Recently, fellow blogger/photographer Mike Eckman sent me his three favorite Leica copies to compare to my originals. I introduced this four part blog last Tuesday and will pick up with the first Leica copy review today with Mike’s Soviet-built Zorki-1c. Despite having nearly two decades to improve or just modify it, the 1951 Zorki-1c and […]
Read more "Martyr’s Leica’s vs. Eckman’s Copies: Zorki-1c"It’s Thursday April 2nd, the day after April Fools Day. But there weren’t many jokes yesterday as the world approached 1 million confirmed cases of the subject of all news outlets; Coronavirus. My photo jobs have dried up as a result of the mandatory shelter in place orders. I am in the process of editing […]
Read more "Photography in the Shadow of Coronavirus"It’s totally unnecessary to write yet another article extolling the historical relevance of the early Barnack Leica cameras to photography. After a century of influence, everyone knows the story of how Oskar Barnack, Ernst Leitz and Max Beret revolutionized photography with their tiny, intuitive 35mm cameras and lenses during the 1920’s and ’30’s. Perhaps a […]
Read more "Martyr’s Leica’s vs. Eckman’s Copies: Introduction"Film photographers love old gear. But what about NEW gear? As our equipment ages and continues to be used, things are simply going to deteriorate. When possible, I like to buy NEW photo equipment that’s relevant to what I do. It provides a better user experience for me than dealing with eBay returns and relentless […]
Read more "Nikon Film Shooters, Buy New!"The beauty, the style and the build quality of all mechanical film cameras made before the 1960’s is simply unmatched. Barnack Leica’s, the original Nikon F, Rolleiflex TLR’s, Konica rangefinders, early Pentax SLR’s, Zeiss, Voigtlander and Agfa folders. WOW! Okay, I’m going to need a moment to calm down! (Particularly since most of the cameras […]
Read more "Upgrade Your Meterless Film Camera!"What kind of sadistic lunatic photographs a sports meet using a 90 year old camera? The sadistic lunatic: Johnny Martyr The event: A youth gymnastics competition in Washington D.C. hosted by Frederick Gymnastics Club The equipment: 1930 Leica Model I which was upgraded in 1935 to a Model III with a rangefinder focusing system; 1935 Leitz […]
Read more "Shooting Sports with a 90 Year Old Camera"INTRODUCTION I’m not going to wax poetic about the Leica M6 TTL .85. I don’t need to. This camera is the best 35mm film camera ever conceived or constructed. Chances are, you’re reading this because you’re a photographer interested in buying the best Leica that you can. Or perhaps you already own a Leica and […]
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