A classical tale

[Jerevan]

Once upon a time here was a man.

He bought a lens, it does not matter what it was. It was expensive, taking a good part out of his savings to buy. It turned out to be defective, so he had to send it in for repair, which cost some good money too.

He loved the lens, it was really "his sort of lens". But it was expensive.

So he worried about losing it in some way, or damaging it.

And since it was expensive, there was money in there. And while he had money for all the necessities of life, he worried about the future. Would he have enough money then?

All this worry kept him awake.

And since there was a lot of other very nice lenses that did not cost as much, and since he then could buy another good lens (although not as good as the one he had) and have some pocket change for the future, he sold the lens.

After having sold the wonderful lens, time passed.

And every now and then, he missed "his sort of lens", seeing that his other lenses were fine and good, but lacked that "something".

So now he sits wondering whether it was worth selling that special lens, keeping money in the bank for a still uncertain future.

And furthermore, he stays up at night, wondering whether buying another of these lenses that has this "something" will ease his mind, or if it will just be another turn of the former fears and worries?

 

[Jockos]

I got an insurance and quit worrying.

 

[tyrone.s]

Well, perhaps this man will get falsely accused of committing some horrible crime, lose his job, find himself mired in years of legal battles and still not really get cleared. Perhaps he'll find himself spending $3000 a day on a barrister. Believe me this man won't be worrying about his lenses late into the night... But hey, that's a only a potential worse case scenario to consider.

 

[Merlijn53]

Well, maybe this man will die some day and never have a chance to use that beautiful lens again.
If he does not have enough money to live on, the difference between this lens and those other, also very nice, lenses, is not going to help him very much. So what is your point?
Frank

 

[oftheherd]

I have been very lucky I guess. I am satisfied to wait until I find any lens I want at a price I can afford without worry or regrets. And I have all I really need at this time anyway. But I can sympathize with the OP.

 

[mfogiel]

A question to radio Jerevan:
- Dear radio, how can I save for a lens I'd like to use without remorse?
Radio Jerevan:
- Get richer !

 

[it'sawhat?]

question 1 does said lens make a noticeable difference in the quality of photos taken? If not don't get another. Question 2 will worry about damage keep the user from making good use of it? If yes don't get it. question 3 If it makes a difference in the photos and fear of damage doesn't keep it locked up and safe find a way to generate extra income to buy it. Deliver pizzas , wash dishes, deliver newspapers .

 

[goamules]

Another man decides the types of photographs he wants to take. He imagines the lighting on an autumn day, down by a desert stream. His daughter walks with him, enjoying the cool weather and orange and red leaves.

The man buys an inexpensive, decent lens.

He takes the exact photographs he imagined, and is thrilled that the lighting and atmosphere come out exactly as he had hoped. He selects 2 or 3 of his favorites, and has them printed a large size. He hangs them on the wall, to remind him of his vision, and that wonderful day.

Having never seen or heard of any elite, super expensive lenses, he doesn't know what he's missing. At night he sleeps well, thinking of his nice photography, and the life he has lived. He never worries about possessions, nor money in the bank.

 

[Thardy]

How much can a lens cost to cause such consternation?

 

[Jerevan]

Thanks Gentlemen, for your answers, full of clever, funny, common sense and philosophical comments.

Some incoherent, loose ends of an answer from me:

As to the tale - obviously, as any tale - it mirrors the reader in that we all interpret it in a highly personal way.

To me it represents fear of the unknown, chasing the wind and that looking back may not provide the answer for the future.

Some ask about the economical side, and while I think it does not matter how expensive it was, let's say it cost 1500 euro.

I am not sure whether a certain lens imbues the user with any magical abilities: I have lent my own lenses to friends and they have been able to make their sort of photos with any sort of lens (new and old) I have given them, while my own efforts still look like the same old stuff as usual.

Maybe it is the getting out there that matters - the desert stream in autumn with company. And I think it was this that happened with this particular lens - I was out looking at the world and not on a screen.

I've also seen in various image threads that people can make magic stuff with just about anything that resembles a lens.

Some people have a signature look, you can see that it is their stuff from afar, irregardless if it is an old Summar from 1937 or a Nokton-M 50 from today - there is something coherent in there - a vision.

I suppose vision comes before lenses, cameras and film.

"Love the one you're with" - the effort you put into the work may grow into something magical along the way.

 

[oscroft]

Maybe it is the getting out there that matters - the desert stream in autumn with company. And I think it was this that happened with this particular lens - I was out looking at the world and not on a screen.

When I look back on my favourite photos, what comes to mind is the day I took them, where I was, how I was feeling, what I was thinking, why I chose the shot, who I was with... I rarely remember what lens I used until I look it up.

 

[mfogiel]

Just to get a bit more real, if your "dream lens" is a Leica M lens, then you could think of a sibling in the Leica R line, and use it on one of the R bodies, or adapted to Nikon or Canon. A classical example would be the 50/2 Summicron R 1st version, which is in terms of rendering between Summicron M 3rd and 4th, but costs 1/4th.

 

[x-ray]

You're a wise man. As I, you'll never regret having cash in the bank. What is so important other than our family and health that are worth putting ourselves in financial jeopardy. As you say you never know what the future brings so be prepared.

It's you that defines your photography not a particular piece of equipment.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Like Polish proverb says:
"If you don't have what you'd like, you have to like what you have"

 

[Godfrey]

I've sometimes bought a thing I had once before and found my memory of the thing was much different from the reality of it. But that's rarer than the occasions when it has reaffirmed why I liked the thing the first time I had it.

Regards the money ... If you're secure in your home, in your ability to afford life and provide for your family, have set aside a reasonable amount to manage the "ordinary emergencies" of life, and you're just worried about the future, buy the lens and enjoy using it. Produce wonderful photos that breathe life into living. The future is forever unknown and ultimately unknowable. Any of us could be gone tomorrow, an hour from now, a minute from now ... To worry over-much about money and the future, after taking reasonable care of the present and precautions for the unforeseeable, is just as bad as to take no care at all.

G

 

[Roger Hicks]

Just to get a bit more real, if your "dream lens" is a Leica M lens, then you could think of a sibling in the Leica R line, and use it on one of the R bodies, or adapted to Nikon or Canon. A classical example would be the 50/2 Summicron R 1st version, which is in terms of rendering between Summicron M 3rd and 4th, but costs 1/4th.

But photography is about more than just cameras. Or even lenses. It's also about enjoying what you do. Good lenses on crap cameras that you don't enjoy using will still leave you with crap cameras that you don't enjoy using.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . To worry over-much about money and the future, after taking reasonable care of the present and precautions for the unforeseeable, is just as bad as to take no care at all.

Dear Godfrey,

Elegantly and precisely phrased!

Cheers,


R.

 

[chikubi]

I make money so I can live, not live so I can make money. Buy what you want and enjoy it - you'll find that usually the enjoyment received is worth far more than the money spent.