From Roll 041 (Leica M4/Delta 3200)

Let’s face it, film is meant for well-lit subjects. Every time I bring a film camera to somewhere like a restaurant or a friend’s house, I regret it. There’s just never enough light for candid snaps. I had an old roll of Delta 3200 in the fridge, so I thought I’d see if that helped. It didn’t. I like grain, but not this much grain. Good grief. Flowers. Leica M4. Summilux-M 50mm ASPH. Delta 3200 @1600. HC-110. ...

November 15, 2021 · 148 words

A reason to post?

I keep this blog around so that I have somewhere to post images and maybe a little background as well as the ever-popular gearhead nonsense. So why do I so rarely post anything? I don’t post often because a blog dedicated to photography makes me feel that each post needs gravitas. Each post needs to be worth something. Relevance. Well that’s obviously not working, so I’d like to behave a bit more frivolous about things around here. Maybe I’ll post single images with a caption and that’s it. Maybe I’ll let you know what I’m thinking about cameras in general, or a specific camera I’ve been using or wanting to use. ...

November 15, 2021 · 131 words

From Roll-040 (Leica MP)

A few from the most recent roll from of the Leica MP. It’s HP5 Plus, processed in HC-110 (dilution B) for 5 minutes. Scanned on the PrimeFilm XAs. This roll is concerning because many of the frames have horizontal scratches, which could indicate a problem with the film pressure plate. There’s also boatloads of hair and dust. My process needs refining. Chuck the bulldog My Polaroid SX-70 kit Quotes on index cards Skeleton Trash, just finishing the roll Camera Identification Selfie ...

November 12, 2021 · 81 words

Leica lenses, my how you've grown

Leica M lenses are tiny little jewels with unmatched build and image quality. Leica SL lenses are giant monsters with unmatched build and even better image quality. And auto-focus. I prefer the small ones.

October 12, 2021 · 34 words

From Roll(s) 2021-35/36

I’ve got nothing. Two rolls shot at the MSU tailgate. One with the MP and HP5 and one with the Olympus OM-1n with expired XP2. Lots of missed focus. Lots of too-far-away. Lots of dust. It’s dampening my enthusiasm for film, but here are a few anyway. Golden looking out back of party bus. (Leica MP. Summicron-M 35mm ASPH) ...

September 27, 2021 · 93 words

From Rolls 2021-030,031 (Leica MP)

Steve and Chuck The dogs were very popular, especially Chuck, the puppy Maybe too creepery, but I thought it was a beautiful and powerful configuration. Charlie was tuckered _25.jpg 600w, /img/size/w1000/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_25.jpg 1000w, /img/size/w1600/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_25.jpg 1600w, /img/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_25.jpg 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1200px" />My Nikon F3HP and motor drive _40.jpg 600w, /img/size/w1000/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_40.jpg 1000w, /img/size/w1600/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_40.jpg 1600w, /img/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_40.jpg 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1200px" />Megan and Aidan _55.jpg 600w, /img/size/w1000/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_55.jpg 1000w, /img/size/w1600/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_55.jpg 1600w, /img/2021/09/2021-Roll-031_55.jpg 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1200px" />Megan, Chuck, and Aidan

September 12, 2021 · 74 words

From Roll 2021-028 (Leica IIIf/XP2)

The little Leica IIIf is adorable, tiny, and capable. Built in 1946, it’s showing its age a bit. Also, it’s kind of a pain to use, so I only drag it out occasionally. I notice there’s also a light leak. This time I used a long-expired roll of Ilford XP2 Super.

September 8, 2021 · 51 words

From Roll 2021-027 (Leica M6/Porta)

I exercised the M6 by running a roll of Portra 400 through it, as it’s been dormant since I bought the MP. This was self-processed in Cinestill C-41 chemistry using the JOBO. Scanned on the V750 and processed in Lightroom with the Negative Lab Pro plugin.

September 7, 2021 · 46 words

The (Leica) band is back together

My repaired and overhauled Leica M4 was returned to me today. It’s beautiful, and with new shutter curtains and gearing, it works flawlessly. It’s so smooth! Apparently, most of the original lubricants had dried, which was making it a little catchy. Now it’s like butter again. Original (broken) Leica M4 shutter curtain So I currently have four beautiful Leica M cameras in perfect working order. They are (from left to right in the photo)… ...

September 3, 2021 · 279 words

From Roll 2021-026 (Leica M3/HP5 Plus)

The Leica M3 is The One, when it comes to the Leica M line. I love it so. The higher-magnification viewfinder makes it easier to focus longer lenses, so I sometimes mount the Elmarit 90mm and it’s a fine combination. A few here are using the 90mm. The others are using the Summicron-M 50mm (v4). P The roll of HP5 Plus was processed in HC-110 (Dilution B) and scanned with SilverFast on the V750. ...

August 26, 2021 · 74 words

The "charm" of vintage lenses

My Leica Elmar 9cm collapsible lens was made in 1957, making it nearly 70 years old, and it shows. The front element is hazy, causing images to be very low-contrast. Here’s an example (mounted on the SL2-S)… Hazy self-portrait with Leica 9cm f/4 collapsible It’s like a real-world Instagram filter and I don’t care for it. If it were in better condition, I might like the overall softer look for portraits. ...

August 25, 2021 · 272 words

The story of Leica’s APO M-mount lenses – Macfilos

  Jonathan Slack: But this is not just about Chromatic aberration, as Peter Karbe explained to me, the lack of aberrations results in much more contrast at the point of focus than in an ordinary lens, and that this contrast falls off very quickly in front and behind the point of focus. This means that an f/2 lens can appear to have the same depth of field as an f/1.4 lens (or even less in the case of the 75 f/1.4 compared to the 75 f/2 M lens). ...

August 23, 2021 · 137 words

Two Rangefinders

August 19, 2021 · 0 words

From Roll 2021-023 (Leica MP)

August 17, 2021 · 0 words

From Rolls 2021-021/22 (Leica MP)

Mostly snapshots from our family reunion. Leica MP, HP5+.

August 3, 2021 · 9 words

Roll 2021-020: (Leica MP/HP5+)

July 26, 2021 · 0 words

From Roll 2021-018 (Portra 400 in Leica MP)

Leica Leica MP | Leica Summilux-M 50mm ASPH | Portra 400 400 Scanned with Epson V750. Cinestill C-41 Negative Lab Pro v2.2.0 | Color Model: Frontier | Pre-Sat: 3 | Tone Profile: LAB – Standard | WB: Auto-Neutral | LUT: Frontier

July 21, 2021 · 41 words

From Roll 2021-016 (Tri-X in Leica M6)

Now that I have my dream MP, I should probably sell the M6. If I do, this will have been the last roll I shot with it.

July 18, 2021 · 27 words

From Roll 2021-014 (Leica MP)

Out with the new MP and a roll of HP5+. I think these are all shot with the 50mm Summilux ASPH

July 18, 2021 · 21 words

From Roll 2021-013 (first with Leica MP)

Here are a few from the very first roll through the new Leica MP. (Sorry, I lost them)

July 18, 2021 · 18 words