Is photography more expensive these days?

[rizla01]

Just wondered what the thinking is.

Photography has always ranged from pretty expensive to hugely expensive. Obviously that will never change.

But how does the cost of equipment compare in real terms these days to, say, 40 years ago.


Processing costs are no doubt cheaper but cams are far more efficient & capable so the lenses must increase in quality/cost to keep up, surely?

Also the consumer is very 'New gadget' driven so the Manufs will supply that need - at cost.

Actual photographs are surely less popular nowadays as there are many other mediums available.

 

[awp]

I bought my first Nikon body in 1971 - Nikon 'F' - with 50mm lens it cost £240.00 - that was about 6 weeks salary before tax in those days. I'd say that makes the cost about the same as buying a top end body today. Photography 'running costs' are hugely cheaper in the digital age.

 

[cambsno]

I think things are about the same, maybe a tad cheaper now. Obviously you can shoot hundreds of pics 'for free', whereas with film every shot cost money.

 

[Naboo32]

I depends how far you want to go back, I think :shrug:!?

I remember my dad spending the whole family's holiday budget for three years, just to buy the first AF camera body on the market . He also had one of the first desk calculators, which accounted for about 6 month's housekeeping money, so yeah, I'd say it's all a lot cheaper these days.

I'll tell you what though, since I started with it two years ago, prices have risen a lot :thumbsdown:.

 

[rizla01]

I depends how far you want to go back, I think :shrug:!?


I'll tell you what though, since I started with it two years ago, prices have risen a lot :thumbsdown:.

Yes, I notice that prices seem to have shot up in recent times.

Is that because of advances in technology do you think?

 

[Ed Taylor]

Yes, I notice that pices seem to have shot up in recent times.

Is that because of advances in technology do you think?

Someone profitering, I think. Like with a lot of things we buy.

 

[Digifrog]

Petrol. It's all about the price of petrol. :bang:

 

[Naboo32]

Yes, I notice that prices seem to have shot up in recent times.

Is that because of advances in technology do you think?

No, I think it's all down to the global economic situation :|. Right after the first signs of a crisis in Europe and the USA, the price of goods imported from Asia rose by around 20% (for Nikon and Sigma gear, at least). The Amazon price for a D700, for instance, went from £1,535 to £1,775 (IIRC ) overnight .

After that, once people got used to the fact that these prices weren't going to improve any time soon and started paying them, the UK got hit with a VAT increase :bang:.

OK, in fairness, the new VAT rate is still below the European average (I believe), but still, at a time when the cost of living is rising and interest on savings is at an all time low (seemingly), it makes the 'real cost' of luxury items like posh cameras a much bigger commitment than just two years ago. At least, that's the way that it appears to me :shrug:.

 

[boliston]

I'm trying to think how photography compares to other popular hobbies.

Some obvious ones that friends and workmates have are say:

1) Horse riding - can be pretty expensive in comparison
2) Sports cars - being a TVR enthusiast would not be cheap
3) Sailing - not cheap either
4) Shooting - not sure but guns are not cheap
5) Golf - membership & clubs don't come cheap
6) Surfing - might possibly be cheaper
7) Climbing - not sure but might be cheaper
8) Cycling - can be cheap or very expensive (my "second" hobby )
9) Dogs - can be pricey in vet fees & food
10) Musical instruments - cheap or very expensive.

I'd say overall that photography is not too bad really.

 

[pitkin2020]

TBH its like any hobby (those listed above as well), it is expensive to start out but you can continue to run with that kit for a few years. Along with any other hobby you can start out cheaper by buying used etc and upgrading bits as you go along. As a hobby you don't NEED to go out and spend 3k plus on photography equipment, it won't make you any better. As you progress and enjoy it more you will spend more its inevitable.

 

[BacktotheFuji]

I made it cheaper when I started back in 2008 by getting a new Sony a200 kit for just £210.00 and by only buying old M42 lenses to start with. But then as I progressed, I ended up with a taste for the rather more expensive stuff

 

[treeman]

It has definitely become more expensive. 30 years ago you could buy the cheapest 35mm body, put the best prime lens on it, and the image quality would have been exactly the same as the most expensive 35mm body with the same lens.
Now equate that to the cheapest DSLR and the most expensive DSLR, the image quality will be vastly different.
So I'm trying to say is, within each format, the more you spend nowadays increases the image quality, that wasn't the case 30years ago.
Does that make sense. :shrug:

 

[madmardle]

I bought my first "proper" camera, a Taron ( no, not tamron!) in approx 1959. It was a rangefinder type with supplementary wide angle and telephoto lenses, and a moveable view finder which slotted into the flash contact when using either of the lenses.
It cost £39/19/11,( £39.99 equiv) I was probably earning £10 a week at the time, so a months pay. When I retired (2007) I was on about £500 per week, so I think camera's were respectively more expensive then as I don't think the Taron was the equivalent of a £2000 camera of today.

 

[mercmanuk]

Just wondered what the thinking is.

Photography has always ranged from pretty expensive to hugely expensive. Obviously that will never change.

But how does the cost of equipment compare in real terms these days to, say, 40 years ago.


Processing costs are no doubt cheaper but cams are far more efficient & capable so the lenses must increase in quality/cost to keep up, surely?

Also the consumer is very 'New gadget' driven so the Manufs will supply that need - at cost.

Actual photographs are surely less popular nowadays as there are many other mediums available.

DSLR camers expensive, running costs nil-ish, film cameras cheapish running costs

years ago film cameras running costs price for a wedding

today DSLR + Lens kit bought running cost price for a wedding still


Merc