Happy Birthday, Kodak Tri-X

Kodak Tri-X, as a concept, has been around since the 1940's when it was a 200 ISO b&w sheet film. Because it was their first fast film, when Kodak released the 400 ISO roll film version, the Tri-X name was maintained. Just like Kodak TMAX P3200 revolutionized low light photography in 1989, Tri-X was an...

These Photos Were Processed In Kodak’s New HC110 In Spite of The Product’s Single Flaw

In early 2019, the film community was pretty stressed out, and with good reason. The nearly two century old chemical manufacturer, Tetenal appeared close to shutting down. Many photographers have probably never even heard of this company, but Tetenal has been "the man behind the curtain" for many of Kodak's products for decades. The product...

An Odd Length; Voigtländer 75mm 2.5 Heliar

Most prime lens SLR kits are a 28-50-85 or 135. Most rangefinder kits are a 28 or 35-50-90. 75mm is an odd focal length. I don't think it's even available for SLR's and most rangefinder shooters fall on the side of either 50 or 90 - the distinction between normal and portrait focal lengths. 75....

One Year with the Voigtlander 40mm 1.4 Nokton MC

Since buying, shooting and writing about the Voigtlander 40mm 1.4 Nokton MC, I feel like I see this lens everywhere! I didn't realise how popular it is. The blog I wrote about it is my third most viewed of all time, I see it mounted to many of the cameras that I read reviews of...

There’s No Excuse Not to Own a Leitz 9cm f4 Elmar

by Johnny Martyr The Leitz 9cm f4 Elmar is almost as ubiquitous as the famous Leitz 5cm f3.5 Elmar but often seems forgotten about. The lens dates back to 1933 and was Leica's first 90mm.  It was likely designed to take advantage of their newly released rangefinder cameras, model's II and III.  The 9cm Elmar...

Discovering The Swirl

I guess that I don't typically shoot my Leitz 50's in wooded areas.  But slowly, an image here, and image there, I began to notice something. When I shot portraits at closer distances and wider apertures in wooded areas with my Leitz Summitar and Summarit lenses, I got something unexpected.  Something that I'd always associated...

Downtown Frederick Art Icons Get Hitched!

This spring, I had the pleasure of photographing one of the most fun and inspiring, weddings I've photographed.  Downtown Frederick, Maryland art icons Kayleigh Montgomery and Chris Morris were engaged to be married, and of all the amazing analog shooters in the area, I was fortunate enough to be tapped to cover their festive occasion....

Voigtlander Nokton 50mm 1.5 Rebuilt Again

A while back, I dropped my Leica M6 TTL on concrete.  The camera was fine but it's full weight came square down onto the Voigtlander 50mm 1.5 Nokton ASPH that had been my go-to 50mm for years.  The focus ring became very tight from the impact.  Because I'd had this lens rebuilt once before and...

Go-To Portrait Lens: Nikkor 85mm 1.8 K AI’d

    A lens that has been a long-time staple in my Nikon kit, since about 2005 actually, is my Nikkor 85mm 1.8 K AI'd. I chose the 85/1.8 for the reasons many people reach for an 85/1.8; available light portrait work and a little smaller, lighter, less expensive, easier to control lens than an...

15 Photos That Prove The Leitz 50mm Summarit Does NOT SUCK!!!

Didn't I already write about the 1949 Leitz 5cm 1.5 Summarit?  Why yes, I did, but in light of several recent conversations about this controversial fistful of German metal and glass, I want to make it clear, THE LEITZ SUMMARIT 5CM 1.5 DOES NOT SUCK! Okay, so you might not be into swirlios and soft...