Justifying New Lenses

^^^ Yep. Sensible stuff

Wow. I have never kept a full on calculated spreadsheet myself.
Although I do have a 2 column list of brought with prices and sold cash after fees and shipping.
Since June 2012 I am only at $313 of a cash loss.
Although that number would increase if I sold my current gear once I calculated the shipping a fees.
It is far less scientific than others cost analysis, but at least I have never lets GAS get out of control.
Also, as other have suggested always buy used. My 24L II was new, all others were used with zero issues.

I have lost £1000 since march as I purchased a Fuji XT1 and 3 lenses then sold it all. Gutting!

Talley wrote in post #17126100
YUP!

I keep a spreadsheet. Everytime I buy camera gear it goes on the "BUY" column. Everytime I sell something it goes under the "SELL" Column....

THEN... the stuff I own is the "WORTH" column and thats the prices that I would put in my pocket after fees and shipping IF I sold it...

and THEN I take what I've bought, minus what I've sold... then I minus what I have and what it's worth Net to me and that gives me my total "Loss" for this hobby of mine.

Total loss = $1493 wasted down the drain from all the buying/selling.

However.... This cost is spread out over the past 3.5 years of me doing SLR stuff and the result is I have literally 70,000+ photos that are high quality documentation of my children and growing.... PRICELESS.

I think I've come out way ahead.

but yes... Buy used!!!!

Wow. I sold a Tammy 28-75 for $20 more than I paid for it a year later. Then I sold my 28-135 kit lens for $200. However seeing that I bought it with my 7D from Newegg when they had a sale offering the kit option for the same price as body only, I figure I am up $220 with out adjusting for inflation.