SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Talk about expensive "toys" ... Here's a link to my recent thread about some very specialized, and costly photographic equipment:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-70666-1.html

deej

Heh Robbie please click quote so we know who your posting a reply too! :thumbup: your getting me all confused reading your replies! Not slamming you just trying to help you.

LGilbert Loc: Earth

What is that bug??? Do you have a pic of the whole creature?

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

to some a $2,000,000.00 rolls would be a toy,don't sweat it.

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

This is a good outlook. I do depend on my gear to make a living but saying that if I order a new item I get excited for it to arrive and then I can't wait to play with it when it does get here. I will test it out, read the manual over and over and bits of packaging are everywhere and I sulk if the batteries are not included or pre charged just like christmas morning. Also for me I am lucky to be in a very low percentage of people that even though I am working I really love my job as it is something I have such a passion for.

Therefore I am playing and I am seriously working hard but I would still call it a new toy.

stopmedown1 Loc: England UK

Robbie,
It's just the master of all understatements when you say to a friend "Look at my new toy" then you show your friend your 500mp camera with a 10,000 mm lens with a stabiliser that lets you take handheld shots at 5 seconds exposure. It's a fun thing, an exageration of the truth, and in a way it's a bit of showing off. I bet my toys are better than your toys matey :-)

Bruno Loc: Northwest UK

I am 68 and I agree with the many people on here who have covered it well by saying ...if you don't need it to earn a living then it is a toy (of sorts)....I agree with that statement, I have several cameras, numerous lenses and loads and loads of equipment such as macro gear, photo stands for copying, flash equipment, studio lighting, backdrop fabrics etc........they are ALL toys to me, I certainly don't need them to make a living but I need them to enhance my life and that is exactly what it does. I love my toys, they are the things that makes my retirement so enjoyable. I have other non photographic bits of equipment and they are all toys too. I wake up each morning with anticipation and excitement and after my breakfast I decide which of my toys I will play with that day. I probably have far too many toys but they are the rewards of a life's work. My latest "toy" is a Tokina 11-16 wide angle lens that I bought for me as a early birthday present. I play with this new toy every day at the moment, I have no doubt that another toy will be just as welcome.

I am thankful and appreciative, plus I feel very privileged.
My profile signature says it all.

krispix Loc: London - UK

I think the definition lies in whether the equipment in question is necessary for you to earn a living or survive from day to day. My car is 'Equipment' because I need to get to work each day, but the Sat-Nav, Air-Con, CD-Changer, Cruise Control and cup-holder are all 'Toys'. Similarly, I don't need my cameras to earn a living (it's a long time since they made them robust enough to hammer nails in!), so they too are 'Toys'. But, for my Pro Photographer friends it's nearly all 'Equipment'
Horses for Courses.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nope, no toys for me - not for the past 58 years, or so.

sudzmonn Loc: here , there , everywhere

I know my "TOYS" cost a lot , so I want to take real good care of them !

Blake Loc: Alfred NY

Robbie,

I'm am younger than you. I grew up with an industrial pattern maker. He taught the value of good tools and precision measuring devices. However, to me I sometimes refer to my camera stuff as toys. I also refer to the fire engine that I ride for work as one of my toys as well. So I guess it to whom I'm talking to and how technical I am at the time.

Blake

waterbug49307 Loc: All over, currently Big Rapids Michigan

My boy toy is 62 and still EYE CANDY to me!

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Another perspective is that toys, in the "grand" scheme of things could be considered trivial - they're "so what?". The photographic stuff we all have is, at least for me, certainly not trivial and are something to take pride in.
That said, I tend to agree with "the difference between the men and the boys is the price if their toys" sort of in the "aw shucks" way of things

Sweet Willie Loc: Texas

Robbie,
I am a retired Toolmaker. Precision machinery is what I had to run to earn
a living. Toys are things that are plugged into your heart. I chose a used Canon
40D over a new Rebel because it had the heft of a profession instrument. When I
retired my tools weighed 748 pounds. I know about tools and toys.
Sweet Willie

Graham1949 Loc: Nottingham, England.

Hi Robby,
I too am in my early 60's NS agree with your comments 100%.
Graham.