Month: April 2017

Film users deserve a new mid-range scanner.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

Years ago, Nikon discontinued the Super Coolscan 9000 ED.

As of 2017, no one else has managed to produce a comparable product (the Hasselblad Flextight scanners don’t really count because they play in another league with respect to price).

In the past, I’ve been reasonably satisfied with the Plustek 120, but I know its performance lags behind the old Nikon and something about its operation screams “beta product”.

Perhaps Plustek, you can step in and help, please?  I really want to support you for continuing to make film scanners, but I’m looking for something a notch above your current line-up.

—Peter.

Pensive.

2017, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M3, Portrait, Q&A, Teaching point, Within 200 feet of My House™

Test shot #9 from my 1957 Leica M3 DS.

Along with my subject, I’m pensive too, because I’m sending this camera for a CLA (the shutter speeds are clearly off… this image was underexposed by two stops and I had to “push” it in LR — hence the heavy grain).

And so now I’m back to contemplating the Ship of Theseus because I wonder:

Will my M3 be the same camera when it returns?  Will it continue to give me the sort of images I’ve seen from this first roll of film?

I don’t know, of course.  But I’ll keep you posted.

—Peter.

↑Leica M3, 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4, and Kodak Portra 800.

Real.

2017, Favourite, Film, Kodak Portra 800, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M3, Portrait, Q&A, Teaching point, Within 200 feet of My House™

Test shot #1 from my 1957 Leica M3 DS.

I think the shutter speeds are off as most of the images in this first roll of film appear underexposed. Yet some look fine, so I’m at a loss.

I’m using Kodak Portra 800 here, which is more grainy than Portra 400, but I have a nagging feeling…

Anyway, I’ll take a grainy film image like this over the most polished digital equivalent any day.

Something more real about it.

—Peter.

↑Leica M3, 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4, and Kodak Portra 800.

1957 Leica M3.

Film, Inspiration, Leica M3, Q&A, Teaching point

The Leica M3 was manufactured between 1954 and 1967.

Many collectors favour M3s with high serial numbers (1 000 0000 and up), or — at the other end of the spectrum — the first 1 000 ones made (with serial numbers 700 XXX).  The first group are valued because they are thought to represent “perfected” late production examples, but as you will see below, that is a matter of perspective.  The second group are coveted because, well… they were the first ones produced.

As a photographer however, my favourite M3s are the ones from the year 1957 (specifically the subset with serial numbers between 854 00 – 858 000) because they combine the best features of both early and late M3 bodies.

Specifically, the qualities of 1957 M3s that I value are:

Double stroke (DS) film advance levers with shorter arms. The shorter arms allow you to advance the film while holding the camera with one hand.

Modern shutter speeds (earlier models have the less-convenient older speeds: 1, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/200…).

Silent return on the film advance lever (later models produce a ratcheting sound when returning).

Buddha (aka “Rabbit Ear”)-style lugs riveted (not screwed) to camera — no loosening or spinning of lugs.

Back door pin that allows it to securely click shut, preventing the door from inadvertently flapping open when changeing film (only available in cameras with serial numbers between 854 000 – 858 000).

Frame selector preview lever, which was not present in earlier models.

Double glass-reinforced eyepiece (later models have a single layer only).

 

—Peter.