The Leica M5 has been in my collection for quite some time. I have used it hear and there on different occasions. It was only recently that I started taking it on all of my non-landscape photography trips. I got inspired to find a camera that would meter with my Voigtlander 15mm SL Nikon F-mount lens. It occurred to me that this wide angle can be easily installed on a M-mount via an adapter, but would there be enough room to fit without interfering with the M5’s light meter? Or even worse cause physical damage to the CDS cell, as this is an invasive lens. SPECS: WEIGHT = 699g DIMENSIONS ..read more

On my recent trip to Wyoming, I shot a box of the new Kodak Gold 200, alongside the usual Ektar and Portra 400. This was my first time using Gold in any format. Once scanning was finished, and I began flagging the best shots, I was surprised to see how many Gold 200 shots were selected. Not only are colors rich and natural, but very consistent in both bright and dark scenes. When using Ektar, it can be a struggle to avoid teal skies and garish red tones. This is not the case with Gold. For those of you who travel, Gold 200 is much less sensitive to storage temperature conditions. This can giv ..read more

The Nikon 50mm 1.8D has been the compact, normal prime lens of choice for decades. This is one of the few items that you’ll find in both pro and amateur camera bags. It may not have the coveted 1.2 or 1.4 max aperture, but this all purpose lens holds it’s own in most lighting conditions without breaking the bank. All Plastic Finish SPECS: 6 Elements / 5 Groups Aperture = f1.8 (7 Blades) Filter Ø = 52mm Min Focus = 0.45m Weight = 152g Length = 40mm Side View on the Nikon EM PROS: This is a very versatile lens. Although it has its own, unique body design, this 50mm is a ‘D’ lens ..read more

Released in the fall of 2000, the Nikon Lite-Touch Zoom 120 was one of the last film point and shoot cameras before Nikon shifted focus to the digital compact market. The final compact film camera they produced was the Lite-Touch 100W in 2003. By this point, consumer models had begun inheriting advance features to help them stand out from the competition. This particular model includes a built-in diopter, macro capability, panorama mode, and ED glass. There was also a non-quartz date version (not released in Japan). Ready to Shoot SPECS: Focal Length - 38-120mm Min Aperture - f/5.3-10.5 ..read more

Kodak Pro Image 100 was introduced to North America a few years ago, but this film has been around for a long time globally. It was introduced to the U.S. market at a good time too, as the price of one roll of Kodak Ektar is now up to $10. While I like Ektar for my landscape photography, those shot are typically made on 120 or 4x5 film. I find that 35mm shooting is mostly limited to images of family, around town, and traveling light. With this intended use in mind, I decided to give PI 100 a chance. SPECS: In regards to print grain index, which specifies the grain performance of a 4x6 print v ..read more

In early lens design, wide angles were handled much differently than today. Because of the short focal length inherent with a wide angle, the rear element of the lens must be very close to the film plane. This worked just fine in box cameras and rangefinders, but with the advent of the SLR, an intrusive lens element fell out of favor as it interferes with mirror operation. To solve the problem of extreme wide angles on an SLR, the “reverse telephoto”, or retro-focus, lenses were developed. This is the style you see for modern cameras. The downside of this design is that more glass elements ar ..read more

Arches National Park, UT | Voigtlander Bessa IIIW | Kodak Portra 400 While visiting Arches last December, we were pleasantly surprised at how easy the park is to explore in winter. The reduced traffic allowed for stress-free exploration during golden hour, being able to drive around looking for the best light and angles. Normally this formation is basking in harsh, flat sunlight…but its subtle curves and protrusions really come to life in the late afternoon light. I would have preferred some dramatic clouds, but I think the empty blue sky balances the simple desert brush foreground. Contact M ..read more

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO | Voigtlander Bessa IIIW | Kodak Portra 400 Only staying one night in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison last August, there was only one night/morning combo for golden light opportunities. Luckily, this little known National Park is not large enough to require multiple days of exploration. In fact, the sunset this time of year was aligned in such a way that much of the canyon was being lit up. This particular image was captured hand held with my trusty Voigtlander Bessa IIIW set to 6x7cm mode (also has the ability to take 6x6 frames in camera). I r ..read more

Tucson, AZ | Voigtlander Bessa IIIW | Kodak Portra 400 I did not expect to have such dynamic light at Saguaro National Park. While doing trip research, I saw many images of cacti in the harsh desert sun. Fortunately, we arrived late in the day and the clouds were beginning to break. There wasn’t much time to compose this handheld shot, running to a clearing where the valley could be seen. I was able to take three frames before the sun disappeared. Contact Me ..read more

The Pentax 645 right angle viewfinder, or the ‘Refconverter 645’, is a handy accessory for this popular camera line. There isn’t anything unique about this finder, it simply enables you to get into comfortable positions while shooting in low (or other odd) angles. SPECS: Coverage = 100% Weight = 149g Length = 60mm (from body) Rubber Eye Guard is Detachable/Replaceable To use, the existing eye cup must be unscrewed from the camera body and the finder attached in it’s place. There are two different model versions floating around. My version is smooth over the body’s entire surface. How ..read more