How Do You Afford This Addiction/Affliction?

When my uncle saw me salivating in front of a Leica M4-P in a camera show, he told me he would buy the camera (cots $650) it but I have to pay him back. Having a salary of more or less USD $200 (converted from Philippine peso) every month, I set aside at least $20 a month. By the end of this year I could pay him back.

That uncle of mine always tells me "buy only what you need" and "live below your means" As of now, a noctilux is not need and it is really above my needs that it is too absurd to save for. I guess that's how I get by, be content with my simple M4-P and I-61LD 🙂
 
As addictions go, it's not that bad. You can always sell the stuff and recoup some, if not more then what you paid, and in the meantime you're hopefully capturing priceless moments. When I think of all the money I spent on drugs and hookers and booze; that money is gone. Gone for good! The Camera addiction is not the same.
 
ferider said:
Let me rephrase then, Roger. I own more than 2 film Ms. And occasionally things happen (broken light meter, burnt shutter curtains, etc). As you said, rarely anything very serious and maybe because the cameras are > 20 years old. But (1) I have multiple bodies and (2) many things can be adjusted DIY or fixed out of the house by a certified Leica technician with a maximum of 14 days return. That just wouldn't work for the M9. It would have to go to Solms or NY, and likely not be back for months. My film Ms are pretty sturdy but not military grade. Why should the M9 be more reliable ?

What I'm trying to say, for me, if you can't afford two M9 bodies, you can't afford one.

Roland.
Click to expand...
Dear Roland,

Fair enough, but this also raises the question of what 'backup' means.

Ideally, without question, it is two identical cameras (or better still, one black, one chrome/grey, or best of all, M9/M9P). But step back very slightly from the ideal, and it becomes "a camera with which you can shoot the same, or substantially similar, pictures if your main camera packs up."

At that point, although I can't afford 2x M9, I do have an M8, an MP, and M4-2 and an M2.

Cheers,

R.
 
Leica and budgets...

Leica and budgets...

Hi everyone, just wanted to share my 2c. Although I have two kids and a bit of debt, I justify my Leica gear as compensation for not spending money on other kinds of popular gadgets. To name but two: Iphone and Ipad. Most of my colleagues have these, and many of them change them every year... say that's about 1000 Euros gone every two years in electronic toys that in the end are worth nothing.
With about that much money I bought a lovely M3, Summicron 50mm v. III, and a lot of other cameras (Russian RF, Rolleis, etc.) plus enough cheap film and paper for a couple of years.
My next "project" is to quit smoking and use the money for a Summilux instead.
 
+1, Roger.

I have only one M9, but I've got four other cameras to work with if it needs to be serviced. If I needed a second as backup for a paid shoot, I'd rent it and add the cost of the rental to the invoice.
 
SteveM(PA) said:
I think it was Wes Anderson who proclaimed that he couldn't have done Bottle Rocket without credit cards. When I was younger and more foolish, I took that to heart and put lots of stuff on credit, as if I were going to do something "great" with photography. Well, it's all paid off, and the Leica stuff is worth more, but I haven't bought anything in a few years. But the real reason is that I got re-married, and there's no WAY I could get away with that now. We're adopting a kid from China, in cash, at a cost of about 4 M9's, and I'm looking forward to that trip in the fall. And I prefer film, so I'm out of the game anyway 🙂
Click to expand...

Lovely and noble priority.. 🙂 (Hobbies this or that way can be satisfied..)
 
Started getting into Leica after oil peaked at $147.00 a barrel. Sold all my energy stocks when oil first hit $135.00 and closed my margin account to lock in profits. Made some big bets and won big time.

Shortly there after bought a 35 Cron V.4 for $1250.00 and a 75 Lux V.2 for $1850.00 and didn't have a Leica M-body until months later. Both lenses were made in Germany BTW.

Eventually bought a Wetlar M6 on Ebay, used it for a year with a dead frame counter, and then had it seviced by Sherry and had a MP finder upgrade.

Most recently traded two gold coins for a brand new 50 Lux ASPH (bought a lot of hard assets with my profits). All along cherry picked more used gear utilizing zero percent credit card offers.

I have a nice income, but I rent, own no car, don't smoke, don't drink, and walk to work to save over $100.00 a month. I learned from rich people not to waste money, live within your means or below, to always buy enduring quality, and to never cheat yourself.

Most recently was solicited by an art dealer/collector to trade some of my camera gear for a vintage Bruce Davidson print from the Welsh Coal Miners portfolio. Basically because of my gear's enduring quality and appreciation it was as good as cash. Still own the 35 Cron V.4 and 75 Lux BTW.

Cal
 
Pastor Chris said:
Yes, I am joking about the indulgences. I am the chaplain at my gun club and tried a sideline in blessing targets and ammo before matches, for a small fee of course. I drew the line when some asked me to curse their opponents ammo though.

Seriously, I love the hunt. I have relatively deep but narrow knowledge of a few things and an EBay account. Given enough time and searching you can afford some nice things.
Click to expand...

So you weren't enticed like Balaam? 😉
 
thegman said:
Buying new Leica gear like M9 and Noctilux is a lot of money, but many people will spend more on a car and consider themselves to have bought a cheap one. You can spend pretty much whatever you want on used film Leica gear, and that gear will hold it's value.
Click to expand...

The comparison with a car purchase is interesting. Perspectives, I guess. Cars are the equivalents of financial black holes. Driving one is like circling an event horizon. I'm currently trying to sell mine which I, in hindsight, regret having bought new (though there were tax advantages to it).

There are so many dealers and it is possible to find good offers if one takes the time to look. And there are the classifieds for instance at this forum which shouldn't be overlooked.

I only bought my first M last September, a used M3. Sadly, it broke down repeatedly so I replaced it on warranty. Got an M6TTL BP instead which was also bought used. Having shopped around I got a very good deal on that one. I've also been lucky to pick up an 90 Elmarit-M for very little because it had a tiny mark on the front element which doesn't show at all (not even in strong sun light). And I picked up a full LTM set for very little as well.

Also, if one looks around one quickly discovers which dealers have elevated prices (certain German/Hong Kong dealers come to mind).

But I agree with those who say save and live within your means, whatever those are. It's really the way to go. And because the equipment doesn't drop much in value it is possible to take the plunge without much fear.

cheers
philip
 
Thardy said:
I buy cheap cameras (compared to the M9) and now have so many I don't feel the urge.
Click to expand...

A M9 isn't really that expensive if you like it and use it every day.

Consider smoking: A pack of cigarettes approaches $10.00 a pack in NYC. If you smoke a carton a week you can quit and in one year buy a M9 with cash saved.

Looking at it another way. Owning a car is expensive, and so can drinking. Since I don't drink, smoke, or own a car I could in theory buy 3 M9's if I wanted to, but like you I'm happy with what I have/own.

Currently I could also easily sell my Nikon SLR kit and my medium format cameras and buy a M9 or even maybe a M10 while keeping all my Leica gear and M-mount glass.

Cal
 
a. i've decided my children will be going to cosmetology college

b. i drive a car well below what i could afford

c. i should be spending more money banging hot chicks

d. i'm a shut in

e. i bottom feed

e. i am gainfully employed

f. i don't golf

g. i don't take fancy vacations

h. I DONT HAVE A GAS PROBLEM ANYWAY OK?
 
Calzone said:
Consider smoking: A pack of cigarettes approaches $10.00 a pack in NYC. If you smoke a carton a week you can quit and in one year buy a M9 with cash saved.

Cal
Click to expand...

Absolutely right. And all this circles back to the common notion that cameras should be cheap consumer items like a rice cooker, which is quite absurd. Never in my life have I heard people asking how people can afford to smoke, or how people can afford to drive a Lexus.
 
mdarnton said:
Me, too. Manual focus Nikon stuff is dirt cheap. Old Nikon film cameras are cheaper to buy another than to get a broken one fixed or cleaned.
Click to expand...

Plus one on having many old Nikon F2's and F3's. Unbelievable prices on old Nikon Pro cameras. At this point I have enough bodies that I don't have to change lenses.

Cal
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Roland,

Fair enough, but this also raises the question of what 'backup' means.

Ideally, without question, it is two identical cameras (or better still, one black, one chrome/grey, or best of all, M9/M9P). But step back very slightly from the ideal, and it becomes "a camera with which you can shoot the same, or substantially similar, pictures if your main camera packs up."

At that point, although I can't afford 2x M9, I do have an M8, an MP, and M4-2 and an M2.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

For me it's not just the backup, Roger, but avoiding changing lenses all the time.
 
ferider said:
What I'm trying to say, for me, if you cann't afford two M9 bodies, you cann't afford one.



Roland.
Click to expand...

I agree that if you're off on a big trip, you *need* a backup camera, but it certainly does not need to be an equally expensive one. If you're shooting film, then a £100 SLR with lens will do the job just fine. For digital, a simple DSLR or compact.

If you truly cannot bring yourself to use a different camera, well that's up to you, but I think for all the trading that goes on around here, I think most of us *love* to use a different camera.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom