Teaching point

My advice to Leica from 10 years ago.

2023, Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

Back in 2013, I wrote an Open Letter to Leica.

The letter was primarily aimed at trying to get them to keep a CCD sensor in M cameras.  However, Leica had already introduced the CMOS-based M240, which was larger in girth and features (hello video?).  In retrospect, it’s clear they were never going to go back to an M9-type camera.

And now in 2023, even I have to concede that I’m using a CMOS-sensor camera (though I’m no longer shooting with a Leica).

Despite the dominance of CMOS, all these years later the M9 commands a premium on the used market.  The M240, not so much.

And as I consider the current M11, and the QA troubles it seems to be facing, and — perhaps more importantly — the hints it provides with respect to where Leica is going with future M cameras, I feel compelled to repeat some of what I wrote 10 years ago (with some commentary):

 

“We place an emphasis on high quality still image photography, and therefore have little interest in video.”

They seem to have learned this.

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We value the intuitive, quick, and precise rangefinder focusing mechanism, and therefore have little interest in Live View.”

This is the interesting part (about where the M line may be going).  Not sure that the M12 will have a mechanical rangefinder and OVF, for example.

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“…would welcome…improvements in processor speed, shutter quietness, LCD quality…”

Always welcomed.

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“Whatever Leica does with the next M, I would humbly suggest that they focus on… superior image quality and reliability…”

IQ has been improved with the (presumed) adoption of a Sony sensor.  The reliability part seems to be currently lacking however.  Leica is charging exceptional prices for a premium product that appears to be experiencing more than its fair share of issues.

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“Leica has always done things a little differently, by placing simplicity and quality above all other considerations.  As a consequence, Leica has traditionally wisely avoided making decisions based on a “focus group” philosophy.

We are requesting for this fierce independence in thinking and product differentiation to continue.”

I still stand by those words.

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—Peter.

We are the film (or a projection of it).

2022, Film, Inspiration, Teaching point

“…the entire 3-dimensionality of space is a projection of a very distant horizon that surrounds us; we are on the inside of it. We… are a projection of this film-like thing that is on the boundary of universe.”

—Leonard Susskind.

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So this theory unites Quantum Mechanics and Relativity… and also unites my love of film.

🙂

—Peter.

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The pilgrimage to Midland.

2022, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, Favourite, Film, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summicron Dual Range f/2, Leica M3, Portrait, Q&A, Scanner - Plustek 8200i, Teaching point

In 1952, Leica opened a factory in Midland, Ontario, Canada.

(There are interesting discussions of how this came to be, here and here).

The “Ernst Leitz Canada (ELCAN)” location was initially intended to be a place for the assembly of cameras and lenses using parts from Wetzlar, Germany.  However, under the leadership of Walter Mandler, it became a high-tech research and development centre.

Although Mr. Mandler had planned to stay in Midland for only a brief time, he ended up living there for the remainder of his life. Some of the most groundbreaking — and beloved — Leica lenses were created in Canada during his tenure.

In 1990, Leica sold the plant to Hugues Aircraft.  In 1997, the plant was sold again, this time to Raytheon.

Today, I fulfilled a long-standing wish and made the pilgrimage to Midland. The distance — a 2 hr drive from Toronto — is short enough to be easily traversed, but long enough to be inconvenient (hence why I hadn’t previously attempted it).

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I knew one thing before I even started: the destination would be a disappointment.  The physical appearance of the building is… uhm… not pretty, and it’s under security (Raytheon is a USA defense contractor) so there was no chance of stepping inside and accidentally uncovering a treasure trove of lost Leica lenses/cameras.

Still… I had to go, and I’m glad I did.

I took my trusty Leica M3 (loaded with Kodak Portra 400) and 50mm Summicron Dual Range, and shot 3 frames.  There was really no point shooting more, LOL.

(However, I used up the rest of the roll in the surrounding region outside of Midland, but those images await another day.)

—Peter.

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↑ Leica M3, Leica 50mm Summicron Dual Range, Kodak Portra 400, and Plustek 8200i.

 

Evolution of a Rebuild.

2021, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica M3, Q&A, Teaching point

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I’ve had several of you contact me asking about who did the rebuild on my latest M3.

The answer is:

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集英堂写真機 SHUEIDO CAMERA

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They are based in Taiwan and they do amazing work, as you can see.

The results are not just cosmetically impressive — the camera functions exceptionally smoothly and accurately.

Having now commissioned two M3 cameras (first a Single Stroke and now a Double Stroke) from Shueido, I would say overall they are among the best rebuilds I have ever owned.

The customer service is also exceptional.

—Peter.

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NOTE:  As long time visitors to this blog know, I pay for my own gear and do not receive any compensation for endorsement.  My opinion is based based on my personal experience.

 

NT Team Photo – 2021/09/12.

2021, Baseball, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, Favourite, Inspiration, Kodak Portra 400, Leica M2, Leica M2-R, Portrait, Q&A, Scanner - Plustek 8200i, Sports, Teaching point, Voigtländer 35mm f/1.7 Ultron Aspherical

This season is officially history.

Speaking of which, the medium of film gives this photo a nice vintage vibe.

Lastly, I choose the skyline + clubhouse as a backdrop but I lucked out  that the field was empty and the sky was overcast (making for some gentle lighting despite it being midday).

—Peter.

↑ Leica M2-R, Voigtländer 35mm Ultron f/1.7, Kodak Portra 400, and Plustek 8200i.

The Pandemic Portrait.

2021, Favourite, Film, Inspiration, Kodak Portra 400, Leica M2, Leica M2-R, Portrait, Q&A, Scanner - Plustek 8200i, Teaching point, Voigtländer 50mm f/1.5 Nokton Aspherical, Within 200 feet of My House™

…or “The Forgotten Film Portrait“.

This is from a roll of film that I started back in the winter.  It’s been sitting in my camera for months, so today I decided to develop and scan it.  The chemicals were prepared back in August (it’s the same chemistry I’ve been using all along), and the lens was untested up until this point.  Given all of this, I wasn’t expecting much.

This is the first frame from the roll. 

Damn.

Honestly, I don’t know why I bother shooting with anything else.

Don’t get me wrong, I could give you plenty of reasons why not to shoot with film:

  • prices have nearly doubled over the past year
  • having the chemicals delivered is not as straightforward as it used to be
  • shooting is less spontaneous compared to digital
  • results (and errors) are not known until well after the moment has passed
  • etc, etc, etc…

And yet, let me repeat:

Damn.

First frame of the roll and I’m DONE.

—Peter.

The Pandemic Portrait - Prosophos - Leica M2-R - Voigtlander 50mm Nokton 1.5 - Kodak Portra 400

↑ Leica M2-R, Voigtländer 50mm Nokton f/1.5 ASPH, Kodak Portra 400, and Plustek 8200i.

By way of comparison…

2021, Favourite, Fujifilm GFX 100S, Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

The dimensions of the newly-announced Fujifilm GFX 100S, as compared to the Nikon D850 (images courtesy of the comparison site camerasize.com).  The Fuji of course is a mirrorless camera with a larger sensor, and the Nikon a DSLR with a smaller sensor.

Each has their pros and cons and this is an apples-to-oranges comparison, but I did it for my own purposes and thought I would share.

—Peter.

A few colourful observations.

2021, Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

As is well known by now, I loved the colours coming out of the M9/M9P/M-E (and M8) series of Leica cameras.

I disliked the colours from the M240 (note: I am being polite with my language).

I found the colours of the M10/M10P to be a significant improvement over the M240, but still short of the M9 and M8.

The colours coming out the new M10-R are a step down from the M10/M10-P.  Something weird is going on there.

Interestingly, I find the colours from the Leica SL line of cameras to be superior to their M counterparts, and also to the Nikon Z line of cameras I’ve previously owned.

I’m telling you this because I have nothing else to share, photographically speaking.  We’re in another Covid-19 lock-down and in my M2-R sits a roll of Portra 400 that I started a month ago.

—Peter.

Affordable Replacement for Voigtlander Lens Hood.

2020, Favourite, Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point, Voigtländer 40mm f/1.4 Nokton

For those of you looking for a more affordable replacement for the Voigtländer LH-6 (or even LH-8) bayonet-mount hood for your Nokton 40/1.4 (or 40/1.2) lens, here it is.

Most third party manufacturers produce hoods that screw into the filter, but this is the only third party solution I am aware of that mounts directly on to the lens, just like the OEM Voigtländer.

And it’s half the cost.  Highly recommended.

—Peter.