If it's expensive, it must be good

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 31, 2017

Really? A $50K camera? What's also crazy is a car that's $2.5 mil.

Sometimes I think people that have money have lost their minds.

https://petapixel.com/2017/07/31/photographing-2500000-car-50000-camera/

OptiKen · Jul 31, 2017

It's a kit camera LOL

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 31, 2017

OptiKen said:
It's a kit camera LOL

Oh that makes it better!

Huss · Jul 31, 2017

Very cool photos.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 31, 2017

Cars in the many millions are not that outrageous. Some things cannot or will not exist again and do have an inherent high value plus high demand and low production numbers.

Columbo engined Ferrari V-12's of the 1960's, such as the Lusso or SWB, or the four-cam GTB/4, the transverse mid-engine V-12 Lamborghini Miura SV of the 1970's, and, yes, especially the Pagani Huayra with its wonderful Jules Verne instrumentation and interior and its four aerodynamic flaps. Worth every cent.

However, I bought a perfectly good Canon FTb for $10. Win!

Ian Leake · Aug 1, 2017

Exceptional things tend to cost exceptional amounts of money. But I've never heard of needing police protection for a camera before (... or was it for the car?)

Sirius Glass · Aug 1, 2017

Using the best equipment possible is no protection from stupidity.

Marcelo Paniagua · Aug 1, 2017

A person with a $100k home won't have a $2.5m car I guess

A person with a house valued at $20m, well probably.

Likewise with cameras and lens

That's the cold truth, funny as it may be.

Regards

Marcelo

Helios 1984 · Aug 1, 2017

If I was very rich, you can bet I wouldn't be driving a silver Camry. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the Camry BUT what good is money if you cannot spend it?

Sirius Glass said:
Using the best equipment possible is no protection from stupidity.

Wouldn't it be a shame if he was using this 50k camera in AUTO ?

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 1, 2017

Yeah...a Camry?? No way!! If I had a gazillion dollars I'd buy a Bugatti Veyron AND a Ferrari Enzo.

MattKing · Aug 1, 2017

I was disappointed when I first read that the photographer's name was Richard Thompson, and then realized that the story wasn't about music.
The musician Richard Thompson: not particularly expensive, but exceptionally good.
It is interesting to read about very high end, special purpose camera equipment. I can envision an application or two for it that might make sense (think building size murals and printers who absolutely need huge digital files), but I don't know whether the story described that sort of use.
All that being said, a few decades ago when film was king, it wasn't all that difficult to spend several thousand dollars on high end film equipment. Adjusted for inflation ....

Nodda Duma · Aug 1, 2017

Honestly, $50k for a camera is pretty cheap .. outside of the consumer market.

Bob Carnie · Aug 1, 2017

Nodda Duma said:
Honestly, $50k for a camera is pretty cheap .. outside of the consumer market.

I was going to say phase systems can hit you back quite a bit more.

Nodda Duma · Aug 1, 2017

Bob Carnie said:
I was going to say phase systems can hit you back quite a bit more.

Yes.

My mind also drifts to the cameras used in astronomical observatories .. not counting the optics. Although I think the consistently most expensive (analog) cameras I can think of - including optics - are photo-lithography tools used by the modern semiconductor industry. The optics alone for such glorious beasts cost several million dollars to fabricate (not counting NRE) due primarily to the complexity (25+ elements) and tight tolerances required.

tim_walls · Aug 1, 2017

Helios 1984 said:
If I was very rich, you can bet I wouldn't be driving a silver Camry. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the Camry BUT what good is money if you cannot spend it?

It's good for knowing your children will have the education that means they have the best chance possible. It's good for knowing if anyone you love falls ill, they will have the best medical care possible. It's good for knowing that wherever you are in the world, you'll never know what it's like to worry that you can't get home, because you could always afford the next flight.

Or, it's good for spunking on an SUV or a bling camera that tells everyone you've got money but you'll never be rich because you're dead inside.

It's a tough call.

Theo Sulphate · Aug 1, 2017

tim_walls said:
...
It's a tough call.

For those who have the money, it isn't an either-or situation. Someone can buy a $2.5m car and also donate $10m for cancer research or to a place like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It does happen; it's rarely publicized.

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 1, 2017

tim_walls said:
It's good for knowing your children will have the education that means they have the best chance possible. It's good for knowing if anyone you love falls ill, they will have the best medical care possible. It's good for knowing that wherever you are in the world, you'll never know what it's like to worry that you can't get home, because you could always afford the next flight.

Or, it's good for spunking on an SUV or a bling camera that tells everyone you've got money but you'll never be rich because you're dead inside.

It's a tough call.

Ask your kids what they'd rather have... a multimillion dollar car or a college education. Just ask them. I DARE you!!

Helios 1984 · Aug 1, 2017

tim_walls said:
It's good for knowing your children will have the education that means they have the best chance possible. It's good for knowing if anyone you love falls ill, they will have the best medical care possible. It's good for knowing that wherever you are in the world, you'll never know what it's like to worry that you can't get home, because you could always afford the next flight.

Or, it's good for spunking on an SUV or a bling camera that tells everyone you've got money but you'll never be rich because you're dead inside.

It's a tough call.

So all the actors, singers, pro athletes, everyone who's rich enough to buy a 2.5millions car is dead inside? Be proud of being poor but feel ASHAMED if you are rich? Twisted logic.

Nodda Duma · Aug 1, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
For those who have the money, it isn't an either-or situation. Someone can buy a $2.5m car and also donate $10m for cancer research or to a place like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It does happen; it's rarely publicized.

Quoted for truth!

RauschenOderKorn · Aug 2, 2017

Mainecoonmaniac said:
Really? A $50K camera? What's also crazy is a car that's $2.5 mil.

What´s the fuzz about? That is just paid advertising from Phase One.
And people who buy their cameras know the price, so what???

tim_walls · Aug 2, 2017

Helios 1984 said:
So all the actors, singers, pro athletes, everyone who's rich enough to buy a 2.5millions car is dead inside? Be proud of being poor but feel ASHAMED if you are rich? Twisted logic.

Hey, it's my philosophy - you don't have to share it. Just bear in mind that not everybody who looks at your 2.5 million $ car is looking at it thinking "gee, I wish I could be like the owner of that."

Unless you take it to Moscow. There, they probably do. Which is probably why Trump loves the place so much - the phrase "money can't buy you class" really does mean nothing there.

Arbitrarium · Aug 2, 2017

Horrendous editing on the last shot. Not much point using the best kit if you're going to bollocks it up in post.

E. von Hoegh · Aug 2, 2017

Gotta love the Family Dollar store on the left, in the shot with the camera being set up. Tells the whole story right in a nutshell.

Mainecoonmaniac · Aug 2, 2017

This is more my speed.

https://petapixel.com/tag/cheapcamerachallenge/

Theo Sulphate · Aug 2, 2017

tim_walls said:
... Just bear in mind that not everybody who looks at your 2.5 million $ car is looking at it thinking "gee, I wish I could be like the owner of that."
...

Through various car club and other related activities I know a lot of wealthy people with expensive cars, though I am nowhere near their level of affluence. However, I can tell you that they don't think that way. That's not their mindset. When they buy the cars and drive the cars, it's because they really just love the car. They aren't seeking anyone's admiration.

Likewise, when I buy an old camera from the 1950's, it's because I love the camera.

If it's expensive, it must be good

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