What is with all these beginners with $1000+ cameras?

[cofphoto]

If you believe that you can out shoot a professional with a $750 Costco bought camera and an account at MPIX... go for it, because you can make TONS of money... seriously... go put all the local pros out of business and then make a mint.

As for MPIX... just to show you the level of NON-credibility he has... the lowest price for a 16 X 20 on their site is $13.99 and that is UNmounted. If that idiot cannot even get something so simple as prices that are publically posted and available on the net straight... how accurate is the rest of his info?

Just thought you'd be curious to know that this "idiot" was a speaker at WPPI last year...

 

[prodigy2k7]

Well, normally a more expensive body will help with high ISO photos ... Skill cant help you if you need to use high ISO

 

[anubis404]

Eh, I wish I had $1000 to blow on a camera. I'm a bit shy on money, having to save for college and all. All I got is a D40 with kit lens, and a 50mm coming and that's all I need.

 

[usayit]

The D40 + kit lens is more than most photography students I studied with have access to. You shouldn't worry about what other people have .... college is more important. College is also not accessible to everyone so consider yourself in a good well-off position.

When it comes down to it.... people buy the expensive cameras because they've been told to.

I also don't buy the "buy the most expensive you can afford now rather than upgrade" bit. After some point, the benefits of an expensive camera over a more affordable model diminishes to a regular consumer. Professionals are a different story as they have paychecks, projects, and put their equipment through the ringer. From the viewpoint of the typical consumer pay incrementally more money for essentially the same basic function.

But.. hey.. I'll sell yah the expensive camera... its a business after all.

 

[AussieDee]

<------- still carries a $99 GE point & shoot

I just leave puddles of drool in camera shops.

 

[Overread]

ahem - I think if you look at the general financial situation you will find your answer: Recession approaches (or at the very least threatens)

That means people are gunning now with thier savings for thier hobbies or for the hobbies they wish to do. Hence a lot of people are buying cameras now before the crunch really hits - they want the kit now before things get bad and they cannot even dream of affording the camera - since before they could dream about getting the camera oneday - in the rescession they mostly can't get that dream till the recession ends.

Further - and going by UK prices - a low end DSLR and even a mid range with kit lens is well within peoples current spending power - yes its expensive, but look at the number of people with a £500-£1000 computer in thier home (at time of purchase).
Did they need such expensive/good kit -- that is not a question that is jealosy speaking --- why? because no=one can disagree that a better model camera is able to take a better recording of a photograph - even in auto modes. A mid range DSLR is able to apply better noise reduction than a low end model - so its simple logic that is a "better camera". The sights and composition will still be the same of course those areas will need work no matter the amount a newb spends - the question of will they spend the time learning is moot as its down to indevidual cases.


(ps - comming from someone who really has spent a heck of a lot in under a year of photography)

 

[manaheim]

Who cares? Unless yer jealous?

I spent an assload on my D100 way back when and couldn't use the stupid thing to save my life. Years ago, many would have laughed at me, but I was determined and I have progressed a lot and even make money with my camera.

Does that mean the expense was justified? Who gets to determine what is justified? Who gets to determine someone's worth as a photographer as they are starting out... as they grow... or on the day they die? Are they worth that camera? Did they need it? Is my getting paid for my work some sort of mark of worthiness? What if my work sucks? Who is to say? You? Me?

If they're using their camera as a hammer to build a house, then no... the investment was stupid. Short of that, none of us is in a position to say.

Now everyone stop complaining about what someone else is doing and take some more pictures.

 

[NateWagner]

well, I also don't really agree with the buy one to grow into it. I would say rather to buy a better lens and grow into that. The better, faster lens, will help more (in my opinion) than the better faster camera. Besides the camera will go out of date soon enough and you will have to upgrade again. So why not get a cheap DSLR (xt at about 350 or less) and a nice lens and upgrade the body when you outgrow the current body. By then the new version of that camera will probably be out anyway.

But again, there is nothing inherently wrong with buying the nicer camera to start, so don't think I'm saying that. I'm just saying if you want to spend the money spend it on your lenses, those will stay with you and are much more valuable to you in the longer run.

 

[Juliette]

Hi Everyone,

I photograph since May '08, so that will make me a newborn but I would like to share with you my .01 too

I got my first dSLR on my b-day from my family. And yes, it was expensive. I played with it for 2 months and, to great "disapproval" of my family, I "upgraded" to the fully manual Minolta x-700 bought on e-bay for 80 bucks with fixed 50mm Minolta f1.7 and Quantaray 70-210 f4 and I love it!

So not all of us, newbies, buy into expensive gear without appreciating and learning photography. Well, technically I did that at first

I will get to a point where I may own a body worth of $7000 and some freaking amazing lenses but I plan to master photography first, not a camera )

 

[randym77]

I started out with cheaper cameras...and regretted it. I'd have saved money if i just bought the more expensive stuff to start with.

I like sports photography, and that means yes, you do need 6 fps. Or at least, it helps.

 

[Twinney]

I started out with cheaper cameras...and regretted it. I'd have saved money if i just bought the more expensive stuff to start with.

I just bought my first somewhat expensive camera in June, and that's after spending abou $300 on my first. For the money I spend all together I could have gotten a really nice $600 camera, or had $300 and the camera I have now.
I'm completely with you on regeting the cheaper cameras. You get what you pay for...or less.

Seeing people such as my self with an expensive camera dosn't bother me, seeing 7 year olds walking around with an $800 camera with extra lenses does...what if they drop it?? O_O

 

[Joves]

Well as I look at it, all of these noobs spending money on upper end equipment is a good thing. It keeps the costs down because the manufacturers are making money on volume. If only the experienced photographers bought the high end then the equipment would cost more.
People ever since the film days have been buying the best they could, never having touched anything better than a Kodak Instamatic. I remember meeting a ton of them. The best for me was a lady who had her Pentx set at ISO400 but, was using ISO100 film. She couldnt understand why her pics werent turning out. I showed her how to adjust the film speed. So as you can see this is nothing new.
So God bless all the noobs with money to burn. They make it possible for the camera makers to make a profit and, improve the technology.

 

[dklod]

I dont see a problem with spending that much on your first camera. Does that mean when people buy their first computer, they have to start with a 486 DX4-100 with 16mb ram and 80mb HD with windows 95 on it?? Or their first car has to be a bomb even if they can afford a new one?? As we learn, we quickly find that we need more, want more.

My current camera, whilst I loved it when I got it nearly 2 years ago, I quickly grew out of it. Wanting smaller apertures, longer exposure, better ISO performance, wider frame etc..It only cost me a little over $200US and it served its purpose as a stepping stone to an SLR. (and SWMBO would have had kittens if I spent $1k on a camera) Do I regret doing that?? Yes and no. Yes, because I've spent the last 12 months losing a little interest in my photography because I feel resticted in some ways. No, because technology has come along in the past 2 years and maybe what I would have paid for a 6mp back then, I can get 10-12mp now with better sensors, better kit lenses etc today. I figure get the best you can afford regardless of what it is (cameras, golf clubs), but justify whatever price you pay.

 

[AussieDee]

Yes, because I've spent the last 12 months losing a lottle interest in my photography because I feel resticted in some ways

I'm feeling it now. I'm very restricted and wish I had a grand to purchase a new camera.
I have no desire to take pictures anymore with what I have. It's not achieving what "I" see.

 

[joethedestroyer]

There are so many reasons why I want my first dSLR to be a Canon 40d rather than the less expensive XSi or any Nikon model. For one, I've always used Canon cameras and been pleased with the result. Brand loyalty is the least of all reasons though. I also feel like I have a pretty good handle on how Canon's think and feel (i.e., menus & ease of use). More to that point, if I'm going to invest in something in the $700 range, the pricepoint is such that I'd rather spring a couple hundred extra for the higher model with better build quality/features/etc. The 40d feels like I think a camera should and I like the weight of it too. It's like my dad told me when buying my first car. On big investments like this, if you don't like the way it looks and feels, you'll never be completely happy with it. Plus, I think there is a huge difference in the user interface between the entry level and prosumer models (mainly, the wheel). It just seems to work better for me.

Photography has always been a hobby of mine, and I'd like to invest in something that I can grow into and use for quite a while. But in any case, there are my reasons for wanting to get a $1000 camera for my first one.