This is an expensive passion

[sparkie]

Is it just me, or is everyone loaded? Quite alot of people in this forum seem to have endlessly deep money bins, as they have several M's and countless lenses. Not to mention the travelling for those that globe-trot and obviously the film and processing & printing on top. For the pro photogs, I can understand as they have a good charge out for their assignments and it's their livelihood. For the rest of us I assume its a real passion, and I sometimes am grateful I don't have too much other financial commitments (eg. like a wife or kids) which can circumvent my spending on Leica equipment and travelling. But I sometimes wonder, because it can be expensively addictive. How do some of you afford it? Maybe I need to switch careers or clue up on some high-earning investment tips which can fund my hobby.

[sparkie]

PS. Point Break comes to mind..fantasy, pure fantasy!

[bobtodrick]

I save mainly on auto expenses. Having a background in heavy duty

mechanaics (I used to work on bulldozers and the such) I am confident

buying used vehicles. So, for example, 3 years ago I bought a 6 year

old VW Jetta, paid $7000.00 (Canadian) cash, and don't have a monthly

payment or lease payment. It's a great car and I'd rather pump that

$300-$400 a month into cameras and other stuff............

[___9]

I'm not loaded, I just steal all my equipment. As my uncle once

told me, "Free is the best price."

[jeremyt]

salon.com once did an article called "The 7 Habits of Highly Creative

People" (spoofing a book called "the 7 habits of highly successful

people"). One of those habits was DEBT. I dont know if i'm highly

creative, but i DO know that i've at least mastered one of the seven

habits!

 

<p>

 

-jeremyT, lifeinblue.com

[giles_poilu]

Sparkie - relax, buy old (but certainly better built) equipment. I

currently use an M4P (£600) and a 3rd generation 35mm Summicron

(£325). That is ALL you need to enjoy the Leica experience. So many

people seem to have to have the latest TTL body, four lenses, grips,

motors etc. They must spend more time changing lenses than taking

photos. The M way is simplicity - one body, one lens. Revel in the

perfection and versatility that this combination allows.

[jeff voorhees]

Sparkie-

 

<p>

 

I agree with Giles. One body, one lens, usually one film. Keep

things simple, and not just in photography either. Can you imagine

how many "white elephants" sit neglected on shelves all over the

world?

 

<p>

 

The only beneficiaries here are the makers of the elephants, not the

keepers thereof. Aside from the philosophical crap, keeping your gear

simple will make you a better photographer, I believe.

[charles_c._stirk_jr.]

I have done very well finding very good deals on used Leica gear

. It is out there just be paciant , and stop in at every camera shop

you come acrossed , and be up on how to check out older

equipment .

[kaiblanke]

Sparkie,

<p>

Leica equipment isn't that expensive, given the case that you buy the

used equipment from those people who invest tons of money to get the

newest lenses. Used lenses usually offer more than most Leica

photographers can bear ;-) Only then I'd bother upgrading them.

<p>

I currently have 3 nice lenses for my Leica and a body which didn't

cost me too much: A Summaron 35/2.8, a Hexanon 50/2 and a Elmar-C

90/4 together with a M2 did cost me at about 1000 US$. All very fine

performers, and who said it has to be the fastest glass ? I'd rather

invest in a small tabletop tripod and spend some time looking for

better-lit objects.

<p>

OTOH you pay 200$ for monthly golf club membership in Germany, so why

not buy a Leica lens every year, some film and stop golfing ?

<p>

Kai

[jackflesher]

Sparkie:

 

<p>

 

While Leica photography seems like a wealthy person's folly, I think

it boils down more to ones priorities...

 

<p>

 

I mostly buy used camera equipment like others have mentioned. I am

not afraid to try out different high-end equipment, because if it was

bought right used, it is generally easy to sell it without loss.

(Fortunately my wife understands this too, and gives me broad leeway

in making these transactions!) I do not own a Porche, Mercedes, BMW

or other expensive car. We eat at home primarily, and dine out

occasionally. I don't gamble, do drugs, or drink excessively --

although when I do drink, it is quality stuff. I am not a

philanderer. Nor do I need to visit a therapist once a week to keep

my sanity, as photography IS my therapy as well as my passion.

Perhaps this is also my justification for partaking in it to excess,

but I do not spend my hard-earned money frivolously on other luxury

items; my priority is photography.

[mike dixon]

How I afford Leicas: 1) drive an 18-year-old car on which I do most of

the repairs/maintenance, 2) stay single, 3) live in a modest apartment

(great neighborhood, though), 4) very seldom eat out, and 5) only buy

used (generally "user" grade) equipment. And I'm still constantly

broke. . .

[marke_gilbert]

I agree with several of the other posters-- I actually got into

photography as an alternative to my previous hobby-- gun collecting.

I figured photography would be less expensive, and I would able to do

it anywhere, whenever I wanted. I was half right.

I have gone through a lot of equipment over the last few years, but

enjoyed doing so. I have had no problem going with used equipment,

and being patient while looking for what I want. I have also used the

same strategy I used when collecting guns-- when I come across a

really exceptional deal, I will take it-- even if it is on a piece of

equipment I may not need. I then trade or sell, and slowly work my

way toward something I may need. But the process is something that I

enjoy as well.

I have tried different systems, found I didnt like them, and

suffered no loss. Im just now at the point of thinking "less is more"

and started divesting myself of a lot of stuff. The deals are out

there, it just takes patience. Besides, camera can only hold one lens

at a time.

Best,

[douglas k.]

A famous economist once said "There's no accounting for taste," and he

was right. Every individual has different priorities, as well as

different budget constraints, and so some of us end up using Leicas,

some using Nikons, while some own Porsches, some spend lots of money

on wine, etc.

[bob haight]

I think the key here is most people are not spending inordinate

amounts of money on gear. If you use what you buy, regularly,

however, the price is well worth it. In the long run buy quality and

you save money is an old adage still true. The hidden savings is most

people here are taking pictures or trying to find out how to do it

better and that, apparently, just does not leave enough time to

fritter the money away on fast cars, wild women, lavish meals and

drink. Best regards.

[margaret]

I don't have a license, so have never driven and only my husband has

a car. I bought my M6 a year ago, having decided to upgrade from a

Minolta HiMatic 11, a range finder that was made in 1969, and with

which I was perfectly happy until I started to do black and white.

One camera, one lens, with luck and a year of hard work and saving a

second before Christmas, a 28mm. Black and white film, access to a

dark room, developing and printing myself, and using this treasure

the M6, it has to be a passion, and it is. Don't ski, sail, golf,

ride horses, drive cars, fast or otherwise, or many of the other

things that are "holes you pour money into". All right, good wine,

but that is a local product here. ;-) How do I afford it? With great

care and a lot of love.

[george3]

I've bought CLEAN used gear in Both Leica and Rolliflex(TLR) for many

years. If you do this, and keep in pretty much the condition you got

it, you can't go wrong. Chances are it will appreciate in value. One

good strategy is to get to know a few of those people who always MUST

have the latest, newest, spiffiest, and trade it every year or so

(but who seem to take few photos). Currently I have 5 Leica M bodies,

all pretty much "mint", the last (and most expensive) one bought in

the late 70's for $275. Personally I favor cameras that don't need

batteries, and don't consider the newer "features" worth the

aggravation of depending on the battery.

[mike dixon]

Hey!! Who says wild women are a waste of money?!?<P>

<img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/andreacol11.jpg"><P>

sorry, couldn't resist . . . ; )

[john_chan2]

Most of my equipment was purchased used. Its amazing. Once new

equipment leaves the showroom floor it depreciates at least 30% on the

spot. I only have 1 ASPH lens (the 24 which is quite unpopular

compared to the 21 so it was easy to acquire at a good price) and all

my other lenses are used previous generation lenses. I don't feel to

need to own the latest and the greatest in terms of Leica gear (and in

retrospect I wish I had the older M6 (non ttl) bodies) because there

are limits as to how well I can imitate a tripod.

 

<p>

 

If you spread your purchases out over a long period of time and don't

mind the equipment that is "user grade EX-EX+ with the little dings"

you will find yourself saving beaucoups $$$$$.

 

<p>

 

I think that as long as your a user and not a collector looking for

that immaculate red-dial IIIg or M6J a comprehensive M system can be

acquired at a reasonable cost.

 

<p>

 

...and on top of that I get a Christmas card from my Bank's branch

manager every year. So there are other perks too.... ;-)

[david11]

Photography has been my passion for about 30 years. I do not own a

fancy home or expensive automobiles. I have had a reasonably

successful career in instrumentation sales which has allowed me

sufficient income to fund my creative outlet. I have a wife and

children (2 of 3 through college so far) who admittedly are my top

priority. I buy Leica equipment for the images produced, although I

admit that I am enough of an equipment geek to delight in the

craftsmanship of the products. I was introduced to Leica rangefinder

equipment by a friend who produced the most exquisite images with

pre-war screw mount cameras and lenses, and who named his daughter

"Leica". I have owned other camera formats and systems, but I receive

my greatest enjoyment from producing quality results from the tiny

postage stamp sized negative / positive.

[richard10]

<i>...named his daughter "Leica".</i><p>

Hmm... perhaps I will name my future children Elmar or Hektor...

[john_fleetwood]

Once again, thanks, Mike.

[eric_reid]

Me... I'm just loaded :)

[jackflesher]

Mike:

 

I prefer this one:

 

<P><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/andreacol10.jpg"><P>

 

;-)

[andy_piper2]

Buy used. My used stash (2 bodies, 5 lenses, 1 finder) cost about

$6800, equivalent new would be about $11500. Pretty close to half

price. Actually I did get the 21 'new' at a closeout discount as the

ASPH came in - had I waited and bought used at today's prices I'd have

saved another $9000.

 

<p>

 

Over 20 years - the time I hope to keep using them - and adding in

something for maintenance/repairs, that comes to under $500 a year -

not much more than a monthly car payment.

[godfrey]

As I have told several of my friends, "it's not the amount of

discretionary income I've got, it's the lack of discretion."

 

<p>

 

Buy good stuff, use it well, keep it in good shape, add as you can

afford and need. Over time you'll have too much equipment too.