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

I have kids and I see both sides of this discussion - which is why I said that only she can make the decision based on her situation. Nevertheless, I wouldn't rule out buying the Leica as I believe it is healthy to do things for ourselves and our kids. In many ways I'm lucky financially, but my daughter has serious medical needs that eat up lots and lots of money, which has made me realize that we need to find balance in our lives, and that includes having things that are ourselves AND things for our kids.

This is really fascinating, actually, because in addition to Stephanie having an internal struggle about buying the camera, we're also struggling for her.

Cheers,
Alex
 
I've never had kids, but I've had GAS. My current situation of supporting two residences in two different states leads me to agree with the "save the money" crowd. You could trade the SLR for a RF maybe, but keep the money. You might suddenly find yourself with one job for a time, for example.

I wasn't able to buy my current camera gear until about 5 years ago. I had to make do for 20+ years with just an AE-1 and a 28 to 70 zoom. Rest assured, when your finances improve, there will still be interesting cameras. Whether film will still be available is another story for another thread...
 
Ossifan said:
I have kids and I see both sides of this discussion - which is why I said that only she can make the decision based on her situation. Nevertheless, I wouldn't rule out buying the Leica as I believe it is healthy to do things for ourselves and our kids. In many ways I'm lucky financially, but my daughter has serious medical needs that eat up lots and lots of money, which has made me realize that we need to find balance in our lives, and that includes having things that are ourselves AND things for our kids.

This is really fascinating, actually, because in addition to Stephanie having an internal struggle about buying the camera, we're also struggling for her.

Cheers,
Alex
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Alex well said. Stephanie has offered her dilemma to us as a friend. I like that opinions are being offered with respect for her and her soon to be little "Canonet" 😉 .
 
Desires are fickle. That's how money gets wasted. I've made many classic stupid spending decisions, from the classically girly (the pair of shoes I just HAD to have right there because they were SO cute) to the less so (I have a longstanding outdoor gear problem that totally eclipses any camera gear fetishes I might have). Today I look at these things and sure, it's nice to have them but I really wish I'd saved the money instead. I'm trying to get smarter about that.

I've had the luxury to make these stupid mistakes because I have been in school, and don't have kids, and no one is depending on me. Stephanie is about ten years younger than I am, but she no longer has the luxury to make stupid spending mistakes because she is going to have a child. Therefore, I am waggling my finger at her because I am hoping that it is a counterbalance to all the [in my opinion, not very well thought out] "Go for it!" responses she's already gotten.

Stephanie, people will encourage you to buy a new camera because it helps them feel less guilty about their own gear fetishes. You don't need a new camera. You don't even really want a new camera. You want one right now because you, like me and most people, really like the idea of getting new things, but it's more about buying something, anything, than it is about the item itself.

You don't even know what kind of camera you want. If this were a case of you'd literally all your life wanted a Leica and this was your last chance I'd say, well, maybe if you can swing it you should because it's been your lifelong dream and hey, there's a good bargain over there right now that's exactly what you've always wanted. But this is not the case. You just want to buy something. There's nothing wrong with that (we all suffer from it) but if you want to be smart, you'll sit on your hands. It isn't actually your last chance to buy a new camera. The dramatic language in your original post only confirms that buying a camera right now would be a bad decision, in my opinion. I know because I've been there.

The guys here buy and sell gear all the time like it's all just pocket money, so it's hard not to want to do the same, but the truth is that they (a) can afford to do so, which you (and I) cannot, or (b) they are making stupid monetary decisions that you shouldn't emulate.

Congratulations on the baby by the way.
 
Um, in my defense I don't buy and sell gear all the time and my gear wasn't pocket money. In fact, and with my wife's total support, I bought my first Leica this year after we had our second child who has a very severe and rare genetic disorder. I really, really don't want Stephanie to do anything irresponsible; however, I also feel that it's unhealthy to deprive ourselves of special things if we can afford them. She should make her decision carefully, that's all.

Cheers,
Alex
 
You know. I'm lucky. I own two Leica M6's. I got absurdly expensive lenses. I calculated it last week, and there's Leica gear worth at least $10,000. I shouldn't have GAS at all. But I do. And guess what I want? A Bessa R with a 50mm Summitar. Doesn't make sense, does it? I have spent so much money on this, and my images still suck. Bigtime.

Buying that M2 will not cure GAS - it will kick-start it.
 
Maybe I come from the world of "Singledom" where I have 1) no kids 2) no spouse 3) no one that depends on me for survival outside of my cats and 4) no mortgage.

So.. I'm not rich but I would consider myself in a position of privilege.

I have also known and seen people who have got no kids but have decided to become completely "house poor" by purchasing homes they can ill near afford. I have known people who are single, like me, but feel they must try to "keep up with the jones' " and end up deep in debt for a car that they could barely afford. I have also known single parents who have very very very very little yet they have a child and that child brings more joy to them than any material item ever could. So to me.. I think that it's not so much being "frugal" or being "smart" or "wise" with your money as much as it's doing the thing that will bring you the most happiness over the longest period of time...

The kid will be the source of much frustration, joy, excitement, stress, pain, anguish, elation, pride, and so many other emotions too numerous to mention. I don't think my Leica's could ever compete with that..... and they shouldn't....

Pass on the camera.. there's a LOT of time left for it.

Now.. if you were single like myself.. go nuts 😀 Hey.. like Melanie says.. I'm a guy and I'm stupid for buying and selling gear.. 😉

Dave
 
MelanieC said:
Desires are fickle. That's how money gets wasted. I've made many classic stupid spending decisions, from the classically girly (the pair of shoes I just HAD to have right there because they were SO cute) to the less so (I have a longstanding outdoor gear problem that totally eclipses any camera gear fetishes I might have). Today I look at these things and sure, it's nice to have them but I really wish I'd saved the money instead. I'm trying to get smarter about that.

I've had the luxury to make these stupid mistakes because I have been in school, and don't have kids, and no one is depending on me. Stephanie is about ten years younger than I am, but she no longer has the luxury to make stupid spending mistakes because she is going to have a child. Therefore, I am waggling my finger at her because I am hoping that it is a counterbalance to all the [in my opinion, not very well thought out] "Go for it!" responses she's already gotten.

Stephanie, people will encourage you to buy a new camera because it helps them feel less guilty about their own gear fetishes. You don't need a new camera. You don't even really want a new camera. You want one right now because you, like me and most people, really like the idea of getting new things, but it's more about buying something, anything, than it is about the item itself.

You don't even know what kind of camera you want. If this were a case of you'd literally all your life wanted a Leica and this was your last chance I'd say, well, maybe if you can swing it you should because it's been your lifelong dream and hey, there's a good bargain over there right now that's exactly what you've always wanted. But this is not the case. You just want to buy something. There's nothing wrong with that (we all suffer from it) but if you want to be smart, you'll sit on your hands. It isn't actually your last chance to buy a new camera. The dramatic language in your original post only confirms that buying a camera right now would be a bad decision, in my opinion. I know because I've been there.

The guys here buy and sell gear all the time like it's all just pocket money, so it's hard not to want to do the same, but the truth is that they (a) can afford to do so, which you (and I) cannot, or (b) they are making stupid monetary decisions that you shouldn't emulate.

Congratulations on the baby by the way.
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Wise words indeed.
 
First Kid, huh. Been there done that. Just got him out of college. Okay. Now for what I used. You first will want pictures for giving birth. Any photos prior to that any camera is fine. As for the operating room. Fast lens with fast film will be fine. f/0.95 is not necessary. Around f/2.0 if fine. For the first five years any rangefinder that you like will do. They don't move all that fast. The problems come when you go to the beach or the pool with them. You can't take a good camera on the beach or in the pool. That's when you need the bgn. or Nikonos. As for when they become involved in sports...They move fast. That's when I had to switch to motor drive and autofocus. It has easier. A quiet rangefinder that you can afford and are comfortable will always come in handy. And, you probably will never have enough pictures.
 
melanie did manage to put into eloquent language, the very thing most of us knew but were unable to communicate through the fog of GAS.
 
Hi Stephanie,

You don't know me yet, I'm quite new around here. Yet my wife and I were cheering you on when we saw your announcement about the baby. We used to go to ISU in Ames, that's also one reason that we feel a certain connection to you 🙂

About the GAS attack, I can absolutely relate to you, furthermore, the Leica GAS seems to be more powerful than other types, believe me in this, I'm an Olympus nut 😉 and I am too, considering to acquire my first Leica.

Having said that, let me make a prediction and a suggestion.

First the prediction:
When you finally hold your baby in your arms, the *last* thing in your mind would be the Leica. When you drag yourself out of bed after only 37 minutes dozing off after a whole day of colic-induce crankiness (yes, all three of you), the *last* thing in your mind would be the Leica. When you first discover that your baby can turn him/herself on the bed, you'd be grabbing whatever camera you have in the house, and it won't matter if it's a pinhole made from a diaper-box, you won't miss the Leica... see a pattern here?

Second, a suggestion:
Give yourself a goal. That your baby someday will inherit a much-used, well-cared and much-loved Leica. Thinking from this perspective, you will be focused on your baby the first few years (and trust me, they go by sooo quickly) and then... you'll still have 20-60 years to get a Leica and enjoy it *together* with your then toddler, teen, adolescent, and grown-up baby.

As for me, I have one daughter and someday, I'll place a much-loved Leica in her hands, right after I take her wedding pictures with it.
 
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