Interesting question.
In what I think of as my early period, from 1975 to 1989 or so, I earned
quite a bit of money supplementing my writing with photography. But I
used my cameras the way a roofer uses his hammer. They were tools.
During this time I probably spent about $1000 on lenses and cameras (old
Mamiya screwmount, Mamiya TLR, a speed graphic, and half a dozen
lenses). I think I spent another $400 on darkroom equipment. I would
guess that I earned around $300,000 with that equipment.
Then my situation changed and the people I worked for really only
wanted me to scribble words, so I pretty much parked the camera gear. I
bought a P&S Olympus to take pictues of my kids and rarely thought about
serious photography,.
Some six or seven years ago something triggered my interest in
photography. I'll be damned if I can remember what it was. I guess I
just wanted to take better pictures again. So I bought a Spotmatic F to
use with my old screw mount lenses. Then another, and another. Then a
dozen nice SMC Tak lenses. A Spotmatic. A Spotmatic Motor Drive. Then an
LX, and a couple of MX, and another dozen or so lenses. Then my 6x7, and
another half dozen lenses.
I would guess I've spent about $7000 in my recent period, but I've
searched for bargains with a fervor, and I would guess the equipment
that I own is worth at least $7000 used, probably quite a bit more.
I have purchased only one new camera in my life. A Fuji 801 that I
bought in 1980 or so to replace my original Mamiya TL. I may never buy
another one. Used cameras can retain their value or even become more
valuable. New cameras will almost always depreciate significantly the
moment you walk out of the camera store. To me, it's a no brainer.
Paul Stenquist
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