Upper Level Comfort Zone for Spending? - OP

[groovyone]

The Online Photographer: How Much Would You Spend?

Interesting subject. I am not sure what my upper level for spending on gear is yet. It seems to increase with each purchase. At first I couldn't imagine ever spending more than $500 on a lens, then I bought the Zeiss 16-80 and now I have many that top that. Then it was paying over $1500 for a camera, then I loved the A700 so much that I dropped $3K on the A900 with a little hesitation, but now find myself still using the A900 almost 3 years later.

Cars seem to be going on that same path for me, although spending more on one reduces the amount I can spend on the other.

[groovyone]

Thought this would get more discussion.

[ChrisTX]

I've bought the 'cheaper' lenses, but I probably won't spend less than $1500 on a lens for a while. Now that I KNOW what I want, I'm not going to skimp.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ChrisTX

I've bought the 'cheaper' lenses, but I probably won't spend less than $1500 on a lens for a while. Now that I KNOW what I want, I'm not going to skimp.

You can get incredible lenses for less than 1500. The 135mm 2.0 is a great example.

[Ricco]

I think it all depends on what you're going for.

If you're professional, you can easily justify it.

A hobbyist like me, not so much. If I had the resources to get better lenses, I might, but the miser in me would rather spend it on other things.

Believe me, I had to talk myself up with different excuses to buy my current camera.

BTW:

A verizon commercial was the spark to it. :)

[wclavey]

I think I have an upper limit that applies to most everything I have as hobbies, and believe it or not, my spending limit on my hobbies is lower than my wife's spending limit on my hobbies. Between amateur radio, astronomy, photography, figure skating, stereo equipment & bicycling, the most I have ever spent on a single purchase is about $700 ($650 in photography) - - my wife has spent more than that on my behalf.

[Todd Lambert]

Whatever I can come up with cash-wise, is what I'm willing to spend. If I can swing it, I get the best there is in anything. I hate "buying down".

[crbeveri]

interesting indeed.... for me I think it really all depends on the item and if it's a hell of a deal or not. Most I have spent on photography is 3500 for a lens. I figured 1500 was a pretty good deal and I really wanted the lens for what I was using it for.

Cycling well... I've easily doubled that when I was racing with maintaining 2 bikes and what not. Getting back into racing again I am rebuilding one and building a new one and just got a frame for 2k (OEM 2500).

For me I guess my limit is do I have the money to afford it and if I do then get the best I can afford. Funny thing is when it comes to cars I can't see spending more than 1/2 what my yearly take home is... thus my OTD 2010 Civic for 15k appose to a Mustang GT or F-150 I much rather of had.

[venchka]

She is a good wife. She uses your money well!

[SueGirl]

Photo dollars depend on your comfort and funds available limits.
That is different for different people.
Most guys would spend more on cameras / lenes ...
but girls would like to spend less on cameras / lenes and more on shoes.

[auddii]

Originally Posted by SueGirl

Photo dollars depend on your comfort and funds available limits.
That is different for different people.
Most guys would spend more on cameras / lenes ...
but girls would like to spend less on cameras / lenes and more on shoes.

Pretty sure I don't qualify as a girl since I think shoes are the devil; I wish I could live in flip flops.

That being said, I'm only allowed to buy camera gear with what I earn from my photography (I work for another photographer who does weddings). I'm on a tight budget, so that's my "play" money. Unfortunately, it's also my vacation and anything else I might want account. :(

[wclavey]

What's funny for me is that my $700 limit has been the same ever since about 1976... My Ohm Walsh IIs cost about $700 in 1981 (...for those of you who may know what they are... Wayne...) and I cannot even update a single driver in them today for that price - - so it is now over my limit. For some reason, my hands shake and my brow gets sweaty if I think of paying more than $700 for something, even though I spent 3 times that much the day I bought my stereo 30 years ago.

Some people (...no names...) just call that condition 'cheap.'

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by wclavey

Some people (...Kevin...) just call that condition 'cheap.'

I said frugal.

[ChrisTX]

Originally Posted by SueGirl

Photo dollars depend on your comfort and funds available limits.
That is different for different people.
Most guys would spend more on cameras / lenes ...
but girls would like to spend less on cameras / lenes and more on shoes.

It's not that complicated. If a woman walks by with a camera around her neck, it would typically go like this...

Normal guy - "That chick is pretty hot."
Camera nerd guy - "What is that, a 5D?"
Camera nerd girl - "OMG! I love, love, love that pink zebra print camera strap she has."
A normal girl would say the exact quote from above, but with the addition of, "then I would just have to buy a camera to put it on."

[Tom]

Spend your money on what would make you money.

If you knew you could make 25K this year with a 400mm 2.8L IS II, then 11k for the lens doesn't sound so bad.

Keep track of how much you use things and how much you make off them. The great thing about lenses is that if you keep them in good shape, you can get about what you put into them when you sell.