🔴 MrLeica Monthly Recap – October 2023
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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 toolbar on the homepage.
What was I up to last month?
In September I was in The Netherlands not once but twice thanks to my awesome Patreons! I got to shoot the mighty Pentax 67 film camera on a photoshoot and print some of my negatives in the darkroom! (See YouTube). Let’s jump in to the monthly recap!
*This months newsletter is a shorter one. It still has all the YouTube videos and blog posts that you may have missed but without some of the extras. I will try to mix it up from month to month to keep it interesting.
Wotancraft bag giveaway!
If you saw my bags for Leica cameras blog and YouTube video you’ll know that promised one lucky winner (who subscribed to the YouTube channel and Follow the blog) a free Wotancraft Pilot bag! The winner is Andy Wilson! Andy please get in touch with me so I can arrange shipping.
The awesome guys at Wotancraft said if you Subscribe to my YouTube channel + Follow the blog + Tag me in a Leica related Instagram post there will be more item giveaways coming up. I’ll confirm the October winner in the next months newsletter!
NEW! Buy / Sell Leica Equipment
I often receive emails asking ‘Where can I sell my Leica lens?” or “I can’t find a Leica film camera for sale”. As this blog receives a fair amount of Leica related views (traffic) I setup a new page to let you either list camera equipment for sale or find camera equipment to buy. (Mostly Leica but not limited to*). I’ve now added a wish list section too! Check out the current Leica items for sale.
Patreon Sign up perk for sellers
If you’ve ever wanted to try Patreon now might be the time. See the October sign up bonus! – “Patreon can list for free!”
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Workshops in September
I had 7 private 1:1 workshops days booked for last month, including 4 days teaching in Rotterdam and 3 days in London. (For this reason, I apologise for the slightly fewer YouTube videos posted!) All workshops were portraits/ model photography using Leica cameras but each day varied to meet the students needs. You can see some of the fun from Rotterdam in the YouTube videos linked below. Patreon Thomas and Hidde both kindly lent me cameras to try out for YouTube. You’ve probably already seen the Pentax 67 photoshoot video!
For the London workshops I had a few US photographers travel to meet me again. Patreon John very kindly lent me his nice 75mm Leica Noctilux lens so I really enjoyed making that YouTube video.
Dates for Travel, Group Workshops & Photowalks
Please contact me regarding workshops and photowalks. Here are my travel details so far –
OCTOBER 2023
- October I will be teaching in Valencia, Spain (and London*)
NOVEMBER 2023
- November I may be teaching in Gdansk, Poland. TBC
DECEMBER 2023
- December I will likely travel to Spain or the Canary Isles for winter sun
Private 1:1 Tuition
Kick start your photography with a private 1:1 workshops. 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 small manual focus lenses.
Cameras – I took the Leica SL for the Rotterdam workshops but in hindsight I might take the Leica CL next time instead. I was stopping down to f4 for some photos so the DOF will be similar using the Leica CL at f2.8. A smaller digital set up means I can pack more exciting (and larger) film cameras.
Lenses – I’m still loving the Light Lens Lab compact 35mm f2 8-Element LTM and 50mm f2 ELCAN lenses. I use these two lenses a lot for their size (and the nice photos). Check out the Light Lens Lab website as they just made a new batch of ELCAN lenses available (per popular demand). Use the MrLeica discount code on the KitList page for money off.
Recommended kit – Leica SL – It’s still the best bang for the buck Leica IMO. See my full KitList for the exact products that I use.
Film photographers
Film – Film developing has finally recommenced! I scanned the C41 colour negatives I lab developed (from the Vegas YouTube trip) but I’ve not had time to look at them. I developed I think 14 rolls of B&W film, 35mm and 120. You might have seen some of the photos on social media and YouTube (See Pentax 67 video).
I’ve almost ran out of my long time favourite developer, Kotal Xtol, so a new era awaits where I’ll need to master a new film developer. I want the same fine detail Xtol gives (and very easy and economical developing). I used to use 1:4 Xtol and semi-stand develop and it was so easy. Hopefully I can do the same with a different developer. Please write if you have recommendations!
I’ve almost used all my 35mm B&W expired film stock so next is to bulk roll some expired Kodak Double-X 5222 film (from a 400ft roll I bought). Once that is finished I need to buy fresh film and the plan is to use one film stock and just master it. 2024 I think.
Cameras – For my second Rotterdam workshop I took the Hasselblad 501c so it was good to be using that again. I had to pack small so I used the WLF. If you ever can’t see to focus a Hasselblad camera get (1) an Acute Matte screen (2) a 45 degrees prism finder. I really missed the prism finder here for portraits. I’ve started to do more flash photography so I hope to dig out the Mamiya RZ67 Pro II and perhaps the Voigtlander Bessa R for 35mm (and Leica R7)!
*I actually want to dust off my Mamiya 645 Super but (1) it’s rubbish with flash (with most lenses) and (2) I use the WLF so it’s better to shot in landscape orientation and I shoot mostly portrait orientation. This is why I tend to pick up the Hasselblad H2 instead.
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!
Best Camera Bag for Leica? | Small bags + Backpack
$4500! Best 50mm Lens for Leica M? | Leica Summilux 50mm 1.4 ASPH II
CHEAP! 135mm Vintage Lens | Leica 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit
Any REGRETS? ..If you bought a $14K lens | Leica Noctilux 75mm f1.25
Can’t wait for the LEICA SL3? | Leica SL vs Leica SL2 vs Leica SL2-S (COMPARISON)
Don’t Limit Yourself To Leica | PENTAX 67
Join the family!
Latest blog posts to read
2 new articles shared in September. I am testing lots of gear behind the scenes so more to follow!
- $14K Lens – Worth it? Leica Noctilux 75mm f1.25
- Leica Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH II + Rotterdam Workshops
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: “Crazy small light set up for portraits” – View on Patreon
Coming up next month..
It seems like an October trend, but as with last October, next month is looking really busy for Leica workshops. 8 days booked so far in just over 2 weeks, including London and Spain. Some guys/ girls are flying in from the US and others are based in the UK. I’m glad I moved south this year! The most exciting thing to strike my photography will also happen next month. I hope to setup my own darkroom so I can print some of my decade worth of film negatives. I was an artist before I found photography so darkroom printing feels like a happy place between true art (like painting etc) and photography. I’m both interested and excited to see what I can achieve but also scared as I need 36hrs days as it is without another distraction away from making YouTube videos!
I’ve also just got back into flash photography after a few years off so look out for my new studio portrait work using flash (YouTube video). I’m loving the compact Godox AD100 Pro!
YouTube video – spotlight
You may have already seen it but the first video in October is be my “LIKE MAGIC! | Seeing my Pentax 67 Photoshoot Images on Paper” video.
