You have $3000, what would you buy?

[rfaspen]

I still have a few cards. Long live FORTRAN!

 

[webOSUser]

And COBOL!!

I still have a few cards. Long live FORTRAN!

 

[David Hughes]

And buying extra memory as a box of a few chips to be fitted in the PCB and them falling out when it got hot and expanded slightly. And people would steal them one by one and it took a while to be noticed...

Regards, David

 

[Archiver]

Oh, the Hologon! I have peculiarly pleasant memories of seeing that lens in a shop window in Hong Kong amidst other Contax G gear. Back then, I was just getting into Contax cameras and everything was new and fresh. The Hologon in the window was almost like an Elvis sighting.

 

[raid]

I got an "Elvis" in the form of a Hologon 🙂

 

[Phil_F_NM]

If i had $3000 I'd put about $2500 of it into bills and paying off some student debt. I'd also get this cracked molar i have fixed. Actually, that's going to take the whole $3000, even though I have insurance...

But if I'm limited to spend it on photo stuff, I'd get a decent condition, perfectly working Bell & Howell 70HM or DR with a couple long focus Cine Ektar lenses. If I got the HM, I'd want the 400 foot magazine. Otherwise, I'd split the funds left over for film and processing.

So basically, I'd do what I'm going to do anyway but I'd have my film stock and some processing/telecine paid for.

Phil Forrest

 

[Greyscale]

I would travel to an interesting, warm place known for excellent food and friendly people, and use some of the gear that I already own.

 

[robert blu]

Interesting thread, I went through all the answers and proposals.
Time now for my idea, I couldn't post earlier because of traveling and I had not my password to access RFF on the phone!

As principle I do not need more gear...but that Rolleiflex 2.8...so beautiful...

I must say that years ago I found more interesting to spend money on workshops than buying gear. This was a good way to meet other people and see what they were doing (or trying to do), get new ideas for new projects and new challenges. The biggest result I got from the WS i took part in between 1995 and 2005 is not a technical knowledge but to know what I want to achieve with my photography. Which style or better which visual language to use in my projects. So this could be an idea, we have an interesting "masterclass" which includes a series of 5/6 weekend with a photographer and later a meeting with an editor, with the aim to learn how to finalized a project into a book.
The total cost (fee + material, printing papers...) is about 2.500/3.000 EUR

Thinking only in terms of gear a Nikon DF seems me the correct complement to my M10 and I already have the lenses I need. But I'm not sure I need more gear, already said, I know!

Because I like printing very much a good inkjet printer (A2 ...) and a stock of inks and high quality paper would be also an interesting idea...

SO, no one of the proposal made by the OP is for me and if I should buy another Leica the TL2 is very appealing...I already have the EVF which is the same of the M10

Thanks Raid for letting me think about what to buy with some money which is not (yet?) in my photo expenses budget 🙂

robert

 

[Darthfeeble]

I don't think that the point of the question is to be practical, thus: I would buy up every Epson R-D1x. s. and blank I could find in good shape. Money in the bank!

 

[jsrockit]

I don't think that the point of the question is to be practical, thus:

exactly...

 

[Arbitrarium]

Hmmm...

Pentacon Six TL w/Biometar.

Robot Star w/Xenon.

Ricoh Auto Half SL.

Fuji GF670.

A Steinheil Quinon 50mm 1.9 and whatever camera I can mount it on.

Maybe I'd pay someone to make me an Olympus XA with the zone focusing and auto exposure of the XA2.

And get everything serviced.

There's definitely more but I can't think of everything right now.

 

[jsrockit]

Nikon Df w/ Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G used
Used Leica Q
Fujifilm X-E3 w/ 56mm 1.2 & 90mm F2
Nikon D850 (used) w/ 50mm 1.8d
Leica CL
Sony A7R II w/ 55mm

 

[Out to Lunch]

Probably not the announced Kodak Super 8 camera which is announced at US$ 2,500/3,000.

 

[Godfrey]

Well, since the sky is now the limit and I already have both the Berning Robot II and the Robot Star 50, I think my thoughts have to turn to a Linhof Super Technika 23. My grandfather had one of those, with both roll-film and single-shot backs. He never used it, I "stole" it briefly a few times and shot photos for the school yearbook with it: an outstanding 6x9 field camera with glorious lenses.

I was so pissed off when, after my grandfather passed away, my father gave it to my uncle who sold it for another friggin' lens for his Nikon. It was worth five times that!

One of those fitted with a scanning back (and of course with roll-film and single sheet holders) would be a giggle. 🙂

G

 

[dp13]

I am going on my fifth year with the original Sony a7 and rangefinder lenses. I still absolutely love it but it is starting to show signs of age. Eventually, I am looking to see if there will be an a7 III and what it might offer.
If I were to upgrade right now with 3 grand I might look for a bargain on the a7r ii and then slowly add lenses. The 55/1.8 I already own, but it would be first and maybe only AF lens I'd get. Wow, looks like the money's gone.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I am going on my fifth year with the original Sony a7 and rangefinder lenses. I still absolutely love it but it is starting to show signs of age.

How is it showing its age?

 

[Big Ursus]

I'd hire a personal trainer to get me to the gym!

 

[Photog9000]

Since I have never owned a Leica, I would probably pick up an M6 w/either a 35 cron or 50 cron & a few bricks of Tri-X just to see what all the hubbub is about.

 

[giganova]

For $3k I'd get me the best condition Hasselblad system I could find. Medium format is really something else and leaves a lot of room for giving your photography a different direction.

 

[Peter_S]

Contax 645 or a Mamiya AFD with digital back, assuming these 3000$ would be meant for that and no other far more sensible purposes.