Hobby - Photography: Only for those with $$$?

[liarliar]

If you can spend 10 bucks a day on cigarettes, you shall have 3650 bucks a year. Can get an entry level DSLR with kit lens, a wide and 70~300mm VR lens. If you can upgrade change handphone every year, i don't see why u can't buy a DSLR or prosumer compact? If you spend that same amount everyday on fuel cab transport, i don't see why u can't get a cam too? So the next time you see me enjoying the wild and fresh air with my cam just remember you can do the same too.

Oh sorry i don't smoke i don't drive i don't really need fancy handsets every year and only take the public transport or cab when i really need to.

The highest level in art resides in an individual's mind. The limitations are the physcial barriers that transcend in between life. A true swordsman need no sword. A true artist needs no cam. The picture he painted in his mind can never be achieve via a camera, yet everything we see of this world can be twisted and recreated in another perspective from a cam or some photo editing techniques or software. For this world everything is the limit or the possibilities can be endlessa.

So don't think so much, go to bed wake up on the morrow pick up your cam and go out and shoot. Life is short - shoot hard:sweatsm:

 

[HTCahHTC]

it's about the outcome of the pictures.
not about the equipments you have.

 

[NoMoney]

I voted no.

My view: It's a hobby for those who are willing to spend on photography equipment.

In fact like most bro mentioned, nice or award winning picture can be taken with a compact or Prosumer camera.

I have friends who are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on clubbing monthly but only willing to spend less than 200 to get a compact camera. Because they do not take photography as their hobby.

 

[Patryk]

well, it's all up to the person..if they're a more serious hobbyist, naturally they will spend more money on photography.. and like others have mentioned, there are much more expensive hobbies out there..

and in this age of affordable cameras, i still wonder what's with the fixation of having to shell out wads of cash for expensive, professional equipment?

i find that there are only 3 things that you get with a higher end camera:

1) Speed
2) Image Quality
3) Reliability/Durability

To capture a good photo though.. that's all up to you.

 

[Optodexine]

All hobbies have low end, mid range and high end equipment. It is the choice of the hobbist to choose.

Take fishing for example. But a $30 rod and go down to bedok jetty. Will cost you almost nothing. But a high end rod and head down to the fishing pond and spend a bit of money. Or you can rent a luxury yauct and go out to deep sea fishing.

Same with almost every other hobby. Golf also got high end exclusive golf country club, affordable driving range and kiddy golf.

Of course everyone wants the good stuff, faster cameras, cool **** equipment, personal studio, but we should make do with what we can afford.

 

[giantcanopy]

Depends on the mentality of the hobbyist . It can be as expensive or as budget as he/she wants it to be.

Either way it will work

Ryan

 

[Rubber_Duck]

My vote is NO..
As so many ppl mentioned, hobby there is high end and low end. Depending how you set your hobby priority, some ppl wanted the best or good equipment for their hobby And some ppl just want to have normal or average equipment for their hobby. (I’m talking in General Hobby)

Set your priority right. And slowly enjoy your hobby.
Don't straight away just into a BUY BUY BUY all the stuffs and forgot to take pix.
Like that I would say that you are a gadget follower, just wanted to own the latest gadget or high tech gadget. So meaning you are playing with gadget instead of taking photo shot as a hobby.

But if you own high end gadget, doesn’t mean you can shot good pix.
As where some ppl just use a normal camera he or she able to take good pix.

Just ask yourself, do u want to shot good pix or just want to own the best equipment.
But remember this, BEST EQUIPMENT DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN PRODUCE GOOD PHOTOS.

Or another way you can ask yourself, Am I a photographer or a Tech gadget Person. ???

Just my 2 cents..........

 

[Keltzar]

You can shoot film instead of digital. Film cameras now are dirt cheap. A Holga can set you back $40.

Or you can buy a manual / mechanical SLR (e.g. pentax spotmatic or K1000) with a simple 35-70 zoom for S$50-60... then film.. just like power & utilities, there are "pay as you go " means too..

or a used digital compact camera from $150++.

Not too expensive.

 

[maximize]

Photography is an expensive hobby... last time use to be developing film... now is those good lens and accessories... but i do not think it need to be for pple with money...

i believe try to make every cent count... the reason why i choose dslr is the flexibility of equipment as oppose to prosumer and compact pns... but because of this flexibility brings a lot of variety of accessories to choose frm and its not cheap... even a relatively ok camera bag also cost $100...

i hv to think veri veri hard wat to buy cos i dun hv much money... imagine i havent start to take the first shot already i hv spend like 2k for the camera and kits... its a bit painful... but when u took a great pic.. u hang there in ur room... when pple walk past and u tell them u took them... its one of a 1000 shots that is nice... probably for me as a photographer is wat i looking for... a way to show pple wat i think abt the world around me...

i guess end of the day... photography in reality does need money.. but how much.. n how u value it... its all depend on the individual...

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

in order to quantify photography as an expensive hobby, you have to have another hobby to compare it against.
Everything needs $$ wat. Even eating requires $$
compared to hobbies like:
-golf
-car modifcation
-collecting art/stamps/watches

it starts to feel much less expensive.
A 2nd hand D40 kit can be had for about $600-700. A stainless steel exhaust muffler can easily set you back $1000. A set of Honma golf clubs, I saw going for 25K!!

 

[LittleWolf]

You can shoot film instead of digital. Film cameras now are dirt cheap. A Holga can set you back $40.

$40 of expendable income (not to mention the cost of film and processing) may not sound much to you, but what about people who struggle to pay their rent and get a daily meal? (I vaguely remember something that some may have to live on S$230 subsidy a month?)

From a middle class view with expendable income, it may not be an issue. But if you do have expendable income, you already have "$$$". The majority of people in S'pore live in relative luxury, but there are people who don't. I doubt you will find those who don't here on Clubsnap. They will have more pressing problems than surfing the net and participating on online forums.

 

[labla]

NO! There are alot of csers like me who are mere students!!! save like crap den can buy cam and stuff.... it only for those with: PASSION

 

[ahquan]

no.. i worked like mad during my holis to buy a tamron and for the price is its insane but well, we all are at some pt of time. compared to all others who can easier afford better equipment, i have to MF on my D40x but its ok. People can say all they like abt oof not sharp etc but those are for u to judge the photos that meant smth to you not anyone else. i believe in content over the technical aspects of it

 

[gpjuson]

Most hobbies require people to have $. It really depends on how far you want to go with that hobby and that would usually translate to adding more of $ unless your hobby is collecting newspapers or bottle caps. Weird but it could be a hobby too, no?

Now, if the meaning of $$$ is rich people, then people here would disagree. Like myself, I'm a pauper and I beg on the streets just to get online and post here. Believe it or not!

 

[Daedalus Trent]

NO! There are alot of csers like me who are mere students!!! save like crap den can buy cam and stuff.... it only for those with: PASSION

:thumbsup: agreed!

 

[Love_sky]

I'm agree with it.

Every hobbies need $$ so it depend on how our friends view it ...

 

[Cutesperm]

"There's a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'" - Dave Barry

 

[sirikin]

only for those with money? Yes....think of those who struggle to make enough to live, believe me there are many in this category...no time or energy to think of photograhy or other hobbies...many of the things shared here ( even your $50 P&S cam) only appear in their dreams

 

[redstone]

Digital, its a one shot thing, provided you don't always upgrade. There are more expensive hobbies like PC mod, car mod, collecting luxury watches, buying 4D, etc... ;p

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

to those who mentioned Singaporeans that are living from hand to mouth, trying their darndest to get by on meagre earnings... well, then of course a hobby would likely be the furthest thing on their minds.

I believe that the TS's intentions in starting this thread was to see how many CSers believe that you need lots of money (3 dollar signs!!) to maintain your photography hobby. The question is: how much is lots of money?
If it means >$100, then of course la. You need more than that even to purchase a simple digi cam + batteries + memory card.
about $800-$1500 is an amount that most middle-class Singaporeans can set aside or save up for, to purchase a prosumer or beginner DSLR.

So my conclusion:
Photography is a hobby that requires $$, but not $$$

additional note: some people are fortunate enough to receive hand-me-down cameras from parents or relatives, so their initial cost can be VERY low