SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I think I read every day that shooting digital is FREE.
If it's so free, why do you have $10,000 wrapped up in it.
So many say, "film is so expensive, I'll never go back..., digital is FREE!!!!".
So how free IS digi...., let's take a look!!!

With film, I had probably a total of $750 tied up in a Canon T-90 and maybe 3 lenses!! I did my own black and white and sent in and paid for the color rolls.
I even had an old 4x5 with a total of probably $150 including holders and all.

So, to shoot digi, wow, it IS free..., almost.
Let's see....,
2 bodies, $3500
Previous digi cameras, $500
Computer and monitor, $1300
Extra batteries, $150
8 memory cards, maybe $250
A couple external drives(3), $250
Two printers, $1200
Past ink, $500
Software, PS and LR, $300
Courses, $1000
Good thing I'm a cheapskate!!!
That's only about $9000!!!
I'm gonna throw a lens in just to make it an even TEN GRAND!!!
I have not had to upgrade any lenses because of too many pixels, so I wont count lenses.
If you moved to say a D800 and had to get the trilogy as a result, you need to count those!!
$10,000 could buy a lot of film and developing!!! :lol: :lol:

So geeezzz, let's see just how free shooting digi is for you?!?!

Don't forget to count all the previous digital cameras, obsolete computers, monitors, laptops, printers, ink and lenses purchased as a result of digi and any courses you've paid to learn digi!!
Digi really IS FREE(almost)!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
SS

billydponder Loc: Northeast Texas

I really enjoyed you comments.

It sounds like me.

We should be aware of any thing free.

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

Yes there is a difference, when I shot film on vacation it meant 1 to 2 rolls 24 exp or maybe 36 exp. with about 1/3 of the shots being great the rest average to poor quality many under exposed.

Now: Just came back from a 10 day bus tour of the southwest took almost 1700 pictures = (46+ rolls of 36 exp)

I couldn't then or even now afford that much film or the cost to have it printed and developed. My digital camera is much cheaper and more fun to use. Enjoying the hobby

tdekany Loc: Oregon

SS - you can always sell you equipment and purchase something for 1/2 the value. SS - I took a dozen pictures while waiting for my wife: cost me $$$ 000. Once you have your equipment it is free. Although you are right. Nothing is free not even air. I have to breath to use it. SS, you are always right.

Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

Kinda like getting a 'free' dog.

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

I have gotten five of my 8 dogs for free, 4 poms and 1 lhasa-apso. All were loved.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I agree. Once you pro-rate prices between now and then, consider the equipment the base investment, its cheaper per shot now. I shoot much more now than I ever did with film.

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Did they come with food, grooming, shots, and other trips to the vet included? I know someone that spent over $450.00 on a "free" dog before she even got it home.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

None of us would shoot as much as we do if we had to buy film and pay to develop it or get it developed.
I had computers, monitors and printers before I ever took a serious interest in digital 4 or 5 yrs ago.
Nobody paid for books or lessons in the days of film?
When you factor in real dollar costs between now and the days of film I doubt you will find much difference. Besides, nobody I know of said that digital was free, or even cheap, but the digital "film" sure is, even if you want to argue the cost of CF and SD cards. I've never heard of anyone erasing a roll a film and putting it back in the camera to take more photos.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

I hear what you are saying, BUT, your stated costs were then, not now. A brand new Corvette in 1967 was just under $5,000.00, but today.....

And what about the costs for film and developing by a processor and your chemicals and dark room set up? And of course your time.

Digital to me IS not free, but I bet it works out cheaper in the long run.

I did not develop myself, but shot slides... in 1970 dollars that would put me at about $2,500.00 just for my current library of images....and that is 1970 dollars....in 2014 dollars that would be $15,253.61 for developing costs alone based on 1970 costs of $3.00 per tray of 36 slides film - and I am pretty sure that was low.

Of course there is the added cost per roll of film as well.

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

No they all came with vet cost down the road shots, teeth cleaning ect.... one needed a bone biopsy ($2000 ) lived another 4 months. one needed rings placed in her trachea ( $1500).

But the companionship and love and all the photo ops, priceless

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

My neighbor adopted one that required a pacemaker and $450 a month in contiuing meds.
(The local university veternary lab department paid for the installation.)
Shop carefully.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Tell us your shutter count. Then we can compare our apples and pumpkins.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

Learning to shoot my D800 i blew 36000 images trough the lens.
34000 of them were garbage
Of the remaining 2000, i was able to see the side by side differences and trash another 1500.
500 were keepers.

My yield per shutter press is 1/2 of what it was with film but the quality is better.
If i could afford a computer and software for PP work i could probably improve that yield.
For me that makes digital free.

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Of that I have no doubt,
I was just expanding on the original thought that nothing free is actually free.