Leica X Typ 113 Review:

The ever growing fixed prime lens compact camera scene is filled with many competitors these days all fighting for a piece of the pie.  Manufacturers like Fuji, Sony, Nikon, and Sigma just to name a few, each have their own unique take on what a high quality non-interchangeable lens compact camera should be.  To stay competitive, Leica updated their X line by introducing the new Leica X Typ 113 (B&H Photo/Amazon).  They have kept the main characteristics and formula that have made the predecessors of the X line successful, such as, simple and direct layout of the controls but they’ve also brought along some much needed serious upgrades like the new Summilux lens to help it differentiate itself and therefore, stay competitive with the rest of the pack. [continue reading…]

Artisan & Artist Silk Green Wrist Strap #14885 Review For Leica:

For those who prefer holding their camera in their hand instead of having it hang around their neck or shoulders, a decent wrist strap is a nice alternative to a traditional neck strap.  I for one almost never hang my camera around my neck when I’m out taking pictures.  I just find it’s easier for me to weave around a crowded street when the camera is in my hand.  Of course, it’s all about personal preference.  One of my favorite straps from Artisan & Artist has always been the ACAM-301 Silk Cord.  It’s light, strong, and very flexible allowing me to hang it around my neck when I need both hands free or wrap it very easily around my wrist.  But even with such a flexible strap, sometimes the length still makes it a bit cumbersome if all you really need or want is something that can be easily secured to your wrist, which is why the new Artisan & Artist Silk Green Wrist Strap is an excellent alternative. [continue reading…]

Note from Admin: Here is part two of Jed Orme’s guest article about his trip to the South Pacific using only his Fuji X-E2 and select prime lenses.  There are some beautiful pictures in this article…great examples of Fuji blues.  For those who haven’t seen part one, definitely check it out!  He also has a Flickr page with even more photos.  Enjoy!

South Pacific Sojourn – To Zoom or Not To Zoom (Part 2 of 2)

This is the second part of a two-part article about photography on a thirty-day cruise, & related photo gear considerations as well as image capture experiences.  The first part covered travels my wife & I took from San Diego to the Hawaiian Islands, & then on to our gateway to the South Pacific.  This last place is a magical isle with a perfect name – “Bora Bora”.  It was originally called “Pora Pora” (there are no B’s in the Tahitian language).  But when Captain Cook visited, he mistook the “P” sound for a “B”.  On the way to Bora Bora, we also spent a day at one of the most remotely inhabited islands on our planet – Fanning Island, with its small population living without any running water or electricity.

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Leica 50mm F1.0 Noctilux-M Review:

Note from Admin: I’d like to thank Bob Gramegna from the Leica Boutique at Bergen County Camera for loaning me the 50mm F1.0 Noctilux-M.  It has been a brutal winter, and therefore, hard to take pics but he was kind enough not only to loan me this lens but also to let me borrow it for a VERY long time to write you all a proper review!

Regardless of manufacturer, the 50mm Noctilux is one of the most famous and highly regarded lenses in the photographic world.  For many, it is a dream lens, mythical even.  Over the years, there have been several different versions of the Noctilux but each one is special and each one has become a legend in its own right.  The version in this review is the Leica 50mm F1.0 Noctilux-M, a Mandler classic that has been discontinued but still considered a very special lens.  While the price of admission is still high, this version can be found for considerably less than the current 50mm Noctilux F0.95 which only adds to the F1.0’s desirability and makes entry into the Noctilux world a little easier. [continue reading…]