DSLR Costs: Impact and Weighting With In Your Budget

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One of the more interesting articles that I’ve read recently was “Tip of the Iceberg” by Thom Hogan. Oriented towards the more serious photographer this article challenges common thought regarding the cost impact of a high end camera body and how you might consider weighting it in your budget given the overall expense you’ll likely incur as a photographer. I read this after my new DSLR order was placed, but it certainly crystalized what I already knew subconsciously.

One side note to this article, given the overall expense of photography if you take the time to add up the value of your gear, software, computers, related furniture, etc. you’ll quickly see how fast things add up. Doing this is a great exercise and its an excellent reminder to make sure you carry the proper insurance in the event of a catastrophic event.

Technorati Tags: Thom Hogan, DSLR, photography, photographer, cost, expense, tip of the iceberg

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Posted by Jim on 01.21.2008 at 6:42 pm
Tagged: Links & Articles, Photography

http://www.rwongphoto.com/fieldreport Richard

for one, if I were to make such a big upgrade the sickest part for me would be thinking about how I’d store all those big files. a 500gb hard drive wouldn’t last long and certainly DVD’s would be too small. I’d probably end up using the 1DS MKIII for certain landscape and highly detailed stuff, and use the other models for travel imagery and personal stuff. I guess what that means is that it wouldn’t be worth it for me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rueb/ Brian Rueb

Great link Jim. I think many people’s iceberg has to include their hiking equipment as well. I just dished out $450 for a backpack and a tent…not to mention, if you plan on shooting in the snow, you need boots, coats, pants, under layers, gloves, hats, snow shoes (or whatever preferred traction device you use) my “hobby” has just run me about $1000 and none of it can actually be put on my camera.
http://www.jmg-galleries.com Jim

@Richard with hard drive prices coming down in price I’d think that would be the least of your worries. Especially considering Adobe’s Lightroom software looks to save edits to a sidecar file versus the need to store large Photoshop files. The bigger factor to me is still straight expense and as Guy Tal noted in a reply to my NPN post “Alternative Cost”. By that meaning what are you giving up that you would have otherwise been able to use the money towards. There are so many variables to factor in when making a body purchase that go beyond the technical evaluation of the product you’re buying. Finding the right economic balance is essential. Although Thom’s argument is valid it’s much easier to see that viewpoint in retrospect unless you’re really good at long term planning.

@Brian Rueb great point… the supporting costs of photography might just be endless especially considering there are so many niches for photographers to settle into.
http://www.rwongphoto.com Richard

I haven’t read Guy’s response yet but I believe that concept would be called “opportunity cost”. Econ 101, or 201 at Cal Poly anyway.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rueb/ Brian Rueb

Jim,
This is really a great topic…I was thinking about it again this morning, because I’ll need new tires on my vehicle soon, and a new vechicle.
I’ve put probably an extra 20-30,000 miles on my car each year because of driving to shoot.

so it keeps going, and going, and going…
http://www.jmg-galleries.com Jim

@Brian Rueb the expenses a photographer incurs can run deep. I myself track my mileage for photo shoots. If you’re running a business these types of things should be accounted for when it comes to your tax filing. Photographers like most independent business owners have a lot on their plate to balance. The expenses always have to be weighed against revenue opportunity. It’s critical to become aware of what your expenses are.
http://www.grafphoto.com/wordpress Mark

And of course there will always be newer and better lenses we want, camera body upgrades, computer upgrades, etc, etc. I wonder if anyone has calculated the ~lifetime~ expense?!

Still, I certainly don’t miss the waste of film – much of my money spent there went right into the trash can. At least with digital, there’s Ebay!
http://www.jmg-galleries.com Jim

@Mark I think the lifetime expense might be a little too frightening for most. The product life cycle of computers and now cameras is far from ideal. Collectively I think that may be worse that the impact of film. Now that comparison would be interesting to see.