While we seem to be in wistful reminiscence mode, I thought to look again at
my timeline of camera ownership. And then, by chance I cam across a file of
old receipts and was able to tie in the 'investment' (whether my own cash,
or in the form of gifts from family) I have made over the years in new photo
equipment. This is what I came up with:
Date Camera Cost then / = 2003 GBP / = 2003 USD
1961 VP Twin GBP 0.2 / GBP 3 / USD 5 (Estimated
original cost)
1964 Kodak Instamatic 100 GBP 5 / GBP 60 / USD110
1971 Zenit E 50/3.5 GBP 30 / GBP270 / USD480
1972 Gossen Polysix meter GBP 13 / GBP110 / USD200
1972 Soligor 28/2.8 GBP 25 / GBP200 / USD350
1973 Soligor 105/2.8 GBP 18 / GBP140 / USD250
1980 OM-10 + 50/1.8 GBP140 / GBP380 / USD680
1980 OM fit extension tubes GBP 20 / GBP 50 / USD 90
1981 Tamron SP 35-80/2.8-3.8 GBP155 / GBP370 / USD670
OK, I will stop there, you get the idea (besides which almost all my
remaining gear has been bought used).
There are limitations to the analysis, using UK RPI as the inflator is
debatable, and using $1.80=GBP1 is purely arbitrary. But even so, just look
at the comparatives in 2003 values! It's hard to credit how much I put into
a Zenit with two decidedly ordinary Soligor preset lenses. And which was
the best investment? Oddly enough, (as you can see) it would probably have
been the VP Twin, if I still had it (but here is someone who does:
http://tinyurl.com/2jdez) closely followed by the extension tubes (which I
do still have, any takers?).
The other lesson to be drawn, of course, is that (for example) the Zuiko
35-80 is comparatively far more affordable than we all thought. There, that
makes me feel much better!
Piers
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