You think gear is expensive now?

[Steve Hamley]

Michael,

Interesting,thanks for posting.

Cheers, Steve

[Drew Bedo]

In 1978 I bought a Leica M-3 body for $250. In the mid to late 90s these were trading at ~ $1000! Today its something like $500 or less.

There will come a time when our grandchildren will throw these things into the re-cycle bin.

[Ben Syverson]

An M3 will still be a great tool even after Kodak stops making film... B&W film will never truly go away.

The lenses, on the other hand, have for the most part increased in value.

[Jim Andrada]

Went to my 50th college reunion a few months ago. Someone joked that we had to pay more for the week than we had paid for a year's tuition which has gone from around $1k to around $60k

[eddie]

Look at it this way. A top of the line digital SLR camera with a medium long fast lens will run you more than $5k easily. And d not forget then u need a computer to access the images. Jow much will that cost?

[E. von Hoegh]

Look at it this way. A top of the line digital SLR camera with a medium long fast lens will run you more than $5k easily. And d not forget then u need a computer to access the images. Jow much will that cost?

Don't forget a printer if you want prints, software, and the learning curve. I looked into the cost of replacing my not-huge 35mm outfit with a DSLR of comparable quality, lenses, plus all the other neccesary equipment. The cost is comparable to a new car. I have less than $1000 tied up in my Nikon gear.

[DrTang]

and what will these digital wonders be worth in 10 or 20 years?

is anyone even 'collecting' digital camera stuff like they do film camera stuff?

there are only a couple I could name that might be worth putting away.. and certainly not for use

[E. von Hoegh]

In 1978 I bought a Leica M-3 body for $250. In the mid to late 90s these were trading at ~ $1000! Today its something like $500 or less.

There will come a time when our grandchildren will throw these things into the re-cycle bin.

I bought a clean M3 ds with a 50mm Summarit and leather case for $200 in 1987 or 88.

[Bob Salomon]

Don't forget a printer if you want prints, software, and the learning curve. I looked into the cost of replacing my not-huge 35mm outfit with a DSLR of comparable quality, lenses, plus all the other neccesary equipment. The cost is comparable to a new car. I have less than $1000 tied up in my Nikon gear.

What about your enlarger, developing tanks, paper, chemistry, enlarger lenses, safe light, timers, thermometers, etc.?

[E. von Hoegh]

What about your enlarger, developing tanks, paper, chemistry, enlarger lenses, safe light, timers, thermometers, etc.?

I use a D2 Omega for everything up to 4x5. The $1000 includes the 35mm specific darkroom stuff - a lens, negative carrier, some tanks.