Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Well, Alistair, I'm biased from my line of work as a classical musician where > our tools are also collectors items and knowing and understanding their $ > value is survival in a world where the best tools range from $100,000 to > $4,000,000. In this case, the fondlers must be multi-millionaires. Not the > case for cameras. > > Photography is not a job for me. Purely fun and enjoyment. I enjoy seeking > the best tools as well. Siver-halide based still photography is one of the few fields where professional-grade equipment does not cost much more than consumer-grade equipment. Have you looked at the pricetags of Arriflex, or other professional motion-picture equipment? You will quickly see that Leicas, which cost perhaps merely an order of magnitude more than what a normal lay person would consider reasonable for a camera, is extremely reasonable in comparison. Classical music is one field where patrons has always supported the art, since the time of Vivaldi and Bach. There is a long tradition of wealthy individuals and families supporting a number of artists through direct financial support, or making expensive musical instruments (in the case of string instruments) available to them. The latter is also a tax-effective programme. In this era when there are more classical musicians than ever, with a dwindling audience, the life for musicians is tough, though it had never been easy. However, you will noted that some of the best known orchestras and festivals are very well endowed. There are probably a few photographers left who are supported by patrons. I convinced my 'cellist wife that I really had to buy the Steinway B semi-concert grand piano, by showing that I could buy a world-class instrument for a small fraction of what it would have cost to buy a 'cello of the similar calibre. :)