£3500 to spend, what would you do?

Imigine you are me!

All my equipment was stolen at the begining of the year , so I now have nothing, insurance claim has just come through and I now have a cheque for £3500.

What would you spend this on? I'm just looking for ideas. I may wait until Feb/Mar for any anouncements of new models for price reductions on existing models.

Thanks peeps, can't wait to get my hands on a camera again!

Well, thats 7000$ American
So I would get a MK IIN-3500$
24-70L-1000
70-200 2.8 IS L-1500
1000$ on either a nice speedlight and then save the cash for another lense, or if you like studio work put it towards strobes, umbrellas, softboxes....

5D, £1500
Sig 70-200 £600
Sig 24-70 £200
Sig 12-24 £400
1.4 and 2.0 TCs £200
CF Tripod £200
KATA Bag £200
Some 2GB fast CF Cards @ £50 ea
I make that nearly £3500

I am pretty stuck between the 1Dmk2n and the 5D... pros and cons of both, oh the pain!
If only I could afford the 1Ds2. Well I could from ebay, but no lenses doesn't help!!

What Kata bag are you referring to? $400 for a bag?

adamlc wrote in post #2451769
Imigine you are me!

All my equipment was stolen at the begining of the year , so I now have nothing, insurance claim has just come through and I now have a cheque for £3500.

What would you spend this on? I'm just looking for ideas. I may wait until Feb/Mar for any anouncements of new models for price reductions on existing models.

Thanks peeps, can't wait to get my hands on a camera again!

It would help if we knew what kind of shooting you do.

Ronald S. Jr. wrote in post #2451858
What Kata bag are you referring to? $400 for a bag?

I would go for the HB -205 or 207 which are nearly £200 over here - forget your US$ cheapos over here ROnald

DrPablo wrote in post #2451881
It would help if we knew what kind of shooting you do.

Sorry.... mostly portraits, some macro and product photography, a little motorsport has been known.

adamlc wrote in post #2451769
Imigine you are me!

All my equipment was stolen at the begining of the year , so I now have nothing, insurance claim has just come through and I now have a cheque for £3500.

What would you spend this on? I'm just looking for ideas. I may wait until Feb/Mar for any anouncements of new models for price reductions on existing models.

Thanks peeps, can't wait to get my hands on a camera again!

Well, not to be a traitor or anything, but you do have a wonderful opportunity to explore other manufacturers as your in essence starting from scratch. Nikon puts out some pretty nice hardware and If I were to start again, they would be a serious contender. It really depends on what type of shooting your going to be doing.

Come to the US. Buy it here, trash the boxes, put some scuffs and scrapes on it so it looks used then fly home. It'll cost half what it costs in the UK and you get a free holiday.

^^^ you need to be able to look 'normal' going thru customs, otherwise they will take you apart. That big bloke with the rubber gloves...

As an aside, what insurance company has taken nearly 12 months to pay you out? Sounds like they want avoiding. E&L, by any chance?

steved110 wrote in post #2451943
As an aside, what insurance company has taken nearly 12 months to pay you out? Sounds like they want avoiding. E&L, by any chance?

Norwich bloody Union, that's who! I had my car insurance through them too and they got funny over a new windscreen!?! Take my advice, stay away from them!

gjl711 wrote in post #2451909
Well, not to be a traitor or anything, but you do have a wonderful opportunity to explore other manufacturers as your in essence starting from scratch. Nikon puts out some pretty nice hardware and If I were to start again, they would be a serious contender. It really depends on what type of shooting your going to be doing.

D2Xs over here is £2700ish, I'm not sure if its worth that and I have read several times that Canon glass is prefered over the Nik's

This opportunity is confusing the hell outer me!!

I have all my stuff insured thru Churchill, car and house, and the camera stuff is tacked onto the house insurance.

I've never had a problem claiming anything off the car insurance ( 1 passenger door window from a smash and grab, one windscreen ( developed a crack inexplicably) and one minor ding with a lamp post that I don't discuss.

My camera is insured under 'personal possessions' and I have cover up to £2000 per item. Includes 60 days abroad. I asked, so if I have a camera worth £1000 and a couple of lenses each worth £1000 and a flash worth £300, and it all gets stolen, is it all covered? Answer was yes. But to be honest if my collection increases, I will probably need to get more specialist insurance.

At least you got your payout eventually. I wouldn't wait too long to get gear though. If you are always waiting on the next model, you'll wait forever. I'd go 5D and glass to match your interests. FWIW.

steved110 wrote in post #2451997
I wouldn't wait too long to get gear though. If you are always waiting on the next model, you'll wait forever. I'd go 5D and glass to match your interests. FWIW.

Agreed, I don't like the waiting game, my full time career pays pretty good so I'll end up with 2 bodies sooner or later. The 5D and glass is winning so far, but the 1D2 is damn close behind!