Leica Leather strap - Brandy

My daughter, bless her, picked up a leather carry strap from Leica for me. I have not been thrilled with the strap that comes with the camera because it slides off of my shoulder all of the time because it is so narrow. I’ve been switching between my collection of straps trying to find one that I liked better. I keep going back to the strap that came with my Leica M6. The shoulder pad is grippy but it has the split rings and the friction clasp on the ends that I have never liked. 

This new strap is model 14 658 and is part of the al a Carte series of build your own “M” camera system. It is a matte leather strap with a shoulder pad and the color is Brandy. It also comes in Boyseberry, Cement Gray, Coffee Bean, Dark Blue, Red, and Khaki Green. With the pressed Leica logo on the shoulder pad, the inside of the pad has a non-slip lining that helps the strap stay on the shoulder. The strap can be adjusted to three different lengths: 45 inches, 42 inches, or 39 inches. It is one of the few leather straps that has an adjustable length. 

Like all new leather straps it is a bit slick and stiff. I’m sure in a month or so it will soften up. I like to wrap straps around my wrist when shooting so they usually break in pretty fast. For me the best part is the shoulder pad. It helps to keep the strap from sliding of the shoulder. I have been known to put small pieces of double sided tape on camera shoulder pads to help them stay in place. I just replace the strips every couple of months. A little bit goes a long way.  

Camera straps are like camera bags. You can collect quite a few while search for the Holy Grail. This strap checks the boxes for my needs, only time will tell how long it stays on my camera.  

Jürgen Schadeberg Leica Hall of Fame

Leica has announced that Jürgen Schadeberg is the newest member of the Leica Hall of Fame. He is know mostly for his work in South Africa during the apartheid era. His most famous photo is of Nelson Mandela in his former prison cell in 1994. Here is the beginning of his biography from his web site:

Jurgen Schadeberg was born in Berlin in 1931 and, while still in his teens, worked as an apprentice photographer for a German Press Agency in Hamburg. In 1950 he emigrated to South Africa and became Chief Photographer, Picture Editor and Art Director on Drum Magazine.

It was during this time that Jurgen photographed pivotal moments in the lives of South Africans in the fifties. These photographs represent the life and struggle of South Africans during Apartheid and include important figures in South Africa’s history such as Nelson Mandela, Moroka, Walter Sisulu, Yusuf Dadoo, Huddleston and many others who have been documented at key moments such as during The Defiance Campaign of 1952, The Treason Trial of 1958, The Sophiatown Removals and the Sharpeville Funeral in 1960.

The life that this man has lived is difficult for most of us to relate to. He was not just a photographer he was a social activist that put his life on the line for others many times in his career. This award is for a man that the term “Photographer” just doesn’t do justice for. He stood up and made a difference.  

We live in an age when people are given the title “ A Great Photographer” because they have X number of Instagram followers. Jürgen Schadeberg is not just a great Leica Photographer, he is a great man. Congratulations for a well deserved lifetime award.  

Leica Q2 is coming

Spy photo of the Leica Q2.  

Come on, have a sense of humor.  

What has to be the worst kept secret in the Leica world these days is the pending introduction of the Leica Q2. Although there is not much that needs to be changed cameras are updated from time to time because that is how the companies make money. A friend of mine that has owned a camera store in Los Angeles for close to forty years told me that most of the sales of a new model are in the first 90 days of a camera’s release. It is in a companies interest to get some hype around the release of a new model.  

The Leica Q has been a very successful model for Leica. Salesmen and the manufacturer representative have both told me how the “Q” has been a big surprise for the company. When it was introduced many pundits were down on the camera because of the choice of a 28mm lens. Turns out that was a good decision on the part of the company. When purchasing the “Q” you are buying a high quality 28mm f 1.7 lens and getting the body as an added bonus. The camera appeals to both first time Leica users and to current users that would like to have an autofocus second body. 

The Leica Q2 looks to be the same as the current camera with the addition of a higher megapixel sensor and waterproofing. Talk is that the sensor fill be in the 45-50 MB range. The crop settings for the camera will be at 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm in addition to the native 28mm lens. 75mm is a nice addition but not a desperate need to the camera. My concern is that a lot bigger files will need a lot more hard drive space for storage. Those will be big files for the occasional 75mm crop factor. 

I have gone to the Leica Store twice with the intention of buying the Leica Q. Both times I changed my mind because of the fixed 28mm lens. I really like the concept of the camera and it has an exceptional build quality. It feels like a real Leica. But I’m a 50mm guy at heart and I don’t feel comfortable going out with just that focal length. I own the 28mm Summaron 5.6 lens and I enjoy shooting with it but it has a specific look that is not what I want for all of my images. 

I’m sure the Leica Q2 will be a success and I will recommend the camera, it’s just not for me.  

SmallRig Cage for Lumix GH-5

After a positive experience with SmallRig products for attaching an Atomos Ninja V to my DJI Ronin-S I decided to go with their modular system for my Panasonic LUMIX GH-5 video setup. The LUMIX GH-5 is a versatile camera that takes great still photographs but has a reputation for being high quality camera for video shoots.

I have decided to just put together a basic kit and then just add parts as needed. The camera is is enclosed in a SmallRig #2049 cage. This is the basic cage that everything else is attached to. It is attached to the camera with a 1/4-20 screw that attaches to the camera tripod socket. The cage wraps around the camera but allows access to all of the dials and buttons of the camera. There are both 1/4-20 and 3/8th holes around the cage for attaching accessories. Everyone has different ways that they like the camera set-up so it is kind of a Lego builders fantasy.  

My first addition to the camera cage was something called a Nato #2172 rail. This has a beveled edge for sliding attachments on to the rail that are then locked into place. The rail is permanently attached with screws. A monitor attachment that I use to attach my Ninja V to my gimbal is attached to the Nato rail so that I can use it for recording the highest quality video that I can get from my camera. I just slide the lever to unlock it from the rail on my gimbal and slide it onto the rail on the top of my camera. What a great design. 

Next I attached a Wooden Nato Side Handle #2187 to the side of the cage. This grip has a cold shoe on the top and a couple of mounting holes. I attached a RØDE Videomic Pro Plus to the cold shoe on the top. Now I can record high quality sound and video on the go. The grip is attached to the NATO rail that is built-in to the side of the cage. The grip can be attached to either side of the cage because the arm can be attached on the left or the right side of the grip. Very handy. There is even a hex wrench stored in the top of the grip for working the screws. I might even get another grip for the other side for more stability for when shooting handheld. 

This is my basic set-up for run and gun video. I plan on adding a rail system on the bottom so that I can expand the camera for more formal shooting. I will be able to add a pull focus system, a Matt box, a shoulder pad, and a platform to mount a battery system for extended shooting sessions. And all I have to do to shoot with the gimbal is strip items off the cage and mount the camera on to the gimbal for steadycam work. 

I am so impressed with the quality of the SmallRig products. Everything fits perfectly and there is no flexing or loose fitting joints. It is a rock solid set-up. As my camera changes I just get the appropriate cage and reuse everything on the new camera. This has been a great investment and it makes shooting so much easier.  

Leica Lens Repair - Over 6 Months

I usually have nothing but good things to say about my Leica experience but I must admit I’m disappointed with Leica this time. This is not the first time that I’ve sent a product to Leica for repair. Usually it takes a little longer than normal but I don’t mind because Leica is a small company and I’m paying a premium to get it done correctly. 

But this time has gotten to be too much. I sent my 35mm Summicron from the pre-digital days to be converted to 6-bit so that the lens info would be written in the data stored in the files. There is nothing wrong with the lens, I just wanted the lens mounted updated to 6-bit. I was quoted 3 months for estimate and repair at the Leica Store. It took almost 2 months just for the estimate. I am almost at 6 and 1/2 months so I called and they are going to try to get it back in about a week.  

Leica, if you can hear me, you must do a better job at repairs. Leica Rumors even recently posted that repairs is one of the areas that the company needs to improve. It makes it hard to do work with a tool when the manufacturer takes over 6 months to do a simple repair. This has been a long time without my favorite wide-angle lens. I am a Nikon Professional Services member and they do make repairs a priority for working professionals. Leica please bring back your program for professional photographers.

UPDATE 

After 203 days my lens has been returned.  

Connecting Atomos Ninja V to DJI Ronin-S

The use of hybrid cameras for shooting video has been mainstream for a number of years. It seems like employers of still photographers are expecting them to shoot video as well as stills. Handheld gimbals are getting as common as camera bags in a photographers toolkit. One of the most popular is the DJI Ronin-S gimbal. 

The Ronin-S is great but is missing the ability to use a monitor such as the Atomos Ninja V monitor-recorder that is so popular these days. The Ninja V is great to work with and it makes it so much easier to shoot and edit videos.  

I have been aware of a company called SmallRig that makes cages and accessories for mostly Dslr’s and Mirrorless cameras. My understanding is that they make top quality products. I came across a YouTube video on how to attach a different brand monitor to the DJI gimbal so I ordered the parts for my setup.  

The three parts that are needed are as follows: Smallrig Mounting Plate for Ronin-S #2214, Smallrig DSLR Monitor Holder with Nato Clamp #2100, and Smallrig ENF Mount with Nato Rail #2113.  

The first step is to remove the accessory cover plate of the Ronin-S with the supplied hex tool. Attach the Mount Holder with the attached screws. Attach the Monitor Holder Mount to the Holder. Then attach the ENF Monitor Mount to the Ninja V. Slide this attachment onto the attached arm and adjust for the proper viewing angle. It takes longer to describe than to do the work.  

Now you just attach a HDMI cable to the port on the camera and the monitor and your in business. The setup is a little heavy after long use but the quality of the work that can be achieved is well worth the trouble. This level of filmmaking was only achievable by the big movie studios just a few years ago.  

The little gadgets are really the things that make life so much easier. The SmallRig accessories are made with an attention to detail that I really appreciate. I plan on looking forward to getting one of their camera cages for my LUMIX GH-5 and tricking it out with some of the attachments that are available.  

Finding Good Light

Photographers are like Moths, they are drawn to the Light. 

Jeff Mellody

Never has a truer thing been said. Photography is not about cameras. It’s not about the subject. It’s about the Light. Without the play of light and shadows, contrast and color, texture and reflections that good light produces the subject just has no reason to be photographed. 

As I was waiting for my wife and daughter to return from shopping I was walking through the shopping area just people watching. It was about a half hour after sunset and the lights were just coming on. I started shooting working one area to the next and after about three sets of images I stopped to chimp for a moment. As I looked away from my camera and looked back to where I had just been shooting all I could notice was the pool of light at each place that I had stopped. I wasn’t looking for subjects, I was looking for light. The light was what made the images.  

In the photo from above I would not have taken a second glance at the area during the day. But at night there was a spotlight that was being reflected from a glass wall that was illuminating this area that caught my attention. The image was an obvious black and white conversion just waiting to happen. 

When you are street shooting I have learned that the first thing I look for is the moment. An expression, contrasting subjects, humor. But I get pulled to areas that have “the light”. I just instinctively know that this is an area that I need to check out. Because that is what photography is all about, the light. When you find the light sometimes all you have to do is take an image of the light. A strong photo can be taken of just light, no subject needed.  

After you get past the basics of photography you realize that it is the light that makes the image. Take a look at the work of the big name fashion photographers. It’s all about composition and lighting. They are magicians of light. Google the work of Irving Penn. That’s the work of a real master. If you want to take your work to the next level, work on your lighting skills. Anybody can setup a light and snap an image. Learn to say something with light. Develop a lighting style. People will be drawn to your work like moths when you find the light.

A Point of Interest

We’ve all done. Drive up to a scenic spot, get out of the car, walk up to the guard rail, snap a photo, get back into the car and drive off. The perfect Kodak moment captured forever. You get back and review your photos and it’s delete, delete, delete.  

If you want your images to be memorable they need to be meaningful. In the above photo the image was of the shoreline. No boats, no people, no clouds, no sunset, nothing there. Now I’m not saying there always needs to be a subject, William Eggleston has made a career of taking photos of nothing, but most good photos need a reason to be taken.  

My photo above isn’t a great photo but it has the features that I always look for so its a keeper. First there is the graphic nature of the image, lots of lines. A silhouette is better than a flat ocean. The woman is in motion taking the image. The gesture of her arm raised to her head. The sailboat makes a nice little detail at the top of the image. The different bands of motion in the water creates competing areas of gray. Some bands with detail others with no detail. The white line at the bottom breaks the tension in the mass of black at the bottom of the image.  

And my reason for the photo is for showing a moment in time from a different perspective. Also I like images that are simple but have little extras to make an image more than just a snapshot. Before pressing the shutter button really look deeply at the scene to find an angle to make it different. There are to many duplicate Kodak moments out there already. 

After the Golden Hour - Leica M10

Just because the Golden Hour is over doesn’t mean it’s ok to pack up your equipment and go grab a slice of pizza. Yes the hour before sunset can give you beautiful light, everybody knows that. But stick it out for a little longer, the glow in the sky combined with the last ambient light of the day can match up to give some wonderful light.  

This is also when those fast lenses that are so expensive start to pay off. That faster aperture allows faster shutter speeds and also captures more of the light spilling from various sources that cannot be planned on, they just happen. Also remember to watch your ISO so that you get just that right combination of image quality but not to much grain. The auto ISO setting can be vary helpful.  

These showers are always placed just between the beach and the parking areas so they are usually good areas to try at the end of the day. This particular beach has two sets of showers located a short distance from each other so I was walking back and forth and shooting based on the number of people and by the rapidly changing lighting conditions. I find people cleaning their hair and feet make the best images.  

There seems to be an ongoing discussion in all forums about using UV filters on lenses. Some say why degrade that expensive lens with a filter and others say protect that expensive lens with a filter. No matter what your preference on the issue is I recommend always using a protection filter at the beach. Salt water spray is very corrosive to camera lenses and bodies so I see no reason to take chances. Even if your not right at the waters edge that spray can go a long way if the wind is blowing. I remember a camera repairman showing me a camera that was not functional because of one grain of sand. It was hard to believe but it was literally one grain of sand.  

Remember, bad light can be good light.  

Magazine B - Leica

I came across any interesting magazine called Magazine B. It is published in South Korea by Kakao IX Corp. The magazine looks into brands that are successful that have cult followings. Issues have covered Porsche, Rolex, Muji, Moleskine, Google and Audi among many others. 

The Magazine B issue dedicated to Leica was the 34th issue. There is a brief history of Leica, interviews with Leica users and dealers. A look at Leica’s product lineup and how they fit into today’s marketplace. How Leica fits into today’s culture with opinions on the brand. There are plenty of product photos of the current products and some of the iconic products from the past as well as shots of users in action and samples of their work. 

This magazine is aimed at 2 markets. Those who are Leica nerds who love everything about the brand and for those who know little or nothing about Leica but enjoy learning about the best stuff that is available. I fall into both categories so I really enjoyed this magazine. I plan on picking up some more issues.