Yet more of the cult of Leica

November 6th, 2008 – 14:43-0800

More than a year ago, I mentioned my want of Leica. Well, I bought a Leica CL (what I could afford), but still it’s not a ‘real’ Leica. Photographer Frank Van Riper of the Washington Post writes about how it took him 40 years to get a Leica M6. Discouraging.

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An update on film versus digital photography

October 30th, 2008 – 22:07-0700

In case you’re wondering why people are still shooting film, check out Ken Rockwell’s post on why digital is dying. While I don’t agree that digital is dying, I wholly agree that digital still has major shortcomings in comparison with film. Film offers more range, better color, and more exposure latitude. A scanned transparency yields a greater digital image.

Well, a Hasselblad H3DII, which costs $30,000, can be used to disprove that general statement, but yet a drum-scanned 6×6 medium format exposure from a 40-year-old TLR will shame the H3DII. Quality digital costs a whole lot.

Then there’s the kit problem. My father got an Olympus OM-1 with 50mm and 35mm lenses. For him, that was enough. He didn’t buy another camera for nearly 30 years. That sweet Canon G9 you bought last summer is stupid now that the new G10 is rolling out. I cannot imagine in the year 2038 finding an amateur photographer using a Canon G9.

And to hit on another point from above, exposure latitude is really key for me. Digital SLRs are not forgiving if you over or under exposure by half a stop, let alone a full one. Good old negative film will let you shoot sloppy. A stop or two up, a stop or two down, it’s no big deal. Highlights won’t be washed out, shadows will still have depth.

I also liked that Ken mention wives and girlfriends love film. So true. But not for the reason Ken mentions, which is time spent distracted by sorting through the plethora of photos a digital camera can yield in a short time. Skin tones and rich detail from Kodak Portra 160NC are flattering.

Before you call me a Luddite, let me acknowledge that digital photography is the future. Film will have its place. With all the equipment and enthusiasts out there, I believe it will remain in one form or another. In the meantime, though, I suggest digging around your father’s or uncle’s closet for his old 35mm. I promise with a little practice, you won’t be disappointed with the results.

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The hidden podcasts of the New York Times

October 25th, 2008 – 01:10-0700

Yesterday I received my new Creative Zen MP3 player. It’s a nice enough chunk of plastic, and the price was right. Plus, its ZENcast software does a sufficient job of independently getting podcasts on the player.

I had been using my BlackBerry as my personal music player, but there just wasn’t enough space. One feature I enjoyed, though, was being able to go the New York Times mobile site and download or stream podcasts in the morning on my way to work. Handy.

To get started with my new MP3 player, I needed the RSS feed URLs for the audio and video podcasts. The New York Times podcast page, though, posed a strange problem.

Podcasts you can't commit to

A problem in that the page is full of content—sort of. There’s no mention of video podcasts. For some reason, the Times is hoarding their podcasts. The ‘Audio’ tab at the top of the page hints that there could be another tab. In theory.

I was disappointed in the Times when I clicked the subscribe button for an audio podcast. I expected the RSS feed to load. This did not happen. Instead, an Apple page informs me that iTunes can’t be found on my computer, unable to comprehend that perhaps iTunes isn’t installed.

I don’t have an iPod. My music library doesn’t contain a single AAC file. Why, then, does the Times insist that I use software I just don’t need? And why don’t they even mention on this page, if only for iTunes users, that video podcasts do in fact exist?

With competing news providers offering similar content in accessible, transparent ways, the Times comes off shuttered and miserly. I assume they have a deal with iTunes. But with a recent 51% drop in quarterly profits, maybe you shouldn’t be hiding your rich media content. A suggestion.

You may be looking for the Times audio and/or video podcast RSS feeds. I found them. I am sharing them. Download the OPML for the audio and video podcast RSS feeds.

New York Times Podcasts OPML

I couldn’t easily find these RSS feeds. You probably are reading this because you had the same problem. So did this gentleman who liberated the URLs from iTunes. Let’s just hope that the Times doesn’t take any further steps to ‘disappear’ their own works.

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Speaking of cameras, a Leica CL

October 1st, 2008 – 09:43-0700

I mentioned the cult of Leica some time back. I joined the club. Here’s your chance: I’m selling a beautiful CLA‘d Leica CL on eBay.

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Classic rangefinder: Canon Canonet GIII QL17

September 28th, 2008 – 10:15-0700

Finally, a rangefinder. My monogamous relationship with 35mm SLR cameras has come to an end. Sure, I had my indiscretions with Holga, but we both knew that was only a fling. What I found with the Canon Canonet GIII QL17, however, is something real. This isn’t a novelty. This is an excellent camera with quality glass, great control, and a solid feel. I recovered my Canonet with a kit from Camera Leather.com.

Canon Canonet GIII QL17 (Recovered)

The main dilemma I faced in buying a Canonet was with its battery. The Canonet (and about every other rangefinder from this generation) was designed to use mercury batteries that are no longer manufactured (banned in the US and abroad) and essentially unavailable.

I read an excellent write-up about the options available to address the mercury batter issue, Mercury-Oxyde Battery Problem. Frans de Gruijter’s article, The Mercury Cell Problem and Its Solutions, is probably the defining work on this subject. Both articles left me with three possible solutions:

  • Recalibrate the camera meter for 1.5 volt batteries
  • Use Wein cells or generic zinc air batteries
  • Buy a MR-9 adapter, like one from CRIS Camera

Of course, having the camera meter recalibrated for the higher voltage 1.5 volt battery is the best choice. Yet I couldn’t find a single repair person who didn’t shrug and/or roll their eyes when asked about recalibrating the meter. Disappointing. In the end, I bought the $30 MR-9 adapter from CRIS and have been very satisfied with the results.

010_7A

032_29

020_17A

026_23A

023_20A

The Canonet GIII QL17 has a leaf shutter, meaning it offers flash sync at any shutter speed. I also have the Canolite D flash, the dedicated shoe flash for the Canonet GIII QL17. It gives extraordinarily even fill flash indoors and outdoors. Overall, the $100 I paid for the camera, the flash, and the adapter were a fantastic bargain.

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