rdfarr Loc: Floridian living in AL

I wouldn't. It's more the photographer than the camera.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

A camera is just a platform for a lens and has adjustment buttons, knobs, and levers. So no.

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

Buy one box for $5ooo.oo? I would rather have second best and a ton of attachments!

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

Hi, Some may notice the "No I would not" and that a double negative makes it positive :~) however I fully agree with what you really mean.
Anyone who drops $5K on a camera - without a blink - has a serious case of GAS.
.

pendennis

Just to be a bit curmudgeonly on the subject, plunking down $5k without thinking usually doesn't happen. Even when "plunking down" any amount, we've usually done some research, either intentionally, looking at hard data, or using soft data from our experiences. About a year and a half ago, I bought both a D500 and a D750, both without giving it a lot of thought. I'd been using a D200, had several lenses for the format, but I also had a lot of FX lenses. No point in not taking advantage of the inventory, so the D750 was pretty much a no-brainer.

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

Damn you sound like my English Major GF, she is always correcting my true American English!

htbrown Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

Only if I wanted a fast divorce...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I would, if I had a way to recoup the investment by doing something with that camera that my customers wanted, that I could NOT do with a lesser camera.

In other words, that would be a HIGHLY unlikely purchase for me.

I've always been a nickel squeezer, and someone who makes purchases for the long term, and for long term versatility. I HATE spending money on things that never get used, or never work, or don't do what their creators say they will do. And I can't stand paying for something that won't improve the quality of the product, the efficiency of the process, turnaround time, and customer satisfaction. When I buy things that cost over $300, I tend to study all my options, compare available devices, and evaluate what the device will do for me at the margins.

That said, I do understand paradigm shifts. I helped a BIG shift happen at a major lab. We decided to dump film and optical printing processes as soon as each technology matured. That meant putting millions and millions of dollars worth of printers, processors, and cameras in the recycle bins! We actually bought up some of our competitors who waited too long to do that. But then our entire industry (school portrait photography) got "paradigm shifted" by the confluence of the Internet, digital cameras in our customers' hands, photo sharing sites, and social media. Our parent company sold our division to Lifetouch. Now THEIR market is shrinking. They've bought up most of their competitors, but the demand is sinking.

Net result, if you NEED something, and can clearly justify its purchase, get it. But analyze your situation. Will it pay off down the road, or at least do something satisfying, if it's a personal decision?

Keith Killam

First, I would Have To HAVE an extra $5000 of liquid assets to Spend on a camera. ;-) <K>

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I have no problem at all spending other people's money. As I did some figuring on my camera expenses over the years. In 1968,I got a brand new Exakta vx1000 and 3 Zeiss lenses and a Gossen light meter. That was many years of saveing Christmas money, mowing yards, and working part time at F. W. Woolworth. I recently plunked down the equivalent amount of money for a Sony a99ll. I have gotten more bang for my buck with the Sony a99ll. Yet it was still hard to spend the equivalent amount of money for my camera. Time marches on. Get what you want today because tomorrow will bring something newer and better. Happy Shooting

aaciolkowski Loc: Sugar Grove Illinois

If I added up the amount of money I have spent on my many hobbies I have had I wouldn't have been active in any one of them.
All I know they were expensive.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

If it is the camera I really want, of course!

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

I would if I were a pro. I would hope to recoup some of the cost through my work. At this stage of my life the cameras are getting heavy for my back so I am beginning to look at mirrorless options which aren't that high. I am always tempted by the latest and greatest; must now think about hubby's retirement though and being a bit more frugal.

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

Hi,
re: "plunking down $5k without thinking usually doesn't happen"
I agree with you there - however the question specified "without blinking twice".

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

It all depends on how deep your pockets are.