brokencivilian
Established
I'm not really here looking for finacial advice, I already know how im going to deal with that.
And As for the 3 year plan and payments, I am going to be paying over half for the camera upfront getting my payments about 100 a month, which I will obvious pay more when I can.
I based everything off of what I will be selling/trading plus what I make from work and spend (bills, etc)
To me there is no problem financially here. Yes it will be tough.
But I think I've thought it through enough to make a good decision. Whether it be get it now or in a couple months.
BobYIL
Well-known
Sometimes we learn more out of our mistakes than what we could do with accomplishments. The matter is to learn what we need to learn, however as soon as possible and with the least cost/loss as possible.
Keep your M6 and D300 and lease the M9. This way will tell you right in the first weeks if you succeeded something worth the price difference between the D300 and the M9 or not; only you know it...
In case you're considering to go professional one day, then do not confine yourself within the limitations of older technology with high financial plans. You are young, keep yourself open to the merits of up-to-date technology, lightning fast AF, high ISO capability to shoot under any conditions and start educating yourself on what brings money in the branch you intend to function.
Araakii
Well-known
On the topic about making money, I have seen some people (on craigslist, lol) emphasizing on their M9 and other M lenses when they advertise their business. It might sound a lot to people like us who know about this camera, but I don't think the prospective clients would care a bit. And I don't really see how the M9 can produce better selling photographs than a DSLR. However, if you are planning to make money by selling prints, then the M9 would be a plus. But that seems so far down the road.
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
It seems your mind is firmly made up, you will buy the M9 or even a M9-P via credit. I'm not going to try to change your mind, I don't know your financial position and even if it later transpires to be a mistake, well we all make them and we all have to learn from them.
My concern, as a professional freelance photographer, is that you seem to have a slightly fantastical idea of your ability to make money from a one body one lens set-up. Forget who makes the camera or the lens, the very idea that you will make anywhere near enough money to live on with one camera and one lens is, frankly, absurd. There may well be other working photographers here who use their M9 for work, either alongside another camera system or as their sole system - the difference is I'll wager every one of them has a pre-existing client list built up over the years and has a solid business existing already. From my understanding you haven't built up a business yet and will be looking to start with a one body, one lens operation selling prints and so on. You've decided to ignore some sound financial advice and you may well ignore my advice too, so I hope that your talk of making money from this set-up is hyperbole or you're simply exaggerating how much you think you can make to get people off your back?
If you get the camera, enjoy it. It is a quality piece of kit and I have no buyer's remorse whatsoever....but then I paid for mine through my business, use it alongside other equipment and was honest enough with myself to admit that it was always a luxury purchase, my business would function perfectly well without it .
My concern, as a professional freelance photographer, is that you seem to have a slightly fantastical idea of your ability to make money from a one body one lens set-up. Forget who makes the camera or the lens, the very idea that you will make anywhere near enough money to live on with one camera and one lens is, frankly, absurd. There may well be other working photographers here who use their M9 for work, either alongside another camera system or as their sole system - the difference is I'll wager every one of them has a pre-existing client list built up over the years and has a solid business existing already. From my understanding you haven't built up a business yet and will be looking to start with a one body, one lens operation selling prints and so on. You've decided to ignore some sound financial advice and you may well ignore my advice too, so I hope that your talk of making money from this set-up is hyperbole or you're simply exaggerating how much you think you can make to get people off your back?
If you get the camera, enjoy it. It is a quality piece of kit and I have no buyer's remorse whatsoever....but then I paid for mine through my business, use it alongside other equipment and was honest enough with myself to admit that it was always a luxury purchase, my business would function perfectly well without it .
250swb
Well-known
An M9 is my main camera and I have hardly used anything else for the last 28 months. And I would love to say 'go for it' but can't see much logic in your choice irrespective of whether you can afford it or if you are old enough to own a Leica (yes I laughed at that one as well).
The first principle of business is not to mix it with pleasure. Or you could modify it to say 'don't allow pleasure to get in the way of business'. Buy a bag full of hatefully boring Nikon equipment and use that to earn the money. You may have a faint chance of earning something in the age where everybody has a camera and everybody is therefore a photographer. Wear it out, that is the aim of a professional photographer, use a camera until it is on its last legs and only then reluctantly change it. Buy an M9 when you have a photographic plan, not just a fiscal plan or a GAS attack, because I think you have a snowball in hell's chance of earning money with an M9 and a 50mm lens. Unless an M9's form factor is going to get you places others can't go any other more flexible camera system will work better for earning more money more easily. People want good pictures, not specifically pictures made with a Leica, it won't impress anybody.
Steve
The first principle of business is not to mix it with pleasure. Or you could modify it to say 'don't allow pleasure to get in the way of business'. Buy a bag full of hatefully boring Nikon equipment and use that to earn the money. You may have a faint chance of earning something in the age where everybody has a camera and everybody is therefore a photographer. Wear it out, that is the aim of a professional photographer, use a camera until it is on its last legs and only then reluctantly change it. Buy an M9 when you have a photographic plan, not just a fiscal plan or a GAS attack, because I think you have a snowball in hell's chance of earning money with an M9 and a 50mm lens. Unless an M9's form factor is going to get you places others can't go any other more flexible camera system will work better for earning more money more easily. People want good pictures, not specifically pictures made with a Leica, it won't impress anybody.
Steve
Pikapig
Loving Analog
I will say...play with what u can afford...u wont wish to land yourself in a position struggling for money to fund it...n enjoying less of the camera...
if u can finance it well..then of cos, try it!
if u can finance it well..then of cos, try it!
luuca
Well-known
from analogue M to digital M you only could complain about:
- the lack of the cocking lever (I wish leica could offer it as an "upgrade")
- the thickness of the body (that's just millimeters, but my MP just fits better in my hand than my M9)
doolittle
Well-known
I don't have an M9 and have nothing to add to your original question. Forgive me so for putting my oar in! By the sounds of it, this deal will leave you cash strapped and without some nice film cameras. The lack of some film cameras is not the end of the world, but being cash strapped is not a nice situation to be in. Sure, you can make the repayments now. However what happens when something unexpected occurs and your relative lack of cash becomes an issue? Or you have to pass on a really good deal due to lack of funds etc.
If your mind is made up and you are prepared to live with the consequences, you don't need to ask for advice, just go for it.
If however you really don't need the camera straight away, save for a bit longer. Save up the money you planned to use on the repayments and add what you can from time to time and buy the camera for cash when you can afford it.
If your mind is made up and you are prepared to live with the consequences, you don't need to ask for advice, just go for it.
If however you really don't need the camera straight away, save for a bit longer. Save up the money you planned to use on the repayments and add what you can from time to time and buy the camera for cash when you can afford it.
Teuthida
Well-known
Go with what YOU want. Life is short, and you only live once.
That being said, I'd buy a used d700 and a 50 1.8 AF Nikkor and use the $5000 I'd just saved to go traveling (if you want to be happy, spend your money not on THINGS but on EXPERIENCES).
That being said, I'd buy a used d700 and a 50 1.8 AF Nikkor and use the $5000 I'd just saved to go traveling (if you want to be happy, spend your money not on THINGS but on EXPERIENCES).
mynikonf2
OEM
...be still & listen.
...be still & listen.
Very, very wise words. He who has ears to hear, listen very closely.
...be still & listen.
Very, very wise words. He who has ears to hear, listen very closely.
braver
Well-known
The OP isn't making any sense. If it's for kit to do some business, just an M9 and a 50 doesn't make sense. You can't do a portrait session with just that (lights!), you can't do a wedding with just that, you can hardly do journalism with that (and I doubt there is any money to be made there), you can't reliably be in business this way. If you're serious about this part and not just fantasizing or justifying the expense, build up a kit around a D300 or a D800 if you want the FX, and you can actually do some work. The pictures will be better for it.
Financially it doesn't make sense either, as many have already pointed out. Don't buy stuff you can only afford halfway. What happens if you drop it or something else happens? The only way to deal with that is a bunch of insurance, but altogether in three years time you'll have paid enough insurance and interest to have bought an extra lens or even a second M9. You have to build up enough disposable income and/or savings to deal with gear this expensive. I say don't get the M9 if you have 50% of its value covered, get it when you have 200% covered.
Good pictures come from hard work and patience. Work on your patience and see where you stand a year from now.
Financially it doesn't make sense either, as many have already pointed out. Don't buy stuff you can only afford halfway. What happens if you drop it or something else happens? The only way to deal with that is a bunch of insurance, but altogether in three years time you'll have paid enough insurance and interest to have bought an extra lens or even a second M9. You have to build up enough disposable income and/or savings to deal with gear this expensive. I say don't get the M9 if you have 50% of its value covered, get it when you have 200% covered.
Good pictures come from hard work and patience. Work on your patience and see where you stand a year from now.
astro8
Well-known
The OP hasn't said whether he has tried out an M8, R-D1.
He may be surprised and discover it's all he needs to satisfy digital M lust?
I think the OP has a bad case of GAS!
I'd like an M9 too, but am quite content with the R-D1 until I have all the cash.
Circumstances are in my favour. The M9 is coming down in price as my cash stash is going up.
Seriously though, at 22 priorities and urges can change on a weekly basis.
Don't tie yourself up with a camera that you wish was a plane ticket to escape to some far off paradise in 6 months time....you may kick yourself.
He may be surprised and discover it's all he needs to satisfy digital M lust?
I think the OP has a bad case of GAS!
I'd like an M9 too, but am quite content with the R-D1 until I have all the cash.
Circumstances are in my favour. The M9 is coming down in price as my cash stash is going up.
Seriously though, at 22 priorities and urges can change on a weekly basis.
Don't tie yourself up with a camera that you wish was a plane ticket to escape to some far off paradise in 6 months time....you may kick yourself.
Joosep
Well-known
Just saying...
Im 22. Finishing my bachelor in math.
Since I was a small kid I have had one of the worst cases of GAS.
Got into photography at the age of 12.
I now have a pretty nice cabinet full of cameras and lenses.
During the last 7 months I have bought a film RF and 15mm,35mm,50mm and 90mm lenses to go with it.
Im very strict with my money and never buy anything easily, even socks, I always do research.
Im also a hopeless romantic.
Im loving life and loving film.
I can see the bonuses in a digital M, but using it with one lens is a very big NO.
Im 22. Finishing my bachelor in math.
Since I was a small kid I have had one of the worst cases of GAS.
Got into photography at the age of 12.
I now have a pretty nice cabinet full of cameras and lenses.
During the last 7 months I have bought a film RF and 15mm,35mm,50mm and 90mm lenses to go with it.
Im very strict with my money and never buy anything easily, even socks, I always do research.
Im also a hopeless romantic.
Im loving life and loving film.
I can see the bonuses in a digital M, but using it with one lens is a very big NO.
No, it is the best camera I've ever used...and I've used a ton of them. That said, I am a Leica M fan and anything else feels second best in my hands. I also hate DSLRs...
I would think the question you need to answer is why you want a M9 and what other cameras were you thinking about as an alternative...
brokencivilian
Established
Have sold my d300 already cause I couldn't stand using it anymore. The one I speak of in here is my live in girlfriends.
I don't believe I will be strapped for cash. I also will be saving for a couple months prior to purchase.
Life is short and money is expendable. I don't want a d700, I did at one point. But I am not happy with Digital SLR's right now. Even my film ones I would rather one of my m6's
Forget about bussiness, think hobby. I never said that I would only ever have one lens - I said that I have ONE lens to use that I wouldnt need to buy one right away.
Never tired an M8 or Rd1 but I'm not a fan of crop sensor. So i have no interest in one of those.
I'm not thinking about other cameras as an alternative. I know what I want and what I am comfortable spending money one. Even if its a lot of money.
nobbylon
Veteran
If you already decided on an M9 why post this thread? Countering every members reply when you've asked for some opinion seems a little odd to me.
Go buy your M9 and be happy you have what you believe to be the best but in the end if you can't get a satisfactory result from a D300 and you haven't told us why it disappoints you yet, then I doubt you will get a satisfactory result from an M9!
I don't wish to offend but this is going in circles.
Go buy your M9 and be happy you have what you believe to be the best but in the end if you can't get a satisfactory result from a D300 and you haven't told us why it disappoints you yet, then I doubt you will get a satisfactory result from an M9!
I don't wish to offend but this is going in circles.
braver
Well-known
Indeed. If you're going to reply to every piece of advice with "but I want an M9 and I'm sure of it", I'm not sure why you're even discussing the point.
I think you hoped to receive a bunch of encouragement here, but obviously you're not getting as much of that as you hoped.
You're obviously going through a serious bout of GAS. Either you sit it out and make a more reasonable decision later on, or you spend a whole lot of money right now... Neither choice has anything to do with taking pictures though, for that you might consider putting money towards schooling/courses/workshops, printing a portfolio (or just for hanging stuff around the house), getting into a portfolio review, etc. All of which is also quite expensive, but actually takes some intelligent participation from your end as well whereas purchasing stuff doesn't.
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Ok, so it's either M9 or nothing? Why did you ask the question again then?
Or is it M9 or just keep using what you are using now?
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
OK, so you can counter every single piece of negative advice, go get one already. No need to even ask.
Bob
Bob
custom875
Member
I can't imagine carrying around a camera that hasn't been fully paid for yet.
I know these cameras can take a beating but what happens if the camera gets damaged? Accidents do happen and if you can't afford the camera how would you pay for unexpected repair costs. Finance that too??
I know these cameras can take a beating but what happens if the camera gets damaged? Accidents do happen and if you can't afford the camera how would you pay for unexpected repair costs. Finance that too??