How to cure GAS

[Stephen.s1]

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Feeling my semi-annual GAS attack, I thought I'd trade in my (barely used, no signs of wear or tear) M10P, M10m and a Q2 Reporter for a shiny new M11m.  

My response from two commercial buyers left me needing to add 3 thou to those cameras.

Methinks I'll keep those black boxes and simply (but not cheaply) buy a new M11 m.  

A sure cure for GAS.

[Jeff S]

40 minutes ago, Stephen.s1 said:

My response from two commercial buyers left me needing to add 3 thou to those cameras.

 

Including Leica Miami (80% FMV)?  For a brief period earlier this year, that became 90%. 
 

Of course buying a new camera, especially when you already have several great ones, is GAS.

Edited June 16 by Jeff S

[otto.f]

41 minutes ago, Stephen.s1 said:

barely used, 

If this counts for all the three camera’s you want to trade in, I wonder why you want a new camera.

 

About the concept GAS BTW: I wonder what we LUF members share under GAS: the dreaming of a new camera or lens or only the actual buying of stuff. If you just dream you’re considered healthy?

[JNK100]

A good way to avoid GAS is to buy the camera and lens you really want but maybe are a push financially.

In the long -term this will save money as you should not need to change it for a long time.

This is working for me so far...

..

..

 

 

[pgh]

34 minutes ago, JNK100 said:

A good way to avoid GAS is to buy the camera and lens you really want but maybe are a push financially.

In the long -term this will save money as you should not need to change it for a long time.

This is working for me so far...

..

..

 

 

No, in the end this usually won’t help, it will just cost you more. You could have a Phase One and still want an M11 or whatever. You could have an M11 and still want an M11D.

The cure is to use your gear, focus on your photos and stay away from the places that make you think the problem with your photography is your gear. 

It’s not, at least not with any of the stuff in question. The best photographers have always had gear limitations and that didn’t stop them, often it helped. 

The pictures in the image threads here have on average never gotten any better than when I first joined this forum 15 years ago. Not even a little bit better - not on average. The cameras are better, but the photographs, no (sorry).

Maybe the prints of these pictures are sharper and hold up to more enlargement, but that really doesn’t matter with mediocre photos anyways. 

The time to get new gear is when you have a very particular vision and your current equipment is limiting it in some specific and identifiable way - and you can be certain the execution isn’t the problem (it usually is). At that point you can hit the market with a specific problem you need to solve, and you can look to see what tool may solve that problem. And when you do this, the latest and greatest doesn’t matter. You just need to solve the problem, and if a 5 yr old used model solves that problem you can just get that. 

Edited June 16 by pgh

[LeicaR10]

Stephens1,   First, there is no cure for GAS.  I have been to intensive GAS rehab three times, always failed.  I finally realized, discipline is the only way to gaining GAS sobriety.  Most cannot do this especially with an addiction with Leica.   Second, if you really NEED a fix for the M11-M, I suggest you sell your gear on your own.  You would most likely be better off financially.  Third and last, with no cure for GAS, lack of discipline to quit and be Leica sober, then simply go buy what you really want and "need".  There are far worse addictions and really the only real victim is your bank account.  I write from nearly 50 years of Leica addiction....and never gaining Leica sobriety.   Hope this helps.  r/ Mark

PS...You could try joining a local Leica Anonymous group.  They are out there in larger cities...but they too, never get Leica sober.

Edited July 12 by LeicaR10

[lykaman]

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I use GasX for 11months of the year, in July, I abstain from the medication and buy something from that wonderful company in Wetzlar 😎.. This year it was the beautiful 28-70mm Vario Elmarit SL lens.. Now, it’s ~ Back to the medication ~ 🤣

[frame-it]

On 6/17/2025 at 3:54 AM, pgh said:

The cure is to use your gear, focus on your photos

nailed it..

 

 

but the OP can read this, just in case >

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[otto.f]

I don’t see any interesting new products from Leica since the APO Summicron 35 actually. This lens is on 40Mb camera so multi-purpose that it is in fact rather cheap. I feel very little GAS for Leica since 3-4 years

Edited July 12 by otto.f

[roydonian]

6 hours ago, frame-it said:

but the OP can read this, just in case >

I'd love to read it - if only I could find a copy!

[TomB_tx]

The cure for GAS is to stay off camera forums, etc.

Genesis chapter 3 shows the temptation problem: "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise,..." - so don't look! (Same advice for marriages.)

Edited July 12 by TomB_tx

[Viv]

GAS can lie dormant for years, before flaring up again.

There is no cure and no vaccine.

[Stephen.s1]

My cure (thus far) for German GAS is to flip on my common sense button and leave that money earning five percent.   

Thanks to all for the advice, ideas, and suggeations.

 

Steve