What are you willing to spend ?

I was just wondering what sort of money people are prepared to spend on their photography 'hobby'. I use the word 'hobby' as I'm asking folk who do this for enjoyment rather than a job as that's different.

I've been brought up not to talk in pounds in pence (it's crude) so I would never ask for a figure but I guess my question is a general one regarding how much you sacrifice for buying kit ?

Me - well I have have a camera which is considered a wee bit more than entry level but by no means pro.

Lenses - that's where I would I love to go and splash the cash but I really can't justify it.

Have you ever been daft and just bought something you really want or are you sensible ??

Well, we don't have the money really to just 'go mad' but I do save for kit - and am quite happy to spend a lot on good kit. I'll save until I have enough! I do want a medium format with digital back one day - as I'd love to get into fashion photography - but it's probably a pipe dream! Having said that, I'd still like the medium format, even if film, as I'd love to use one! It slows things down a bit!

In short, I'm happy to spend a fair whack on this hobby

xx

Zoundz - so once you've saved......are we talking about you chucking a weeks wages or a months wages ?

We're not really talking wages, as we're still hunting for work

I'm not sure how much... but so far I've bought a fair few lenses in the past year, and the most expensive being the macro lens probably, or the Bigma... they were about equal I guess... not far off. I'll be buying a new body soon (still not 100% sure which) - but probably the D300. Erm... I will have no qualms saving up for a long prime lens at some stage, and there are a good few other lenses I want - ooh and a full frame camera too - for portrait stuff I have a list as long as my arm, and it may make many people think 'why?!' but mainly... because I WANT it!

xx

You sound like you're enthusiatic regardless ?

Humm...well....My intro into the DLSR world was a kind of birthday pressie.....a few family members pooled together to help me get the one I wanted.

Then I sold my house...... although I got the new body, I really didn't feel I could justify the expense of the really nice lens I wanted, becasue I feel the cheaper one will do everything I want - and this is a hobby (and one I am not that great at either :lol)....but I am looking at filters now....I doubt I will ever be able to spend this money on my second hobby every again....as my first hobby is so flipping expensive!

Well - my first and most important hobby is the rats - I know as long as I've enough money saved aside for them should they need any vets bills etc (and of course, the same goes for the other animals), and travelling to UK for shows, sorting out new cages etc as and when is necessary - the rest of the money I put aside can go towards anything really then. I must tone down a bit soon, as I need to start saving for our wedding and holidays we want - and a Bracco Italiano puppy! Not much then!

xx

I would love to get new kit and I see things I really want like bigger lenses, macro lens and filters, but there just is not enough pennies the now. But I can dream! lol

i got my D60 not knowing what i wanted... maybe should of got the D80 but just decided to get one and went for in. It's a nice SLR to start off with for sure. then i come in to alittle cash (not much) and decided to get the 55-200 lense for it. If i had the money id go mad, but as it is tight at the moment i just get by... Birthday coming up so my SB-800 is next on my list

Since I started photography using a bit more than a P&S in 2004 I have bought:

Canon 300D - 18-55, 35-105, 50mm F1.8, 75-300, Canon 420EX

Canon 30D - 17-40F4L, 85 F1.2L, 100-400 F4-5.6 L

Canon 5DMk11 - Canon 430EX

On top of which I have purchased a couple of Manfrotto tripods, two sets of studio lights, backdrops and the normal array of bags, filters, batteries, memory cards, P&S cameras etc etc.

I have actually got to the point where there really is nothing else I want/need to buy for 4 my hobby, but if needs be, I would spend what I need if there was something very specific I wanted to do.

The closest I have come to spending a lot of money on a single item over the last few years is on an underwater housing, but I really need somewhere better than Southsea sea front to use one

Alan.