Q&A

The M240 hurt Leica.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

The news today that Leica has reduced its lens prices by 12% should come as no surprise.  Leica has been quietly discounting new lenses and cameras and selling them as “demos” for many months, and those same lenses and cameras have been languishing on dealers’ shelves for at least as long.

Why has Leica, who had trouble meeting demand for its products several years ago, experienced this reversal of fortune? 

Simply put, the M240 did not ignite the passion of photographers (or at least camera purchasers) and it didn’t become the blockbuster Leica had hoped.  And since camera sales drive lens sales, the lenses are now – figuratively and literally – collecting dust.

People who follow this blog know of my passion for the M9 and of my distaste for the M240 (see my Open Letter to Leica).  The reasons for this have been well documented, so I won’t rehash them here.

Even if you put my personal bias aside, the M240 was made obsolete by other CMOS-based cameras (I’m thinking specifically about Sony’s cameras) the moment it hit the streets.  The M9 at least offered something different, while remaining true to the Leica ethos.

Whatever Leica does with the next M, I would humbly suggest that they focus on the following:

  1. superior image quality
  2. reliability
  3. a less-is-more interface
  4. rangefinder accuracy and precision
  5. weight and size reduction.

Until then, I’m holding on to my M9P and M9 Monochrom*.

—Peter.

*Incidentally, my good friend Alex here in Toronto (who sells more Leica gear than anyone else in Canada) tells me that he has trouble selling new or used M240s, while used M9s fly off his shelves, despite the very well known sensor corrosion issue.

Window Light Portrait (Film).

Film, Inspiration, Kodak Portra 400, Leica 35mm Summicron V1 (8 element) LTM conversion to M Mount, Leica M3, Portrait, Q&A

This is a second test shot with the Leica 35/2 v1 (8 element), this time on the M3.

Please forgive the repetitive nature of these test images, but it is important for me to observe the behaviour of different equipment under similar circumstances.

On a related note, I’ve pretty much decided to abandon film (again)… there are more and more obstacles making it difficult for me to continue working with it.

—Peter.

Window Light Portrait (Film)

Test Image: Leica 35mm Summicron, Version 1 (8 Element).

2015, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 35mm Summicron V1 (8 element) LTM conversion to M Mount, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Portrait, Q&A, Teaching point

Another window light portrait, in front of my “famous” window.

However…

Test Image Leica 35mm Summicron 8 element

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…this time I offer a twist on an old theme:  this image was taken with a recently acquired (and adjusted, in Japan) Leica 35mm Summicron (8 element) lens, otherwise known as Version 1 of the legendary 35mm Summicron.  My lens was made in Germany in the early 60s.  It’s an example of the relatively less common screw mount (LTM) version, but mine was subsequently converted to M mount by Leica.

The lens arrived today.  I mounted it on my Leica M9P and fired off the above “test” shot, wide open at f/2.

Here’s what the lens looks like:

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Prosophos 8 Elements

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It’s tiny, light, and another jewel in the Leica crown.

—Peter.

Can’t see the forest for the trees.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point
—

Definition:  An expression used of someone who is too concerned about the details to see the “big picture”.

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Recent pixel-peeping-type comments pertaining to my film images (by a minority of individuals), and a text from a friend who asserted that the output from his M Monochrom is superior to the output out of a Rolleiflex, prompted me to remind people of the above expression.

And I leave you with one question:  Why would you pixel-peep a film photograph?

(we don’t do that for a painting, even though an iPhone can “out-resolve” it)

—Peter.

Ah, film.

Inspiration, Q&A

I shot a second roll of Kodak Portra 400 on my Mamiya 7II last week.

Why haven’t I posted any photographs? 

The lab accidentally exposed the film to light.  Every image was lost.

Today, I dropped off more film.  I’d taken some casual shots from a family event this weekend.  I was told that the processing machine was down.  Apparently this is a rare occurrence.

There’s no time estimate for when I’ll get my film back.

—Peter.

Prosophos Home-Made Pizza Dough.

Inspiration, iPhone, Q&A, Teaching point

My promise to you — as part of your free membership to this site — is that I’ll continue to work hard to stretch your zero dollars.

So from now on, I will not only be doing my best to answer your questions, but I’ll also be sharing my famous home-made pizza dough with you, the viewer, via iPhone images.

That’s right, images of my very own home-made pizza dough shared with you — online.

While other Canadian photo-bloggers claim to provide you with value for your hard-earned zero dollars, I’m the only Canadian photo-blogger sharing authentic home-made pizza dough with you.

And what is better than home made pizza (dough)?

“Pizza dough for zero dough.”

That’s my promise.

—Peter.

Prosophos Pizza

 

Laugh.

Inspiration, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Leica M Type 240, Portrait, Q&A, Teaching point

I say the silliest things to her…

On another note, the artificial and mixed back-lighting, and the reflections off the red walls, in this scene are very challenging.  Yet, with the proper pre-processing (a term I believe I coined) and post-processing, the technical issues are mostly overcome.

I know that there will be a few individuals who will insist that I should have used flash, but I vehemently disagree:  the spontaneity and ambiance would have been lost.

I’d feel differently if I was trying to produce a formal portrait — but I wasn’t.

—Peter.

Laugh

The Neptune Duo smart watch.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

Neptune Duo

Warning:  This has nothing to do with photography, but I love good ideas.

The nascent smart watch industry has just been turned upside down by a 20 year old from Montreal.  In Simon Tian‘s world, the watch is the central hub, and the “pocket screen” is just a blank interface.

I don’t know how well his smart watch will work, but I believe he has conceptually bested the likes of Google and Apple.

Check out the Neptune Duo.

—Peter.