LHSA - International Leica Society

I just received my free membership to the International Leica Society. This is an organization for photographers that are fans of all things Leica. They just celebrated their 50th anniversary. They were previously called The Leica Historical Society of America. They changed their name to better reflect the mission of being a worldwide organization rather than just being an American club. I have been a member a couple of times. 

Currently if you purchase a system camera or a “Q” series camera you get a free one year digital membership. I qualified with my recent purchase of the Q2 camera. They have a quarterly newsletter, a members buy and sell section, and lots of info on how to use Leica cameras and are a leading repository on the history of all things Leica. They have group shoots a number of times a year and an annual get together that is quite popular. Last years was in Wetzlar, Germany, the home of Leica. 

Even if your not buying a camera in the near future I would recommend joining. The newsletter is worth the yearly fee alone. If you have any interest in the history of 35mm photography this is a great place to learn. Remember, Leica invented 35mm photography and the M10 is a direct descendant of the original Leica 1 from 1925. 

Garry Winogrand - All Things Are Photographable

There is a new biography out about one of the greats of street photography, Garry Winogrand. It is called “ All Things Are Photographable “ and is directed by Sasha Waters Freyer. It will have its television debut on PBS this April 19. I recently had the opportunity to view the program and it is a must see if you have any interest in street photography. 

Garry Winogrand ( 1928-1984 ) was one of the most influential street photographers the medium has ever seen. He worked mostly in black and white. He was at the height of his powers in the late 60’s thru the mid 70’s. Today he is mostly known for leaving behind 2500 rolls of undeveloped film and 6500 rolls that had yet to be proofed. He was a very prolific shooter. He was awarded three Guggenheim fellowships and a National Endowment of the Arts award. He published numerous books and was a popular speaker and taught at a number of university programs. 

I first heard of “ All Things Are Photographable “ because of a Kickstarter program the the director was using to fund the production of the film. I attended a talk by Sasha Waters Freyer at the Los Angeles Leica Store last fall. She gave an entertaining presentation so I wash anxiously awaiting the finished film. I must say that I give the film two thumbs up. It did a good job of covering his life, both personally and professionally. There are a number of interviews with people who new Winogrand personally and were able to give a pretty good idea what he was like. I was disappointed that two of his best friends who are still around were not interviewed. One I kind of understand. Lee Friedlander is notoriously media shy was missing. I so wish he could have been interviewed. The other is Jay Maisel. He has never been shy to give an opinion. He is featured in a long audio recording with Winogrand that is the centerpiece of the documentary. Another thing that I didn’t like was the interview with Winogrands first wife. This brought nothing to the program and I felt that she actually detracted from the story. No I don’t want to hear the story about the first time she saw Gary’s penis. I didn’t like her other stories either.  

The last third of the film does drag a little. This is about the last ten years or so of his life when his work was not quite up to par to his earlier work. After the early interviews with people talking about how great he was most didn’t seem to enthusiastic talking about the later years. I have been looking at his work for a long time and I feel it did drop off in quality. But that should not detract from the rest of his wonderful work.  

Sasha Waters Freyer has done a great job on “ All Things Are Photographable “ the story of Garry Winogrand. I highly recommend the film. I love every time we see Garry and his Leica M4.  

Leica Q2 Review

The Leica Q2 has captured the sweet spot in the lineup of Leica cameras. It’s priced in the middle of their line of cameras and it has just the right amount of features that entice most people to the Leica brand. It is a minimalist camera ( for a digital ) that takes great pictures and is fun to use. It is similar to the original Leica Q that it replaces but fixes and refines what has turned out to be a good selling and well respected camera. 

 The biggest changes are a jump to a 47MP sensor, a new 3.68MP OLED EVF, and being sealed against dust and moister. It has revised camera controls on the back that are similar to the Leica CL, a lockable eyepiece diopter adjustment, and a larger battery that is shared with the Leica SL. With all the talk about what has been added, I’m surprised there is not more opinions on what was not deleted. The Leica Q2 still has video recording capabilities. After the Leica M10 dropped video I thought the Q2 would become strictly a stills camera. 

The lens is the same 28mm 1.7 ASPH Summilux from the previous camera. It has 11 elements in 9 groups with 3 aspherical elements. This is a sharp and well corrected lens. It really is like buying a lens and getting the body for free. As shown by the popularity of the iPhone the 28mm lens is a great choice for casual snapshots. The focus range is from infinity down to 30cm. When switched to Macro mode the lens focuses down to 17cm.

The new sensor is 47.3MP controlled by a new Maestro II image processor. With the larger sensor comes the ability of the camera to do another in camera crop if needed. The ability to crop at 75mm has been added to the previously available 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm settings. This gives the following resolutions: 28mm-47mp, 35mm-30mp, 50mm-15mp, 75mm-7mp. The ISO range is 50-50000. The dynamic range is 14 stops with a color depth of 14 bits. 

The viewfinder has the same resolution at 3.68MP but is now OLED instead of LED. What that means is a sharper image and truer color fidelity. Comparing the Q1 and Q2 viewfinders the difference can be plainly seen. Also the diopter has been modified. The diopter adjustment is now to the right of the eyepiece. When pushed in it pops out so that it can be adjusted and is pushed back in to lock the setting. Much better that the previous method.  

Because the new processor requires more energy the battery has been changed. The Leica Q2 now uses the same battery as the Leica SL. This enable the camera to take about 370 shots per charge. Depending on how trigger happy you are you might want to invest in an extra battery. The battery and SD cards are now accessed separately. 

The camera is not waterproof. It can not be submerged and used underwater. It is only dust and spray resistant. So that the camera can be sealed from the elements the designers have removed the USB and HDMI ports from the camera. This further limits the camera’s usefulness as a video machine. Further proof the video capabilities should have been dropped. 

With Leica trying to standardize on one app for files transfers to phones and tablets synchronization with the Leica FOTOS app has been modified. The camera has added Bluetooth. This should improve the connection between the camera and the app. It will be nice to tag our photos with a GPS location. The FOTOS app has had mixed reviews so far. Some are having connection and slow transfer problems. For me it has worked as advertised.  

As far as usability goes there are a few changes. The back of the camera now functions like a CL and a M10. Only the PLAY, FN, and MENU buttons as well as the D button with directional arrows. A much cleaner interface. On the top the camera on/off switch has removed the continuous option. The shutter button is also a little larger. In case your wondering the 2nd FN button is hidden in the center of the thumb wheel. It’s default function is to adjust the ISO but this can be changed in the MENU setup. The aperture and macro rings are a little bit larger for better handling. 

There is no other way to say this, the Leica Q2 is fun to use. It’s simple to operate and gives fantastic results. I enjoy the quick turn of the macro ring to get all of those closeup that I couldn’t take with my M10. The camera is so light it is a joy to carry it all day. The autofocus is really fast and accurate. I can’t say enough about how I love the quality of the lens. The images are easy to work with in Lightroom and Photoshop. I have already made a number of large prints that look spectacular. I have already adjusted my workflow because of this little camera. I now carry a M10 with 50 Summilux, a 50 Noctilux, and the Q2. This combo will take 95 % of the shots that I want to take.  

Peak Design updates

I am a fan of Peak Design products but I have run into a couple of problems. I have had both products that I own fail at the strap connection point. Of all the bags that I have owned in the last 40+ years not once has a bag actually dropped off of my shoulder but it has happened with both Peak Design products.  

The first to fail was the Peak Design Field Pouch. The anchor points that act as quick release attachments to connect the bag to the strap would unravel and break. Quite disappointing considering how light the stuff that I carry in that bag weighs. Peak Design is making available updated connectors that they say are more robust and say that they should eliminate the problem. 

The other problem is with the Everyday Sling 5L. The strap was actually sliding through the buckle that the strap was looped through. This one was very annoying. Every time I used the bag the strap would slide closer and closer to the end and threaten to slid all of the way through the buckle. The strap slid through 3 times and the bag fell. Twice I caught the bag with my foot. Once it fell all of the way to the ground and landed in soft sand. Each time the camera was in my hand with the strap wrapped around my wrist. No damage to the contents in the bags but I was none to happy. 

I guess the moral of the story is leave nothing to chance with equipment and check everything as the day goes along. I’m not sure if I still recommend Peak Design bags. They are light and my equipment fits just right in them but I worry about failures. If any manufacturer wants their equipment tested, I’m available. I seem to find the weak points in products.  

UPDATE FOR STRAP SLIPPING OFF BAG, August 30, 2019

I have found a solution for the slipping strap problem that works for me. I took the end of the strap and threaded it back under the strap buckle. It to some patience and a pair of needle nose pliers to pull it through. The strap is no longer adjustable for length but it also will never slide off again. It is still my go to bag for small amounts of equipment.

Online Photography Training

I’m currently completing the “Seeing through Photographs” course by the Museum of Modern Art. The course is free and it is being presented by a company called Coursera. It is available online but I am using the Coursera app on my iPad. 

Now most everyone gets their photography education from photo forums and from YouTube. I have nothing against this method because there is a lot of quality information that is available and the basic nuts and bolts of photography are easily learned in this manner. When I was starting my photography education this was long before the internet so I went to school to learn my craft. I enjoyed getting my education this way and met some great people and had some teachers that were good role models. That is one thing that is missing in getting your information online, the community that evolves that spurs the mind for other ways of creative thinking and problem solving. Posting in a forum is just not the same as sitting in a coffee shop and exchanging ideas. The downside of a formal education these days is the tremendous cost involved with getting a higher education. I’m not sure that school is the right path to take for a photography career anymore. 

The aspect that is hard to replicate on your own is connecting photography’s past and present with why photographers do the work that they do. Knowing why you are photographing is just as important as f-stops and shutter speeds. This is why I think so much fine art work done these days is so boring, static, and why so much of it looks the same. In the rush to make loads of money and be Instagram famous people don’t take the time to learn how to think deeper about their art.  

This is were “Seeing Thru Photographs” comes into play. This is a good taste of what it is like to be in a MFA of Photography program that teaches an individual to think about how to create art. The program is broken up into 6 modules and has numerous required reading assignments. All the videos and required text are included in the program. There are also lots of extra videos and texts that are suggested for more information on the given subject. 

I say give it a try. If you’re a wanna be pro or just enjoy learning so that you can take better photos this course can help everyone. Photography is more that just cameras and lenses.  

California Museum of Photography

I visited the California Museum of Photography in Riverside California this weekend to see two of its current exhibitions. On the main floor is a general overview on the state of Fine Art photography and on the lower level is an Andy Warhol photography exhibit.  

The Warhol exhibit was a selection of Polaroids that had been taken for paid commissions. These Polaroids were the basis for some of his screen art that was so popular in the 1960-1980 period. This work has been popular and has been quite influential in the art world since he produced this work at his New York studio. It has been copied by numerous artists since.  

The aspect of his work that I hadn’t read much about was his commissioned work. An info card said that he charged $40,000 for a screened portrait. He would take piles of photos and then select the image to be worked on later after the client left. He averaged from 50-100 of this projects a year. Not bad work if you can get it.  

Warhol used a SX-70 and Bigshot Polaroid camera’s. I enjoyed one of the quotes by Warhol printed above the images.  

All photography is Pop, and all photographers are crazy.... they feel guilty since they don’t have to do very much - just push a button. Andy Warhol

Upstairs at the museum they have a collection of old cameras and vintage prints. Here is the Leica I that is in the collection.  

These are the current exhibits.  

 Andy Warhol

An Instant Sketch

California Museum of Photography

December 8, 2018 - May 26, 2019

In the Sunshine of Neglect

Defining Photographs And Radical Experiments in Inland Southern California, 1950 To The Present

California Museum of Photography

January 19 - April 28, 2019

Mirror Mirror

California Museum of Photography

February 9 - May 12, 2019

Leica Q2

As I said in my last post I was invited to the Leica Store in Las Vegas to check out the new Leica Q2. I was able to spend sometime going over it’s new features and comparing it to the previous version that is remaining on sale for the foreseeable future. The new Q2 is a refinement of Leica’s bestselling camera. At first glance they appear to be the same camera but the few differences makes this camera truly remarkable.  

The headline feature is the upgrade of the sensor to 47.3 million pixels. That’s some big files. The dynamic range is a full 14 stops with 14 bit color which explains the image quantity that the Leica Q has been so famous for. When thecamera digitally crops the image to get the other focal length equivalents the resulting image sizes are as follows: 28mm-47mp, 35mm-30mp, 50mm-15mp, 75mm-7mp. The lens is the same 28mm f1.7ASPH, 11 elements in 9 groups with 3 aspherical elements. The camera is now sealed against dust and water spray so it can almost go anywhere where with the active user. Although it’s not a big video machine it will shoot video up to 4K at 24fps and full hd at 24,30,60,and 120 FPS. Autofocus metering modes are single zone, multi-field, face recognition, and subject tracking. The mechanical shutter is 60 seconds to 1/2000 with an electronic shutter that goes to 1/40000 of a second. Continuous advance is at 3/5/10 frames per second. The on/off switch is more like the M10 switch. The viewfinder is a new OLED design at 3.68MP. Thankfully the diopter has been redesigned and now locks in place after the adjustment. The back buttons now resemble those on the Leica CL. The battery is the same as in the Leica SL giving about 350 shots on a charge. Hopefully that won’t change with this summers revision. The FOTOS app has been updated to work with the new Q2. 

In use the camera feels exactly like the previous version. To me focus seemed a little faster but I didn’t do any scientific tests. The Leica Q is Leica’s best selling camera, yes it outsells the M series. The new Q2 really is an even better camera. I heard that at the Leica flagship store in Los Angeles there were over 150 people at the Q2 release party. I passed on the original camera but my name is on the list for this version. It’s only March but the Leica Q2 is the leading contender for camera of the year.  

Leica Q2 Introduction

I was invited to introduction of the Leica Q2 and I choose to attend the one at the Las Vegas Leica Store. First off it was a good time enjoyed by all. 

The store gave out gift bags for those who were invited. Always nice to get Leica goodies. The highlights were a red dot camera hat, a Leica logo water bottle and a premium lens cleaning cloth. Very nice.  

I will have a separate post about my impressions of the Leica Q2 coming soon.  

Museum Leica Book

If your a big Leica fan the Leica Museum book by Lars Netopil is a must have addition to your library.

This set of books is different than most Leica reference books. It tells the history of Leica through photos of their cameras and is light on technical information. That is both good and bad. The quality of the photos are much better than most camera history books. And then there is the sheer volume of them. The Leica Museum book would make a great coffee table book. Great to pick up from time to time just to browse.  

It’s nice that the books go beyond just a photo or two for each model. There are also lots of rare models and prototypes. These I find of particular interest. I enjoy seeing how designers go through various design choices to end with the models that we end up buying.  

From the authors site.  

 The new Factory Museum at Leitz Park - including items from the Rolf Fricke Collection by Lars Netopil.

Lars Netopil has compiled an exhaustive volume to illustrate what future visitors to the Leica Museum can look forward to discovering. The Leica expert and historian, who also owns a Leica Store for vintage and contemporary cameras in Wetzlar’s Old Town, has published several books within his field in the past. For this endeavour, his well-established team has documented the treasures to be displayed at Leica’s factory museum. The book was designed by David Pitzer, the over 600, mostly large-format photographs were created by Wolfgang Sauer.

In 36 chapters, the essential exhibits from the inventory of the new Leica Factory Museum are described - from the UR-Leica to the red anodized Leica.

- 672 pages with over 600 large size colour images

- Text fully bi-lingual (english/german)

- 21x30 cm, 2 sub-volumes in one slipcase, hardcover in cloth with dust-jacket

There are only 2 negatives that I have to say about the books. First, from a commercial photographers view I wish the shadows had been filled in. Sometimes the light falls off to abruptly. Second, there are a lot of white marks on the pages from paper dust in the printing process. But don’t let these flaws keep you away from these 2 books. There is a lot of information packed into these 2 volumes.  

Leica LFI Magazine- 2.2019

The latest issue of the LFI magazine has arrived. I always look forward to each issue. 

I subscribe to three photography magazines. The Leica LFI which I have subscribed to for over 30 years. APERTURE magazine which comes and goes depending on how I am feeling about the latest issue. And LENSWORK, which I like because it just does portfolios and no equipment news. 

In the pre-internet days the LFI magazine was the only venue for Leica news and reports. The rest of the mainstream magazines ignored Leica products. They only time they were mentioned was when a new camera or lens was introduced and that seemed like it only happened during solar eclipses. 

I enjoy looking at the old magazines from time to time. Before digital there were just 2 lines of cameras. The “R” line which was the SLR. And the “M” line which are the rangefinders. I always kinda felt like the “R” line was treated like a second class citizen. The reporting was more specification based, not opinion based like today. Nowadays camera reviews are more like reading the opinion page of a newspaper and less like just the facts on the front page.