GAS

I have a bad case of GAS which I can't seem to shake. I use my two 35mm film cameras regularly, but I want to try a point-n-soot like the Olympus Trip 35 or Canonet QL17 GII. But in 2020, I fell in love with what James Tocchio wrote about the Minolta CLE and M-Rokkor 40mm F/2 lens.

I have a lot of questions swirling around my head. Should (I don't like shoulds) I ignore my budget and buy what will be a costly camera and lens? Or should I sell off all my other Minolta gear and put the cash toward the new kit? Or be happy with what I have?

The Minolta M Rokkor 40mm F2 is a very popular lens. They are selling on eBay for more than $380. It’s the only 40mm lens that Minolta has ever made, and I love the field of view of the 40mm focal length. The CLE can rarely be found on eBay for less than $700. A working body and lens combination can sell on eBay for upwards of US$1699.

I think that it’s ridiculous that an old used 35mm film camera can sell on eBay for money than a brand new top-of-the-line camera from Sony or Nikon.

But I want one.