>
> Sorry, I wouldn't pay that even if I were wealthy. My OM-4T bodies work
> just
> as well and cost a hell of a lot less. There's a lot of silliness in
> photography and people's willingness to pay such amounts for gear. If I had
> $3500 to spend, and no need to use it to eat, I'd take a trip back to Santa
> Fe to take some pictures. If I needed a 35mm camera, I'd pay $400 for an
> OM-4T and spend the rest on the trip.
>
As a shooter camera for a non-pro, I'd pretty much agree with you. But I can
think of a situation where a person could justify it.
If I was buying a NEW system and not wanting to use "used" gear, (and is
already able to afford the Sante Fe trips and food), the price is reasonably
close to that of a Leica M7 or Nikon F6. Arguments could be made about which
of those three systems would be "best", but suffice to say, if a
photographer decides that the OM system is still viable to him/her and
specifically wants to be shooting with Zuikos (there is reason enough), it's
a reasonable price to pay. My only regret was not purchasing an OM-3Ti brand
new when they first came out. There were many years of lost enjoyment (and
opportunity when my electronic OMs died in the cold). Had I known then what
I know now....
Just because you can find used gear at a fraction of the cost isn't
necessarily relevant. If everybody shunned purchasing new equipment we'd
never have used equipment! It's no different than automobiles--I buy used
(usually 2-3 years old) and then put up with the fact that it isn't exactly
what I wanted or must accept the fact that I have to spend much more on
maintenance. Some day I will buy a new car--maybe. However, there are
items we refuse to purchase used. I won't buy used kitchen appliances or
toothbrushes.
I think we've gotten a bit jaded about prices. When a reasonably advanced
digital camera costs $3000 but will be less than 1/3 the price in less than
36 months, a purchase of a $3000 film camera that will most likely hold most
of its value doesn't seem so out of line. Even that "overpriced" M7 looks
like a pretty good deal when you figure out that it will either last you the
rest of your life or it can be sold at any time for around what you bought
it for.
Nearly all of my camera equipment has been used. Only a couple of flashes, a
tokina zoom, and the digital gear has been purchased new. Oh, and tripods
and other ancillary items. But cameras and lenses were all used. I did it
that way because I could! Had there not been a reasonable availability of
used gear, I would have purchased items new--but fewer of them. If I were to
replace all of my photography equipment with new gear at today's prices, I'd
be spending well over $18,000. Fortunately, by buying used (and some serious
gift stuff along the way), I didn't actually spend that much. When I
account for inflation, what I did spend through the years for the gear
wasn't that far off. Used gear prices were lower than new, but still
expensive.
$3500 for a professional camera body of this caliber is definitely not out
of line. Sure, it isn't an OM-4Ti, but it has two capabilities the 4Ti
doesn't have--the ability to work without batteries and the TTL-OTF flash
control with user-adjustable shutter-speeds.
It's still less expensive than a decent wide-screen television and the
television will never earn you a dime.
AG
--
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