Over the last five years I’ve spent upwards of $35,000 on camera gear, and honestly… it’s a little depressing to say out loud. In this video I break down where that money actually went—cameras, lenses, drones, audio, filters, bags, lighting, and all the random “other” stuff that adds up way faster than you think. I also talk through what was worth it, what I barely used, and the stuff I straight-up regret buying. The biggest lessons: from a photo perspective, most cameras are totally fine—my cheap Nikon D3500 took great photos, it just took awful video. The real decisions are how much you care about video, which ecosystem you’re buying into (because lenses lock you in), and whether you’re going crop sensor or full frame (don’t buy into the hype—most people don’t need full frame). On lenses, my most used is still a 24–70, and I’m a huge believer in third-party glass like Sigma and Tamron. I also cover gear I love (Mini 4 Pro, SM7B, my GVM light) and gear I don’t need (a gimbal, a teleprompter, and a couple lenses that didn’t fit how I shoot).