Am I destined to become a collector?

danbroad

danbroad

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..even one who might even use his collection of equipment?

I have a disease. Every so often [and it's getting more often] I find myself looking at Leica M's. Not the M8 or the even more eye-wateringly priced 8.2, but the M6 TTL 0.72 and the M7.

I also can't help but find myself looking at the 35 and 50 Summiluxes and summicrons, thinking about how great it would be to go out and shoot some film using nothing more than a [working and useful] DoF scale on the lens, stopping down via an aperture ring, using nowt but a 'fifty...

And then I remember that my wife will kill me if she found out how much this stuff costs. A cocaine habit would be cheaper and less destructive. So I look at CL's, and think how neat and compact they are...

...but they're what you get if you can't muster up an M. A Porsche 924, when you really wanted a 911 chrome bumper....

Half my friends don't get us here on TP. So 'Leica' offers no bragging rights around these parts. Likewise, I shot a wedding last Friday for a friend and the only film user there [Nikon F, hey all] got some funny looks and sarcastic comments about 'where's the LCD?' etc etc. Given that I already own a great Nikon SLR, and even a Leica compact, there's no need to go Leica and even less need to go film, with all the extra hassles of developing and scanning...

Anyone else suffer from a disease like this? And what's the cure?:shrug:
 
Sorry my friend - there is no known cure. :(

Except to give in to it and by that Leica :D If you want to find out what the best lenses ever made for 35mm are like, or what it's like to get back to that simplified beauty that only a Leica M can deliver, you have no choice. Get that over-used credit card out of your wallet, or extend the mortgage if you have to - you can always get another wife if the first one leaves you. But a Leica M will be something you can pass on to the children when you die.

Of course, once you start with the camera, you've got to get a lens. And then a second lens. And a three lens outfit is better than two. Or maybe four lenses - after all, they are the best. And they did close up accessories. And filters. And a whole range of nic-nacs you never realised you needed. It's a whole new world. And a whole new family. Or none at all - after all, the family uses up valuable resources that could be spent on Leica...

Yes, welcome to the world of the Leica collector, or as we like to call them, the True Believer.
 
A friend once let me handle his Leica.
I gave him it back quickly. They have an addictive feel to them.
Felt like the door was opening to a get poor quick scheme.
 
Give in gracefully I say... :D ... or if you can't manage that give in disgracefully m8... :naughty:



Bought my first Leica recently... :love: ... a D-Lux 4 and know precisely where you're at... :eek:





:p
 
As snowy said there is no cure.

I recently stumped up for the M6 0.72x and it is beau. Can't afford the Leica glass atm but that will come. This is part of my slow transformation back to film only shooting. It's getting to the point where I don't know why I've got my 5d and canon glass to go with it.

Fortunately I've dodged the bullet of collectoring. I am able to sell what I don't use and to use what I have without fear of wearing the paint of putting tiny little scratches in the perfect paint. Buy a Leica in user condition and save yourself a fortune and leave the gold plated noctilux in presentation cedar case for 10 grand to the collectors with more money than sense who never use their gear.

Also if you do want to jump in to the leica world then the third party glass by Cosina and Zeiss are very nice as well, but may not scratch your Leica itch as a collector.

Welcome to the club
 
There's nothing wrong with the Leica CL...

That said, I bought the M5 myself, I found it fit in my hand nicely. The CL felt like it might make me cramp up a bit. I purposely bought one in beat up condition (but working fine and well serviced). That way I'm not tempted to collect it or not use it in case it gets scratched. And it was cheap!
 
I kinda know what you mean, except I fancy one of those Epson R-D1's. I love the look, I love the analogue dials, I like that it takes all sorts of old but great lenses from leica, consina, etcetc (they are expensive though).

I love that you can turn in the LCD and it looks and acts like an old camera. I even like the winder that resets the shutter.

then I think that the body alone would be £1000+, lenses are several hundred each, quickly heading towards £500+ each. frankly it could do with a better sensor, I don't mind 6MP (at all), but I'd like to see much better high iso out of it. perhaps a version of the D3 sensor could be stuck in there?

and then I think that frankly, I should be making more use of the camera I already own dammit!

still, it does look awfully nice
 
I worked as a pro for many years and every single day I took my "work in any weather never need a battery focus in low light almost silent" back up camera with me. otherwise known as a Leica M3.

It never let me down and no matter how bad the conditions I always felt confident when using it.
 
Given up on MF already Ven?;)
 
Death is the only known cure. :shrug:

Fellow sufferer.
 
CT said:
Death is the only known cure. :shrug:

Fellow sufferer.
Click to expand...

there is another! but its costs are so high.............


:D I'll stop it....

Get the leica if you really really want! I hear that they give a good price for your kidney(s) in Thailand:lol:

im looking at a Leica MP myself, now all I have to do is work out how to raise the money/see which limb I value the least to shoot off and claim insurance on:D
 
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