Any other equipment (especially lenses) that I should consider?

Explanation: via Chase, I believe that I can get a credit card for my business which will give me $500 in rewards after I spend $3,000 within three months. This is helpful because there are two items I want to get: another 5Ds, and a 200/2.8.

After buying those two items, I'll have spent about $1,600. By spending $1,400 more, I get $500 back -- that's a good deal. I'm inclined to get the 24 and 14 ART lenses because I have low-quality 14 and 24 lenses already which I'd then sell to further offset the cost of the upgrades. The 14 ART is 800 used and the 24 ART is 400-450 used.

However, I shoot portraits; the 14 barely appeals to me at all and I'm not excited about the 24 either. What should I consider getting instead? Assume that roughly $1,400 is my limit for alternative considerations.

Note: Physical items only. No classes/trips/etc., those are for after I finish school.

I'll already have: Two 5Ds, four good lights (one with HSS+battery [not enough studio space for more lights]), various light modifiers, and the lenses in my sig.

I fear that I'm at the point where the only portrait-oriented gear left to get are Otus lenses, super telephotos, and medium format gear.

Light modifiers and a great backdrop.

icor1031 wrote in post #18990011
Explanation: via Chase, I believe that I can get a credit card for my business which will give me $500 in rewards after I spend $3,000 within three months. This is helpful because there are two items I want to get: another 5Ds, and a 200/2.8.

After buying those two items, I'll have spent about $1,600. By spending $1,400 more, I get $500 back -- that's a good deal.

It's only a good deal if you can pay back the $3000 quickly. Otherwise the interest you pay on this amount will eat up the $500.

Since you are in school I bet it will take you a long time to pay off the credit card balance. If so, then this is a bad deal.

Perfectly Frank wrote in post #18990026
It's only a good deal if you can pay back the $3000 quickly. Otherwise the interest you pay on this amount will eat up the $500.

Since you are in school I bet it will take you a long time to pay off the credit card balance. If so, then this is a bad deal.

Nah, I save most of the money I need to pay it off before making the purchases. The only reason for using a card at all is because of the $500 reward.

icor1031 wrote in post #18990011
Explanation: via Chase, I believe that I can get a credit card for my business which will give me $500 in rewards after I spend $3,000 within three months. This is helpful because there are two items I want to get: another 5Ds, and a 200/2.8.

After buying those two items, I'll have spent about $1,600. By spending $1,400 more, I get $500 back -- that's a good deal. I'm inclined to get the 24 and 14 ART lenses because I have low-quality 14 and 24 lenses already which I'd then sell to further offset the cost of the upgrades. The 14 ART is 800 used and the 24 ART is 400-450 used.

However, I shoot portraits; the 14 barely appeals to me at all and I'm not excited about the 24 either. What should I consider getting instead? Assume that roughly $1,400 is my limit for alternative considerations.

Note: Physical items only. No classes/trips/etc., those are for after I finish school.

I'll already have: Two 5Ds, four good lights (one with HSS+battery [not enough studio space for more lights]), various light modifiers, and the lenses in my sig.

I fear that I'm at the point where the only portrait-oriented gear left to get are Otus lenses, super telephotos, and medium format gear.

By ‘eck, that credit card company has got you hook, line and sinker. I can picture them now, sat behind their desks, reeling you in.

It is NOT a good deal.

It is only good deal if you are spending the money on something that you actually need or want, and that the rewards are something that you actually need or want.

I really don’t see the point of spending an additional $1400 on something that you don’t really need or want just to get a $500 reward. And it is blatantly obvious from the above post that you don’t know what you need or want, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking the question.

john crossley wrote in post #18990029
By ‘eck, that credit card company has got you hook, line and sinker. I can picture them now, sat behind their desks, reeling you in.

It is NOT a good deal.

It is only good deal if you are spending the money on something that you actually need or want, and that the rewards are something that you actually need or want.

I really don’t see the point of spending an additional $1400 on something that you don’t really need or want just to get a $500 reward. And it is blatantly obvious from the above post that you don’t know what you need or want, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking the question.

Worst case: I could buy $1,400 of used equipment in order to get the $500 reward, then resell that $1,400 of equipment for the same price, pay eBay's fees, and still come out ahead (or better, sell locally and avoid risking a paypal scammer). So no, it's not a bad deal. A lot of hassle for not a lot of gain, but not bad.


... I just thought of something more practical: I could use that money to pay my business insurance in advance. Though I'm still curious if there's more gear that's worth considering.

john crossley wrote in post #18990029
By ‘eck, that credit card company has got you hook, line and sinker. I can picture them now, sat behind their desks, reeling you in.

It is NOT a good deal.

It is only good deal if you are spending the money on something that you actually need or want, and that the rewards are something that you actually need or want.

I really don’t see the point of spending an additional $1400 on something that you don’t really need or want just to get a $500 reward. And it is blatantly obvious from the above post that you don’t know what you need or want, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking the question.

It is only a good deal for THEM if you maintain that credit month after month paying the 24% interest rate. Pay off the bill in the first 30 days, and you make $500, We use those deals by just charging our normal gas and food and going out to eat to hit the thresholds to get that money.

And you don't see buying something you want only to get 30% off right out of the gate? That seems like a very odd statement and counter to every single financial guideline ever. If you have the money to buy something you want, and you don't leverage a 30% discount, and pay full price, that is truly silly.

icor1031 wrote in post #18990031
Worst case: I could buy $1,400 of used equipment in order to get the $500 reward, then resell that $1,400 of equipment for the same price, pay eBay's fees, and still come out ahead (or better, sell locally and avoid risking a paypal scammer). So no, it's not a bad deal. A lot of hassle for not a lot of gain, but not bad.

... I just thought of something more practical: I could use that money to pay my business insurance in advance. Though I'm still curious if there's more gear that's worth considering.

I can't think of anything you need based on what you already call out for bodies and lenses. I presume you have like 3-6 months to make that remaining $1400 total purchase, so why not just put all your normal day to day expenses to that card, or is this a business account card, so these have to be business related expenses? If that is the case, do you have enough backdrops? Collapsible backdrops? Props?

john crossley wrote in post #18990029
By ‘eck, that credit card company has got you hook, line and sinker. I can picture them now, sat behind their desks, reeling you in.

It is NOT a good deal.

It is only good deal if you are spending the money on something that you actually need or want, and that the rewards are something that you actually need or want.

I really don’t see the point of spending an additional $1400 on something that you don’t really need or want just to get a $500 reward. And it is blatantly obvious from the above post that you don’t know what you need or want, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking the question.

Agree. If you could get 18-24 months no interest and pay it off in full in the time frame then you are using their money for a 18 months to 2 years. If you do that make sure there are absolutely no fees then that could be a good use of credit.

Or just pay the bill after making the charges, much less hassle than worry about 0% and not hitting the final date with a balance and having all the interest fees apply in full... Which is exactly the intent of the person that created the thread. In this situation the absolute only potential downside would be a hit on the credit score for the initial request for credit, but that effect disappears pretty quickly as balances go up and then are paid off.

icor1031 wrote in post #18990028
Nah, I save most of the money I need to pay it off before making the purchases. The only reason for using a card at all is because of the $500 reward.

Why not use someone else's money for 18 months or a couple of years? if theres no interest or fees I see no reason not to.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #18990090
Why not use someone else's money for 18 months or a couple of years? if theres no interest or fees I see no reason not to.

I agree with JC especially after reading some of his other posts in his other threads he doesn't know what he wants.

To the OP I wouldn't spend a dime until I first find out who I am as a photographer.. Then you can start to see what it is you need to support that.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #18990090
Why not use someone else's money for 18 months or a couple of years? if theres no interest or fees I see no reason not to.

I never saw where there was a 0% for 18-24 months in this post? This was a deal where if you open a new account, you get $500 after you have spent a certain amount on the card. We get that alot from Chase.

I don't do the 0% plans because I don't like the hassles of having to make monthly payments. I used to and would make sure the balance was paid off 2 months before the end of the term to guarantee no retro-interest charges, but it was more hassle than it was worth for me. That is a topic for another thread however. It isn't a bad deal at all and can help build a credit score, but provides no financial gain unless you are really investing the amount you would have spent and are making 5-10% on that money in the market. Rarely does anyone actually do that...

It has been a hard road for my wife and I to hit the top 2% of the FICO population, and it took near bankruptcy 20-30 years ago for us to change and adapt to best practices to get to this point. We learned ALOT of hard lessons along the way.

The only 0% deals we do employ are in vehicle purchases, because rarely do we have that amount of cash up front so if I am financing, 0% is the way to go.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18990093
I never saw where there was a 0% for 18-24 months in this post? This was a deal where if you open a new account, presumably a business account, you get $500 after you have spent a certain amount on the card. We get that alot from Chase.

I don't do the 0% plans because I don't like the hassles of having to make monthly payments. I used to and would make sure the balance was paid off 2 months before the end of the term to guarantee no retro-interest charges, but it was more hassle than it was worth for me. That is a topic for another thread however. It isn't a bad deal at all and can help build a credit score, but financially in liquid asset form, there is very little to gain by that unless you are really investing the month you would have spent and are making 5-10% on that money. Rarely does anyone actually do that...

It has taken work for my wife and I to hit the top 2% of the FICO population, and it took near bankruptcy 20-30 years ago for us to change and adapt to best practices to get to this point. We learned ALOT of hard lessons along the way.

I am saying that is a much better option to barrow at 0% than what he has mentioned if it is possible provided he has the credit score to get 0% and that it is actually necessary to barrow. I have borrowed at 0% a lot with my business over the years. Calumet used to have those credit deals all the time back when they were still around. I bought the first Leica M 10 on a 0% for 18 months on a card offer.. You absolutely have to pay it off though. But you are going to have to pay it either way. Better to have no interested if you are going to barrow that 18+%. But I do get and totally agree that credit should be well thought out.

I say the best thing especially when first starting out in a biz is to get into as little debt as possible. None if you can swing that. If you have a couple of bodies and a couple of lenses build the client base, make some money and then invest that money back into the biz. Avoid debt if you can and if you do have to borrow make sure you know what you need and barrow very wisely.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18990079

john crossley wrote in post #18990029
By ‘eck, that credit card company has got you hook, line and sinker. I can picture them now, sat behind their desks, reeling you in.

It is NOT a good deal.

It is only good deal if you are spending the money on something that you actually need or want, and that the rewards are something that you actually need or want.

I really don’t see the point of spending an additional $1400 on something that you don’t really need or want just to get a $500 reward. And it is blatantly obvious from the above post that you don’t know what you need or want, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking the question.

It is only a good deal for THEM if you maintain that credit month after month paying the 24% interest rate. Pay off the bill in the first 30 days, and you make $500, We use those deals by just charging our normal gas and food and going out to eat to hit the thresholds to get that money.

And you don't see buying something you want only to get 30% off right out of the gate? That seems like a very odd statement and counter to every single financial guideline ever. If you have the money to buy something you want, and you don't leverage a 30% discount, and pay full price, that is truly silly.

It is NOT a good deal if you are spending $3000 purely for the sake of getting a $500 reward, which is what the OP seems to want to do.
Read the OP’s opening post; he hasn’t got a clue what he wants to buy; he seems blinded by the $500 reward.