How the prices really are!

[ricktas]

As we reflect back about our photography purchases, and look at the newly released gear, it is often lamented how expensive gear has become.

So here is a little reminder.

Way back in the dark ages of August 2006, a Nikon D70 kit was selling for $1998.70 inc. GST at Vanbar's in Melbourne. The D70 offered : 6.1 Megapixel CCD, 30 - 1/8000 sec, 200-1600 ISO. The 'kit' contained the D70 and the AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 len. Yep all that for $1998.70 (incl GST).

Today $1998.00 would get you a Nikon D7000+18-105VR,55-300VR KIT. The Nikon D7000 offers 16.2MP CMOS, ISO 100-25,600 and 30 - 1/8000th sec.

I just found it interesting doing the price comparison from August 2006 to today.

[Kerrie]

Yep. Compare a DVD player 2000 to now......very different. Seems patience is good for the wallet !

[I @ M]

I think it is one compelling reason to never grumble about "everyone being a photographer" cause "they" are the ones buying large numbers of cameras which flows on to us being able to buy goods cheaper.

I like it that way. :)

[Bennymiata]

Technology has certainly have come down in price.

WhenI bought my forst flat screen TV, a 40" Fujitsu, which was about the best screen I could find at the time, about 10 years ago, it cost me over $12K with hard bargaining.
A year or so ago, I got a new Samsung 46" 3D Series 8000 with all the bells and whistles for just $1550 delivered and its picture quality is just so much better than the Fujitsu!

[Roosta]

Use your example there Rick, just goes to show the value of good glass, the D70, in all regards 'Back in the Day' was the hobby top ender, add good glass, there you go.
The new D7000 + to average bits of glass, most if not all will eventually ditch the glass and go for a better F stop, maybe third party to keep the cost down, but never the less, better glass.

I just helped a friend buy his new setup, he chose Canon, by feel and comfort for him (600 Body) from/over the rest of the makers, but I convinved him to get 1 good lens rather than the twin lens kit, Body alone (Grey) was $180.00 cheaper then the twin lens kit, says something if you ask me, but his neighbour has the Canon kit lenses, so he tried it and was blown away (amazing I here you say) at the IQ difference.

The kits lenses are just a sweetner to get you in, IMO, but the cost is all relitive to the Body and technology. We see this through all the electronic gizmos..

Our two favs are more than likely wondering how to squeeze a bit more ISO out and slightly more information gathering technology out of the respective black boxes, to be in the fore-front of one another, it just goes on and on.

The bloke/gal that invented the wheel should have put a patent on it, it hasn't changed, but what we do with it has. A bit like the 'Box Brownie' to our nowadays gismo/feature packed bodies, that some will still leave in 'P' just to shoot the kids in the park. It's all relative in the end.

Enough rambling for now.

[Roosta]

Seems patience is good for the wallet !

!!!GOLD!!!