Comments on: The Frugal Photographer http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/ personal finance that makes cents Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:11:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Lo. Price http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-132462 Lo. Price Thu, 15 May 2008 20:35:59 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-132462 Some people may get plenty of use our of their tripods, but unless you are shooting star trails and other night photography, getting a tripod should be far down your list of gear to buy. If you are shooting people, you will get motion blur before you ever get substantial camera shake (which is what a tripod prevents). It always looks a little funny to see obvious amateurs using monopods (think tripod, only 1 leg) and tripods in cases when they really don't need them. Another tip for avoiding looking like an amateur is "overhanded" shooting (sorry, this is just a pet peeve). Instead of holding the lens of a camera as one might hold a video camera, hold your hand in front of your face such that you are looking at your palm, then grab the lens. You will be a lot more stable. I agree with the above commenter that photographers should worry about lenses instead of bodies and you can generally get a good value out of prime lenses (20mm, 50mm, 85mm, 200mm, etc.) And of course, if you want to save money, forgo film and just get a digital camera. Some people may get plenty of use our of their tripods, but unless you are shooting star trails and other night photography, getting a tripod should be far down your list of gear to buy. If you are shooting people, you will get motion blur before you ever get substantial camera shake (which is what a tripod prevents). It always looks a little funny to see obvious amateurs using monopods (think tripod, only 1 leg) and tripods in cases when they really don’t need them. Another tip for avoiding looking like an amateur is “overhanded” shooting (sorry, this is just a pet peeve). Instead of holding the lens of a camera as one might hold a video camera, hold your hand in front of your face such that you are looking at your palm, then grab the lens. You will be a lot more stable.
I agree with the above commenter that photographers should worry about lenses instead of bodies and you can generally get a good value out of prime lenses (20mm, 50mm, 85mm, 200mm, etc.)
And of course, if you want to save money, forgo film and just get a digital camera.

]]> By: Josh Finnie http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-113948 Josh Finnie Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:41:23 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-113948 My main tip for being a frugal photographer is go for the ultra-cheap old-school cameras. Look on eBay or some other auction sites and find an old, fully manual k-mount camera. I have a SEARS KS-II. The reason behind this is that it gives you a wonderful working camera for cheap; I bought it for $25 and it came with a 50mm f/2.0 lens which is great! Spend your money on glass, not cameras. Since I only spent $25 on my camera (and it came with the lens I use mose), I can now go out and get a used k-mount zoom lens that would cost a lot more for a nikon or canon body. Even if I spend $100 on a great zoom lens, I am still spending less than a good used Nikon camera! Many of these cameras are fully manual, so it gives you full control of the camera; it also makes you learn about the workings of photography! My main tip for being a frugal photographer is go for the ultra-cheap old-school cameras. Look on eBay or some other auction sites and find an old, fully manual k-mount camera. I have a SEARS KS-II. The reason behind this is that it gives you a wonderful working camera for cheap; I bought it for $25 and it came with a 50mm f/2.0 lens which is great!

Spend your money on glass, not cameras. Since I only spent $25 on my camera (and it came with the lens I use mose), I can now go out and get a used k-mount zoom lens that would cost a lot more for a nikon or canon body. Even if I spend $100 on a great zoom lens, I am still spending less than a good used Nikon camera!

Many of these cameras are fully manual, so it gives you full control of the camera; it also makes you learn about the workings of photography!

]]> By: Kit http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-92207 Kit Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:02:08 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-92207 Renting lenses was the best thing I ever did: I decided that I needed (wanted) a macro lens for shooting indoors. It cost $800. Instead of paying that hefty fee without ever seeing the lens, I rented it from <a href="http://www.ziplens.com/" rel="nofollow">ziplens.com</a> for $40 for a week. During that week I discovered that the lens was the wrong focal length for what I wanted to shoot, and I would have ended up hating the lens in the long run. A $40 immediate investment saved me $740 and a lot of regrets. Plus, I took some great pictures during that week! Renting lenses was the best thing I ever did: I decided that I needed (wanted) a macro lens for shooting indoors. It cost $800. Instead of paying that hefty fee without ever seeing the lens, I rented it from ziplens.com for $40 for a week. During that week I discovered that the lens was the wrong focal length for what I wanted to shoot, and I would have ended up hating the lens in the long run. A $40 immediate investment saved me $740 and a lot of regrets. Plus, I took some great pictures during that week!

]]> By: The Blurring Lines Between Amateur and Professional Photographers ? Get Rich Slowly http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-84465 The Blurring Lines Between Amateur and Professional Photographers ? Get Rich Slowly Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:01:33 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-84465 [...] discussed photography at Get Rich Slowly before. Last spring, I offered tips on how to be a frugal photographer. Last month, Mike Panic shared an introduction to making money selling digital photos; and recently [...] [...] discussed photography at Get Rich Slowly before. Last spring, I offered tips on how to be a frugal photographer. Last month, Mike Panic shared an introduction to making money selling digital photos; and recently [...]

]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-171 J.D. Wed, 31 May 2006 20:36:41 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-171 Also from the Make blog comes this <a href="http://swannman.wordpress.com/2006/05/29/howto-diy-flash-diffuser/" rel="nofollow">do-it-yourself flash diffuser</a>. Also from the Make blog comes this do-it-yourself flash diffuser.

]]> By: Will http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-170 Will Wed, 31 May 2006 17:20:58 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/05/30/the-frugal-photographer/#comment-170 "Consider your purchases carefully. Ask yourself, “Is this a want or a need?”" But I do NEED the new Nikon 18-200mm lens... REALLY I NEED it...Really...really...ummm.... “Consider your purchases carefully. Ask yourself, “Is this a want or a need?””

But I do NEED the new Nikon 18-200mm lens…

REALLY I NEED it…Really…really…ummm….

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