Coin(S) Or Camera

I would go for a less expensive camera and buy some coins also! There are some great point and shoot cameras that will take quality pictures of coins. A decent copy stand or tripod, some practice and I think just about any camera will take a quality shot.

Realistically? Take half of it, duplicate my setup, and spend the rest on one or two key coins. My 350D is now $484 from my usual dealer, including the 18-55 kit lens. The XTi (400D) is $130 more, for what amounts to negligible improvements. The equivalent 40D is $1500, and the 100mm Macro is about $435 either way. Unless you're an experienced SLR photographer, it will take you two or three years to begin stretching even the 350D's limits, if at all. Yes, the 40D is a better camera, but those differences are unlikely to be relevant to an "average" photographer. Not to mention, you'll be a lot less heartbroken if it gets stolen or dropped.

No...I have no intentions of becoming a professional photographer, so I know I really don't need the 40D. The reviews of it, though, are so good! I suppose the XT or XTi will suffice.

In the old days, one could buy a high end camera, and it would retain some value. Technology didn't change that fast, and a pro-level camera was rugged and reliable. Today, with ever-improving technology, you can buy a lot more camera for the money (in some ways) but it seems to be replaced by even better equipment in just a couple of years. (The computer syndrome, I suppose.)

I confess that I have always had a penchant for buying "better" than I could really justify, whether it has been cameras, cars or coins. My only redeeming feature is that I've always paid off my loans first, and only bought "toys" with cash that wasn't otherwise committed to retirement, etc.

Well...I'll just have to think about it some more. (That's at least half the fun...debating with myself what to buy. In the end, I often end up buying nothing because I can't decide!) LOL