Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
The downside is reduced image size to fit within the square. Content and composition are what is important.
Maggie was explaining to me how the Blue Tooth and syncing makes it easy to shoot a lot. Makes sense to intergrate an IPAD, and why Leica sells a small leather bag with a holster for a "Q" an IPAD and a phone.
Anyways it seemed the discussion that had 4 of us (I was mostly listening) had towards the end of the Meet-Up about Social Media and cell phones was rather timely.
Perhaps the new show at ICP is rather timely and relevant.
Cal
I think my point in that discussion was how the general public uses photography as a form of language on social media... look at what I bought, look at me (or an idealized version of me), look what I like, look where I went, etc. It's not necessarily about a good photo. Where as we would utilize it for Art and our photographic usage of social media would be look at my Photography. I was trying to make a separation between social media photography and photography for photography's sake.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
It was all a great discussion. I mostly listened, but hearing the different views and the projection of possibilities of where things are going began a curious journey of WTF?
At first when I heard of the ICP grand opening and the release of their new show initially I felt a let down. I did not see how it really reflects a cultural change in our society.
Now I realize that I have to kinda understand more, and somehow there might be some greater meaning hear.
This guy Brian who sold me this scanner was actually very patient with me because I wanted a demo of the scanner, but I also wanted to pick his brain because I was impressed by him as a photographer. Basically we talked for a while and I learned a lot that will help me in the future. He really gave me some great advice.
Brian suggested that I follow the business model of two of his friends and use Instagram to present my work to the world and to promote myself as a photographer. For many years I concentrated on just my work with little regard to printing, or showing. In a way having a huge body of work is a great asset, but now it seems time to get it out there.
I know first hand how closed off the art world can be, and it use to be a rather closed society that let few people in, but the Internet and Social media allows one to bypass the old sealed society.
Interesting how at the same time I got this exhibition solicitation from "No Longer Empty" for "Fresh Out Of Storage." Anyways seems clever to me to work and exploit this media.
I can't tell you how proud I am of my gal and the life that she is building recreating herself as a fashion blogger. I never thought that she would surge like she did. Only in January this year she broke through 10K followers, and now she is really close to 48K. In fashion blogging 50K is a milestone where big brands take notice and that is when big deals and bigger money really kick in.
Already later this month she will be part of a huge campaign that involves a major brand and a major store on 5th Avenue. Her numbers should be verticle. Anyways it is a crazy world.
Cal
icebear
Veteran
Maybe just a typo ... the Q has a neat 1.7/28asph at the front end
. Surprisingly I really like this lens. About 20 years ago I was in Tokyo for a couple of month with my first M6 and one lens, a 50 'cron. Obviously a city like Tokyo is sometimes a little to tall and little to narrow to make do with a 50 all the time. So I got a used 28 Elmarit, the only lens I could barely afford at the time. I got some decent shots but never really started to like the 2.8/28. Maybe is was the clumsy, huge shade that partly blocked the viewfinder. Whatever, the Q is a lovely camera. And for sure it will be in my un-hipster Domke bag. I take for granted that you are aware of the "24hr test drive" going on at Leica dealers for the SL, go for it
NY_Dan
Well-known
What is the day, time and place of meet-up?
icebear
Veteran
Aug.28th at 11am at ICP's Bowery location pre meet.
Afterwards RFF meet at Lorelei, whenever
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Maybe just a typo ... the Q has a neat 1.7/28asph at the front end
I take for granted that you are aware of the "24hr test drive" going on at Leica dealers for the SL, go for it
Klaus,
I was at the Leica Store in Soho Saturday checking out the SL. I brought my 50 Lux ASPH, the extra heavy chrome version, to see how it would balance on the SL. I also brought my 50 Lux-R "E60."
Well Jeff was correct: the focus indicator on the SL is accurate and mucho fast. Who needs autofocus? Really it is almost that good. The "E60" was the best for ergonomics and balance. Pretty much, who needs a DSLR anymore.
Anyways I am a bit forlorned because I have no money for the "Q" or SL. On top of that I basically have to give some down time to my printing because I kinda abused my printer making mucho large prints to load that "shipping container" to smuggle them into my public storage for a "Storage Visit" from a associate curator last week.
It seems the 41-45 minutes of exposed unused nozzles is conducive to small clogs that are now messing me up. All of this was compounded because of the large batches and alternation between laying down 7 shades of black for one printing session, and then the following day printing the Gloss Overcoat that had an accumulative effect of 3x41 or even 6x45 minutes to allow ink to dry and become a problem. Time to flush with Piezoflush again because repeated power cleanings are not working. I will likely leave the printer in storage mode with the Piezoflush safely loaded.
I'm kinda gearing up for a film binge because I'll be sending in my Monochrom in about 3 months when my number gets called on the waiting list. I need a Nikon F5 for the 1/8000 shutter speed to exploit my Tri-X with Diafine to go with my R8 that also has 1/8000 shutter speed. At 800 ISO it is all I need for night shooting. I now have a Nikon LS 8000 scanner, so I now have something new to obsess about. For me the F5 with a 28/1.4 AF-d Nikkor is my substitute for the Leica "Q" I can't afford.
Cal
Afterwards RFF meet at Lorelei, whenever
I would say we are still meeting at 1pm at Lorelei for the usual meet-up because not everyone is joining us to go to the ICP.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
icebear
Veteran
Hi Cal,
I traded 3 Leica-M film bodies plus cash for the Q.
If you really want a Q, you should have plenty of gear to trade in, don't you?
It's just a matter of letting it go
I traded 3 Leica-M film bodies plus cash for the Q.
If you really want a Q, you should have plenty of gear to trade in, don't you?
It's just a matter of letting it go
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Hi Cal,
I traded 3 Leica-M film bodies plus cash for the Q.
If you really want a Q, you should have plenty of gear to trade in, don't you?
It's just a matter of letting it go
Klaus,
Call me a romantic, but I still love film.
I think the breaking point for me would be if Leica builds me another dream camera: the SLM (SL Monochrom). I would do almost anything to get one.
Leica already made me a dream camera when they made the Monochrom. I love it warts and all.
I have not been using my medium format gear much. The Monochrom kinda has it covered. I get the IQ and tonality without the workout of bigger heavier cameras, but film is a medium I do not want to throw away. Nothing like a wet print, and then there is a display to technic that an exhibitionist like me loves to show off.
Surely though I can do with a cull down, or two, or three.
Anyways I will be concentrating on film fever again with my R8 50 "E60" and blasting away with Tri-X at 800 ISO for my day into night camera taking advantage of a 1/8000 shutter speed.
Cal
Plaubel still around?
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
Yes. The Plaubel 69W ProShift is a pretty interesting camera that is not too big a monster.
Seems like 35mm SLR's are the trend in the Camera Museum.
Cal
Haha, I meant you could always sell that...
I got your message late last night. Thanks for the heads's up but I'm not ready for that yet. I will though, in the future, take a class like that when I'm serious about making a finished book.Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Haha, I meant you could always sell that...
John,
I know you are serious about making books. Just the process of making a book by hand is an art form. Check out the Center For Book Arts when you are ready. They have been around for decades.
Anyways, I don't want to do anything I might regret, but I'm considering a major change that is kinda drastic. Klaus makes a point that shortage of funds is no excuse when you have hard assets like Leica bodies and lenses. Anyways it is kinda like when I day-traded cameras. LOL.
I think for small format film of notching it up, but I will have to exploit SLR's that have 1/8000 shutter speeds like my R8 and the F5 Joe is going to lend me. The reason why I need 1/8000 is to fully exploit Tri-X at 800 ISO where I need the mucho high shutter speeds to kill the light for day shooting.
I hope to take my "Slacker's Brew" (Diafine) to the next level since it offers fine grain like Fuji Acros and that compensating effect that moderates the contrast so I get rich mid-tones of medium format. If I can do this I will likely cull down the Medium format a bit to concentrate more on small format.
Might be that I would get rid of my small format film cameras that offer only 1/1000 and 1/2000 fast shutter speeds, or at least cull down to maybe only two film M-Bodies for portability as a two camera kit.
I currently removed the TA Rapidwinders off my M6 and MP and rigged them out with the black Canon 28/3.5 pancake lens, and the 35/1.8 Nikkor in LTM on the MP. They fit nicely in the brown leather Leitz bag I got at Adorama with the friendly price.
My "Hunchback of Solms (R8) with my 50 Lux "E60" is a killer rig, and my 28/1.4 AF-D on a F5 will be my wide.
If things go well perhaps only keep lenses for my Monochrom and no film M-bodies. I'll recycle the cash into something crazy. The SL is a keen camera. Jeff is correct: the SL focus confirmation is amazing; and the 50 Lux "E60" is wonderful on the SL.
What will happen to my Nikon F3P, F3 HP, Leica SL2-MOT? All on the fence. Maybe go really simple: Monochrom; R8; F5; and SL.
Question is whether I need medium format for higher IQ? I think the IQ of the Monochrom and SL are hard to beat, but for film is two cameras with two lenses enough? Granted one of the best 50's ever made shared on a SL and R8. Also the 28/1.4 AF-D as a fast wide dedicated to film. Under this senario maybe the only camera to keep is the Rollie 3.5F for medium format. Maybe not. Maybe the Rollie and Plaubel: you know how I like to carry two cameras. LOL.
Cal
I can't imagine not having a film M is a smart thing for you. Keep the M6 at the very least.
Well that depends on if you'd like to darkroom print ever again. There is still some differences to how MF film deals with highlights, depth of field, and other factors.
The Plaubel is cool and unique, but it's most likely your least used camera at this point no? Also, I think you have more equipment than listed here...
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I can't imagine not having a film M is a smart thing for you. Keep the M6 at the very least.
Well that depends on if you'd like to darkroom print ever again. There is still some differences to how MF film deals with highlights, depth of field, and other factors.
The Plaubel is cool and unique, but it's most likely your least used camera at this point no? Also, I think you have more equipment than listed here...
John,
No rash decisions, but my mind is twirling. I'm at a point where anything is possible. You do hit on a key point about wet printing and medium format going together, but I don't know if the future if it will happen.
If I have to leave NYC then my lifestyle will be as an "Urban Gypsy" where I will continue all the moving around that I have done all my life, except visit different cities for perhaps years at a time, living in a studio, and basically living out of a suitcase.
I'm keeping the Monochrom so it does make sense to keep at least one film M-body or maybe two (M6 and MP 0.85).
Cal
Range-rover
Veteran
Pretty sure you can use it on that body. It will fit the 6001,6003 and 6008 so I'd think it will fit the 6002.
No need to sell the body I was just interested in seeing some test shots from it
If I wasn't so busy, it would be great to come see you guys again. Perhaps September.
www.stillthrill.com
I will have to bring it to the meet so you could try it out then.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
benmacphoto
Well-known
Weather looks good for Sunday so I should be heading up.