Well, I kind of agree with both of you. In the 50's and early 60's, my dad built his own speaker boxes from plans in a stereo mag, and put drivers in that he bought at a hi fi shop. For what he paid, and compared to much of the crap out there that was affordable, they sounded pretty good. He also built his first stereo amp from Heathkit. Again, sounded way better than the Fleetwood mono console that we previously had.
But hell, within a couple of years it was almost unlistenable compared to affordable decent stuff that was out there. That's what happens: the serious hobbyists get into the game of building for a few friends, then marketing to the world. I bet Paul Klipsch built his first set of Klipschorns for himself... But on the whole, I agree with Collin. Since for me photography is a hobby, and likely always will be, I'm completely happy shooting with 20 year old bodies and lenses, since they serve my needs, and take damn good photos. I realize that the limiting factor is behind the viewfinder <vbg>. It's much more cost effective for me to spend my money on film, and learn to take better photos than it is to become an equipment junkie - I'll just be taking bad pics with newer equipment, is all. If I won a million dollars would I buy camera and stereo equipment? Yup. Would it be the latest and greatest high-tech auto-everything cameras and lenses? Likely not. A few lenses to extend my range at both wide and long ends. A few bodies (an LX or two?). Maybe Medium Format SLR's. A few Leica M mount lenses to throw on the CL (which I wouldn't have to sell <g>), and maybe an M7 body or two <still dreaming>. Okay, I'd buy a digital body and lenses (lowest on my priority list, to be sure). It's a hobby. It's supposed to be fun. Thanks for the reminder. cheers, frank Nick Zentena wrote: > On June 9, 2003 01:46 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Our hobbies are our toys. > > But I do agree that many have disintegreated into things to set on the > > shelf rather than build and work with. And now they're all "consultants" > > to help you develop your hobby! > > I disagree. You're just seeing the normal boom bust. When it's a "real" hobby > then you've got a certain type of person involved. It grows. It becomes > popular and you start to attract a wider group. Finally it gets hyped and > you'll see a bunch who have no real interest. Then you'll have the bust. > > I know plenty of people who setup darkrooms during the 70's and 80s. It was > faddish. Many stopped and moved onto the latest fad. Others moved further > into the thing. > > Nick -- "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer
