When I got back from Asia last night I had my new backup Pentax spot-meter waiting for me. I paid $200 CAD including shipping for this older used but functioning perfect meter. I wanted to get one back up for this meter just in case I had problems in the future like last time. I also need to get a 90mm SW Nikon lens in the coming months which should run me between $500-650. I had problems with my Linhof 90mm and I do not want to go down that road again, I loved the 90mm format lens for making portraits, have to see the results in prints in the coming weeks but I believe this is the way I will go in the future. I want to get a high quality 90mm F5.6 to use in the field, something very reliable like my Linhof and Leica equipment.
I will also be sending in a bunch of Leica stuff for repairs in the coming weeks. I have 1 M6 body with a malfunctioning meter, a 21mm F2.8 I want serviced and a 50mm F1.4 that is badly in need of work (dropped this lens). I might change off my 3 week August trip and 3 week October trip for a 5 week October trip (back to Mae Sot). If I cut from 2 to 1 I will have an additional $1500 (air ticket cost) to pay for the repairs etc.
Next trip to Asia I plan on taking 3 lens and 3 camera bodies, no more changing lens, I want 1 lens per body so I can shoot faster and fluidly. If I do the 5 week trip in October I will probably take 125 rolls of 35mm or so with me, maybe more.
I will probably also do a large 35mm film buy in the next year, I need to order more Tri-x bulk rolls as I am going through this stuff fast! Tomorrow I will call and pay for the last of my 8x10 film and also order another box of 16x20 warmtone fiber paper.
I am quite happy I am spending more money making pics instead of getting more and more gear, the only gear I buy now is backup and repair stuff. I will get the 90mm Nikon as a replacement for my damaged Linhof 90. For a long time I was on this never ending gear buy thingy and not spending money on the production of photographs, now it seems to have changed, I spend much more money on production and much less on buying new toys, which is as it should be.
I will also be sending in a bunch of Leica stuff for repairs in the coming weeks. I have 1 M6 body with a malfunctioning meter, a 21mm F2.8 I want serviced and a 50mm F1.4 that is badly in need of work (dropped this lens). I might change off my 3 week August trip and 3 week October trip for a 5 week October trip (back to Mae Sot). If I cut from 2 to 1 I will have an additional $1500 (air ticket cost) to pay for the repairs etc.
Next trip to Asia I plan on taking 3 lens and 3 camera bodies, no more changing lens, I want 1 lens per body so I can shoot faster and fluidly. If I do the 5 week trip in October I will probably take 125 rolls of 35mm or so with me, maybe more.
I will probably also do a large 35mm film buy in the next year, I need to order more Tri-x bulk rolls as I am going through this stuff fast! Tomorrow I will call and pay for the last of my 8x10 film and also order another box of 16x20 warmtone fiber paper.
I am quite happy I am spending more money making pics instead of getting more and more gear, the only gear I buy now is backup and repair stuff. I will get the 90mm Nikon as a replacement for my damaged Linhof 90. For a long time I was on this never ending gear buy thingy and not spending money on the production of photographs, now it seems to have changed, I spend much more money on production and much less on buying new toys, which is as it should be.
