KM-25
Well-known
Well, I wish this were a story with a happy ending, but it is not. In 2004, I created the Kodachrome Project as a means to create an open awareness to petition to Kodak that Kodachrome film be kept around at least until it turned 75 and for me to be able to shoot a book. As a long time professional, this was no easy undertaking, costing me tens of thousands of dollars, time away from clients and many long hours…
So in 2006, when times were better for many financially speaking, I built up a Leica system in which to shoot the highest quality images I could on the film. I had 4 bodies and 5 lenses including a gorgeous black paint MP3 kit with the matching 50…yes, times were that good back then. But then the crash of 08 happened, nearly totally evaporating the money I had saved up to take the 18-24 months off from paid work to shoot the film in it's last days. So it was tough to do, still very costly, but I had no choice, this was it for Kodachrome and I knew that.
I went on to shoot over 1,000 rolls of the film all over the country and even two weeks in Paris. Tens of thousands of frames passed through the Leica bodies and lenses and the resulting images are truly wonderful, well worth the effort..I am editing for the book as I type this. The camera I used the most by far, the M6TTL, shot *the* very last frames of Kodachrome in history…not Steve McCurry, not even Dwayne at the lab…he ran out of film before I did as I shot nearly 100 rolls past the deadline of the 30th of December.
When I got home, my newly wedded wife and I seriously looked at our finances and our hearts dropped….we were near broke. She had left her secure job at a large medical company in California in February to come be with me in Colorado…she is still looking for work, we don't even have medical coverage as of this month. Work for me is slowly starting to pick up, even my first NYT assignment last week. But it has not been enough to stave off the massive cost of doing my project and how it took nearly all my savings, it is pretty scary out there in the real world in terms of jobs.
When I got home, I started selling the things that would fetch the most money…my Leica gear. Piece by piece, I sold the lenses, the cameras and even the beloved and rare MP3 kit. Most things fetched a decent price even though it was not mint…what can I say, I use the stuff, not fondle it. But one of the most frustrating things came when I followed the advice of what I might get for my MP3 kit and instead of waiting a week or two or putting it on ebay after getting the lens a CLA, I sold it directly to a member on this site for what they cost new. I asked him for more citing my dire financial situation but did not get more. I needed the money quick too as my primary computer for my work had just died and the new one cost thousands. Not even 4 days after they got the MP3, I had a person offer me $5,000 more for it and they were serious, wanted the collectible aspect of it having shot some of the last rolls of Kodachrome. Then 3 days later, a person emailed me and offered $6,000 more….MAN I was pissed! Now I am depressed...
I wrote the person on this forum back and explained the situation, even sent a screen shot of the email and have not heard a thing back and they have even posted on here since, how nice for them, my stupidity was their gain, god dammed Leica!
So as my wife and I struggle to get back on our feet, she looking for work in a seasonal ski town and I for more work in my line of photography, my lone remaining piece of Leica gear, the M6TTL that shot the last frames of Kodachrome ever………….sits pathetically with NO lens on it…I can't even afford a 35/2 for it, the only one I really need or want.
I do want to thank all of you who have supported me and my project with either kind worlds and donations to the site, it really has helped and been appreciated. Hopefully, I can get my images edited and find a good book publisher and put some money back in the bank…maybe even find a nice beat up version 4 35 Summicron for less than $1,500…..but for now, with this post, I bid this forum and Leica farewell.
I can be reached through my site through the forum page, contact us, if you want to share your Kodachrome stories, but I won't be posting here anymore, it is too hard to even think about Leica let alone read about it...sorry...
Take care folks,
Dan
So in 2006, when times were better for many financially speaking, I built up a Leica system in which to shoot the highest quality images I could on the film. I had 4 bodies and 5 lenses including a gorgeous black paint MP3 kit with the matching 50…yes, times were that good back then. But then the crash of 08 happened, nearly totally evaporating the money I had saved up to take the 18-24 months off from paid work to shoot the film in it's last days. So it was tough to do, still very costly, but I had no choice, this was it for Kodachrome and I knew that.
I went on to shoot over 1,000 rolls of the film all over the country and even two weeks in Paris. Tens of thousands of frames passed through the Leica bodies and lenses and the resulting images are truly wonderful, well worth the effort..I am editing for the book as I type this. The camera I used the most by far, the M6TTL, shot *the* very last frames of Kodachrome in history…not Steve McCurry, not even Dwayne at the lab…he ran out of film before I did as I shot nearly 100 rolls past the deadline of the 30th of December.
When I got home, my newly wedded wife and I seriously looked at our finances and our hearts dropped….we were near broke. She had left her secure job at a large medical company in California in February to come be with me in Colorado…she is still looking for work, we don't even have medical coverage as of this month. Work for me is slowly starting to pick up, even my first NYT assignment last week. But it has not been enough to stave off the massive cost of doing my project and how it took nearly all my savings, it is pretty scary out there in the real world in terms of jobs.
When I got home, I started selling the things that would fetch the most money…my Leica gear. Piece by piece, I sold the lenses, the cameras and even the beloved and rare MP3 kit. Most things fetched a decent price even though it was not mint…what can I say, I use the stuff, not fondle it. But one of the most frustrating things came when I followed the advice of what I might get for my MP3 kit and instead of waiting a week or two or putting it on ebay after getting the lens a CLA, I sold it directly to a member on this site for what they cost new. I asked him for more citing my dire financial situation but did not get more. I needed the money quick too as my primary computer for my work had just died and the new one cost thousands. Not even 4 days after they got the MP3, I had a person offer me $5,000 more for it and they were serious, wanted the collectible aspect of it having shot some of the last rolls of Kodachrome. Then 3 days later, a person emailed me and offered $6,000 more….MAN I was pissed! Now I am depressed...
I wrote the person on this forum back and explained the situation, even sent a screen shot of the email and have not heard a thing back and they have even posted on here since, how nice for them, my stupidity was their gain, god dammed Leica!
So as my wife and I struggle to get back on our feet, she looking for work in a seasonal ski town and I for more work in my line of photography, my lone remaining piece of Leica gear, the M6TTL that shot the last frames of Kodachrome ever………….sits pathetically with NO lens on it…I can't even afford a 35/2 for it, the only one I really need or want.
I do want to thank all of you who have supported me and my project with either kind worlds and donations to the site, it really has helped and been appreciated. Hopefully, I can get my images edited and find a good book publisher and put some money back in the bank…maybe even find a nice beat up version 4 35 Summicron for less than $1,500…..but for now, with this post, I bid this forum and Leica farewell.
I can be reached through my site through the forum page, contact us, if you want to share your Kodachrome stories, but I won't be posting here anymore, it is too hard to even think about Leica let alone read about it...sorry...
Take care folks,
Dan
Mudman
Well-known
Sorry to hear about your troubles Dan. Consider a 35mm Summaron - I've seen them go as cheap as $200! I picked up a 35mm f2.5 Voigtlander, and I've been very pleased with sharpness and usability for $280. It doesn't feel like my leica Lenses, but it's not in the same price range either. If you truly need a lens, I have a 5cm Summar that you're welcome to (you'll need a screwmount adapter).
wjlapier
Well-known
Dan, check your messages. I have a 35 Summaron LTM I'm not using. It's your's to borrow if you want.
Sorry to hear of the financial difficulties. Been there.
Sorry to hear of the financial difficulties. Been there.
sleepyhead
Well-known
Dude, good luck finishing the book project.
You can always come back to this forum if you decide to leave.
I hope things pick up for you and your wife financially.
You can always come back to this forum if you decide to leave.
I hope things pick up for you and your wife financially.
sc_rufctr
Leica nuts
I have to ask... What are you trying to achieve with this thread?
I don't have a lot of Leica gear but what I do have I saved for and went without over many years because of my life long love of photography.
I'm a single parent raising three kids on my own and I work full time... I've been doing that for the past 8 years.
Believe me I've known hard times and I've worked my butt off to make things better for myself and family.
... Maybe someone needs to remind you of how lucky you are.
You're married and you're healthy enough to travel the country to write a book.
I'm single and facing serious health issues. But I won't take hand outs.
Instead I work hard everyday and hope things will get better even though my illness gets a little worse everyday.
And you're complaining that you have to honor a sale made here for your M3 kit???
Time to wake up and count your blessings. Get out there and start making some changes to your life NOW!
Love your wife and yourself. Believe me things could be a lot worse than not having a lens for your M6.
I don't have a lot of Leica gear but what I do have I saved for and went without over many years because of my life long love of photography.
I'm a single parent raising three kids on my own and I work full time... I've been doing that for the past 8 years.
Believe me I've known hard times and I've worked my butt off to make things better for myself and family.
... Maybe someone needs to remind you of how lucky you are.
You're married and you're healthy enough to travel the country to write a book.
I'm single and facing serious health issues. But I won't take hand outs.
Instead I work hard everyday and hope things will get better even though my illness gets a little worse everyday.
And you're complaining that you have to honor a sale made here for your M3 kit???
Time to wake up and count your blessings. Get out there and start making some changes to your life NOW!
Love your wife and yourself. Believe me things could be a lot worse than not having a lens for your M6.
rogerzilla
Well-known
Yeah, you could have an M3 with no lens!
Take the offer of the LTM Summaron. It's a good lens and the bokeh is way better than a 35/2 ASPH.
Take the offer of the LTM Summaron. It's a good lens and the bokeh is way better than a 35/2 ASPH.
dogberryjr
[Pithy phrase]
Why? Are we being punished? Are you martyring yourself? I don't get it. I won't get into the ethics of the sale that seems to have you down on humanity, but look at the other side. At least one person has stepped up with a loaner offer and if you look at today's posts, there are two threads about loaner/swap possibilities between RFFers. Anyway, I hope you are still monitoring this thread.
rogerzilla
Well-known
It was never worth $6,000. OK, someone may have offered that, but how do you know they were serious? You'd never be able to prove the rolls you shot were the last rolls of Kodachrome without a signed statement from Kodak declaring that they processed no rolls exposed later than yours. Which they obviously wouldn't be able or willing to provide.
I had to sell my first electric guitar and amplifier to buy a washing machine for my first house. Stuff like this happens, and money comes and goes.
I had to sell my first electric guitar and amplifier to buy a washing machine for my first house. Stuff like this happens, and money comes and goes.
horosu
Well-known
Just one question (useless, maybe):
Wouldn't it have been better for your fiancee to keep her job (you work freelance I imagine) and for you to move to California?
Wouldn't it have been better for your fiancee to keep her job (you work freelance I imagine) and for you to move to California?
KM-25
Well-known
A friend of mine who frequents here said I might want to log on and clarify some things.
Firstly, not only was the camera worth over $6,000, it sold for more than that. The two offers were for $13,500 and $14,000. Secondly, I did not shoot the last roll made, I shot the last frames period, both the lab and Kodak WILL support this, it is a fact and will be well known if the book ever comes out.
Firstly, not only was the camera worth over $6,000, it sold for more than that. The two offers were for $13,500 and $14,000. Secondly, I did not shoot the last roll made, I shot the last frames period, both the lab and Kodak WILL support this, it is a fact and will be well known if the book ever comes out.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Whoa, lot of judgment passed in this still short thread!
Dan, I hope your endeavouring nature will get you through this rough patch.
When it comes to the pain of selling off gear you really love to work with and thought you would never sell, I can relate to that. I too have sold off gear that I now know I will never get back again because prices have risen and there is no money in my bank and it really stinks.
Moriturii, yours is not the kind of posts that are appreciated here.
Dan, I hope your endeavouring nature will get you through this rough patch.
When it comes to the pain of selling off gear you really love to work with and thought you would never sell, I can relate to that. I too have sold off gear that I now know I will never get back again because prices have risen and there is no money in my bank and it really stinks.
Moriturii, yours is not the kind of posts that are appreciated here.
KM-25
Well-known
No, there are circumstances that would make that a bad move for both of us.
folks, just not pretty to see others pass judgement on each other. i think we should just let this rest as is.
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