New SLR users..buy in level

[bfitzgerald]

Had an interesting encounter this evening. I decided to bash about with the film 7 and at last try some of that Ektar 100.
Anyway..ran into a few photographers around, one who was shooting film amazingly! (velvia if I remember), so I am not the only one

Also ran into a woman..and she noted I was using a MInolta, nothing too shocking really. Spent a bit of time talking, mostly about photography and the location, then she said this was her "ist SLR" and she had recently joined a camera club, and was learning about photography. Great, no problems. So I peer over and notice a D300 with a Nikkor 17-55 f2.8 G! So that's around £2k for the body and lens. Mounted on a rather tasty looking Manfrotto, I forget the model no. Add a good few £100 for that too.

Ok so it's someone who wants to take things seriously, but..my point is this. Aside from reminding me of what a complete tight wad I am (using my £35 tripod, £100 ish film 7, and £80 odd lens Not really a p&s upgrader..but..makes you wonder how high some folks buy up the chain, I would have thought a D60/90 would be more in line with a newer users needs. Not that she was driving a BMW or anything..maybe some people really do offload the cash, even if it's their ist SLR.

Any thoughts??? Do camera companies sell more mid to higher level bodies than we think.

[Javelin]

it's the same with the A700 theres a lof of people that bought them for full price and then try and learn how to use it after. On my way home this evening I passed 4-5 people on the side of the road in about a 10km space all shooting DLSRs trying to get sunset pictures. A year or 2 a go you would have seen the same thing but with all people shooting P&S cameras.

[KevinBarrett]

Yeah, you're a tightwad. My a700 was a wedding present from my brother. I was ready to buy myself an a200 for my honeymoon and he, having taught me about photography with a 7000i long ago, was ready to get me an a200 as well. When I suggested that he help me towards a700, instead he went and got me the camera without my help at all! I am forever indebted to him.

My rationale was to get a camera that I wouldn't outgrow and would give me two control wheels. Honestly that's the only difference I knew at the time, but if I'd known all of the differences back then, I'd have sprung for the a700 when it first came out. Considering that I didn't pay anything for it, I'm more sorry that I didn't discover this forum sooner.

[pakodominguez]

I think there are a bunch of people with fresh cash and not that many expenses that like to buy expensive gadgets, specially electronic stuff. These people are probably amateurs photo too. and they can spend 500$ for a Lumix just because it has a Leica lens on it.
Last month somebody on this forum was making coments about yuppies buying expensive cameras. what he, and others, doesn't realized yet is that people are subventionating cameras and lenses for people like me, and many others on this forum, because they enlarge the market and manufacters reduce cost because large production.
I think there is another approach to economy too: an A700/D300 is a camera you don't need to upgrade, as an amateur, in 4 or 5 years. Same or even better example is the A900, while an A2xx/A3xx won't endure that much, fisically and technologically wise -buy cheap is fake economy!

[bfitzgerald]

I dunno, I have never been one to splash a heavy outlay on a high end body, even in film days. Truth is I would not have bought a new film 7..but as a s/h purchase it's a bargain and plenty about. I did buy a new 60, but that was under half it's normal retail

Nothing wrong with nice stuff, I would just be scared to death of anything expensive. Whilst I have never damaged anything, lens camera or even dropped a lens cap..there is always a ist time!

D300 is to me an APS pro level camera, seems overkill for a begginer scenic shooter..but folks get what they like. I wonder if there is an "expensive camera and lens" better photos thinking with some??

I did move things onto photography, but the woman seemed fixated on a sunset, which IMO was not worth wasting a frame on, the tones were just not there. I pointed out some nice rocks..with some good light softly hitting them..flowers in the foreground, waves background etc, but no interest from her. I think I have a few nice ones, will see when I get the film back. A canon shooter came up..and was all over a statue, all 3 of us were taking different interests in different areas. But I got bored quickly as a large loud group of polish bikers were racing up and down.! Talk about spoil the atmosphere!

[Birma]

...I wonder if there is an "expensive camera and lens" better photos thinking with some?? ...

Welcome to consumerism

"If I buy these designer clothers I will look better."
"If I buy a BMW I will be a better driver (and sexier to boot!)."
"If I buy a gold plated HDMI cable I will see better HD video."
"If I buy that DSLR that everyone raves about then I will take better photos."

You would not believe the iron self control it has taken for me not to buy an A700 (yet)!

As Pako has said, the benefit is that the larger market for top end gear keeps prices lower, and I guess also stimulates innovation.