Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/23

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Subject: [Leica] Re: frugal plug
From: "Eric" <ericm@pobox.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 06:52:52 -0600
References: <B84AD708.6866%Mail@SlideOne.com> <3C2585CA.41263687@webshuttle.ch>

Nathan wrote:

>I do not know your financial situation and it is none of my business, but when
>I read your initial post, my initial thought was also something along the
>lines, "If he can afford a Leica then he should be able to afford film too".

I think I understand where you're coming from, John.

It isn't always about whether you can afford something or not.  If you can
get something cheaper (and better quality all at the same time), then you'll
be that much closer to your *next* Leica lens if you save your money now.

Being frugal isn't the same as being cheap or not being able to afford film.
Buying an off brand lens that doesn't give you the same quality as a Leica
isn't frugal.  Going to your local photo place and paying a couple bucks a
roll isn't frugal if they scratch your negatives.  On the other hand, if
they don't scratch your negatives for that price, souping your own isn't
necessarily frugal.  :)

Getting set up to do your own developing isn't without expense.  After
having quality issues with cheap no name 35mm reels, I broke down and bought
Hewes...at $20 a pop for 4 of 'em.  That would have paid for quite a bit of
development.  I bought a scanner for another $700 (but minus $200 rebate!
:).  I picked up a cubitainer of Rapidfix for another $70.  Pretty soon,
we're talking real money.  Amortized over the how many rolls I can develop
with the chemicals I have now, I figure that development costs me about 10
cents a roll.  Not including the Hewes reels or scanner or any of the
non-perishables like the thermometer or tank.  Or the $100 to join a
nonprofit darkroom for a year + $7/day for access & chemicals for when I
want to make "real" prints.

But...now I have the bulk of the expense paid for.  I buy film in bricks for
less than $4 a roll.  Have I thanked you lately for all of your advice,
Mark?  I wouldn't be where I'm at today if not for the kindness of one of
our knowledgeable luggers.

Through all of this, my wife has been fantastic.  She doesn't complain when
I take over the kitchen to develop.  She hasn't pointed out that my cost per
roll is still far more at this point than if I were paying somebody else to
do it.


Eric
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Replies: Reply from Dan Cardish <dcardish@sympatico.ca> (Re: [Leica] Re: frugal plug)
In reply to: Message from John Straus <Mail@SlideOne.com> (Re: [Leica] re: frugal plug)
Message from Nathan Wajsman <wajsman@webshuttle.ch> (Re: [Leica] re: frugal plug)