Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]My question is why should a college student expect to be able to afford everything he wants? College costs have moved well ahead of inflation, and parents are hard-pressed to afford it. When I see all those "average Joes" out there driving gas-guzzling SUV's (speng $300 monthly on gas is quite common) and yakking on cell phones, I certainly would think that an M6 with 3-4 lenses is hardly out of the question. It's really a matter of priorities. - -- On Tue, 23 May 2000 10:13:21 Rich Lahrson wrote: >Jeff S wrote: >> > The sad part is that it [Leica pricing] does limit the >> > ability of the average college student interested in photography or just the >> > average Joe with a family from having the ability to utilize and enjoy an M6 >> > and 3-4 lenses. > >Hi Jeff and Al, > > Well, unless daddy's paying for the college kid's new M6 with the 3 >lenses, most, like 99 per cent of college students could not even afford >a used M4-P or M4-2 and the lenses. That's dollars 3K. Let's be realistic, >suppose the student wants to develop and print b&w, there's another dollars >1K, at LEAST, for the set-up, maybe half if you scrimp. BTW, my first >enlarger I made out of an old folding camera got from a junk store. > > I guess times have changed. When I was a college student, I bought >a nice condition Leica IIIa with the f/2 Summar, for $45.00 from a major >photo store (about '68). I spent $15.00 on a 35mm Durst, got a tank >and trays, mounted that Summar on the Durst, and I was ready to photograph >and print. Even today, if the student has an interest in >the Leica style, there's screw mount Canons for less, and for the poor, >there's Zorkis. > > Equipment does NOT make the picture, sorry fellas. Maybe you wouldn't >want to sleep with a dog of a camera, but the point is philisophical: >it's a TOOL to capture a moment of time, not a love interest. > > Sorry to be a thorn in the toe, but money and talent are not >the same thing. > > Cheers, > > Rich Lahrson > tripspud@wenet.net > Get your FREE Email at http://mailcity.lycos.com Get your PERSONALIZED START PAGE at http://my.lycos.com