Old Brown Shoes

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“Old Brown Shoe” – The Beatles (George Harrison) / 1969

I want a love that's right but right is only half of what's wrong.
I want a short haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.
Now I'm stepping out this old brown shoe, baby, I'm in love with you.
I'm so glad you came here, it won't be the same now, I'm telling you.

You know you pick me up from where some try to drag me down
And when I see your smile replacing every thoughtless frown.
Got me escaping from this zoo, baby, I'm in love with you.
I'm so glad you came here, it won't be the same now when I'm with you.

If I grow up I'll be a singer wearing rings on every finger.
Not worrying what they or you say I'll live and love and maybe someday
Who knows, baby, you may comfort me.

I may appear to be imperfect, my love is something you can't reject
I'm changing faster than the weather, If you and me should get together
Who knows baby, you may comfort me.

That love of yours, to miss that love is something I'd hate.
I'll make an early start, I'm making sure that I'm not late.
For your sweet top lip I'm in the queue, baby, I'm in love with you.
I'm so glad you came here, it won't be the same now when I'm with you.
I'm so glad you came here, it won't be the same now when I'm with you.

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Film Cameras For Lovers - Leica M5 (Photo Gear 16)

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The Leica M5 remains, after all these years, a controversial Leica.

Opinions about this camera tend to passionately diverge between love and hate.

Some people enjoy it precisely for the same reasons others despise it: a different shape and larger size than previous M’s, its vertical hanging from the two carrying-strap lugs at the left end of the body – later remedied with an optional third lug for horizontal transport −, rapid rewind-crank on the camera baseplate, are some of the grounds for the enthusiastic quarrel among the Leica rangefinder cognoscenti.

Paradoxically, quite a few of these changes in the characteristic shape of a Leica M are the direct consequence of some of the best and most innovative M5 attributes: through-the-lens spot metering (Cds cell), shutter speed and exposure information on viewfinder, are only some arguments impressive enough to treasure the Leica M5, which undeniably deserves a special status in the long Leitz/Leica tradition of manufacturing first-class tools for the discerning photographer.

 



 

 

 

Summicron 2/35mm

 

 

 

 

Tele-Elmarit 2.8/90mm

 

 

 

Elmarit 2.8/135mm

 

 

 

Four decades later, this groundbreaking camera is still capable of producing first-rate photographs on film.

No matter what criticism it may arise − or praise, for that matter −, in my opinion the Leica M5 is the last true classic camera from Leitz Wetzlar, a beautifully made apparatus and a great performer on competent hands.

I will make a small transcription from a book that I bought many years ago:

 

“The Leica M5, introduced in 1971, is still what Leicas have been since 1932 – a rangefinder camera that combines the highest optical and mechanical standards with the greatest ease of handling. It is the first rangefinder camera to combine interchangelenses with a through-the-lens metering system.

The M5 has a rugged die-cast chassis like those of earlier M Leicas, redesigned and slightly enlarged to accommodate the metering system. It remains a compact and handy camera that can use most of the earlier M-Leica lenses and accessories”.

Leica Manual – 15^th Edition (The Complete Book of 35mm Photography)

© Morgan & Morgan, Inc., N.Y., 1973.

 

I couldn’t say it better.

 

Long live the Leica M5!

 



 

Toquinho, Serpa, June 2009

(Toquinho is a wonderful guitar player who made countless memorable records with Vinicius de Moraes - Thank you for the invitation Fred and Ana!)

 

 

 

Crossing the river Sado from Setúbal to Tróia, March 2009

 

 

 

My best friend "Pakica", Évora, March 2009

 

 

(Photographs made with the Leica M5)

 

 

 

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Leica M2 + Leica R5 - Feira de Santa Iria, Faro, October 2010

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Following my two other posts introducing the Leica R5, I wish to get back on this topic again.

I wanted to find out if the R5 could fit in my working method, how it could combine simultaneously with other gear, namely with Leica-M equipment. Switching from reflex to rangefinder and back, could maybe produce some discomfort, I feared.
I was concerned that I could lose my focus and concentration.

Working on a visual story, I think that one must be careful enough not to allow for “gaps” to happen, the pictures ought to provide some emotional continuity, a certain smoothness, the viewer should feel interest without strain.

Like a river flowing naturally to the sea…

I have used some brands of equipment that tend to give different shooting sensations. If you change from one piece to the next (inside that same brand, I mean), you clearly notice the variation: some focusing helicoids are stiffer, some aperture rings are looser, the color balance changes a bit, the list could go on and on...
I have seen all of that in rather famous names!

One of the attributes that I cherish the most about Leica, is consistency.
Lenses (cameras or whatever you name), may be built decades apart, but you instantly feel “at home”.
The common handling senses, the same color characteristics, the unequalled high-quality finish…
That famous undefinable “Leica Feeling”?
Yes, that is how legends are born…


Nonsense! – I read a lot of knowledgeable opinion in many Photographic Forums and the like.
Foolish hype! - The experts keep shouting and screaming, crammed with indignation.
It’s only that they (the Leicaists!) can justify the high prices they pay! – I read on, and on…

I very often ask myself if all these defenders of my poor sanity have ever touched a Leica…

Oh, don’t understand me wrong! I know that photographs are made by photographers, not by brands or cameras, not by soulless machines…

But I also know that Leicas do have soul!, and that they can help a hell of a lot to accomplish your goals!

I should know: I have been having a lot of that stuff stuck up my nose…

Looking for a verdict, I put some gear in the bag (wide-angle + normal + an old M2 from 1959, and the R5 + tele), and went out in the fairground, shooting away.

How did it feel? Well, I guess that I can say that it felt... "at home"...

Please, take a look and make up your mind. Do you feel any "gaps"? (They are nobody's fault but mine!...).

You are the judge this time!

Technical data:

Cameras - Leica M2 + Leica R5
Lenses - Elmarit-M 28mm + Summicron-M 50mm + Elmarit 135mm
Film - Agfa APX 100
Developer - Rodinal, diluted 1+50
Location - Feira de Santa Iria, Faro, Portugal
Date - October 2010

Scanner - Epson Perfection 4990 Photo






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Leica R5 - First Impressions - Photo Gear (9)

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Leica R5 + Elmarit 135mm + 16462 focusing mount + 14167 adapter
(image complements my post about the Elmarit + Visoflex)


The Leicaflex SL always was one of my dream cameras!

My heart throbs a little faster anytime I see that "thick as a brick" camera, which most apparent attributes seem to be simplicity and robustness.
Its rather classical and understated design appeals very much to my taste, so much that, up to this day, I find the Leicaflex SL2 to be the most wonderful of all 35mm SLRs!

Then again, I refrained from acquiring Leica reflex cameras, simply because I preferred Leica rangefinder cameras!
These M-cameras alone, represented a barely justifiable investment for my usually empty taxi driver wallet...

Restricted funds schrank my insanity!

Second version of the R5, after Leitz became Leica
(Wonderful depth of field lever. First R5 version had Leitz red logo on the left, R5 on the right. Some other small modifications)


I have a "Leica Preisliste - gültig ab 1. Oktober 1990", in front of me.
The price of the Leica R5 was quoted with 3.598 DM (something on the order of 1.800 Euros. For the body alone, versteht sich...).

Maybe the only benefit of the digital "revolution" that I can discern for us, film photographers, is that (used) film equipment is much more affordable these days!

Considering that Leitz ceased production of the Leicaflex SL2 in 1976, I decided to try a somewhat newer R model: the almost pristine camera that you can admire on these images is from 1991, a "young blood", so to speak...

Exquisite cameras are indubitably like delicious Port: they get better with age and usage!




Notice film type window, thumb's rest (second version only, not sure if I like it), eyepiece blank, eyepiece adjustment wheel (+- 2 dioptres)


I have to concede that, purist as I am, I would have maybe preferred an all-mechanical camera, like the Leicaflex or the Leica R6. Electronic gear just seems to frighten me!

Bearing in mind that all my Leica Ms, as well as most of my gear, are all "old-fashioned" mechanical cameras, the majority of them without an exposure meter built-in!, I concluded that some sort of comfort could do me no harm... Actually, there are circumstances when automatic exposure is a blessing!

Asking Mr. Nunes's opinion, which I very much respect and trust - his words are sacred to me!, I was astonished that he promptly replied "the R5", when I asked him which was his Leica R of choice.
Mr. Nunes is the very competent repairperson of Leica Portugal, also specializing in Hasselblad and other mouth-watering names of the photo industry.

I trust him my valuable cameras for many years now!




Intuitive to use controls and levers. Program selector with locking button above shutter speed dial



My main concern was the exposure accuracy of the built-in light meter: the dual exposure system - integral and selective metering option, was intriguing me. Could I trust it, so used as I am to hand-held metering?

Suffice it to say that I find it to be outstanding! Selective metering on the Leica R5 is absolutely superb!!

As a matter of fact, the whole camera surpasses all my expectations, and is a joy to use! Everything works butterweich, typical Leica!
The apparatus is very well-balanced, instantly giving you that confident and trustful feeling of having high-grade stuff in your hands.

The finder is possibly the best one that I saw on any SLR, giving a crisp, easy to focus image.
Thanks to it, I could see that the lamp in our living-room has some cobwebs on it. I couldn't detect them with the Canon EOS-1n!
At first I thought that the focusing screen was scratched...

Please, bear in mind that I am using this camera "the hard way", that is without lenses with automatic aperture.
In fact, the only lenses I used so far, are lenses made for the Visoflex: 135mm/2.8 Elmarit (1979), 200mm/4 Telyt (1961), 280mm/4.8 Telyt (1978), all of them with Leitz 14167 adapter ring, and the 400mm/6.8 Telyt (1973), also a non-automatic lens.
None of these lenses is "high-speed"...
None of them can be called "modern"...

I am eager to get my hands on a Summicron-R 50mm, or similar, to fully test the potential of this excellent, intuitive camera!


Dislikes?
Not easy to find, but here I go:
- maybe a little too small, even for my small hands...(I believe that it must balance very well with a Motor Drive R... But there I go again, making easy things complicated again!).
- For the original price, the leatherette could be a little softer and provide a more exquisite feeling...

That's all?

C'mon, give me a break! Let me have my fun and enjoy!



P.S.: Some days ago, I posted several photographs made with the combo displayed above. Some months ago, I also posted about the Elmarit 135mm used with goggles on a Leica M, and with Leitz focusing mount 16462 on the Visoflex.
Should you be curious, please take a look on these former posts.



Good night, sleep tight!



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Leica R5 + Leitz Elmarit 135mm - First Photographs, October 2010

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Three decades ago, when I started getting involved with photography, the 135mm focal length was very popular among photographers. Following that trend, I also bought one such lens for my Minolta equipment, the fine Minolta Rokkor 2.8/135mm. If you visit this blog every now and then, you most likely saw some images shot with that lens.

As some of you also might recall, I later on traded my Minoltas for Leicas, so the Rokkor made place for the canadian built Leitz Elmarit 2.8/135mm in my bag (the model with view and rangefinder attachment, the so called goggles, that improves focusing and framing. Primarily made for the M Leica, I read that the most "recent" version - mine is from 1979! - serial no. 2 600 000 and up, is optically identical to the Leica R lens. While I can't claim that for sure, you should please take note of the missing M in its nomenclature...).

I already posted some images of that lens with goggles directly mounted on a Leica M, as well as with the lens head removed and attached to the focusing mount 16462, to allow the use with the Visoflex reflex housing. In case that you should be interested on this subject, please check my former post about it.

What I want to show today, are some photographs made with this same lens, but this time still done on a different way: I did them with a Leica Single Lens Reflex camera, and Leitz adapter 14167, to allow the use of Visoflex lenses on the Leica R. The combination keeps on needing, of course, the aforementioned focusing mount 16462 (the goggles can thankfully be left at home!).

Yes I know, lots of (very well made) Leitz adapters and focusing mounts, no automatic aperture, darkening viewfinder...
But believe me, if you already own such a lens, it is well worth the hassle.
I just love the combination!

But please, take a look for yourself...

Above photographs made in Faro, October 2010


Trends come and go, like anything else, and this kind of focal length seems to be out of fashion. The evolution and the public's widespread preference for the Zoom lens, have condemned the 135mm prime lens to a certain obscurity...
Lamentably so, as I believe that most photographic systems have produced outstanding 135mm lenses along the years. Just think about Carl Zeiss Sonnar, Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar, Schneider Tele-Xenar, Pentax Takumar, Nikkor, Jupiter...
Moreover, the 135mm can be a true bargain these days...

For me, such a lens is a very fine balance between portability (all images were shot handheld) and pronounced telephoto effect. Besides, I don't need to be close to the nose of my model if I wish to do a head and shoulders portrait, as I don't need to go to the other side of the street yelling...

I enjoy the shallow depth of field, without too much loss of plasticity, what enables me to achieve a pleasant perspective without sacrificing the three-dimensional sensation!
I also find the 135mm lens to be a very interesting choice for close up photography, by just adding some extension tubes to it, between the lens and the body of the camera.

I suppose that I can honestly say: the 135mm is a true winner for my taste!

Photographs shot in Montemor-o-Novo, October 2010

This post should have its emphasis on the Leica R5...
I actually made this pictures while testing the camera, principally its exposure meter (fantastic!).

Now it is six in the morning and I am getting very tired, the rain is pouring outside, my legs are cold, my eyes are shutting, my brain is coming to a standstill...

Will you please excuse me, but I must be on my way... to bed...
Don't worry, I will come back to the subject... I promise!


Technical data:

Camera - Leica R5
Lens - Leitz Elmarit 135mm (Leica M/Visoflex type) + Leitz 14167
Film - Agfa APX 100
Developer - Rodinal, diluted 1+50
Location - Faro and Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal
Date - October 2010
Scanner - Epson 4990 Photo


HAVE A NICE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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