Economic impact on your photography buying habits?

[monochromejrnl]

I've read a few comments about how some RFFs feel that the current economic downturn will affect the commercial viability of certain premium market cameras (M8.2, S2, Fuji/VC667 etc.) and I am beginning to wonder what economic impact current events are having on RFF members photographic spending habits more broadly (particularly with used cameras, supplies etc.)...

I've been lucky enough thus far to not be directly affected in my wallet by the current crisis but I haven' certainly scaled back and find myself more cautious about my spending habits particularly with things photographic as it's a hobby for me.

thoughts?

 

[M. Valdemar]

If it's something I can resell for a profit, or a huge bargain, I still buy what I feel like buying.

I have cut back a little on silly expensive items that I don't really need. My wife and kid can last a whole week on oatmeal.

Nah, I lied, I still buy what I want.

 

[Gary E]

Not affected direcly yet, but I expect the company to be trimming down next year; we're already running on fumes.

So, no new equipment unless another one goes. I will be reducing my inventory by half by mid next year, and getting new ones with the funds returned by the sale. No new money to the mix.

 

[dexdog]

no, buying habits not affected- just my 401(k) and prospective retirement timeline.

 

[Al Patterson]

I've read a few comments about how some RFFs feel that the current economic downturn will affect the commercial viability of certain premium market cameras (M8.2, S2, Fuji/VC667 etc.) and I am beginning to wonder what economic impact current events are having on RFF members photographic spending habits more broadly (particularly with used cameras, supplies etc.)...

I've been lucky enough thus far to not be directly affected in my wallet by the current crisis but I haven' certainly scaled back and find myself more cautious about my spending habits particularly with things photographic as it's a hobby for me.

thoughts?

I'm between jobs, so that 10 megapixel camera and any further Rangefinder items will need to wait until I'm back to work, but I'll still buy film and supplies when I need them.

 

[nikon_sam]

My big buys for this year have been two lenses for the Mamiya 645 and even they were under $90 each...
More monies have gone towards film, photo paper, chemicals and little odds & ends (darkroom stuff)
I'm not looking for any new/used gear (bodies)...this decision was made way before the present economic situation...

Next big buy will be getting a Weston Master II Light Meter (Mint Cond.) back up and running again...When I bought it it was working but now the needle is a bit jumpy...it was just as accurate as my Gossen Luna Pro (sbc)...

 

[gb hill]

There are a few items left on the list of things to get, like a good film scanner, the 15/4.5 Heliar for the BessaL. Basicly I'm done. Being a truck driver in the oil industry hauling bulk lubricants my job seems pretty secure but who really knows. I worry more the efect it may have on the film & chemical end of business because I'm in the middle of setting up my darkroom.

 

[wintoid]

My £1 buys me $1.50 right now. Earlier this year, £1 bought me $2. So, it's a good time for me to sell, and a bad time for me to buy.

Apart from the exchange rate, I am not affected so far.

 

[steverett]

I just started my job, so my 401(k) is probably starting at a good time. My company is even still hiring, so I'm feeling pretty secure.

 

[eleskin]

I only look for bargains on Ebay now. And I have found them! For hundreds less!!! Lenses in MINT condition too!!!!

 

[pesphoto]

little or no equipment buying lately. But my mortgage just went down $100 a month so I at least can buy film and chemicals now.

 

[FrankS]

Like wintoid, I'm affected by unfavourable exchange rates, so I'm having some cameras CLA'ed in Canada instead of sending them to the US. No major purchases were in the forecast anyway, except for maybe that new Fuji folder. We'll have to see what the final price is with the exchange rate is when it does come out.

 

[RicardoD]

Trying to keep an eye out for bargains and will take the opportunity to buy.

 

[snip]

I have uncontrollable raging GAS and cannot lie about being fairly wealthy so.. But yes the exchange rate has meant it is now a good time to flog some gear too.

//Jan

 

[bcostin]

I'm pretty much a cheapskate no matter what the economy is like. For the time being I'm not planning any large purchases. I have a few cameras and lenses that could do with CLAs, so I may get them done instead of buying anything new. I don't really need anything new right now; it's a good time to relax and enjoy using what I have.

Aside from that, just little stuff, consumables, and color processing costs. I'm addicted to Arista Premium bulk film right now, but I might spring for one of those giant-economy-sized 400-foot rolls of Eastman 5222 if I really want to go cheap.

 

[Al Kaplan]

My New England upbringing taught me to squeeze a dime so thin that you can read newsprint through it. Parsimony is my middle name. I keep hoping to find an M mount Zeiss Hologon at a yard sale for ten bucks or so.

 

[oftheherd]

Well, everybody shoulld know I just recently purchased some cameras and lenses. But I got them at a very reasonable price. It's the only way I buy. I'm too much of a cheapskate on too low a budget. I just bought an aux wide lens set for my Rolleiflex for under $25. I've wanted one for a long time but didn't want to pay what they were going for. Also a cut film holder for my Mamiya. I wouldn't have bought it except that for $5 why not have one more?

In that prices seem to be coming down, I guess the economy is affecting my buying. However, I won't be buying very much. I now have most anything I would personally want. I will only buy something I am sure I want AND will use, and if it is very inexpensive. I would like to sell a few things, but only things I can't use or give to my daughter. I am not sure this is a good time so I may wait.

Now I just want to enjoy using what I have to take photos.

 

[snip]

My New England upbringing taught me to squeeze a dime so thin that you can read newsprint through it. Parsimony is my middle name. I keep hoping to find an M mount Zeiss Hologon at a yard sale for ten bucks or so.

I think we all have that dream.

I'm a bight of a skinflint myself, like I could never bring myself to buy a new car.. Never.. Last car I bought was 10 years old, in very good mechanical condition, a few months ago someone bumped into the front of it and scraped it a fair bit, the poor chaps brand new little compact shattered its bumper and bent the bonnet, I had a few scrapes, He offered me £250 there and then to not call it in, I got suspicious and checked him for alchohol, when he seemed clean and genuinly just did not want to lose his no claims, I took his £250. The scrapes are still on my Volvo, I spent the money on a lens and a brick of film.

I buy clothes that look almost new in charity shops and wear it till it falls apart or don't fit anymore, in the latter case I give it back to the charity shops (I buy underwear and socks new, there are limits, most charity shops don't carry that anyway)

My wife is as frugal as they come, she hunts out bargains in 5 different supermarkets, I often work at night and pop down the shops to pick up the luxury goods that they reduce because the date is thin for less than the price of the value stuff. Yet I am happy to spend extra to get things like free range eggs organic veg and meat and so forth.

But I spend what some would argue is incredible amounts of money on gear, film development and more gear.

//Jan

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I go to the market when it opens at 07.00 and buy what I need. And look out to see who's got a glut of something.

Then I may return just before closing and do a bulk deal for a very attractive price.

Later i'll look at the internet for ways to use and store 10kg of tomatoes!

 

[FrankS]

Tomato sauce!