Record Spending Into Camera Gear - HIGHEST

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Ah boys and their locker rooms.

Any fule nose, it's not what you've got, it whats you do with it, and if your partner can get some satisfaction from it too, thats a bonus.

Whatever the biggest number is, I've spent $100 more.

Do I win?
 
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I struck a deal with my wife (which is probably overplaying my part in the final agreement) about a year ago that all cameragear I were to buy from that point onwards was to come from the extra income I have doing a few photo- and web-related jobs for locals here in town.

Turns out I spent every cent on the stuff below - organized more or less chronologically starting around January 10, 2012, where I sold my Nikon D90 with a Tamron 18-270 lens (man, I hated that lens):

5D Mark II
16-35L II f/2.8
50 f/1.4
70-200L f/2.8 IS II
85 f/1.8
100L Macro f/2.8
24-105 L f/4
7D
40 f/2.8
Rokinon Fisheye
300L f/4 IS
Fuji X-Pro1
Fuji 35 f/1.4
Fuji 18 f/2
5D Mark III
85L f/1.2 II
Sigma 35 1.4 (in the mail right now)

- plus a couple of tripods, flashes, bags and cases, and all that peripheral stuff.

...actually. Writing out this list makes me think I might not need that kind of spending spree in 2013... (Think again).

:)
 
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bdunbar79 said:
Whatever the biggest number is, I've spent $100 more.
Only if you've spent the extra $100 on a good liquor selection :).

Grey Goose all the way!

To be fair, I am Scottish, so if the question was 'who has spent the most on drink this year?', then I'd deffo be the winner.

I bought a T3i this year, given uk prices I'm probably still the winner!

It was these kind of conversations that put me off camera clubs, I know it's a gear forum, I was just raised that it was rude to talk about money, and a little bit cheap to be ostentatious.
 
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5DIII
600EX RTx3 (replaced my oooold 580 EX's) these make lighting an interior SO much easier.
8-15 Fisheye, been doing interior tours for real-estate and other clients.
RRS Gimbal head (used with fisheye).
RRS BH 55 Ballhead.
Got a killer CL deal on a RRS tripod ($500) brand new.
100mm f/2.8 Macro IS and I have to say I love this lens.

Wanted to buy a 200 f/2 or 400 f/2.8 but I don't do enough sports or wildlife to justify it.
 
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2012 was my personal record spending. A moderate list (in comparison to others, but not for me :-) for non-professional use (excluding the making of simple but very effective movies for teaching).

Completing my full frame compatible lens range (for future use with 6D, 5d Mark iv or a FF EOS M):
400mm f/5.6 USM * (1250€)
100mm f/2.8 USM MACRO * (400€)
40mm f/2.8 STM (240€)
28-70 f/3.5-4.5 (100€ 2nd hand)
* before they are replaced by versions which cost two times the money

Video:
EOS 600D with 18-55mm lens (600€)

Bag:
Pro Runner 200 from LowePro (40€) - a very good small photo luggage which adapts two bodies with lenses + the shorty fourty easily and with good accessibility.
 
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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
 
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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
 
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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).
 
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M.ST said:
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!
 
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neuroanatomist said:
M.ST said:
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.
 
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(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. ;D
 
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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...
 
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