Ah, !@#$ it, I have GAS.

Abbazz said:
Steph,

Go to Keh.com, get the Fuji G690 BL in bargain condition for $265, add the 100mm lens for $69 and, voilà, you will live happily everafter with a superb rangefinder camera and its gorgeous 6x9 negatives. When your finances will allow, you should be able to add more lenses to the family.

Cheers,

Abbazz
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only trouble is she'd have a slower lens, and shooting kids indoors requires speed.

Of course...she could shoot with fast FAST film all the time and never feel the grain thing.
 
George Bonanno said:
Don't be a fool !!!

Save the money... for your child !!!

He - She... will be much more important than another camera.

Use whatever you have for snaps.

Besides... no one on this forum will give a **** if and when you're down and out.

Best,
George
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that's not true, George. There are certainly people here that would care. What a harsh thing to say.

Stephanie, what cameras DO you have? Anything of reasonable build quality, with a fast wide-normal lens and rangefinder focusing or AF will certainly do the trick.

This is messy.
 
Hi Stephanie - only you can decide if you can afford something in addition to your child. I remember when my wife was pregnant with our first and she bought me the book "What to Expect When Your Wife is Expanding" - a sort of parody of the nine month book by a similar name. In the first chapter it recommends (tongue in cheek) to buy a ranch, a new Lamborghini, etc. etc. because after the child is born you'll never buy anything for yourself again (and that's somewhat true). Nevertheless, I firmly believe that we need to do things for ourselves to remain completely human, and that most definitely includes pursuing our hobbies. The decision must, however, be yours. Here's a couple of things I found in the 'bay - I have no idea if they're any good or who the seller is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=110079622410&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leitz-LEICA-M2-chrome-camera-body-Exc_W0QQitemZ170072081454QQihZ007QQcategoryZ30030QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170072081454

Of course Keh is very reliable, too.
All the best to you and your new family - enjoy.
Cheers,
Alex
 
Steph,
I already threw my hat in the ring on the opinion, but I figured Id let you know BH has a few M3's in stock, $799
Bryan
 
At one time at a similar point in my life to Stephanie now I sold a very expensive camera kit and bought a Canon Sureshot.

The money was more needed than the cameras and I made some great photos with that Sureshot.
 
Dear George Masters,

Your right... it was a harsh thing for me to say and it was meant that way. I truly believe that egging someone on to buy an unnecessary camera rather than saving for the child is insane. Also, I do not think if this soon to be mother and father were to become financially strapped, anyone on this forum would come to their aid. Maybe as a group with words but I do not think it would amount to much. Prove me wrong... I challenge you. However, I hope it never comes to that.

Best,
George
 
George Bonanno said:
Dear George Masters,

Your right... it was a harsh thing for me to say and it was meant that way. I truly believe that egging someone on to buy an unnecessary camera rather than saving for the child is insane. Also, I do not think if this soon to be mother and father were to become financially strapped, anyone on this forum would come to their aid. Maybe as a group with words but I do not think it would amount to much. Prove me wrong... I challenge you. However, I hope it never comes to that.

Best,
George
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I hope also that it doesn't, and your advice is really perfectly wise. I won't argue. No sense in arguing, perhaps I am just more optimistic about our members. I wouldn't expect more than a handful of the 10K to respond, but I'd hate to interpret the community here as superficial. And it would be, if your scenario were to become true. I think I might have a better sense of the community here, having been around for a year and a half (but I might just be naive...? who knows). I think if she has the financial ability to do that, without risk, after her tax return, she shouldn't feel as though she were poised to jump down an elevator shaft.

When it comes down to it, she's going to have to decide if it is financially wise to buy the camera, and if it is, weigh its utility and its beauty against its relatively high price (compared with, say, a Canon SureShot). An AF P&S with flash may actually be the most logical...but RFF isn't a home for logical types.
 
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I guess the question is: do you really *need* a new camera right now? You have a few good cameras. I'd say spend your $$ on lots of film if you want to capture memories of your baby. There will always be Leicas around.

PS: I know the temptation can be hard. I'd love to complete my '65 Nikon F with some vintage glass (24, 85 or 105) from the same era. But since I'm in the middle of buying a house, I'll wait for a while.
 
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When I switehed to the camera system I currently use, the decision was based on (1) the idea that I wouldn't get to put out cash like this again for quite some time, and (2) I had a fair amount of gear i no longer wanted to help finance the new setup. Of course, I'm neither a parent nor parent-to-be, so that changes matters more than a bit. I'd say something like the M2 is worthwhile, but only if its purchase is based on it being a true "keeper", and if unloading some of the stuff you have now goes a long way toward paying for it (which, IMO, is the second-most fiscally responsible approach, next to simply skipping the whole idea and salting that cash away). I think getting rid of some stuff can be a good exercise in figuring out just how much you really want that M2. But whatever you do, you need to keep a sense of perspective, given everything that's happening with you right now and in the near future. Naturally, you have to make that call.


- Barrett
 
MelanieC said:
Let me put it this way. If your finances are such that you are worried about scrounging up $100 here and $150 there, you should probably be using what you have and not thinking about buying new gear that you do not need and cannot afford -- completely aside from the fact that you have a baby on the way. You are not only going to have the expenses associated with the baby, but you are also not going to be able to work full time for a while if you're like most of my friends who've had kids. Altogether, things get very costly very fast.

I have been on a limited income for a long time (try being a grad student, and then a researcher in a very expensive city, and see how much money you can put away) and I've made my share of stupid spending mistakes and I regret nearly all of them. There is no gear that is worth putting yourself in big debt over. I would not have the cameras I have today if I hadn't inherited them or been able to use an equipment budget to buy them (in the case of the dSLR) -- there is no way I would even consider buying them, I cannot afford this kind of equipment. I may seem lucky in this respect, so what do I know, right? -- but there are plenty of other things that I want or think I need to fulfill one desire or hobby or another that I recognize I cannot afford even though I really really want them (I haven't been on a horse for over five years, for example, and I used to be very into dressage, but it's just too expensive). There comes a time when you have to recognize your financial limitations and make choices, and having a baby on the way seems like as good a time as any for that. I don't want to sound harsh, but you already have some pretty nice cameras. I think it would make more sense to use what you have and save money for your baby and your future.
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Listen to this advice,it is GOOD.........Robin
 
Beeing a recent father (my baby is going to make 1 year next friday) i can say you one thing: There is allways anything you must buy for the baby: new clothes, some piece of medical equipment, diapers, creams, milk, etc. Also, i dont know how you do in USA, but here the pediatric doctor wants to see the baby every month until 6 months of age, so mutiply that with the doctor fee.....
Save the money for the baby....
 
Hi Steph. You've already got a Nikon FE and a Nikkor 50 lens. That's a much, much better camera already than most young, struggling new parents have. So what if it's not a RF?

On the other hand, if you have some things/toys you don't need/use that you can liquidate, and raise enough $ for an M2, why not. If things get tough you can always sell the Leica, and then you still have the Nikon slr.
 
Here's what I want...not what I need!

Here's what I want...not what I need!

A Leica M4 with a 50.

I just bought a Nikon 6006 for $90 to put my Tokina 17mm on for my blog/selfportraits.

What I need is an upgrade to my 10D...

don



Stephanie Brim said:
So...answer me this. You have this one chance to buy the camera you really want. This could be your only chance for quite a long time. You're working two jobs to help pay things. You want one more thing before it's no longer about you.

What would you do?
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It's a tough one since you have a child on the way. You only live once. Get what you really want, but make sure you're being responsible. Cameras will always be around. Sometimes when I feel this way, I hold off for a while and see how I feel about it after a few days. Sometimes the GAS passes and I know I made the right decision whether I made the purchase or not.
 
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Stephanie Brim said:
I just don't know. Having a baby makes me realize that I need none of this, but that I also want to have a rangefinder to capture the memories. I love my SLR and will never again part with it, but I really can't live without my rangefinder either.

So...answer me this. You have this one chance to buy the camera you really want. This could be your only chance for quite a long time. You're working two jobs to help pay things. You want one more thing before it's no longer about you.

What would you do?
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I'd save the money Steph. I'm sure you've got the skills to make the SLR work for you. "This could be your only chance for quite a long time"....If you believe that, it's more reason for you and Adam to save your money.
 
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How many of the people that sre telling Stephanie to buy a Leica actually have children? Kids are expensive! Stephanie will need the money. And she already has a really nice Nikon.

Long ago I sold my nearly new Nikon FE2 to help fund my graduate education. And I'd be willing to sell the possesions that I now own for a good reason, such as sending my children to college. Don't make sacrifices for things. Make sacrifices for the people that you love or to add to your own human capital.
 
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