Record Spending Into Camera Gear - HIGHEST

[boateggs]

Im on the low side from what Ive seen:
T3i (refurb)
15-85mm (refurb)
55-250mm (craigslist)
∑30mm
∑50mm
430exII (refurb)
2 camera bags and a lens case
a few filters
a ball head
a transit level tripod adapter

The only thing Im still waiting on is 70-300L, ∑85mm, a 6d and maybe the 7d/60d replacement but that will be in 2013 or beyond.  This is a hobby for me but I do get the some cash/perks every now and again.  Quick math says $2300 + tax, a year ago I would have thought that was crazy (still surprised it is that much) but I have had a lot of fun with it

[Vossie]

For me 2012 was also my record spending year since I turned FF this year and found 'the need' to upgrade my lens bag as part of the process.

5D3
16-35
24-105
85L
70-200 IS II
a bunch of 32 and 64 Gb cards
a set of Lee filters

There are a few more items on my wish list for 2013:
second body (7D2?)
400 2.8 II IS with a pair of TC's / if I can justify the investment and secure enough funds
35 1.4 if a new version appears
second flash

[JaxPhotographer]

Bit of a big spend year for me as well with a number of upgrades and additions to my equipment.

5D MKIII
BG-E11 and extra battery for it
16-35L f/2.8 II
24-105L f/4
70-200L f/2.8 IS II
100L f/2.8 IS Macro
MT-24EX Twin Lite Macro
Associated B&W and Hoya filters
Induro CT-314 Tripod
Arca Swiss Z1 DP Ball Head
Velbon Mag Slider Macro Rails
Gura Gear Battaflae 32L
Sekonic 758DR

Also added on the PP side:

Epson 7890
HP ZR30w monitor
Spyder Elite 4

Rather fortunate year for my photography equipment and I think I managed to keep my wife from putting me in the dog house with her own camera (SX50 HS which she is enjoying and maybe getting the photography bug) and a kitchen remodel (wish the camera had been enough).

[DCM1024]

2012 was my biggest year to date:

5D3 with 24-105L, 7D, EF-S 17-55, Sony RX 100, new gaming configured laptop.

2013 is planned for lens upgrades.

[kaihp]

I don´t talk about prices because cameras and lenses are only tools for my work.

If someone spend a lot of money for a 5D Mark III with the EF 24-70 2.8 II lens for private use than it´s a very big investment compared to my investment for professional use.

Actually, I bought exactly that (5D3 + 24-70 II) in 2012 
Plus hard+soft grad ND Lee filter, two adapters (77+82mm), a travel tripod, a new gear bag, and 4 Lexar 1000x cards.

But you (and neuro) make an excellent point about amateur vs professional use/budgets.
My excuse is that I'm a bachelor, and I can allow/afford to do this with my income.

A happy and prosperous New Year to all!

[sanj]

I do not like this thread.
I do not want to talk about this.

[AlanF]

If someone spend a lot of money for a 5D Mark III with the EF 24-70 2.8 II lens for private use than it´s a very big investment compared to my investment for professional use.

True...it's all relative.  I spend a lot on camera gear for personal use, but the sum total of all my camera gear is less than the cost of the microscope in my office...and that one is cheap compared the scopes in my labs (even the cameras attached to them cost $10-$20K each, and some scopes have up to 4 cameras mounted).  A few thousand in camera gear at home...a few million in optical gear for professional use.  All relative.

I also have a fortune of equipment in my lab. But, the differences between that and my camera gear are that the government pays for it guided by peer review, new knowledge is definitely coming from the expenditure, and some useful drugs that may save lives are a prospect. Photography is a hobby, which I pay for. It doesn't earn me a living and I am never going to be a great photographer.

[JohanCruyff]

 
(excluding tripod, bags, filters, CFs, Michael Freeman's books etc...)
 
 
Before 2010: Powershot A80 and Powershot S5 IS
 
2010: (used) 5D classic + 24-105mm F/4 IS L
2011: 70-200mm F/4 IS L and 100mm Macro F/2.8 IS L
2012: 17-40 F/4 L
 
A 430 EX II is coming shortly: the expected delivery date is 7 January.
 
 
I don't have thoughts for my 2013 wishlist (a second body, aps-c maybe? a fifth lens?).
But I could simply wait and make a (relatively) high investment in 2014 (6D, 5DIII, who knows?), together with a new computer to handle the new RAW files (my 2007 iMac performs well with 5D classic RAW files, but I wonder how it would deal the >20Megapixel 14bit RAW files).
 
My 5D classic is still better than me at taking photos. 

[noncho]

For me this year was cheaper than last 2.
Sold my 15-85 IS.
Bought used: Cheap 18-55 IS and Canon FD 50 1.4(~160$ both) and 200 2.8L for 615$.
Next year - wait Samyang 10 2.8 and maybe will buy some extender. I don't think that Canon will introduce so much better and good priced camera to rush me immediately change my 60D...

[keithinmelbourne]

2012, I bought an Olympus OMD, 12mm f2, 25mm f1.4, 45mm f1.8, and a 17mm TSE and filter kit for my 1DsMIII, plus a new CF tripod. This year I will probably go for a 6D and 40mm.

[tomscott]

Canon 7D Used £750 but sold it

NEW Sony Nex 5N Twin lens kit - £450

NEW Canon 5DMKIII 24-105mm F4 IS L - £2500

NEW Canon 100mm F2.8 IS L - £580

2 8gb Extreme CF cards - £100

2 8gb Extreme SD cards - £75

Manfrotto 055 XPROB - £135

Used Canon x2 Extender MKII - £200

Need to buy an ultra wide and a few primes in 2013... Probably another expensive year. WOuld like to Upgrade my 70-200 F2.8 to a MKII IS too.

[littlepilotdude]

2012:

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS
Lee Grad ND filters

Grand total of $3300 CAD

2013:

Hopefully, 16-35L f/2.8 ii

[Efka76]

2012 purchases:

- Canon EOS 7D with EF-S 18-135 mm
- Canon EF 50 mm 1.4 USM
- Canon 70-200 mm 2.8L IS II USM
- Canon 100 mm 2.8L IS USM Macro
- Tamron 24-70 mm 2.8
- Canon Speedlite 580 EXII
- Hoya HD filters
- ThinkTank Retrospective 30 backpack

Due to the fact that photography is my hobby only I think that in 2013 I will refrain from other purcahses However, in 1-2 years i want to upgrade my camera to FF (i think think that it will be Canon EOS 5D Mark III)