Why do people who aren't photographers by profession buy very expensive cameras?

I'm an avid photographer, and I have bought 2 expensive cameras over the years. At the moment I use them for landscaping photos, which is my current job, and a good camera really helps with the intricate details of my job. The before and after shots need to be perfect, and not any old camera will do. I find that I take better pictures with my camera, it cost me about $300. I got a cheap digital camera one day and found the quality to be far poorer than with the good camera I bought, so I would never use it, not even for hobby photos. I've taken a lot of photos over the years, I have them up online in various places, and on my hard drive, they are good for a portfolio to get into professional photography. I'm looking to upgrade yet again, but right now I can't afford it, the camera I'm looking at getting is almost $600, but is one of the best on the current market, and would be much better for my job as well. I did my research prior to buying my cameras, and I found that the cheaper ones didn't suit my needs. If I need a high zoom camera, the cheaper ones don't have that quality. Other people seem to think that expensive cameras are just better because they cost more.

yes mostly because of thier status symbol but some people take this as a hobby and they have just started out with a high-end camera.

Because mankind are materialistic monkeys who believe they can do everything but in fact fail on so many levels. Ergo: Good question.

Because they're better than the cheaper ones of course :-) I'm not professional, very keen amateur and I've made some money on it, which I know I wouldn't have made had I gone for a cheaper lens I wouldn't have been able to take them. Some are gadget freaks of course, and there's a lot of people around with expensieve cameras they can't use, but there's also quite a few that can use all the extras they pay for despite not being professionals.

I noticed that too! Just because they have an expensive dslr, they feel as though they are pro photographer! But when you look at their photos, it is clear to see it is very amateur. Most of them thought it will be just as easy as a point and shoot camera. The cameras being sold usually comes with a free seminar on how to use it, but it is very basic.

That's simple! every hobbies "wannabe" a photografer want's to get PRO in just hours and this take time and practice. I have an old digital point and shoot camera with mpeg video 640 x 480 and 3mp. I take a lot of photos and I sold just a dozen of them. Don't fool yourself with big cameras if you don't know how to use a point and shoot camera. Practice first!!! good luck!!!

I have met several people who buy expensive cameras hoping to take great pictures. In many cases the camera makes very little difference in the pictures you take./ One gentleman spent over $2500 on a set up to take sports photos of his grandson only to find that he was not getting good shots. I was taking action shots at the time and he asked my what my "secret" was to getting such good photos. I told him I studied the game and the players. I knew how they played and when to anticipate a shot. I also told him that I took about 200 shots per game to get 8-10 good shots. He did not want to make that kind of investment in trying to get a good shot. At the time my camera set up cost me about $700.

It is your interest or your passion to photography that leads you to buy those expensive high end dslr’s now a days. You may not be a professional photographer, but once you get hooked in this addicting hobby contemplating on buying a high end camera is always on road. It’s the camera features and capabilities that most photographers are after to be it professional or just plain hobbyist.

They have an urge to become a photagrapher....may be their urge may turn into hobby and they turn out to be good photographers in future.