[Leica] 50 Summilux

[frank.dernie at btinternet.com (FRANK DERNIE)]

Jesse, I discovered years ago that I -will- give in to
temptation. Nowadays I don't waste time by hesitating.
I recommend others to do the same. Mind you I have
started putting on weight now :-(
Frank

--- Jesse Hellman <hellman@comcast.net> wrote: > A
Glorious Fourth to you all!
> 
> Posting again to the LUG after my usual dearth of
> posting. Yesterday 
> Mark Rabiner and I were emailing about the new 50
> Summilux.
> 
> I'm in agony. Maybe that's why I can't sleep. I
> always said I'd get that 
> lens and now it's here. ASPH! Floating rear element
> to give it great 
> performance at close range! And the 50 is my
> favorite length, used for 
> most of my pictures. Very Expensive, I'm sure.
> 
> But here's a story with a lesson, perhaps: got back
> from Italy a month 
> ago. When I was in college I found a reproduction of
> a Greek statue - 
> just the bust really - a Roman copy of the original.
> I have it in my 
> study today.
> 
> But I always wanted a bust of Athena but could not
> find it (pre-Google 
> days). Looked everywhere.
> 
> So there I was in the Vatican museum store and there
> it was. A 
> reproduction in bonded marble of one their Athenas,
> and let me tell you 
> they have a few gorgeous ones. Helmet, tilt of the
> head, etc perfect. 
> Rospigliosi style, they called it. Roman copy of a
> mid 4th century Greek 
> statue, attributed to Timotheus.
> 
> 182 Euros! Shipping (it's marble) 140 Euros. $400 in
> today's exchange. 
> Should I spend that much? Did I really need it? I
> went back and forth 
> for thirty minutes, going back to see the original
> twice (it's an 
> excellent reproduction).
> 
> So now it is sitting on my desk. Pallas Athena (I
> always had thought 
> Paris had made the wrong choice, although now that
> I'm older I know better).
> 
> I love it. How could I have hesitated (cupidity,
> that's how, and radix 
> malorum est cupiditas)? The goddess of wisdom, my
> favorite goddess! I 
> waited 40 years to find it, and then I hesitated!
> 
> I should get that lens. I'll get it at some point
> before I die, for 
> sure, so why not extend my use-time? And keep my
> Summicron (Mark's 
> wisdom, and the reason I regretted trades in the
> past. Keep loved 
> photographic equipment!
> 
> Athena was with Mark when he gave that advice.
> 
> Jesse
> 
> 
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