A visit to Leicaworld Wetzlar
Visiting Leica in Germany is considered a pilgrimage for analog (and perhaps digital) photographers. For many, it is also the Valhalla of the history of photography, to which Leica contributed significantly. I was recently in the dreamy town of Wetzlar where the Leica empire has its home. You will find the manufacturing departments, a museum, several exhibitions, a real Oscar Barnack restaurant, a casino and the Ernst Leitz hotel. The open and warm ambience here quickly makes you part of the Leica family. What is Leicawelt all about?
Continue reading “A visit to Leicaworld Wetzlar”Sony A7IV versus Leica M240: 9 years digital age difference
A somewhat atypical blog or review. A somewhat uneven comparison in photos between the 2013 Leica M240 and the brand new 2021 Sony A7IV. Two full frame digital cameras from different decades. That’s almost classic versus modern, especially when you consider the very fast technological advances in digital photography. Is quality determined only by advances in sensors and pixels. If a camera is a device for creating art, shouldn’t we also create an index for artistic, creative ability? Thanks to our love of vintage film cameras, we are now also looking at classic digital cameras. It seems, a new, similar discussion starts unfolding about the (sometimes underrated) artistic value of older generations of digital cameras.
Continue reading “Sony A7IV versus Leica M240: 9 years digital age difference”Leica M6 in a backpack
There are cameras that are so popular or beloved that they have acquired iconic status. One name that is certainly not missing from that list is the legendary Leica M6, the quirky rangefinder that took the world by storm in 1984. Even today, one of the most sought-after cameras. Last month it went in a backpack through Nepal. This is the photographic travel log of an analog adventure.
Continue reading “Leica M6 in a backpack”Fresh vintage cover
After more than a year it was time to update our main header photo. Just a small collection of the cameras that are reviewed on this site.
Hasselblad or Kiev – close encounters of the medium format
From a price point of view there is a world of difference between a Swedish Hasselblad and a Russian Kiev. Both are medium format cameras and are hardly different from the outside. That’s why the Kiev is mockingly called the ‘Hasselbladski’. But our test shows that the Kiev should not be underestimated.
Continue reading “Hasselblad or Kiev – close encounters of the medium format”Zeiss Ikon: the German camera empire
Zeiss Ikon is probably the most famous and biggest German camera manufacturer that was formed in 1926 by the merger of the classic four camera makers from the early years: Contessa-Nettel, Ernemann, Goerz and Ica. A very important and significant historical moment that financially was co-founded by capital of Zeiss. The company formed one part of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, another part being the optical company Carl Zeiss. That is the reason most Zeiss-Ikon cameras are fitted with the legendary Carl Zeiss lenses. Who sees a Zeiss Ikon camera, raises his eyebrows over the stunning performance these cameras delivered in those days. But like with all brands, you love or just hate them. Zeiss-Ikon only had fans because of their unbeatable variety of cameras and lenses. Nobody came near, not even Leica.
Continue reading “Zeiss Ikon: the German camera empire”Keep film alive
In the old days, everything was better says grandpa from his rocking chair. People have a tendency to stick to what is known to them. Or is there a piece of truth in that? I know of people who have exchanged their digital camera for an old-fashioned film camera. Tired of all fancy and complicated thinking in bits and bytes, they firmly believe in the inalienable authenticity of celluloid. The lomographers agree with this, just like the large, increasing group of enthusiastic vintage photographers. Is film better, different or just a sentimental tendency to the past? We put it to the test.
Continue reading “Keep film alive”Best scansoftware, matter of personal choices.
After our earlier article on scan software, requests came in to also show some examples of the differences between Epson, Silverfast and in conjunction with Negativelabpro plugin for Adobe Lightroom. For our examples, we use the Epson Perfection V850. Earlier we reviewed the V600, an excellent entry-level scanner, but in order to also work with large format negatives, we have to upgrade to the 7 or 8 series.
Continue reading “Best scansoftware, matter of personal choices.”Addiction
I must confess, a year after buying my first vintage camera, the addiction struck. What a hobby! Be warned, if you like analog photography, cherish rolls of film and are a bit tired of all the digital bits and bytes trivia, there is a high chance you are in for this addiction. Now that the forum is up and running, information is being exchanged, the desire for more is only growing. What has happened in the past 120 years in the field of photography in terms of cameras is simply man’s quest to give meaning to what is happening around them, what he sees and wants to freeze in order to understand. Photography is writing with light. The best addiction ever. Enjoy reading.
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