Let's face it, photography is an expensive hobby, most especially if you own a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, digital or film. The cost of a good lens alone, most often that not, exceeds that of the camera body. This is further aggravated with what some photographers call, “gear acquisition syndrome,” the never-ending process of acquiring the latest and/or the best camera gears. This process, if left unchecked, will definitely leave a big hole in your bank account.

I also experienced the same thing and most often than not, the urge to buy this lens or that new flash is very strong. But luckily, due to financial priorities, I was “forced” to be more creative with my gears and was able to discover gems and workarounds where I got the same functionality for 1/10 th of the cost if I bought the real deal. In this regard, I would like to share some of these gems and workarounds which I got from friends and the Web.

•  Hidalgo , Manila
This is the place to visit if you want to get cameras and accessories at least 10% cheaper that those found in malls and these have local warranties mind you. For example, I still find Canon 350Ds in some malls being sold for around 42,000. In Hidalgo camera shops, you can get this now for as low as 35,000 now that the Canon 400D has come out (which by the way is selling for around 46,000).

There is a catch though. Being located in the heart of Manila near the Quiapo Church and SM Manila, one needs to be very careful from pickpockets and robbers. But if you know your way around in this area and you are street smart so to speak, the benefits far outweigh the risks. For the faint of heart, you can call some of the Hidalgo shops and let them deliver to your address the item you want to buy. You need to deposit though the cash amount in their bank accounts before they deliver to you the item.

•  Be a member of a popular local photography forum
One of the most popular local photography mailing lists is Pinoy Photography or (Pipho for short). This forum has a very active For Sale section. Some members who are bitten by the “upgrade bug” sell their cameras or lenses 30% lower than the acquisition price even if for example, the camera or lens is only less than one year old. This is most prominent if a new model comes out in the market. In fact, I look here first if I want to buy something before considering getting a brand new item.

As a warning though, do your homework first in checking the background of the seller to ensure getting quality and worry-free items. The more posts the seller made and the higher number of posts he/she makes per day are two of the critical criteria to look at in checking the seller's background. Another important criterion is if the person already has a photo gallery where you can check the shots he/she made.

•  Do-It-Yourself
There are a lot of good-natured people out there who shared their secrets on the Web on how to create camera accessories from common materials. I am listing below some of these sites and tips which I found very useful and handy if ever you that specific accessory.
*Free Lens Hood
*Lightbox (for Product Photography)
*Flash Softbox
*Waterproof Camera Enclosure

I hope that with these budget tips, you will not be breaking the piggy bank so to speak in order to get that gear you have been dreaming. In the end, as a reminder, the point of all of these gear acquisitions is not to own the latest and the best and keep up with the Joneses but to bring us nearer to that point of getting that much desired perfect shot. No one will know if that shot has been acquired with a brand new item or a DIY or a used one. For the viewers, it will be just that, a perfect shot.