Lenses are like buses

[andybarton]

Over the past four years of Leica addiction (sorry... ) ownership, I have collected a few lenses, but as I am sure many will find, there's always something interesting that isn't in your bag or on your shelf.

My recent purchase of a 19mm for the R8 was an impulse buy while just browsing in a London dealer. I had been on the look out for one for a while, and as they are not very common, "had" to buy it when I saw it.

Well, yesterday, another dealer in London (not one of the big, Pied Bull or Southampton Row specialists) had an M35 f2 ASPH in mint- condition in the window at a good price AND a mint- 60 Macro Elmarit-R, also at a good price. The 60 in particular I have been thinking about for a while, but a decent 35 for my M2 would also be on my list.

If it wasn't just after Christmas, I would have been very tempted by one or other (or may both at a stretch).

It's a little like buying shoes, or a suit. When you're not in the market, you can always find a pair of shoes you like the look of. When you do want a pair, it takes ages to find something that suits...

[cbretteville]

All this sounds very familiar....
- Carl

[erl]

. . . . also quite dangerous.

Yesterday, I went out to buy some fish for dinner and came back with two leather chairs for my office. My wife was most put out, because I forgot the fish.

Cheers,
Erl

[bindrar]

Oh dear - I thought I was the only one. I went to pick up my ordered 75 f2 and came out with a R180 f4 as well (in September). But then my local dealer had a 180 f2.8 in his window with 2x extender as well as a R35 f2 (in December). Now what shall I do? The missus would never spot the differences between the tele lenses and the 35 is so close to a 50 she also wouldnt know?

[TimF]

The only bus that comes through where I live (and on which, as a non-driver, I am heavily reliant) is in imminent danger of being scrapped due to falling numbers of passengers. I hope there isn't an equivalent moral here.

[arthury]

Yes, indeed, Andy, I totally agree with you.

For the M8 users, these "buses" also need to be numbered so that the camera knows where they are going.

But, they are still cool buses, though.

[sthan]

Originally Posted by erl

. . . . also quite dangerous.

Yesterday, I went out to buy some fish for dinner and came back with two leather chairs for my office. My wife was most put out, because I forgot the fish.

Cheers,
Erl

Haha, Erl,
This is the most hilarious post of the year

[gvaliquette]

I know the feeling very well!

Recently, I have been lusting for a 35mm f2.8 Elmarit-R, although I already have the 35mm f2.0 'cron-R. Now, try to justify that to her.

Guy

[elansprint72]

Hey, even I have this problem and my cameras are a D2 and a V-Lux1

Pete.

[fernando_b]

Andy,
how much I understand!
I'm trying to convince myself that absolutely can't live without an R90 APO...
Fernando.

[wizard]

There is a cure to this "disease" . By the time you own 'em all, or at least almost all of them, the urge will go away. Of course, the critical point in time will be when Leica introduces a new lens...

Cheers,

Andy

[masjah]

Originally Posted by fernando_b

Andy,
how much I understand!
I'm trying to convince myself that absolutely can't live without an R90 APO...
Fernando.

Fernando

Believe me, you can't live without the R90/2 AA.

[cmb_]

Originally Posted by erl

. . . . also quite dangerous.

Yesterday, I went out to buy some fish for dinner and came back with two leather chairs for my office. My wife was most put out, because I forgot the fish.

Cheers,
Erl

That is hilarious. However, if your wife had her wits about her she would have immediately demanded that the chairs be dismantled suspecting that they were being used to smuggle in Leica gear concealed in the innards of the cushions.

[erl]

Charles, I have learned one thing and that is to ALWAYS buy black bodies AND never display more than one at a time. That way she thinks they are all the same camera. Even I don't know how many I have! Ah, the beauty of a camera design that never really changes its look.

The other day I was talking to her about all the M8's that have to go back for modification. Poor guys, I said. "When does yours go back?" she replied. Hmmm. Does she know more than I realize?

Cheers,
Erl

[k_g_wolf]

>> Erl

Your wife - most likely - is more clever than you imagine.

That way she keeps you going and not hassling her girlfriend or a PORSCHE ...


Best

[fernando_b]

John,
the problem is that one highlighted by Andy, why the 90 and not the 100 APO macro?
Which of the two best suites my R bodies?
Frequently I use lenses wide open so I'd like f/2, and frequently I use elpro for "pseudo-macro" with 50 cron, so I'd like the 100 macro. Which of the two?
May be it will take an year to choose: next Santa Claus gift to myself?
Fernando.

[erl]

Originally Posted by k_g_wolf

>> Erl

Your wife - most likely - is more clever than you imagine.

That way she keeps you going and not hassling her girlfriend or a PORSCHE ...


Best

Ah, yes Karl. You see, we both 'know each other'. I guess she really knows that when I say "the poor guys", she knows I am really talking about myself. Likewise, when she says, "and when does yours go back", she is really saying, " I know, I know", it will be back soon and you can go on pretending it's really that antique you had had all along.

Such is the amusement of the 'later' part of married life.

Cheers,
Erl

[k_g_wolf]

.... AND a bit of LEICA-life at the same time is not too bad either.

Best

Karl

[dhsimmonds]

A London Leica dealer told me last year that he has a good customer who has special pockets stitched into the lining of his coat, always discards the Leica boxes and foam packing in the shop, just to smuggle his new lens purchases into his house and past his wife!

Imagine the antics he gets up to just to retrieve his purchases after arriving home! Not a bad idea though except that I like to keep the boxes.

[masjah]

Fernando

I see - oh dear, it looks as if you need to buy both then! (I've no experience of the 100 Macro - like you I use the Elpros and the Macro Adapter with the 50/2.) I don't do a huge amount of macro work, so I can manage just fine with this - though the greater camera to subject distance of the 100 would be very nice, as well as its supreme quality.