Does buying a Leica stop G.A.S. ?

[macfred]

I found it much easier to quit booze ...

This!

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... Maybe instead of Leica, you should have been buying Hasselblad.

Doesn't help...

The continual acquisition of objects is a mental condition. A lady I knew would buy household improvement items at Sears almost every week, but she'd never use them: they sat unopened in their packaging for years. A medical student and photographer friend of mine told me people do that because "it gives them a feeling of rebirth." I'm not sure of that now; I think the excessive acquisition of objects, be it cameras, watches, guns, cars, ham radio equipment, etc., is perhaps a substitute for children or family.

It's also been mentioned on TimeZone that the process of researching and planning to acquire the next object (mechanical watch) is so satisfying that the desire to keep experiencing that process is what drives the acquisitions.

But I am not a psychiatrist. I'm certain, however, that the condition can be cured by something called a "wife".

 

[Pieter12]

Ir doesn't help one bit. But it does slow down the speed of acquisition of gear in general, given that Leica bling costs 3-10x as much. Every time I buy something $$$, it feels like a punch in the gut. And then you get used to it.

 

[Arklatexian]

Wait... are you saying we can actually get film for these cameras???

Why yes! It is easy. You go down a dark alley until you come to an unmarked door, knock and when someone answers, say "Joe sent me", the door will open and the fellow on the other side will sell you 1/12th of a dozen of almost any roll film and most sheet films. If you want any shipped to anyone, they will ship it in a "plain" wrapper. This is what I tell "photographers" who tell me that you can't buy film anymore. The same guy sells "white lightning alcohol".....Don't tell anyone but film photographers about the alcohol......Regards!

 

[Arklatexian]

Doesn't help...

View attachment 220879

The continual acquisition of objects is a mental condition. A lady I knew would buy household improvement items at Sears almost every week, but she'd never use them: they sat unopened in their packaging for years. A medical student and photographer friend of mine told me people do that because "it gives them a feeling of rebirth." I'm not sure of that now; I think the excessive acquisition of objects, be it cameras, watches, guns, cars, ham radio equipment, etc., is perhaps a substitute for children or family.

It's also been mentioned on TimeZone that the process of researching and planning to acquire the next object (mechanical watch) is so satisfying that the desire to keep experiencing that process is what drives the acquisitions.

But I am not a psychiatrist. I'm certain, however, that the condition can be cured by something called a "wife".

Yes, but I have a German wife who is not "turned off" by the word "Leica". Soooo Leica, then Hasselblad, then what else? I think I know. Take up 16mm cine and start buying 16mm Arriflex outfits. That should slow down anyone except Disney Studios......Regards!

 

[MattKing]

No it just makes it "glow".

 

[guangong]

Doesn't help...

View attachment 220879

The continual acquisition of objects is a mental condition. A lady I knew would buy household improvement items at Sears almost every week, but she'd never use them: they sat unopened in their packaging for years. A medical student and photographer friend of mine told me people do that because "it gives them a feeling of rebirth." I'm not sure of that now; I think the excessive acquisition of objects, be it cameras, watches, guns, cars, ham radio equipment, etc., is perhaps a substitute for children or family.

It's also been mentioned on TimeZone that the process of researching and planning to acquire the next object (mechanical watch) is so satisfying that the desire to keep experiencing that process is what drives the acquisitions.

But I am not a psychiatrist. I'm certain, however, that the condition can be cured by something called a "wife".

Collecting wives can be even more costly than acquiring Leicas and accessories.

At one time Leicas were the cheaper choice of the better 35mm rf cameras. The top of the line expensive one was Contax.
For what Leitz offered, a durable, well made camera for those who needed such cameras, they were not overly expensive. Generally speaking, after Leitz family lost business, successive owners have bee producing equipment for the same class as those who buy $5,000 clutch purses and $2,000 penny loafers. Quality of cameras not the same, but design looks expensive...and that’s what counts.

 

[Bill Burk]

Time Life Library of Photography gave me GAS when I was a teenager. I had to try one of each kind of camera in "The Camera".
Since I picked them up cheap at camera shows, I was pretty well cured by the time I was in my late twenties. But I always wondered what I was missing finally getting a Leica satisfied my curiosity. By then I had decided to go with 4x5 and it was really weird. Because for all it's wonder... it's just a 35mm camera.

 

[macfred]

Because for all it's wonder... it's just a 35mm camera.

True!

 

[StepheKoontz]

I innocently picked up a IIIC with a 35mm f3.5 elmar for a good price. I now have shelves full of all kinds of 35mm rangefinders including Canon, Nikon, Contax and some other Leica clones. If you suffer from GAS, for God's sake don't do it! lol

 

[ME Super]

Does scratching an itch make the itch go away?

If the itch is caused by poison ivy, and you scratch the itch by running hot water over it (not so hot it scalds you, obviously), the itch intensifies for about a minute, and then goes away for a couple hours. The hot water opens the pores, releasing the histamine, causing the itch to intensify. The water washes the histamine away. When it's all gone, the itch stops, until the histamine builds up again.

Kind of like GAS. Buying that new-to-you whatchamacallit stops the itch for a little while.

 

[Pioneer]

Hmm.

Only one person can put an end to GAS and for me that person wasn't named Leica.

However, every person is an individual and I cannot say what might work for you.

I have several Leicas I can sell you if you would like to see if it works for you.

 

[TheRook]

Buying more stuff is not a good method to put and end to G.A.S. The only thing that can help is to quit buying stuff you don't absolutely need.

 

[Mcsushiburger]

I have found a way to shift my G.A.S. away from cameras. Now I buy darkroom supplies. But seriously, trying to learn to make a damn good print has shifted my attention away from getting better gear to improving my skills as a photographer. I kinda realised that between getting that better lens and spending more time learning to print, one of the two improves your pictures, whilst the other does not. I'll let you figure out which does which. My G.A.S. now mainly manifests in buying 10 000 different kinds of paper.

 

[Vincent Peri]

Buying more stuff is not a good method to put and end to G.A.S. The only thing that can help is to quit buying stuff you don't absolutely need.

I have at least 2 of everything... why can't I stop???

Hmm... maybe you're greedy...?

 

[KenS]

Yes.. I have used a Leica.. but... as of today, I rarely ever take my old Pentax Spotmatic with my 100 mm lens out the house any more...I'd much rather humph my Linhof monorail and heavy tripod... resulting in much 'fewer' exposures... but much 'larger' negatives that provide more 'information' per exposure to transfer onto print material.

Ken

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Ir doesn't help one bit. But it does slow down the speed of acquisition of gear in general, given that Leica bling costs 3-10x as much. Every time I buy something $$$, it feels like a punch in the gut. And then you get used to it.

I have seen (on-line) folks who are only slowed down by Leica new gear releases. Once released, they buy it.

 

[johnha]

It helped mine, before buying an M4 & Voightlander 40/1.4 I'd been acquiring mechanical Pentaxs (good servicing in the UK is getting harder to find). I deduced the last film camera servicing available in Europe will likely be for Leica M. The 43mm focal length is my favourite, the Voightlander 40 is close enough until I find the Pentax 43mm L special (which might need to be paired with the Ricoh GR 28mm special at some point!)...

 

[Sirius Glass]

I used to have GAS. So I tried the Hasselblad, your equivalent of the the Leica, and bought lenses for it, building up the set of primes that I wanted. Then one day I discovered that I was very happy with my camera of choice and my selection of lenses. I have not had GAS since. I wish you well on putting together the Leica system of your dreams, after all nothing handles and feels like a Leica.

 

[lecarp]

It all depends on what you do with the Leica!

 

[Pieter12]

Collecting wives can be even more costly than acquiring Leicas and accessories.

And can easily get rid of a Leica, probably making money in the process. With wives it's quite the opposite.

 

[Vaughn]

Does buying a bigger LF camera keep one from buying a ULF camera? No.

 

[Vilk]

Does buying a Leica...

buying, no. selling, yes. after i sold my last leica i went back to nikon and have not bought a piece of gear since 2014

 

[Eric Rose]

And can easily get rid of a Leica, probably making money in the process. With wives it's quite the opposite.

Wow tell me about it! I'm on wife number 3.

 

[Arklatexian]

Time Life Library of Photography gave me GAS when I was a teenager. I had to try one of each kind of camera in "The Camera".
Since I picked them up cheap at camera shows, I was pretty well cured by the time I was in my late twenties. But I always wondered what I was missing finally getting a Leica satisfied my curiosity. By then I had decided to go with 4x5 and it was really weird. Because for all it's wonder... it's just a 35mm camera.

Years ago, I met a wealthy friend while crossing a street. I said "I heard you just bought a new Leica Reflex. How do you like it"? He answered: "It's fine but you know it still is JUST A 35mm CAMERA, when I need really good pictures, I USE MY HASSELBLAD!" Your last sentence reminded me of the incident. Thanks..........Regards!