The Rangefinder camera is different. Feels different. "Sees" different. Composes different. Today is my day off. My boss suggested I take walk with my camera and...

...maybe take out the recycling. And while I'm out walking could I drop by the bank and beg for money deposit a check (yes, I know I can do that with my phone...). while I'm at it could I also write a couple of invoices? And maybe start getting the bookkeeping in shape for tax season. And drop by Trader Joe's for a few things my boss forgot. And, if I don't run out of time how about washing the boss's car? That studio floor could benefit from a good mopping as well. Hmmm. 

WTF did I get out of bed? 

Oh yeah, because I really did want to go out into the sunshine and play with my camera...  Leica M240 (an ancient Leica digital camera that's still, in my opinion, relevant) and the Carl Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2.0.

I put leather half cases on both of my M240s. Sadly, you have to take the cases off to change batteries (not a frequent chore with the M240s...) or to extract the memory card but the cases act as insulators between my fingers and the frigid metal parts. In just a few months the leather half cases will provide insulation between my hands and the flaming/nova-esque heat of a sun-drenched camera chassis. Did I buy the $5,000 Leica cases? Not on your life. I bought the less than $50 ones that were all over Amazon.com. Are they perfect? Sure, why not. But then I'm not the kind of guy who demands leather seats and a heated steering wheel in my cars... So I'm probably not a good point of reference for the difference between luxury goods and pedestrian products. 

Each of the Leica M240s in my care also have aftermarket thumbgrips attached onto the cameras via the hotshoes. This makes holding the cameras much surer and more comfortable. One thumb grip came with a used camera and it is the Match Technical brand which, at $149 sits halfway between the Leica version at $230 and the cheaper versions scattered across Amazon.com for about $50. The Match Technical is black paint over brass which I like a lot. Its black finish deteriorates luxuriously into black with golden edges over time. The other camera is outfitted with one of the budget thumbgrips that I sourced online and, even though it is made of aluminum and won't age in the same way as the Match Technical, if my eyes are closed it does its job as well as the luxe version. And I saved enough in the process to pay for ten or fifteen cups of really nice coffee. So.... there it is.

I really enjoyed the walk and the photography today. It's been gray and glum here lately and we got cheated out of promised sunshine all day yesterday. Today was glorious. The temperature was in the high 40s when I left the house in a t-shirt covered with an old, ratty green sweatshirt and a pair of utility pants. It was breezy so still a bit chilly but so refreshing to be walking in full sun without the real need for a coat or jacket. Photographing in gray weather is inevitable but it makes the high drama of collimated, contrasty and color saturated from the sun so much more exciting. And fun to shoot in. 

The one camera in the studio that is sadly neglected these days is the medium format Fuji GFX. I really wanted to try one. Now I have. And it's really, really good but it's not nearly as much fun to photograph with as the 35mm style rangefinders. I'm pretty sure the Fuji GFX will be the first camera in the collection to exit and find a new home this year. Replaced in short order, I am sure, with a few more Leica M lenses. I already have a couple in mind. 

I've been hearing a lot of "influencers", and actual photographers with YouTube channels, that specs and resolution and frame rates and such no longer matter and that they are directing their attention to "how much fun" a camera is to use. "How much joy a camera gives when you use it and have it in your hands." The through line for many is that all the big improvements that we thought we wanted have already been delivered. Across most product lines. Now users are looking for that elusive magic which is a camera that "just feels right." Well, welcome to the club. It sure took a while for them to figure it out.

An amateur photographer I met before Christmas when we both happened to be walking around downtown taking photographs sent me a note today. He was going to upgrade from camera X to camera X+1 and went into a camera store to check on an upgrade path in his current (non-Leica) system. He was writing to me because while in the camera store he handled a Leica Q3. He wants to get together and pick my brain about Leicas. But here's the deal, even though I know he can afford one and not blink I have no way of knowing if the camera is right for him. I only know which cameras I like. I'll meet with the guy but other than showing him how stuff works I'm not sure I'd ever be a good camera guru. I think my tastes are both too eclectic and at the same time too idiosyncratic. And I can't make up my own mind...

Here are today's snaps. Some with captions. Tomorrow? Something different.

Texans love trucks. But so do the people in most states. And the people

who don't want a pick-up truck gravitate mostly toward enormous SUVs.

I've lately been thinking of buying a smaller car. Something like the 

Subaru BRZ. It's a pretty car. And seems like a fun car to drive.

But I would never, ever, ever consider a truck in this color.

It's just.....acid green. A cry for help? Automotive sociopathy?

Or just really bad taste?

A confusing collection of angles and details.

there used to be a store here called "League of Rebels." They made and sold custom tailored men's suits. Just before the holidays they moved out. And just last week this new men's suit store opened in its place. tailors on site, etc. And as I was walking around I also discover where the previous shop landed. 

It's a few blocks over in a much smaller space. Who knew there was so much demand 

for bespoke men's suits in 2024? How many people can run for Congress at once?

Today's special is....... solid, saturated yellow. Served with a side of .....

Eggleston inspired photo of a milk truck. 

Battle of the diagonals. No. I won't artificially straighten it all up. Not my job.

But here's one that's mostly straight...

I ate there once. I'm not sure they make "The Best Food Ever." It's not bad but

it's a far cry from really great restaurant. Hmmm. I will say it's a step up from

McDonalds. And two steps up from Burger King.

Industrial errata. Whitewashed.

So. How did that new 90mm f2.8 APO Skopar lens for the M mount cameras work out? Check it out for yourself. Warning: Several Mannequin shots. No mannequins were harmed in the making of these images.

My copy of the Voigtlander 90mm f2.8 APO Skopar lens, in Leica M mount, arrived on Friday. I did some preliminary tests around the studio using the Fuji GFX camera and I also put it on a Leica M240 to make sure it focused accurately with the coupled rangefinder but after that I got busy and the lens took a back seat until the middle of this afternoon.

I took it out for the routine walk to see just what I could expect from the lens. I used a Leica M to L mount adapter and put the lens on an SL2 camera. That way I could focus very carefully, take advantage of IBIS to take one more variable out of the mix and also because that camera accommodates M type lenses so well. The 47 megapixel files show off or embarrass lenses depending on their real performance characteristics. 

I mostly used the lens at f2.8 or f4.0 but occasionally I stopped down to f5.6 when I wanted to get more depth in a shot. I made close ups and I made distant shots --- just to see. 

I'm very happy with the lens. It performs well and, as a bonus, it's small, light and inexpensive. Now waiting for one more M camera to arrive so I can finalize the kit. Check out the photos. I think they are darling.