al lehman Loc: San jose, ca.

Get the wife to pay for it.. Seriously, it's a large expense. It's like an RV, a cabin on the lake, or a new Corvette, difficult to financially justify. The ROI is not great. I do primarily wildlife photography, and the 600 I own makes life a lot easier to get those wildlife portraits. You only get to go around one time, so enjoy it! B and H has financing through Synchrony Bank and usually interest free for 12 months or more. You might check them out. If you can find one, buy used.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

I think the Canon guy, "hit the nail on the head". Buy used. When I purchased my first Canon 5DII, the price included the L series 24-105 lens. After that, I bought an L series 17-40 wide angle, and a L series 100-400 zoom. Both of those were used. How do you save and not run a risk? Go to your closes camera store. A long time one here in St. Louis, Schillers Camera, is my go-to store. In fact, when I was looking for the 100-400, I told my salesman that I'd like to purchase used, but only a good one. When they received a 'trade in' (which is how most used departments find their "in" stock) he would look for the lens I wanted. He didn't call me on the first one, for he didn't totally trust it. But he called me on the second, since the woman brought it ... still in the new box. I gained on that. And, consider, the store offers an X-day return for full refund (I think X days was ten days), but they also offer a 90 day return for full credit toward something else. I could not loose.

I'm a big fan of Amazon, and a bigger customer than I'd like to admit, but for my camera needs, I will always go to my local store. Look for one near you. And even if you have to drive for an hour or so, it will be worth it.

djlouden Loc: Ocala, Florida

I appreciate your consternation. I feel thankful that over a few years I have been able to assemble some nice gear and yes even one of those lenses that cost $10K. Photography is an expensive hobby but needn't be a limiting one if you approach it from a reasonable perspective. Don't feel you must have those things that generally for most are surely out of reach. I feel that same way about entering the mirrorless fray full on now that I'm just about retired as I know the days of the latest and greatest new cameras will be out of reach for me too.

You don't say what you want to photograph or the gear you presently own. Knowing that would help folks in the group give you suggestions. Photography is a great adventure and for some here work too. Enjoy the ride but don't be intimidated by gear you're unable to afford.

Happy shooting

hrblaine

I neither need nor want one of those. My 70-300 is long enough for me. I realize that others may need one but why want one? Get an extender - or marry a millionaire! Or try to control your "wants"! :-)

anotherview Loc: California

Rent one.

gwcole

Exactly.

Jay Drew Loc: Boise, Id.

Hello Cheryl
If you take the advice to buy used, I advise you to not buy Nikon.
Every lens or camera purchase, for decades, I've made has been used Nikon. Accessories, mostly I bought new. Used accessories are not worth bothering with. Until about a year ago I had only bought used Nikon lenses & cameras. I have had no way of knowing whether my gear was gray market or USA. When Nikon passed their edict that they would no longer be selling parts to independent repair shops & that they would also not repair gray market equipment, it means that I (nor anyone else) could be assured that they could get their used equipment repaired.
To add insult to injury, no one can just contact Nikon USA & ask if a serial # is a USA #. Noo... You have to pay to ship the piece of gear to Nikon USA, and if it turns out to be not USA, I guess, you have to pay to return ship it unrepaired & you have an expensive doorstop. Or maybe they just destroy it or feed it to their young, for being gray market.

I feel betrayed by Nikon. Since a year ago I have started buying used Sony equipment. I don't know if any other manufacturers have as draconian measures in place. You would be wise to investigate before spending your hard earned money.

Another thing is that I have always only owned 1 camera system. In other words I wouldn't have a Nikon body & a Canon body. Or 2 Canon bodies that mount to, two different lenses systems. I feel it wastes money to have to duplicate lenses & accessories. I can take about as good pictures with any reasonably high quality body & lenses.

Ken Rockwell writes quite a bit about amount money spent vs. quality of photographs, or rather the lack of correlation between the two.
I know he's obnoxious & thinks he's larger than life, but never the less he does hit on gems of wisdom occasionally. Just take what he says w/ a grain of salt, as he does contradict himself.

I hope this might help, Jay

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Look in the used section at BnH. There are some good lenses there.

BnH has a one year no interest card. But if you don’t get it paid off on time you will get hit with the 29% interest charges from date of purchase.

You are also going to want a good tripod and a good gimbal head. So add another $1500 or so.

Doc Mck Loc: Terrell,Texas

I bought a used Sigma 150-600 DG OS HSM Contemporary on eBay for $749.99. It was in vintage condition. Wonderful lens.

anotherview Loc: California

I had no idea that Nikon "passed their edict that they would no longer be selling parts to independent repair shops." This move shuts down support for its products by other means. Maybe it's a smart business decision. Nikon users may differ.

neilrazdan

Start a "Go Fund Me"... and let people pay for it.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Actually his question was about an [b[expensive[/b] lens. It happened to be long.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Buy the lens BEFORE the divorce! That way you can get in the settlement costing as used!

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

The 600mm (the 12,000 lens in the OP's example [the 400mm 5.6 is not that much while the 2.8 is])) rents for $400.00 for 7 days. In 30 weeks you will have paid $12,000 and then have to send it back. If you are a pro, a rental is deductible, if not, the rental is lost money.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I don't, I generally buy used and I don't have any massively long focal lengths. The most I have ever paid for a lens was a new (my first "digital" lens) $449 for a 16-50 mm f/2.8 fancy Zoom lens.