Is a Camera an Investment?

I am faced with another personal challenge. I would like your opinion. As you may know, I am a photographer without a camera, but I am not in debt. Which is more important? My question for myself is do I want to focus on my photography more? Or wait 1 to 2 years of saving before I step back into photography again?

I absolutely miss being able to go out and do a photo shoot or just do photography anytime I want. I consider myself a photographer, but how can I be a photographer without taking ANY photographs?

If I want to put focus on my photography. I would want to get a camera better or equal to my previous gear. I was a Nikon guy shooting with a D300, a great camera. I had a few lenses, but I kept my wide angle lens on my camera 90% of the time.

I sold all of my Nikon gear to move back over to Canon. No specific reason, except to please my friends, and be able to borrow lenses from my friends. To me, it will save me money in the long run, and I should essentially end up with new and better, and less gear than what I had before.

I am currently out of debt, and I am content with life, but if I save it will take me about 2 years saving $250 a month. Is that too long to wait for the camera I want? I could just get a cheaper camera, and save some money and stay out of debt until I can bring in some money with photography. I guess that would be a good idea too. But, if I want to take photography seriously, shouldn't I get some serious equipment?

The camera I want (Canon 5D Mark II) versus a cheaper camera. The benefits to the 5D would be the video, and the 21MP sensor. If I was to get involved with fine art photography, the sensor would be amazing for print. Especially large prints! But, a cheaper Canon 40D would save me thousands, wouldn't be able to do 1080p HD video, has a small sensor (1.6 crop), and less megapixels by half. Sure. I could make great use of it. Eventually it would be nice to have a backup camera, but with a full size sensor would be best.

I have no money saved so far for a new camera. Its hard to make money in photography without a camera. I have a full time job, but a have a lot of free time in the evenings and weekend. I could spend just under $2000 with a more consumer camera, or around $4000 for exactly what I want. I have to my name access to money through the credit union to all the money I need, with a 7.5% APR. So about $20 a month?

So this is what I am thinking through these days. Am I ready to take my photography to the next level? Should I be a photographer at all? Or just make it more of a hobby? Is it a risk to go full out? Or could I raise $200 a month with photography?

It just might be time to take it to A WHOLE 'NOTHER LEVEL! Or... Just a normal camera... :-)