Back After Long Hiatus:

Hey everyone!  Sorry for the overall lack of activity here recently.  March has been a very busy month for me.  I also went a way for a short last minute trip with a couple of friends.  I’m back now, and I will be answering any comments that have been left over the past couple of weeks, and I will also be replying to all my emails.  Sorry for all the late replies!  In a few of hours or sooner, I will be posting a short review on a new wrist strap as well just to get the ball rolling again.

In about a week, I will be going to Tokyo, Japan.  I will be bringing my Leica M 240 and a few lenses with me.  Bob at Bergen County Camera said he would loan me a lens if I wanted (which is extremely nice of him), so I will also be testing out something cool while I’m there for a review.  If I can get everything in order (packing, last minute stuff, etc.), I will create new content to be released during the week that I’m in Japan, so there will always be something new up on my site.

By the way, as you can see from the photo above, I bought some film (I posted a pic a while ago on my Instagram)…a pro pack of Portra 35mm but mostly medium format.  That’s because I purchased an old Hasselblad medium format film camera recently, which I’m very excited about.  From time to time, I’ve mentioned my old Mamiya 6MF fondly here.  I missed the format enough that I decided to invest back into it.  This time, I wanted to try something different, which is why I went for the Hasselblad.  It took me many months to find exactly the one I wanted.  It still hasn’t arrived yet, and it looks like I won’t get it until after I come back from Japan, so I will talk more about this later.  Again, sorry for the lack of activity!  Stay tuned for more to come!

Few Words on the Noctilux F1 And What’s Coming Soon

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays!  I know, there are a lack of posts here recently, so I wanted to give you a quick update as to what’s been going on.  I have a lot of stuff coming soon.  I’ve been working hard in the background.  I still have my Leica X review coming…sorry it’s so late!  There were a few other things that came up that occupied my time but I am actually almost done with it.

I started a new Instagram account where I post different photos than the ones I post here on my blog, and if you’ve seen a couple of the pics, then you’ll know that I’ve also been shooting with a Leica Noctilux F1.  I know it’s an older lens but I just really wanted to shoot with it, and thanks to Bob at the Leica Boutique in Bergen County Camera, I was able to borrow his demo.  I will definitely be writing up a review for it.  But don’t worry, for those who want to read reviews of more current lenses, I also have plans of writing up those and plans to add some non-related Leica stuff to my blog as well.

Leica Noctilux F1:

But I just wanted to talk about the Noctilux real quick because I’m quite excited about it.  I borrowed the Nocti a few years ago, and I didn’t really like it.  While the pictures from the Noctilux are truly unique, I thought it was huge on the M and I just didn’t want to carry it around.  One of the great things of the Leica M system is it’s compact nature and portability.  The lenses are optically excellent but they are also so compact.  There is no denying that the images from the Noctilux are downright cool but at the same time, it’s so large for an M body.

Well, this time around, my experience with the Noctilux is quite different.  I don’t exactly know what changed; maybe the rowing I did over the summer when I went fishing built up my arms muscles, who knows haha but the Noctilux doesn’t feel as big as it once did before on my M.

So, beside the fact that I’m actually more comfortable with this lens, what else makes me love the Noctilux so much?  For me, when I use a lens like this, it’s not about the perfection of the optics.  It’s the uniqueness that it brings to the photos, and this lens has gobs of character!  My favorite lens is still the 50 Lux ASPH.  The Lux offers everything I want in a lens: it’s compact, it’s fast, it’s has incredible character, and it’s optically excellent.  But I think one day, I will have to add a Noctilux to my arsenal of gear because it’s just incredible what it can do.  Last time I borrowed the Nocti, I didn’t click well with it but I’m really relating a lot better with it now.  It could also be because when I borrowed it the first time, I had just bought my M 240, and I was still getting the hang of it, who knows.  I should be posting some sample pics but I just wanted to post my thoughts real quick and give you all an update as to what’s been going on, and I haven’t finished post processing any of my photos.  I’ve just been out shooting a lot.  Sorry but I’ll post some photos soon.  As always, I appreciate you all for stopping by!

Happy Holidays!:

Happy holidays everyone!  Thanks for visiting and making 2014 a great one!

-Patrick

Leica M Edition 100 Set at Bergen County Camera:

I was speaking to Bob at Bergen County Camera, which is the camera store and Leica Boutique dealer that I’ve been going to for many years, and he told me that they are getting the Leica M Edition 100 set!  I think there’s only like 20 sets being sent to the U.S., so if you’re interested, you should definitely give him a call!  Here’s more info from Leica:

“The Leica M Edition 100 brings together a purely mechanical rangefinder camera for film photography – the Leica M-A – with a digital Leica M (Leica M Monochrom) in one set. Both cameras stand as symbols for the origins of Leica photography and the present day. The Leica M-A, with technical specifications based on the currently available Leica MP film camera. Alternatively, the second camera, a Leica M Monochrom, is the contemporary variation of the theme composed a century ago by Oskar Barnack. This is the first time that stainless steel has been employed for the visible metallic elements of Leica products. The set also includes three Leica Summilux-M lenses with focal lengths of 28, 35 and 50 mm and will be supplied in a black anodized aluminium case. The cameras and lenses will be available exclusively as sets from Leica Stores and Boutiques and strictly limited to 101 sets.”

Personally, I really like this set because of the stainless steel finish :).  For me, this is what makes this set one of the nicer and more unique special editions to come from Leica in a long time.   Having the 35mm Lux ASPH, the 50mm Lux ASPH, the brand new 28mm Summilux ASPH, and a new model called the M-A all in one set doesn’t hurt either :).  Anyway, for those interested in purchasing the Leica M Edition 100 set, give Bob a call at (800)-841-4118.