandrail. #1.motorhome 145k...#2. sandrail 52K...#3.enclosed trailer 7k....plus each trip was well over $1000 x 8 times a year.My wife will take the photography bug over the desert bug any day of the week!

Of course think of the photos you could take with the sandrail to haul you out to remote places

CameraMan wrote in post #15606356
That's why I said:

Not everyone has that sort of luck.

It's not a matter of luck, some people simply choose to keep it as a hobby. I certainly wouldn't equate it to gambling either. Gamblers spend with the hope of winning more money. I certainly don't buy photography equipment with the hopes of being able to sell it later, or to be able to turn pro and sell my images any more than I bought my mountain bike with the hopes of turning pro. For myself and other hobbyists, photography is an outlet, not an investment.

I buy lots of camera gear, and plan to continue to expand my collection so I'm able to do different things with my hobby. I have no plans to make money from this, but I still consider my camera gear an investment in my personal entertainment. I might get some money off tips from volunteering my time with different groups, but I always assume that money spent on photography will be more than money earned from anything related to it.

I do it because I enjoy it and have fun. And if you think you're spending a lot on photography, well you should try sailing... Easy to drop far more than the original poster was talking about in a single weekend when it comes to decent boats.

Trust me, there are a lot of hobbies out there that are as expensive. I have spent tons of money on stereo, on race cars, on computers and everything else you can think of. If the hobby makes you happy and you can afford it, I say go for it.

It's like how much your camera bag weighs. Some things man is not meant to know!

coeng wrote in post #15605444
But until I win the lottery, enough is enough. I need to start exhibiting self control. My wife gives me way too much spending freedom. If she only knew how much, my life would suck in an instant.
I welcome any words of support with gratitude.

Obviously, it's all your wife's fault. Quite frankly, she ought to be ashamed.

coeng wrote in post #15605444
Another way I look at this is that I could be driving around in a brand new SUV today if only I followed the crowds and stuck with a cheap point and shoot as my first digital camera..

Not really because if you didn't have the photography hobby, then you'd just spend the same amount of money on something else. Guys have to have hobbies, there's no getting around it.

I recently added up what I spent on my firearms hobby and it rivals yours.

LOL, please don't put the thought into my head of trying to add up what I've spent. I might be stupid enough to leave the piece of paper sitting around the house. It's already a touchy subject for me. I took a deposit yesterday to sell someone my motorcycle. Listing it on Craig's List was all part of the bargain that was negotiated when I mentioned wanting to buy a 5D3. Who knew someone would actually buy it. Lord knows what I'd be asked to sell next if the full cost of this hobby were ever disclosed.

BirdsOfPreyDave wrote in post #15609059
LOL, please don't put the thought into my head of trying to add up what I've spent. I might be stupid enough to leave the piece of paper sitting around the house. It's already a touchy subject for me. I took a deposit yesterday to sell someone my motorcycle. Listing it on Craig's List was all part of the bargain that was negotiated when I mentioned wanting to buy a 5D3. Who knew someone would actually buy it. Lord knows what I'd be asked to sell next if the full cost of this hobby were ever disclosed.

I guess I'm a lucky guy, because we have a spreadsheet with all of our gear expenses........and my wife is starting to itch for a 35L...

Jon wrote in post #15607344
It's like how much your camera bag weighs. Some things man is not meant to know!

If I did, I might never lift the bag! Especially when I I have the tripod on it and I get the Bigma I am looking for.

Might have to invest in a back brace!