A Sinkhole of Money

RattyMouse · May 13, 2018

Now that I've sold off about 60% of my camera gear (all 35mm cameras and lenses except one), it's amazing how much money I have sunk into this hobby. Built up over the last 10 years, I had well over $10,000 in hardware! No wonder my wife gets angry from time to time (and is ecstatic these days).

This is not a critical comment towards others (or myself!) as that gear gave me immense pleasure during the past 10 years. You have to spend your money on something, as you can't take it with you.

I still have my medium format gear, and the digitals, which are worth next to nothing since time has passed them by.

Sirius Glass · May 13, 2018

I do not limit myself to photography a money pit. I used to have skiing too. But I still have offroading. You have spent your adult life buying things for others, so especially now you should allow yourself the self indulgence of one or more money pits.

Helios 1984 · May 13, 2018

Your hobby habits are healthy, I know a few guys who spent twice this amount on custom razors & shaving gears. Life is too short to be cheap on what makes you smile (As long as it don’t jeopardize you marriage )

Lee Rust · May 13, 2018

Still cheaper then cigarettes.

Sirius Glass · May 13, 2018

Lee Rust said:
Still cheaper then cigarettes.

And a lot healthier!

Ian Grant · May 13, 2018

Stop these trolling post please.

If I had spent $10,000 in the last 10 years on gear (hardware) I'd have assets worth 5-10 times what I'd have spent because I'm careful and do a little research price wise.. I have cameras I've paid £50 for that I can easily sell for £750 or cutting my losses definitely £500. It's the same with lenses, tripods and various other items.

It's about time you stopped these constant negative film/camera trolling posts Mr RattyMouse, they aren't positive or even remotely informative. I'm really not sure why you post here on this Forum at all, except maybe to sell items.

Ian

eddie · May 13, 2018

$1000.00 per year hardly qualifies as a “sinkhole”. Even if you add in all the software costs, and consider how many hours per year you use these items, it probably works out to a few bucks an hour. Less than a movie. Less than a moderately priced dinner. Less than a medium coffee. Besides, it’s hard to put a monetary value on something that delivers as much pleasure to most of us ( although I’m not sure you’re deriving any pleasure from it these days).

RattyMouse · May 13, 2018

Ian Grant said:
Stop these trolling post please.

Report me to the moderator.

Ian Grant said:
It's about time you stopped these constant negative film/camera trolling posts Mr RattyMouse, they aren't positive or even remotely informative. I'm really not sure why you post here on this Forum at all, except maybe to sell items.

Ian- read more carefully. If you had, you'd have seen this text: "This is not a critical comment towards others (or myself!)....."

You see? I went out of my way to make sure this post was not taken negatively, yet you in your stampede to respond missed that. Slow down. If you want to buy my gear, it's all on craigslist. I've got one item up there that hasnt sold yet. I'm not even linking to it and never had during this binge of selling that I have done. None of the gear I have sold has gone to any APUG members.

RattyMouse · May 13, 2018

eddie said:
$1000.00 per year hardly qualifies as a “sinkhole”. Even if you add in all the software costs, and consider how many hours per year you use these items, it probably works out to a few bucks an hour. Less than a movie. Less than a moderately priced dinner. Less than a medium coffee. Besides, it’s hard to put a monetary value on something that delivers as much pleasure to most of us ( although I’m not sure you’re deriving any pleasure from it these days).

Yes, I agree completely. But since it builds up over time, it's still somewhat of a surprise that so much money was spent. I certainly would not blow such a huge amount in one shot.

RattyMouse · May 13, 2018

Helios 1984 said:
Your hobby habits are healthy, I know a few guys who spent twice this amount on custom razors & shaving gears. Life is too short to be cheap on what makes you smile (As long as it don’t jeopardize you marriage )

$20,000 on shaving equipment? Good god, I can't even imagine how that is possible.

guangong · May 13, 2018

Ten grand in the last ten years! With prices as low as they have been for the last decade? Most of my cameras, lenses, etc were bought over a long period of time in the days when this stuff was really expensive and money was real money.
But all of the visual arts are expensive. Quality tools and marble are expensive, quality artist colors are expensive ( if you can even find an art supply store that stocks them), paper can be very expensive, musical instruments are expensive (a pretty good string instrument at least ten grand and up, up, up.)
I share the same feelings as Ian with regard to your negative posts. Maybe photography is just not your cup of tea. That’s ok too. People try things and decide it’s not what was expected. So move on to something else.

RattyMouse · May 13, 2018

guangong said:
Ten grand in the last ten years! With prices as low as they have been for the last decade? Most of my cameras, lenses, etc were bought over a long period of time in the days when this stuff was really expensive and money was real money.
But all of the visual arts are expensive. Quality tools and marble are expensive, quality artist colors are expensive ( if you can even find an art supply store that stocks them), paper can be very expensive, musical instruments are expensive (a pretty good string instrument at least ten grand and up, up, up.)
I share the same feelings as Ian with regard to your negative posts. Maybe photography is just not your cup of tea. That’s ok too. People try things and decide it’s not what was expected. So move on to something else.

FFS, if you are tired of my posts, THEN DONT READ THEM.

Am I the ONLY one who passes posts that I know I wont like? Seriously?

BrianShaw · May 13, 2018

It’s quite surprising how money adds up, a little here and a little there. Before too long it accumulates to a lot.

RattyMouse · May 13, 2018

BrianShaw said:
It’s quite surprising how money adds up, a little here and a little there. Before too long it accumulates to a lot.

I better not look at my Starbucks habit!

Helios 1984 · May 13, 2018

RattyMouse said:
I better not look at my Starbucks habit!

Geez I was about to mention the coffees at Starbuck! My uncle quit smoking about a 2 month ago, he calculated that he spent an average 300$ per month on cigarettes. That's twice the price of my gym membership for a year!

RattyMouse · May 13, 2018

Helios 1984 said:
Geez I was about to mention the coffees at Starbuck! My uncle quit smoking about a 2 month ago, he calculated that he spent an average 300$ per month on cigarettes. That's twice the price of my gym membership for a year!

Starbucks is such a great way to start a work day. It's really hard to say no. My company serves coffee that would embarrass the local sewer.

pbromaghin · May 13, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Starbucks is such a great way to start a work day. It's really hard to say no. My company serves coffee that would embarrass the local sewer.

At work we have Seattle's Best (Starbucks value brand) in packets to fill 12 cup airpots. I make what I call my "poor man's espresso" by adding 1/4-1/3 extra packet when making a pot and placing my cup right under the spout when it starts. Then I add my own cream, not using those nasty little pods of liquid nuclear waste. Keeps me awake all morning.

removed account4 · May 13, 2018

RattyMouse said:
I better not look at my Starbucks habit!

i knew people that would get 4 or 6 large coffee drinks a day ( upwards of 20$ )
your camera situation is kids stuff ...

Helios 1984 · May 13, 2018

jnanian said:
i knew people that would get 4 or 6 large coffee drinks a day ( upwards of 20$ )
your camera situation is kids stuff ...

I'm sure some of them use dSLRs and think 60$ per month for films is insane. Go figure.

4season · May 13, 2018

Was your wife more happy about the money -- or the clutter-reduction?

I gave away or sold a lot of my possessions awhile back, and it was like constantly finding $100 bills stuck between the sofa cushions! And the crazy thing was, sometimes I barely could remember buying or using the things. Often, whatever utility or enjoyment I might've gotten out of them was a thing of the (distant) past, and they had since become little more than dust-collectors, so it really did feel like found money.

btaylor · May 13, 2018

Compared to many leisure time activities, $1000 a year is not a lot ($83 a month). Travel, for one, will gobble up cash at an impressive rate. One great thing about purchasing photo gear is that you can sell it when you’re done with it and recoup cash. Try doing that with a trip to Tahiti...

Old-N-Feeble · May 13, 2018

How many pairs of designer shoes did your wife buy with your camera money?

Peter Schrager · May 13, 2018

If you use negativity in your words it what you get.. title should have read A PILE OF RICHES
CAUSE PHOTOGRAPHY BRINGS ME JOY

mshchem · May 14, 2018

RattyMouse said:
I better not look at my Starbucks habit!

I usually make my own coffee, but what I buy for coffee tisn't cheap. People will gladly fork over 5 to 10 bucks for 1 drink in a bar ,5 buck coffee sounds lovely to me.

Getting rid of stuff and moving on is fun. I've got so much stuff. You want to talk about money pit, buy a big fancy boat or expensive cars. Sounds like you are happy with what you are doing. It's all about enjoying the voyage, sometimes it helps to lighten the load
Best Regards Mike

Vaughn · May 14, 2018

btaylor said:
Compared to many leisure time activities, $1000 a year is not a lot ($83 a month). Travel, for one, will gobble up cash at an impressive rate. One great thing about purchasing photo gear is that you can sell it when you’re done with it and recoup cash. Try doing that with a trip to Tahiti...

Pretty much what I was thinking -- I have spent far more on travel, film, chemicals, printing material, and matting/framing than I have on equipment. No regrets.

A Sinkhole of Money

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