In my dreams

[chuasam]

I also frequent watch forums and people often talk about what watch of their dreams they'd buy for $25,000

So if you were given $25k and told to go spend it on camera gear. What would you buy?

 

[PaulWog]

If the $25,000 were just for camera gear, but I didn't have to buy the gear right away, then I would invest the money and spend it over time on camera gear. Assuming taxes don't apply for some magical reason and it's in USD with no S&H.

If I had to spend it right away:

- D750 as second camera body - $2000
- Nikon 600mm f4e - $12,296
- Second flash (SB-700) & Good tripod for 600mm f4e - $1000
- Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II - $2400
- Tamron 24-70 VC - $1250
- Tamron 15-30 VC - $1200
- Nikon 105mm Macro - $769
- Sony A7R + Sony 24-70 f2.8 ZA SSM II - $4000

Reasoning:

Second D750 <-- Just because I can. I could leave one at the girlfriend's house. Plus what if I lose or break my current one??? :O
600mm f4e <-- With the reduced weight, and since it's a new release, should make for a lot of fun wildlife shooting.
Second flash & Good tripod <-- Honestly if someone walked up to me and offered $25k, I would probably consider investing even a little more into this sort of stuff, maybe $2k of the budget rather than $1k
Nikon 70-200 f2.8 vr II <-- Pretty much a staple if you've spent $25,000 on gear
Tamron 24-70 VC <-- Not much to say. I'd rather save over the Nikon-brand 24-70, and there's other things I wanted to fit into the budget.
Tamron 15-30 VC <-- The Nikon 14-24 is better (build and flare), I originally put it down, but then I tried to fit an A7R into the budget.
105mm Macro <-- For macro photography.
Sony A7R + 24-70 f2.8 <-- A lighter, smaller setup to haul around more often? Idk. An alternative is investing the $4k here into maybe a 24mm 1.4 Sigma Art, and lots lighting equipment.

 

[goodguy]

Patek Philip to add to my current watch collection

Rolex Daytona
Rolex Submariner
Omega Planet Ocean Chrono

Oh wait you meant what camera equipment I would want ?

Maybe just a D5500 to replace my D5100 as my second light weight body, other then that for now I am pretty happy with current.
Would keep money for upgrade when replacement for D750 is out.

 

[pgriz]

In my dreams, I'd stiff the camera and share the $25,000 with each of my daughters to help them get THEIR dreams a little further along. Each is trying to make the world a better place, and in their hands the money will go much further in helping others.

If it had to be photography related, I'd spend the money to travel to Australia and help Chris Crossley with whatever he is doing. I think I will learn much more from that interaction than I could from any gear I could buy. And if there was money left over, I'd buy whatever he wanted/needed and would leave it with him.

 

[chuasam]

No. No no
Not watches and you have to spend it on camera gear like now
Nomos Lux Weissgold or Lamda deepblue

 

[table1349]

Well so much for the photograpy equipment. I'll get around to it later.

 

[goodguy]

No. No no
Not watches and you have to spend it on camera gear like now
Nomos Lux Weissgold or Lamda deepblue

Ok how about I pay a professional photographer 25000$ to be as good as him, simply mentor me till I am the rock star of photography.
Will have fans sitting under my window waiting to see a glimpse of my face, the great photographer from Toronto

Honestly I have the camera of my dreams, the lenses of my dreams currently there isnt one camera or lens I would want more.
I am in gear heaven

 

[chuasam]

Well so much for the photograpy equipment. I'll get around to it later.

Ah but you can't spend the money anywhere else.
To answer my own question.
A Profoto d4 4800 air
Profoto b2 air
Pair of acute heads and a pair of pro heads
Twin head
Ring flash
Giant octabank
A few light modifiers
And century stands if I have any money left.

 

[goodguy]

Well I guess

Nikon D5500
55-200mm VR
3 Nikon SB-910 speed light
Good tripod with good head

 

[PaulWog]

On second thought, I think I take back my choice to get an A7R + 24-70 f2.8 Sony lens. That frees up a nice $4000, which goes into a 24mm 1.4 Art ($1000), 35mm 1.4 Art ($900), and $2100 of flashes and lighting equipment.

Well I guess

Nikon D5500
55-200mm VR
3 Nikon SB-910 speed light
Good tripod with good head

No 200mm f/2 for insane portraiture, or 85mm Zeiss Otus?

 

[chuasam]

Well I guess

Nikon D5500
55-200mm VR
3 Nikon SB-910 speed light
Good tripod with good head

you're getting ripped off. your list would barely touch $2,500 much less 10x that amount.

 

[JimMcClain]

First on my dream list is the ZeissOtus 85mm f/1.4 Apo Planar T* ZF.2 Lens for my Nikon D810. That's about 4,500.00...

33x NikonD3200 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm and 55-200mm Lenses @ 500.00 ea. = 16,500.00
33x Creative Cloud Photography for 10 months = 3,300.00
33x GiottosLens Cleaning Kit with Small Rocket Air Blower @ 13.00 ea. = 429.00

That leaves 271.00 change and in a very short time B&H will send me the info for my 2% rewards on the camera purchases, which is about 330.00 - and both those would be just about enough to get a SekonicL-758DR DigitalMaster Flash Meter for myself.

The 33 camera kits, software and cleaning kits would go to my local high school, which does not have a current photography class because of a lack of equipment and funding.

Too bad it's just a dream.

 

[nerwin]

I'd buy a car instead since I don't have one.

 

[goodguy]

On second thought, I think I take back my choice to get an A7R + 24-70 f2.8 Sony lens. That frees up a nice $4000, which goes into a 24mm 1.4 Art ($1000), 35mm 1.4 Art ($900), and $2100 of flashes and lighting equipment.

Well I guess

Nikon D5500
55-200mm VR
3 Nikon SB-910 speed light
Good tripod with good head

No 200mm f/2 for insane portraiture, or 85mm Zeiss Otus?

Nope, dont need it, dont like primes so much, my 2 lenses 24-70mm and 70-200mm pretty much do it all for me but I would like original flashes.
I did a portrait shoot with my 24-70mm and the results were Sooooo sharp I just dont need more.
I am not a fan of collecting lenses for no reason.

 

[goodguy]

Well I guess

Nikon D5500
55-200mm VR
3 Nikon SB-910 speed light
Good tripod with good head

you're getting ripped off. your list would barely touch $2,500 much less 10x that amount.

I know but I really have most of what I need/desire, my quest is in improving my skills, I am really working hard on it but am very much frustrated at the slow paste things move.
Gear wise I am happy (for now)