🔴 MrLeica Monthly Recap – March 2024
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Hi friend! Here is the latest edition of the monthly MrLeica newsletter – Photography related posts, videos, upcoming events and hopefully a source of inspiration!
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Hi! I started the blog back in 2013 sharing my stories, experiences and reviews of various Leica, film cameras, lenses and more. Check out the last 100 blog posts and search all 400+ articles using the search toolbar on the homepage.
What was I up to last month?
February was a quieter one for me (well in terms of travel and teaching) but that gave me time share additional content so not all bad. Let get right into it!
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Workshops in February
Like buses in London, workshop requests can be very similar. I think I had 10 private workshop days requested last October if I remember well but for February I only had one (in Valencia). Sadly I was already booked for something else so the workshop was pushed back until April. As we only have so many hours in a week the extra free days from not teaching let me catch up and put out more videos. (Finally I passed 32K subs on YouTube but 100K seems a very long way off! I know this is only a vanity number but it gives a nod that I’m doing something right and encourages me to keep at it). With the extra time I also arranged two studio shoots at mine so I definitely need to do more of that. (I get to play with all my cameras and I love the lighting aspect). One problem with my usual overseas photoshoots is I can only carry minimal kit, both cameras and lighting.
Travel in February
The plan for February was to travel less and catch up with blogs/ videos. It worked but by mid-month I was dying to get away for a few days. (Sadly I couldn’t as it was the kids holidays in the UK so prices were 3-5x higher than normal. No European return flights for £38 this month). I did manage to escape the house for 2 days. I’ll tell you more next month once I’ve made the video.
Dates for Travel, Group Workshops & Photowalks
Please contact me regarding workshops and photowalks. Here are my travel details so far –
MARCH 2024
- Gdansk (Short trip – models)
- Budapest (Short trip – models & cityscapes)
- Sunday 31st March – Half day – Group Photowalk, LONDON (limited places remaining)
APRIL 2024
- Lisbon (Teaching 1:1)
- Tenerife (Is the plan)
MAY 2024
- Italy (Bodypainting event)
- TBC
Private 1:1 Tuition
Planning to visit London? Get in touch and I can arrange a private 1:1 workshop to fit around your schedule. See workshop prices and testimonials
Leica+Model Workshops
Digital photographers
If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know my preference for digital Leica cameras (over other brands) plus simple metal and glass manual focus lenses.
Cameras – I’m still enjoying the Leica M10 but the Leica SL is still king for my model photography, especially for studio work. (See recent video).
Lenses – If you’re a regular reader you know I love my small M mount lenses. For February I re-bought the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7 VM lens as I had memories of it being sharper than a lot of the current 35mm lenses. See the results in the YouTube video linked below.
Recommended kit – I still think that the Leica SL is the best bang for the buck Leica. I’ll likely sell my Leica M240 now that I have the Leica M10 (but the M10 needs to be sent to Germany for repair first. It clips the shutter at 1/4000).
Visit my full KitList for the exact products that I use.
Leica M240 – Should you buy a 10 year old digital camera?
Film photographers
Film – I’m 100% back on film for 2024. I’m making an effort to shoot more film on every photoshoot and I bought both fresh film and “fresh” film cameras. I spooled 18 rolls of Kodak Double-X 5222 film from my 400ft bulk roll that I bought some years ago. It still looks great. See the sample photo below. I also went back to my favourite film, Fomapan 100, and bought a pile of it in 35mm format. (I like the idea of only shooting 1 or 2 film stocks and perfecting both the developing and hopefully soon, the darkroom printing too). Kodak Double-X is great for the winter months (and lack of light) as I will expose it at ISO 400-800. 35mm Fomapan is better when more light, I think ISO 100-200 for me but I’ll document it as I go. (See my old Fomapan 100 blog post. I used to shoot 120 Fomapan 100@400-800)
Cameras – After buying the Nikon F3 last month I went on to buy the Nikon F3T too. After receiving that camera I found it was too similar to my Nikon F3 so I returned it and got a Nikon FM3a instead. Many people say you don’t need the FM3a and until recently I’d 100% agreed. (Just use the Nikon FE2 or Nikon FM2n instead). I’ve done that to date but Nikon FE2 cameras are electronic so eventually they will die. I love the Nikon FE/FE2/FM3a light meter needle dial and don’t really appreciate the FM2 LED light meter display. The Nikon FM3a is my long term replacement for my Nikon FE2. I’ll do a full blog post once I have more sample photos to share.
Top 10 Film Cameras (Voted by YOU!)
4×5 – I’m excited to announce that I’m back to shooting with my 4×5 cameras too. (Big time!). 4×5 is not for everyone so I’ll do a blog with pros cons etc when I a chance. I did a lot of research on Linhof large format cameras after the recent “Top 10 film cameras” article and video. Many hours later (I like to know my stuff) I discovered the British MPP 4×5 cameras. If you see my “New camera” video you’ll see it’s a real beauty! While I was waiting for it to arrive I dusted off my 1947 Speed Graphic. It’s been 8 years since I’ve shot portraits with a 4×5 camera so it’s safe to say I was a bit rusty. I shot with a 6×7 roll film back but double exposed the image accidentally. At least I’m warmed up now ready for the next 4×5 shoot and the same model is coming back for more photos.
Directory: Leica Repairs + Leica YouTubers
If you have feedback after a Leica service, repair or CLA I’d love to add it to the Leica Repair Directory page to help others. Equally, if you love watching YouTube, let us know your favourite Leica YouTuber channel?
Download Leica presets
My recommended photography gear list – https://mrleica.com/kitlist/
Latest YouTube videos
Below is a catch up of all the YouTube videos I published last month. If you’re new here see previous month newsletters for more!
ALMOST PERFECT! New 28mm lens for Leica (Voigtlander Nokton 28mm f1.5)
Upgrade to TITANIUM camera? WORTH IT or WASTE? | Nikon F3T Titan
THYPOCH vs VOIGTLANDER (Simera 28mm 1.4 vs Nokton 28mm 1.5)
35mm Film – Lisbon Street Photography (Nikon F3 + DW-3 + 180mm + Nikon FE2)
Leica M10 Honeymoon OVER? 15 Reasons to buy a Leica SL in 2024
20 CAMERAS I’ll NEVER Sell
TOP 10 | Voted THE BEST film cameras EVER made (2024)
REGRET | 35mm Leica M lens I wish I’d never sold
Join the family!
Latest blog posts to read
New articles shared in February –
- Top 10 Film Cameras (Voted by YOU!)
- 20 cameras I will never sell
- Nikon F3T vs Nikon F3 vs Nikon FE2
- Thypoch Simera 28mm f1.4 + 35mm f1.4
Written posts to supplement the YouTube review videos including full res images. 400+ existing blog post articles.
Patreon post of the month (shared)
To give you a taster of what we get up to on Patreon I here is a post you missed! Join our 250+ active monthly members and use the 10% off discount!
Post: “The day I missed a 1000 photos” – View on Patreon
Coming up next month..
After just getting a new 4×5 camera I’m very much looking forward to using that and seeing what I can create. I have a few trips planned to visit old model friends overseas and I hope to catch up with a special model friend in the UK that I used to teach with back in 2014. If that happens it’ll be a lot of fun and we’ll be sure to take many photos/ make some videos. In addition to that I plan to try both a new scanning solution and invest in a better tripod head to replace my existing one(s) (and reduce the usual frustration!)
YouTube video – spotlight
You might have already seen in but the first video in March will show my “New camera“. I have a special video coming after that too which should interest many of you. Stay tuned!
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