its one of those Leica-dream days.

[lubitel]

Every once in a while, I'll get a really heavy leica GAS attack. This one was sparked by a conversation with a friend about a local camera collector who has got every imaginable leica there is.

I am just dreaming of owning a leica, like an M2 with summicron. thinking that its the only thing required for complete happiness. If only i had an M2 then.... I dont know. Then what? I dont think it would make me any better photo-amateur. 🙂 I have enough cameras, I dont neeeeeed a leica to take photos.

I think its time to get out my fed2 with i-22 to forget about my leica blues.

 

[doubs43]

Tsk, tsk......... denial only makes it worse! 😉

Walker

 

[akptc]

.... I think its time to get out my fed2 with i-22 to forget about my leica blues.

I've felt the exact same way many times and have found a "perfect" cure. Every time I get excited about a camere I haven't tried/had before, I buy it used, play with it, and wait to see if the fever stays or goes away, and thus make my keep/not-keep decision. This has worked like a charm so far. The real problem that I am running into is finding the time to actually take pictures with the ones I keep...

 

[Honus]

Lubitel,

I hate to feed the fire, but I had serious Leica GAS as well. The only cure is to buy one. Back in November I bought an M2. That cured the M-GAS, but the Summicron-GAS kicked in. In December, I bought a 35mm Summicron and the GAS again subsided. It reared it's ugly head again for a 50mm Summicron, which I bought in January. Since then, the GAS has subsided, but my wife is pissed at me. A pretty fair trade, IMO.

Robert

 

[SolaresLarrave]

The only way to really cure GAS is staying away from the computer.

And sometimes not even that one's good enough.

'Cuz you keep thinking you "need" stuff you don't have.

So, you go back to the computer, go online... and the cycle repeats again! 🙂

Better learn to live with it. My current dream: either an M2 or an M4 (in any flavor).

 

[wyk_penguin]

Lubitel,

I hate to feed the fire, but I had serious Leica GAS as well. The only cure is to buy one. Back in November I bought an M2. That cured the M-GAS, but the Summicron-GAS kicked in. In December, I bought a 35mm Summicron and the GAS again subsided. It reared it's ugly head again for a 50mm Summicron, which I bought in January. Since then, the GAS has subsided, but my wife is pissed at me. A pretty fair trade, IMO.

Robert

When does the noctilux gas kick in and replaces the mad wife.

 

[Doug]

I'd agree; if you have the hots for a Leica, the best way to deal with it is to get a Leica! Get a used one, try to keep the cost down. Get ONE lens, maybe a Summicron either in 35mm or 50mm. Now is the time for discipline and "pay-back". You need to shoot at least 50 rolls of film before buying any more major items. Ideal way is to establish a PAW (Picture-A-Week) program for yourself and shoot a roll every week of the year with that Leica and one lens. Carefully examine your week's photos, think about what you accomplished. Pick your best photo every week and print it, maybe display it on your web page or here. Plan for the next week's shooting, and so on. You will learn a lot, and have some good photos to show for it! Now, based on this experience, consider what additional gear might be of use.

 

[lubitel]

Thanks for the tips guys. The PAW is a good idea to keep yourself focused on whats important - photography.

I cant believe you actually recommend getting a leica as a cure! I guess it probably is the only cure. But even if I say to myself, that I will only try it out, i know I will keep it if I have one. its a leica! And my beautiful black Bessa R (which cured my bessa-gas 3 months ago) will lay on the shelf. And 1 month later, I will probably want more leica glass, which will ruin me. There is just no way out 🙂

But if I get a really good deal from this collector, may be I should just go for it.

 

[Gid]

The only cure is to get one - that's what i did recently. You won't lose money because there are plenty of people waiting to pick one up. Doug's suggestion is sensible and something that I should practice. Mind you I am shooting a couple of rolls a week - the developing is just backing up a bit.