$3500 is twice what that camera cost new, so it isn't even a used/vs new
price thing. I'm stingy. In the extreme. There are only 2 things I will
spend money in large amounts on: Film, and my son. I'm not stingy with
either of those things. If I can afford it, I buy film in large quantities
to keep for when I don't have money, and if my son wants something and I can
afford it, I get it for him even if it is 'too expensive'. I never spend
money on 'me'. My cameras are all old. My clothes are too, though I am going
to have to buy a new pair of shoes soon much as it pains me to spend money
on that. I'll do it, my legs hurt when my shoes get badly worn, but I'll
complain about having wasted good money that could have been spent for film.
And I won't ever pay twice as much as something cost new. Ever.
LOL!
--
Chris Crawford
Fine Art Photography
Fort Wayne, Indiana
260-747-3962
http://www.chriscrawfordphoto.com My portfolio
http://blog.chriscrawfordphoto.com My latest work!
On 5/31/09 2:14 AM, "Ken Norton" <ken@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> 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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