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David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Sports Optics Prices Increasing on July 1st 6 years, 6 months ago
On July 1, 2018 Leica is increasing prices on a range of sports optics products by an average of about 5%. Affected products include Laser Rangefinders, Trinovid HD Full Size Binoculars, Ultravid HD-Plus […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Launches New SF 60 Flash and SF C1 Wireless Remote Control 6 years, 6 months ago
Back in February, Leica previewed their new flash system at the WPPI Conference in Las Vegas. Aimed at professionals, the new SF 60 flash and SF C1 wireless remote control unit add modern strobe capabilities to […]
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Peter Dooling‘s profile was updated 6 years, 7 months ago
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David Farkas wrote a new post, What to Wear: The Definitive Clothing Guide for Landscape Photography 6 years, 7 months ago
Weather is unpredictable. Some of the most striking photographs are often the result of miserable conditions and braving those conditions to be in the right place and at the right time. While everyone else seeks […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica M7 Film Camera Discontinued 6 years, 7 months ago
Today marks the passing of a legend, the venerable Leica M7. First introduced in 2002 as the follow-up to the M6, the Leica M7 brought a more modern aperture priority mode and electronically-controlled shutter to […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Essential Filters for Landscape Photography 6 years, 7 months ago
As a landscape photographer, I’m always looking for an edge. Light is fleeting, and those elusive magical moments that we venture untold distances for often last for just an instant. In my experience, the best d […]
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an outstanding review… as usual!
Albert -
David,
Your excellent filter article transports me back to a fall trip with you and Josh back in 2011. It was the first morning of a seven day shoot and you were explaining to eight Leica photographers just these same filter details, only right in front of us.
I too had felt up to that morning that digital post replaced the need for filters. Your fifteen minute demo changed my mind. The only problem was that we were in the wild and there was no photo store on the shore. And you had advised us all before the trip that we would want to have such filters with us. And I had ignored you.
Ah!
Fortunately you explained that you brought along on the trip some extra sets of filters available for purchase. I did so immediately in case you might run out of supply. That purchase allowed me to vastly improve my photos for the rest of the trip and the rest of my career.I have subsequently broken only one filter in the subsequent years, and that was when I had the filter holder a bit too loose. Haven't done that since. The cases are plenty of protection.
I commented on the forum back seven years ago regarding how GLASS filters vs the old plastic filters I had used before, made all the difference.
see Oct 12, 2011 4:08The photo I show in my reply was shot with a graduated ND filter I had bought from you minutes before. It paid for itself many time over as the photo was later sold worldwide over 40 times.
But now you have shared your advice to everyone without them having to go on a trip with you.
How very kind.
But it makes me want to go on another trip.-
Jack, you need to join us for a workshop sooner rather than later!
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David F., do you like the multi filter case for on-location, or do you prefer the individual cases for the glass filters? Seems like one case is ideal, but then you get wet weather locations and might prefer to have one case per filter…
Thanks for such a detailed article – this is great and brought to light several things I had not though of..
David K.
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I prefer to use the individual cases. They allow a little more flexibility in carrying what I might need without extra bulk. Often, I'll just pop a filter or two in the hand pocket of my shell jacket. The multi filter case would be too thick.
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A 10-stop (3.0) is a bit strong in most cases, but highly useful in others. I'd recommend a 6-stop (1.8) as a good, general use solid ND.
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Nice post. For my landscape photography i'm using two ND grad together. A number of the cheaper ND grads are a good place to start out specially brands such Cokin are good. Expensive brands offer high quality , and in some cases the filters are handcrafted . If you discover that you would love the effect these filters give, then you'll want to invest in some Lee filters or Singh-Ray. These are top filter brands and therefore the results from these products are amazing.
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Thanks for your comprehensive narration.
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH Review 6 years, 7 months ago
The Leica SL System continues to grow and mature. Two and a half years since the SL (Typ 601) launched, Leica’s focus is now on expanding the lens lineup. The 24-90 and 90-280, the first two SL lenses, are the f […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica SL Firmware 3.2 Released 6 years, 8 months ago
Today, Leica Camera has released firmware version 3.2 for the SL (Typ 601) full-frame mirrorless camera. Firmware 3.2 focuses on improvements specifically requested by SL owners and users. Some of the headlining […]
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You're not the only one. The file seems to be missing on Leica's downloads page. You can click the link in the article for a direct download link.
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Hi, nice to have the joystick lock feature.
However, my SF 40 flash still seems completely non-functional.
It might fire once when I first turn it on, (massive over exposure, or nice, or under exposure) and then it never fires again. This is in any mode with any lens attached. 24-90mm or manual lens. PSAM, Auto mode, or TTL mode. Fixed ISO at 200, set slow sync, or 1/125 or 1/F nothing…..
I can turn everything off and try again, and it fires once and then gives up again.
Any suggestions welcome. (It did this on the prior version firmware too) If a put an old Sun Pack flash on it, in Sun Pack A mode, it works great. Of course it is not using any TTL or camera funtions.
thanks in advance for any suggestions,
Dave
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David Farkas wrote a new post, CW Sonderoptic Adds Mounts and Three More Leica M0.8 Cine Lenses to Lineup 6 years, 8 months ago
Today, CW Sonderoptic, Leica Camera's sister company who makes the incredible range of Leica Cine lenses, has announced new mount options and three new lenses in its Leica M0.8 Cine Lens lineup. The M0.8 lenses […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH to Start Shipping Soon 6 years, 8 months ago
At the last Photokina, Leica previewed some of the new SL lenses that they would be bringing to market. Deliveries for the 75mm and 90mm APO-Summicrons began earlier this year and now, the highly anticipated wide […]
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Josh Lehrer wrote a new post, Leica Prices Increasing on May 1st 6 years, 8 months ago
On May 1, 2018 Leica is increasing prices on a range of products by an average of about 5%. Affected products include most M bodies (film and digital), nearly all M lenses, the black Q, TL2, S (Typ 007), many S l […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, A Look at the New Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH 6 years, 9 months ago
Back in November, Leica announced the Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH, one of the most exotic M lenses made to date, with an amazingly complex optical design and some very exotic glass. It's also the largest and […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Announces M Monochrom “Stealth Edition” by Marcus Wainwright 6 years, 9 months ago
Today, Leica announced the special edition M Monochrom “Stealth Edition”. The set was designed by Marcus Wainwright, founder and owner of fashion brand rag & bone, and includes a 35mm Summicron-M ASPH. […]
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Josh Lehrer wrote a new post, Leica Previews New Flash and Wireless Transmitter 6 years, 10 months ago
At the WPPI Conference in Las Vegas, Leica has given us a sneak preview of a new flash and wireless transmitter. This would be Leica's first time offering a system for wireless flash triggering that incorporates […]
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Josh Lehrer wrote a new post, Leica SL Firmware 3.1 Released 6 years, 10 months ago
Today, Leica Camera has released firmware version 3.1 for the SL (Typ 601) full-frame mirrorless camera. Firmware 3.1's primary purpose is to improve autofocus performance of the Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH lens ( […]
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I updated my Leica SL and the Summilux SL 50 last night. The updated firmware to the lens is much better, in my opinion. The motor drive actually seems more quiet and the focus is definitely faster. It is not as fast as the two zooms, but this should be expected because the Summilux has a larger, heavier set of elements to move for focusing. I tested it in dark hallways with my cats (one white and one black) using ISO 12,800. The photographs were grainy, as expected, but the focusing was very good. In very, very low light, you still need to find a good contrast edge (the focus was fast on my white cat and hunted a little on my black cat – all in a dark hallway). Overall, I am excited that this lens immediately feels more useful for active focusing.
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David Farkas posted an update 6 years, 11 months ago
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica 75mm and 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL Lenses to Start Shipping Soon 6 years, 11 months ago
After teasing the new range of Summicon SL prime lenses at Photokina back in September of 2016, production is ramping up so that shipment can begin next month. As originally planned, the first lenses out of the […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Night Shooting with the Leica S (Typ 007) 6 years, 11 months ago
When it comes to cameras, I’m a big believer in the right tool for the job approach. Until recently, models in the Leica roster seemed purpose-built for different types of photography. An M for street and r […]
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David,
Thanks for the interesting article and nice photographs.
I too have found the S007 excellent for night work.
The assumption that the mirror movement will cause camera movement has been false for me.
Perhaps my belief that I can indeed hand hold the S at 1/30 sec. allows me to brace the camera well enough. I confess I couldn’t do that with a dog pulling on my arm. I’d encourage every photographer regardless of camera to test themselves on steadiness so they know what low speed they are comfortable using. I know I can shoot the S at 1/30th. I have even shot at 1/8th but I know from experimenting it’s then better to goose the ISO and accept extra noise to get back to 1/30.
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David Farkas wrote a new post, A Look at the New Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2 6 years, 12 months ago
Starting with the Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6 last year, Leica has started reissuing classic lenses from their past, keeping the original optical designs while implementing modern manufacturing and lens coatings. This […]
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David Farkas wrote a new post, Thoughts on the Next Generation Leica S 7 years ago
With the recent string of successful camera and lens introductions over the past few years, Leica has made the process of choosing a camera much more difficult. In the not-so-distant past, certain individual […]
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David,
Nice of you to let us give feedback in your polls.
A quibble: You said the lens line up is complete. At the initial announcement many years ago they showed a 350mm S lens. I do not believe the line up is complete until we see something beyond the 180.I voted for 80 meg resolution as long as Dynamic Range stays 15+, but for marketing reasons. Going to 50 is OK for me but for someone entering the system they will care m ore. Me, I print 90”x60″ as is, so higher resolution just allows for cropping. I hope they will delay this next camera until they can get to 80. I will probably be able to see a difference in a print then.
Going to a mirrorless S would have been fine if there never was a reflex S. Then as they built the lens system they would be set. I believe going forward that optical viewfinders will be unique viewfinders and it would be nice for Leica to have one of the few. But this is a pro system and if other pros want mirrorless, then Leica should go in that direction. I will prefer to stay optical in part because I have lenses for optical.
For me, other than a long lens on the S, I am happy with the system. But to keep current owners and bring in new owners they must progress. They keep surprising me.
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I have owned the SL (now sold) and I have an S006. Since owning both camera types, I have felt that the future would be a merger of the two systems. SL body and 4K or 5K EVF with S-size sensor. Lenses from the SL and the S via adapters on this new, unified body (that is if Leica ever ships any more SL lenses; otherwise the S lenses are more than sufficient). 75-100MP sensor and a processor and buffer that would enable 8-10 shots per second for up to 100 shots. Finally, S006 color rendering.
My 2¢. Thanks for the opportunity to comment. Are you listening Wetzlar!
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David, the roadmap for the S lens included a 350mm and a tilt shift wide, yet to be introduced. The 350mm I am thinking is delayed due to AF issues. While I find the AF to be extremely accurate the 120 and 180mm need a slight tweak for dead on focus. My SL/S adapter with these lenses is more accurate. Due to this, I lean toward the EVF with it's magnified finder option and one of several reasons many are feeling abandoned are these non addressed issues in current bodies. The lenses are phenomenal, that goes without saying however Leica's achilles heal is body features and function. To have these S lenses and not have the option to take them to their limits is, I feel, a missed opportunity for Leica. I really love the S system, and I enjoy work-arounds, as a landscape shooter stitching overcomes 100mp sensor resolution very easily but not always, having greater resolution is necessary for certain shots and makes me think that other systems are addressing this now. That means giving up Leica lenses, and there's the issue, wanting to use Leica's lenses on a current feature body. Come on Leica, keep up:-)
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David,
I appreciate your thoughts and polls on this topic. One thing that I would like to see improved that you didn't touch on in your article is a better rear display. I would like to see a rear screen with better dynamic range, color, and brightness.
Mark
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Please add a touch to focus tilt enabled articulating screen & something similar to eye auto focus that would be awesome for fashion or portrait shooters. Please renegotiate with Capture One for fast tethered and raw file support. Adobe is unreliable and slow to implement updates to support the S system, I would’ve fired them long ago, there’s got to be a better software solution.
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I hope they do come with with a S 008 or whatever they end up calling it so I can upgrade to the S007 at a reasonable price. Im still sitting with my S 006 which has almost now monetary value anymore, yeah I can trade in for a new S 007 for under 10K yet I feel that is still to much money.
I was considering switching over to a newer modern Fuji or Hasselblad system, yet what keeps me hanging onto my S is the durability and of course the lenses..EVF would be nice yet I don't see that happening any time sone. I tilt screen would be nice but yet again I highly doubt Leica will ever do that.
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As a current SL and M10 user, I almost abandoned the SL for the Fuji GFX in lieu of their recent sales program. Why? The lethargic roll-out of the SL lenses. I am extremely disappointed in the progress on this front whilst we see the introduction of the TL2, the CL, the Chamber, the 28 Summaron and the 75 Nocti. Really Leica, there's more demand for a 75 Notch than the 16-35 SL lens every landscape photographer has been waiting for. I realize this post was to be for the next gen S, but they can't even get lenses out the door for the SL. What hope is there for another medium format system? I think at this point in time it's all fairy dust. Myself, if I don't see that 16-35 as promised in April, the SL is gone and I will be moving to the Fuji GFX. Sorry Leica, I bought into the SL system with the expectation that the lenses would roll out within the timeframe initially promised. More fool me.
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Jeff,
As you might have seen in today's news, the 75 and 90 Summicron SL lenses are going to be shipped within the coming weeks. And, the 16-35 SL is still slated for April. I'm with you that the 16-35 should have been top priority, followed by the 35. The lack of an ultrawide is frustrating, but just like the rollout of the S lens line, it will soon be a distant memory. Just like the S, it seems that the SL lenses will have no weak links.
Yes, Leica has rolled out quite a few new products over the last year. The TL2 and CL are a deliberate move to attract a new audience to the brand. For first time buyers, these APS cameras offer an achievable gateway into the Leica universe. This is good for the long-term health of the company, which is good for all product lines. And it was actually advances made for the TL lenses that lead to the current crop of SL optics. So, there is always benefit to global innovations.
I agree that niche products like the Thambar or Summaron reissues seem like distractions, but these are in parallel, not instead of. I view these more in line with special editions, in terms of the resources they take up. I'd say that the scramble to deliver M10s to market over the last year was probably a much more significant factor. The M10 was on perpetual backorder for 11 months after introduction, even at full manufacturing capacity. Now that that demand is mostly caught up, Leica can shift gears a bit.
Personally, I'm very excited to see what Leica has up its sleeves for Photokina, fairy dust or not….
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Dennis,
Thanks for you feedback. As far as mirror vibration, take a look at the slow speeds I was able to use the S007 at for night photography.
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I notice that all of your recommendations are for athletic people. I'm not built that way. I'm short and overweight. I live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains a lot but doesn't get bitterly cold. It's be hard to find a good rain shell with a hood that fits my belly. Given that overweight is a serious epidemic in the United States, why don't these manufacturers make clothes “for the rest of us?”
John,
You are right that Arc’teryx is styled for mountain climbers who are never overweight.
The advice of what kind of items are needed is separate from what sizes you might need.
Just order the same kind of things from Hunting suppliers is my suggestion.
David,
Excellent advice.
I suspect everyone understands the value of a rain shell or rain parka.
I would emphasize the need for rain-pants that can really handle rain.
On the trip I took with you, I sort of wondered if rain paints weren't overkill.
But then I recall one day and one location where the rain was just pouring down for hours. My camera was weatherproof fortunately, and that was the day I added rain paints to my rain jacket. The combo was truly waterproof and I learned to easily shoot in the rain. If I hadn't had the rain paints I would have literally been washed out after the first hour.
https://www.macdonough.net/For-your-review/Rain/n-375bPF/
Nigel,
There are certainly other options besides Arc'Teryx. In many cases, I make specific recommendations for these too. For example, while I love the Arc'Teryx Atom LT, the Patagonia Nano Puff is a super solid piece as well.
I'm not personally familiar with Rohan or Carinthia, but as long as they meet the same criteria, I'm sure they are fine. I do like Fjallraven and mention a few items in my article from them.
The most important take away is how a layering system works and what to look for in each layer. I've tried so many different items over the years and have found my way to what works best – for myself and many others. No, not everyone will prefer an athletic fit. But on the flip side, I tried in vain to find anything that would fit me in my local Bass Pro Shop. Every single thing fit like an oversized trash bag. So, yes, there are options for every size and shape. It's all about finding what works for each person.
As far as the camera, I shoot with the Leica S and SL for all my landscape outings. I don't worry about keeping the camera warm or dry. Not even a little bit. These cameras and lenses are built like tanks and are extremely weather resistant.
I went with the Cerium LT jacket instead of the hoody because 1) I don't like too many hoods at the same time and 2) I often wear the Cerium LT as a travel jacket around town – the non-hooded version looks a lot more urban and less technical. The Cerium SV hood is super warm, so if the weather is cold enough to warrant wearing the SV, odds are I will want the extra warmth of the full hood. But, ultimately, yes, I like having more options.