Wildlife photography is the most expensive genre of photography

I just realized that of all the photography I could have gravitated towards, wildlife photography is by far the most expensive one. The super telephoto lenses are ridiculously expensive. A RF 400mm f2.8 prime is $18k. A RF 600mm f4 prime is 20k, and the range topping RF 800mm 5.6 is a mind blowing 26k. These are prime lenses! you cant even zoom, you have little to no flexibility if the subject moves closer or further away.

My own 200-800mm f5.6-9 is $2500 and thats considered a “budget” wildlife lens.

Yeeesh.

If i was just a landscape and street photographer, you could get away with almost anything, even the kit lens that comes with the cameras. Same with portraits, although portrait and wedding photographers spend 3-4 thousand on a single 50mm f1.2 prime lens for that maximum subject separation and bokeh.

I guess its relative. But still, to spend the same amount on a lens as one does on a car is mind blowing. The barrier for entry into the wildlife game prevents a lot of younger photographers from joining. Yes you can buy used, but even used these lens and camera bodies are not cheap. Given the proliferation of AI, increasingly heavy handed editing, and high barrier of entry, no wonder why this hobby/profession/genre is dying.

This would have been cheaper