Photography is evil but I love it!

[Irish_Tom]

Lo all,

I've come to the above conclusion because I simply can't afford to keep up this hobby! My advice to anyone thinking about getting a DSLR is don't!

I caught the bug of propper photography (as in, not simply holiday snaps) when I did my Foundation Degree. B&W film photography was needed to pass the first term of the course. This happened right around the time my parents got their first digital camera (Olympus C-5000 Zoom).

The SLR I used for the Foundation was an old Konica with a 50mm prime f4 lens and it got me working out aperature and shutter speeds etc, which I transfered over to the C-5000.

Last summer I decided that the C-5000 was holding me back as far as image quality goes and I wanted more options for the type of shots I took and how I took them. So I bought a D50 with the kit 18-55mm lens.

Halfway through the summer I bought a Sigma 70-300 APO and that gave me options with sports photography etc but now I feel that once again the equipment I have doesn't give me enough scope for all the situations I want to capture.

On my wish list at the moment is the Nikon 50mm Prime f1.4 and the Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens, I would like a set of N.D. Grad filters for landscape photography and I want to replace the Kit lens with the Nikon 18-70mm or 18-105mm lens.

One of my friends has just bought a D80 which makes me want to run out and upgrade to a D200! Not to be in competition with them or try to out-do them, but because I know the D80 is based on the D200 and I was very impressed with the D80 when I played with it (had the 18-105 lens on it btw). I just feel that when I get around to a body upgrade I wan't to make a bigger leap than D50-D80.

I know that if and when I do upgrade the D50 body I will feel that my lenses are holding me back and will want to upgrade all of them!

It's a horrible chain of events that will never end and leave me a very poor man!

However, I can't stop! I enjoy it far too much and it's really starting to make an impact in my Graphic Design work as well which helps

So what can I do about this difficult situation? Do I simply resign myself to the fact that it's going to be a long, slow proccess and that getting to the limits of what my current equipment provides me must be a sign that I'm improving (at least technically) as a photographer? or should I start selling my body to afford all the extra toys I want to play with

Anyone else feel like this?

Panzer

 

[SDK^]

Only upgrade if you can afford to buy the stuff, don't get into thousands of pounds of debt as you'll be paying it off forever. Whilst you're thinking of upgrading you could check out some Canon gear. A 30D with a good quality wide and telephoto lens can be yours for around £1200

I know where you're coming from on the money aspect though. I've spent over £10k during the last couple of years and will probably spend another £4k this year.

Some other peeps on here have spent even more

 

[brocksta]

I used to be the same with computers. Its all about self control really. Only buy things that you believe are worthwhile. You have to be realistic too, theres no point spending ££££'s if you dont intend to make a career out of photography. This applies to everything really.

 

[Raymond Lin]

The thing is, if you get a mint secondhand, and then decide to sell it on later on. You can pretty much recoup about 90% of what you paid for it.

 

[Geffen]

The most important thing to remember is the more money you spend the better photographer you become.

 

[Phate]

So what can I do about this difficult situation? Do I simply resign myself to the fact that it's going to be a long, slow proccess and that getting to the limits of what my current equipment provides me must be a sign that I'm improving (at least technically) as a photographer?

Yes, that's exactly what you should do, learn to get the absolute 110% Most out of your current equipment, rather than simply going out and buying equipment which automatically give you the better pics.

or should I start selling my body to afford all the extra toys I want to play with

Please don't scare any small animals in the process if you do decide to go this route

Anyone else feel like this?

Panzer

Any photography has felt this. at some point

 

[Nazbit]

I thought that computing was an expensive hobby until I got in to photography!!

As has been said though, dont upgrade until you can afford. Whilst I am thinking about what I want to buy next, Im waiting until I actually can afford to pay in cash there and then, job done. I have about £700 of debt due to my photography alone......added to about £9k of student debt......me no like!

On the plus side though, I know that the delay in upgrading will allow me to squeeze the absolute best of my gear and learn a lot more. So I will be better equiped to use the new stuff when I can finally afford it.

Its all good in the long run, its just hard to wait sometimes.

 

[Irish_Tom]

Thanks for the wise words guys I guess I knew the answer, just didn't like it

I think it's an interesting subject though, and a good incentive to squeeze every last possibility out of my current equipment!

Panzer

 

[nolimit]

I do agree photography is very expensive hobby but compared to my computer hobby its more joy. You actually go out and appreciate the nature, people and more aware of your surrounding.

The last thing I worry about is how much juice I can get out of Ram and CPU.


I'm in £1500 debt but didn't take any student loan, so I guess I'm safe.

 

[Invasion]

Only upgrade if you really need it and I mean need it! It seems to me far to many people think their hobby is Photography, but in fact all they care about is getting the biggest lens newest camera etc....and then don't even use it apart from the "Look how sharp my new lens is shot" of a wheelie bin in the back garden

I do think that some of the money people have spent would have been better usede flying off somwhere of interest to capture some nice images and memories.

regards

 

[nolimit]

I do think that some of the money people have spent would have been better usede flying off somwhere of interest to capture some nice images and memories.
regards

Very true.

This is the pitfull. You get loads of people upgrading their PC everytime there is new graphics/cpu released only to play Counter Strike or benchmark for 10min.

 

[Irish_Tom]

I agree Invasion,

It's just the type of photography I wan't to do would really benifit from those upgrades. I have no doubt that I will be able to produce good shots with my current equipment, and I can assure you that those upgrades would be put to good use

I understand what you are saying, and I'm sure it applies to some people, but I couldn't afford to spend that much money and then not use the equipment

Panzer

 

[nolimit]

However, I can't stop! I enjoy it far too much and it's really starting to make an impact in my Graphic Design work as well which helps

If it helps you for your work, go for the upgrades tbh.

with dSLR my multimedia content is usually miles ahead of everyones images at Uni.

Currently I'm creating a Canon 30D Interactive User Manual CD-ROM for my final year project and I've been using and researching into many different types of camera, it makes me just wanna buy everything! .

 

[Puffingbilly]

DSLR photography is the new crack once you start it your hooked.....

 

[divine`]

The most important thing to remember is the more money you spend the better photographer you become.

Precisely

 

[SDK^]

The most important thing to remember is the more money you spend the better photographer you become.

On a serious note - whilst it's possible for a good photographer to take stunning images of subjects using basic equipment there are instances where having high end specialist equipment (and therefore expensive) is essential.

Wildlife and sports photography pretty much demands a fast telephoto zoom/prime with the later also requiring fast and accurate AF.

 

[hoodmeister]

I've had the same set of lenses for a while now.
There are big gaps between the focal lengths of my lenses.
They're all OK quality - not great.
Wider, longer, faster, better built lenses would be nice.

But I just use these lenses, often going out with only one lens and little or no other equipment, and get on with it. And my photography is better for it.

I can afford better lenses.

 

[Nazbit]

But I just use these lenses, often going out with only one lens and little or no other equipment, and get on with it. And my photography is better for it.

I have been doing this a lot recently.

Whenever I get a day off and its sunny. I get my camera, pick a lens at random and head off in to liverpool to get some pics.

Having only the one lens (which ever one it might be) can be pretty challenging and it makes for some very interesting results and I have picked up a lot along the way.

Everyone should try this I reckon.