Photography as a Hobby - the Decisions that come back to haunt you

[Honest Gaza]

I remember buying my first "real" Digital camera...the Panasonic FZ-20. I refer to it as a "real" camera as it had Manual control over Aperture and Shutter Speed and a lens that covered a pretty good focal range. Wife, I recall saying, I'll never need another camera after this one. I don't recall ever taking it out of Auto Mode and I spent my life in the Panasonic section of this Forum.

A few years later I was going on a trip to Hong Kong and was debating the merits of Superzoom P&S versus DSLR. At that time I was tossing up between the Panasonic FZ-50 and a Canon 400D and eventually decided to go the way of the DSLR....and started spending a lot of time in the Canon section of this Forum.

Of course, there was much debate over buying Kit lenses versus slightly better 3rd Party lenses (eg 17-70mm Sigma or 17-50mm Tamron). I still remember the enjoyment of bartering over lenses in the Hong Kong Shops and eventually came home with a Canon 400D, 17-70mm Sigma Lens & 70-300mm IS Canon Lens

Then there was the Photography Course that I attended at a local Community School run by none other than the great CW from this forum and I learned to take it off Auto.

Over the years I started upgrading my lenses to get the "best of the best" (eg Canon 10-22mm, Canon 17-55mm f/2.8, Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8, Canon 70-200L f/2.8)....I was never going to be a Professional, but easily justified when planning Overseas Holidays and you want to capture your images the best way possible....or so you tell the Missus

Upgraded the Canon 400d to a Canon 50D....don't worry Wife, because of my astute decisions made over the last few Years....all of my Lenses are completely compatible.

....and then I bought a 5D MkIII

[Rooz]

yes, im almost in a mkiii mood myself...

[Honest Gaza]

yes, im almost in a mkiii mood myself...

And I thought I was in trouble over having to replace a couple of lenses

Rooz...you'd be talking Divorce

[Rooz]

yes, well...there is that small matter. lol

[kgosden]

I just decided that I buy new cameras for my wife every other purchase. Of course, that has been P&S stuff until 'her' recent m4/3rds upgrade. The advantage is I can start buying 'her' some new lenses next...

[GaryS]

My wife has no interest in any camera that isn't inside her cellphone.

I've been so happy with my 60D though, that I've kind of stopped upgrading stuff. I've gotten happy with my bag of lenses and other gear, so now I'm more interested in travelling!

[faisal]

I've been so happy with my 60D though, that I've kind of stopped upgrading stuff. I've gotten happy with my bag of lenses and other gear, so now I'm more interested in travelling!

This is where I am right now....but then the better half has a sweet lens collection so I'm kinda satisfied right now...

@Honest Gaza Congrats on the purchase

[michaelb]

Just don't get into manual focus lenses and whatever you do stay away from the alternative forum on FM!!!! I'm now shooting some film again (you should have seen my wife's face when I told her that!!) And I'm thinking of getting into medium format film - it never ends!!

The key is to have fun with it, no matter what you shoot with -that's the benefit of photography being a hobby and not your job - there's no pressure! - and its not all about resolution and high ISO performance - on a trip to FL in August I shot with a mix of digital and 35mm film and the film shots are some of my favorites!!

[Honest Gaza]

The key is to have fun with it, no matter what you shoot with -that's the benefit of photography being a hobby and not your job - there's no pressure....

Except for justifying to yourself that you need better equipment....even though you don't earn a living from it...now that's pressure

[Anthony]

I took up photography to give myself something to do on holidays and to get me out of the house more - which it does.

When it comes to buying equipment I do not like to buy anything I can not afford and as I do not have a lot of spair money that restricts my purchases - a good thing? I have brought my camera and both extra lenses from ebay and saved about £200 on the camera; £200 on one lens and about £50 on the other.

As can be seen from a couple of my other posts I want to buy better/more expensive equipment but so far I have not; that may change when the 6D comes down a bit in price.
I suppose the problem is to me it is still just a hobby and is it worth spending all that money on equipment that will be only used now and again. Would I get that much more out of my photographs?