Just a silhouette at our favorite park.
This is one of the few times that having a rangefinder proved to be annoying. Because of parallax it took some time to place the sun in the correct spot.
Leica M 240 and Rolex
The two just seem to go together
Nikon D3s and 24mm PC-E
Did you know that a perspective lens can be used as a macro lens? The lens was tilted forward so that the focal plane went from the face of the watch to the "M" on the leica.
Leica M (240) Color = Black
Walking the streets of Pasadena with my Leica.
Leica M and 35mm 2.0
A lady dressed from head to toe in black. Images with a strong dominate color or tone tend to be more interesting.
Leica Table Top Tripod and MeFoto Sidekick
I found another use for my tripod.
Lumix GX-1 and 20mm
The Leica Table Top Tripod is easily the most useful accessory that I own for street photography. I purchased it for my Leica M6 and have had it for what seems like forever. I am recording some time lapse with my iPhone and have added the MeFoto Sidekick 360 to hold my phone. The Sidekick 360 is very stable and really light, I don't even notice it in my bag. I highly recommend this setup for iPhone photography.
Leica M (240) Light Painting
Just messing around.
Nikon D3s and 24-70
I was bored watching TV so I decided to do some studio work. This was image number 4.
Leica M (240) Beach Shower
A ritual at the end of the day.
Leica M (240) and 35mm 2.0
I would like to have shot this image with my 50mm but I did not pack it on this particular day. I like the lighting and the people on the beach in the corner of the frame help tell the story.
Leica M (240) Wind Sock #2
This is the second version of the wind sock that I took while waiting for sunset.
Leica M (240) and 35mm 2.0
So many photos are taken at eye level. I like to mix things up. The first set were taken down low with the bright sky and clouds as a background. For this set I held the camera high and shot down to get a dark background. Not to say one is better than the other, just that they are different.
Leica M (240) Wind Sock #1
I made this image while waiting for the golden light at the end of the day.
Leica M (240) with 35mm 2.0
They say everything has been photographed so to make an image stand out it has to be different. I positioned the end of the pole and the sun where I thought the best composition would be and let the wind and long exposure fill in the rest of the frame. There is very little cropping or processing done to this image, it is mostly what came out of the camera.
ThinkTank Photo Retrospective 5 and Leica M
Review of Retrospective 5 and Leica M (240)
Retrospective 5
Introduction
There can be a perfect bag for you but there is no such thing as a perfect bag for everyone. We all have different requirements in a bag , not to mention that each photographer has his or her own favorite accessories to pack with the camera system.
Construction
The Retrospective 5 is made of 100% cotton canvas that is durable and has a water repellant coating to protect the bag from splashes. It comes in Pinestone (grayish), Black and Blue Slate. I choose the Pinestone that matches the North Face jacket that I wear when it is cool outside. The strap is thick and has a hefty durable feel and it wraps all the way around the bag. The included shoulder pad is quite thick and seems to big for the bag at first glance but is comfortable even after a long day of shooting.
Retrospective 5 and Leica M
Design
Instead of listing all of the features from the ThinkTank Photo page I will highlight the ones that influenced me to choose this bag. At first glance the bag is very plain looking which may be its biggest asset. When street shooting the more that you blend into the crowd the better. And the Retrospective 5 does not scream expensive equipment. The velcro panels that fasten the main flap in place are a nice blend of not so tight that the flap is difficult to open but have the gripping power to keep the flap in place. This is a fine line that many manufacturers just can’t get right. Most grab so much that the bag is hard to open. ThinkTank has done a really good job in this respect. The inside has adjustable dividers that are standard in most bags nowadays. There are 2 pockets at the front of the bag and one zippered compartment in the back of the bag. Not to be missed there are 2 small nylon compartments at the ends of the bags on the inside. They are great for carrying extra batteries. The hand strap on the top of the bag is small which is great because it does not interfere with opening the bag. The included rain cover is very well designed and can be wrapped around the bag in about a minute. That cover has gotten a lot of use this winter as it has been quite rainy. I am big on keeping my lens elements clean and have found that the outside pocket on either end is really useful for keeping a LensPen for a quick cleaning of a lens.
What Goes Inside
Most of my shooting is done with one camera and one lens. But that doesn’t stop me from packing more equipment. Although it only accounts for about 10% of my images I carry my Noctilux with me most of the time. It has a Neutral Density filter mounted on it and I carry a clear filter for night shooting. I am never without my 39mm ND 8 because I like to do long exposure during the day. A moleskine and two pens for notes and captions. An X-rite color checker passport for color balance and camera calibration. My trusty Leica Table Top tripod that I carry everywhere. The handy ThinkTank SD card wallet. And of course a cable release. There are other accessories that come and go based on the assignment.
Retrospective 5 carry strap
Retrospective 5 hand strap
Retrospective 5 back pocket
Retrospective 5 battery pocket
Retrospective 5 front pocket
In Use
I have been using this bag for about 1 1/2 years now and I really like it. Over the years I have probably used 10 different bags for my Leica cameras. Most have been too big and bulky while carrying the same amount of equipment. The Retrospective 5 is a nice mixture of size and portability. One thing that bothered me at the beginning was the size of the cover flap. It seems quite big for such a small bag. It hangs almost to the bottom of the bag. I personally would like it a bit shorter, say half way down the front. Also the outside end pockets are too difficult to get objects in and out of due to the placement of the loops for attaching accessories to the bag. I would also like to see D-rings on the back of the bag for adding a waist strap for added security. On the plus side thanks for not putting a big colorful logo on the front of the bag to make it stand out. For a Leica kit with 2-3 lenses this really is a great bag. Also another shout-out for the inclusion of a rain cover. Amateurs put their cameras away when the weather comes out to play but pros keep on shooting.
Retrospective 5 and rain cover
Conclusion
If your on the never ending quest for a bag for your Leica or Micro 4/3rd system I highly recommend checking out the ThinkTank Photo Retrospective 5 bag. You get a lot of bag design for the price. You can carry lots of equipment but not be weighed down by a big bulky bag.
Leica M 240 Street Lights
I took this image at a mall in Huntington Beach, CA.
Leica M (240) and 35mm 2.0
Look up, look down, look all around. You never know where you will find an image. Too many photographers put their cameras away when the sun goes down. This image has two compositional elements fighting with each other. The rows of lights are fighting for attention with the blob of light on the bottom. It is the tension that makes this a successful photograph.