Seven Recommended Rangefinder Focusing Techniques

by Johnny Martyr Many photographers struggle with focusing rangefinder cameras. Some photographers, unfortunately, tend to shoot only wider/slower lenses or give up on rangefinders entirely for this reason. But I don't think photography should always be easy and by learning to use simpler cameras, we can internalize concepts and develop instincts and reflexes that apply...

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...

5 LTM 50’s for $500 or Less

Choosing Leica mount lenses is always a bit of a struggle for me. I can find things I like and don't like about them all. And the ones that meet my ideal specs are often out of my price range. So I will end up buying another lens as a reaction to something I did...

Ilford XP2 – A Smart Go-To B&W Film

Are you interested in shooting black and white and want to know what film to start with? Do you you use a lab to process your work, or do C41 at home? I highly recommend giving Ilford XP2 a spin. 35mm Ilford XP2 400 Super rated at 1600, scanned without ICE Ilford XP2 400 Super...

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....

Rating + Processing for Available Light Portraits – EI 3200 ISO

It bears repeating: International Center of Photography shooter James Mignogna once told me that a good photographer matches their light, lens, film and developer. Nowhere do I think these decisions are more critical than portraits in dim lighting. That was the intro I used in my previous entry: Rating + Processing for Available Light Portraits...

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...

Johnny Martyr. Walls.

Humpty Dumpty fell off one. Pink Floyd said we're all just bricks in one. And so for a time, I have been rather obsessed with, yes, WALLS. Specifically, really old ones with a lot of character and a story to tell. There's a bit of insanity in staring at walls.  We associate trying to convince...

Grain is Not a Dirty Word

Photographers typically call an image "grainy" or "too grainy" like these words are inherently negative.  Just like they will say something is "tack sharp" as if this is an inherently positive attribute.  Is blue a bad color?  Is a line better than a circle?  Is "quality" only "low" and "high"? These associations of traits with...

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...