Whole Lotta Leica Lens for August - 35mm f2 Summicron Type 3

I recently picked up this Summicron 35mm f2, unplanned, for a very good price at a local camera store. I'll be shooting this lens a lot with my M9 in the month of August. In fact, I already posted one shot from it, on August 4.

 

Leica Summicron 35mm f2, Version 3, 1975

 

Leica's Summicron lenses are world-renowned for their quality. Earlier in the year, I picked a more expensive 35mm lens from the same approximate time period, the f1.4 Summilux, for my Whole Lotta Leica (WLL) series.

 

(Click Here) to read about the Summilux. It is a very nice lens, and the fast f1.4 makes it very flexible. However, that lens is known to be a little soft wide open. Not so with the Summicron.

 

If you haven't noticed, I've consolidated all of my WLL post links onto a single page, so it's easy to find a particular lens and the results from it.

 

(Click Here) to go to my WLL links page.

 

Back to the Summicron that I'll be shooting this month, it is the third version of the 35mm f2 by this name. Mine was made in 1975. There are at least five versions at this point. The version 2 and 3 Summicron 35s have six elements, as compared to eight in the earlier model 1. This reduces the number of glass-to-air interfaces, reportedly improving (increasing) contrast, at the cost of some resolution.

 

This is a gorgeous, tiny lens, that makes the perfect mate to a nice M body like the M9. We'll see how it performs this month. I'm thinking it's going to be good.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Digital Photography School Presents "5 Important Components of a Powerful Image"

I really enjoy reading posts that remind me of the important things to consider when making a photograph.

 

Digital Photography School has a post about "5 Important Components of a Powerful Image":

 

(Click Here) to read it on digital-photography-school.com

 

As usual, I'll summarize it here, and show you what I think is most important in the article. First off, there's nothing new here. The components listed in the post are:

 

1. Subject
2. Strong composition
3. Moment
4. Light
5. Emotional impact

Pretty obvious, right? But, we can all use the reminder. I decided to look through one of my photo sets on flickr, and see if I could identify these components. I'm not saying I nailed each of these, but I did find pictures in this small set of images of the Tozai railway, a historic railroad that takes you up the mountainside in Hakone, Japan, which at least illustrate some of the concepts. So, here we go:

 

Subject:

 

 

Composition:

 

 

Moment:

 

 

Light:

 

 

Emotional Impact:

 

 

I certainly struggled to find any emotional impact in this set. The image I selected makes me feel the experience of actually riding the train. I have no idea if anyone else will get that from the image.

 

I shot all of these images on Panasonic Lumix cameras: the DMC-GF1, DMC-G1, and DMC-LX5, all now relegated to the past in favor of newer models. Actually, my wife now uses the LX5 for her real estate business, and I still have the GF1, just don't use it much at all.

 

It is useful to review basic concepts and components of great photographs. I think you really get powerful images when you can combine multiple components into a single image. Of these images, I would say the closest to accomplishing that is the first - the subject and lighting are pretty good, and the moment is right to catch the driver's face in the best light.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Whole Lotta Leica - A Quick Shot With the Summicron 35mm

 

It Just Isn't Fair, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Lens

iso 160, f2.8, 1/90 sec.

 

I haven't even introduced my lens selection for August yet, but wanted to share this shot I took today at breakfast.

 

I'll be shooting my Summicron 35mm f2 lens on the M9 for the month of August. I think I'm likely to fall in love with this lens. I haven't had it for long, so look forward to getting acquainted with it.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Nick DeMarco Interprets the Preparation for the Fight With His Leica Cameras

One of the blogs I regularly follow is Nick DeMarco's Rangefinder Chronicles. Today I'll share one of his recent posts, which I think really shows how a photographer can interpret an event, any event, into something new, sharing how he or she sees it.

Image Source: http://rangefinderchronicles.blogspot.com/2013/07/fight-night-with-leica-m-1-before-fight.html

 

Nick shot his Leica M (240) and M7 with fast Cosina Voigtlander lenses at a Thai kickboxing event. This post is specifically about the preparation of the fighters, before battle.

 

(Click Here) to see Nick's entire post with several pictures.

 

I am always interested in how good photographers go beyond simple documentation to put their own thoughts and feelings into their pictures. I particularly like what Nick says about this next image:

 

"...even though it was dark, low contrast and the back of a few heads. The coaches were taking one of the boxers down the fire exit steps for his fight, but somehow it makes me think of taking a prisoner to be hung, or Jesus to his crucifixion."

Image Source: http://rangefinderchronicles.blogspot.com/2013/07/fight-night-with-leica-m-1-before-fight.html

 

I look forward to seeing more images from Nick as he covers the later action.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Skeletons From The Closet - More Results From May's Autocord TLR in the Studio

I had a roll of film in the Autocord since May. I finished it up, and share some results today. These shots were made during my studio session with musician friend Melissa Wright.

 

(Click Here) to see the images I made of Melissa with the Nikon D700.

 

Near the end of our session, I asked Melissa if she minded being patient with me, long enough to shoot some pictures with my old film camera. She agreed. This entailed connecting up my sync cord to the studio wireless transponder (what a combination of technologies, huh?), putting my Rolleinar closeup lens on, and transferring exposure info from the D700 at iso200 to the Autocord, where I was shooting Portra 160 film. Here's the result.

 

Melissa Wright, by Reed A. George

Minolta Autocord, Kodak Porta 160 Color Print Film

 

I think I did okay on exposure and focus. This was at the end of our session, so Melissa was undoubtedly tired of being photographed, but she hung in there. The old Autocord did a pretty good job.

 

Here's a shot that I've rendered in both color and monochrome. Which do you prefer?

 

Monochrome or Color?, by Reed A. George

Minolta Autocord, Kodak Porta 160 Color Print Film

 

It really was pretty hard to see through the Autocord finder to focus, even though this camera has the brightest finder of any Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) I've used, including several Rolleiflexes. I have trouble imagining shooting the whole session with this camera, but it sure added to the fun. I suppose brighter modeling lights, or hot lights (instead of strobes) would make focusing easier.

 

That said, the Autocord is a joy to shoot, especially in good ambient light. It's one of the cameras I have trouble putting back in the closet after its month in the sun.

 

Avedon did the bulk of his shooting with a TLR in the studio. He must've figured it out.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Finally! The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 is Announced and Looks Great!

 

Image Source:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/08/01/panasonic-reveals-lumix-dmc-gx7-enthusiast-mirrorless-camera

 

I have not been using my Micro 4/3 camera system much at all this year. Focusing more on Leica and film cameras, I just have not had the time to use it all. I did invest in a DMC-GX1 for a pittance earlier in the year, and took it along on a trip to Key West, Florida.

 

(Click Here) to see some shots I made with the GX1 on that trip.

 

The GX1 works very, very well in my hands. But, we Panasonic fans have been waiting for a next generation of GX cameras, bringing the sensors up to date with the state of the art, especially as it concerns high iso performance. Well, it's finally here, or at least announced.

 

(Click Here) to read about it on dpreview.com

 

What are the great features? Well, first, the GX7 reportedly has an all-new sensor with improved signal-to-noise performance. This means that it will indeed perform better at high iso settings (low light), with less noise. The maximum iso setting is now 25,600, though I would bet that the maximum useable setting is somewhat lower than that, if you don't want to deal with a lot of sensor noise. We'll see.

 

It also has in-body stabilization, which has been in Olympus cameras for some time, but never in a Lumix Micro 4/3 body. I hope this will work well with my older Micro 4/3 lenses that have stabilization built into the lens.

 

The next GX7 also has a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), rather than the accessory finders required for previous GX cameras.

 

Finally, the GX7 provides "focus peaking," which allows you to know when you're in focus when you're using manual focus.

 

These cameras will be in high demand for some time. They'll sell lots of them. I can't wait to see just how good the new sensor is.

 

There's more news from Panasonic as well. They have announced a new Pana-Leica "Nocticron" 42.5mm f1.2 super fast lens. This will be a wonderful portrait lens, taking advantage of the compact Micro 4/3 design, yet with a sufficiently fast maximum aperture to produce shallow depth of field, a common desire in portraiture. More on that later.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Marshall Tucker Band at a New Venue in Leesburg, VA - the Tally Ho Theater

Okay, the venue's not really new, as it originally opened in 1932. But, it was fully renovated this year, and transformed from a musty old movie theater into a first-rate live music stage.

 

(Click Here) to go to the Tally Ho's website, and see upcoming shows.

 

I attended my first concert there last weekend, and was lucky enough to meet the new owner. He invited me to come the following night and shoot the Marshall Tucker Band's concert there.

 

Marshall Tucker Band's Tour Bus at the Tally Ho, by Reed A. George

HDR (seven shots), Nikon D700, Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AF Lens

 

I haven't seen the Marshall Tucker Band since I was a kid. I saw them with Charlie Daniels and the Allman Brothers, back in the day.

 

Marshall Tucker Band, by Reed A. George

Nikon D700, Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AF-D Lens

iso 3200, f2.4, 1/90 sec

 

 

Doug Gray of the Marshall Tucker Band, by Reed A. George

Nikon D300, Nikkor 85mm f1.8 Lens

iso 3200, f1.8, 1/125 sec

 

Doug Gray was an original member of the band, which has been in existence for 41 years!

 

I got to meet Marcus James Henderson (keyboards, flute, sax, and vocals) and Chris Hicks (guitar and vocals) in the green room at the Tally Ho. Nice guys, they were pumped up, and made sure this Sunday night show was as lively as a normal weekend.

 

 

Marcus James Henderson, by Reed A. George

Nikon D700, Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AF-D Lens

iso 3200, f2.4, 1/125 sec

Chris Hicks, by Reed A. George

Nikon D700, Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AF-D Lens

iso 3200, f2.4, 1/125 sec

Chris Hicks Onstage, by Reed A. George

Nikon D300, Nikkor 85mm f1.8 AF-D Lens

iso 2200, f1.8, 1/125 sec

The Marshall Tucker Band did a great job of packing the Tally Ho on a Sunday night.

 

The New Tally Ho, by Reed A. George

Nikon D700, Nikkor 35mm f2 AF-D Lens

iso 200, f5.6, 4 sec

 

Photographically, I leaned on my trusty Nikon DSLRs and a selection of 24mm f2.8, 35mm f2, 50mm f1.4, and 85mm f1.8 lenses. I found myself shooting the highest focal length 85mm on the APS-C sensored D300 a lot, because I simply needed more reach. Next time, I will certainly bring along a 180mm f2.8, another favorite concert lens. I would rather use the even lower noise D700 sensor when shooting in these tough lighting conditions.

 

I'm really pleased to have the Tally Ho back open, renovated, and hosting great live music. More to come from future shows there, you can be sure!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com