Leica M8 with Taylor Hobson 2inch f/2 Anastigmat

Does not come out very often but thought I would exercise the Taylor Hobson Anastigmat on the M8.

Even just looking at, the 16 blade iris is something to behold. Does produce a lovely circular aperture rather than hex or octagonal.
Smooth operation no click stops on the aperture ring, infinitely variable which works very well with the M8 metering when in manual. You can get the exposure just as you like. Distance scale is in imperial "Feet" only. Close focus 3.5 feet. For the Leicaphiles out there or the curious the f stops work in reverse. f16 to the left f2 to the right. Also for those that care, the lens collapses into the M8 with not issues.

I can see me using this lens more often as I am very happy with the results.
On the M8 it looks like this.

 Hmm blades.

Above images taken with Ricoh GR.


Some snaps taken in late afternoon light.

Couple of shots taken long after daylight had gone to bed.

 Have to say rather quite the atmosphere here. Bumped the ISO up to 640. f2 @ 1/45 handheld.

Leica M8 with Voightlander 15mm

Really need to use this camera and lens combo more often. Really can throw up some shots. Cracking lens, small, light weight,very well made good to look at. Some would say it's a bit slow, yes it is, if you are a low light shooter. If not, not a problem at all. Focus is .3m to 2m infinity. Push it to f5.6 and anything further away than 1m is pretty much in focus. Talk about point and shoot.

This version is the LTM version. Lighter and cheaper than the M version. Screw on an LTM to M adapter and job done. Many £££ saved. This is not range finder coupled so zone focusing only. But hey, everything is in focus anyway.

Obviously there are no frame lines. So a little practice is required to hone your own composition skills. What I have found, is whilst looking through the viewfinder of the M8 if you move your eye around the extremities of the viewfinder that is what will be taken. The max you can see, will be recorded. And some.

If you are working up close then you can expect the usual characteristics you would expect with a 15mm lens.

I think this is a very underrated combo. Especially as Leica do not produce anything like this lens no matter how many £,000s you give them.

So here we are at the pic point. Straight out the cam no fiddling.

Leica M8 with Leica Summar again

Have always liked this lens, uncoated, slight cleaning marks on front element, flares like a bitch if you are not careful, ancient style f numbers on aperture ring, but lovely smooth focus, small and light and by default cheap. This example was made in 1934 and works as well today as it probably ever did. How many of today's lenses will still be in regular use in 80 years time.
Just like the look and feel you get with vintage lenses. Still, cranking it up to f5.6 + and sharp enough for me.

Here is a selection of shots taken whilst out and about.

 No fiddling. Straight out the cam.

These taken at Wistow.

 And to finish on something completely different.

Light, Leaves and Benches

What a beautiful start to the day. As is the law, I made my Saturday pilgrimage to Thrussington Village Store to pick up my weekly Hambleton Bakery seven seed loaf.

Even though I am only going out to collect a loaf of bread I always take a camera with me. And if you are reading this, I imagine you do the same.

Today I was armed with my early Leica M8 (2006) and a very early 5cm Leica Summar f1:2 from 1934. No coatings and the usual evidence of cleaning marks on the front. But so what. If I had been around since 1934 I would expect to have some marks as well.

Any way, as you know this lens is a low contrast lens and can flare like a bitch if pointed towards the light. So don't do it. Or, you can cheat and shield the front element with your hand. A simple and effective  workaround.

This lens can be used as a complimentary portrait lens as it does not have the biting ly sharp characteristics of today's lenses. Like wise today's lenses cannot replicate the feel and bokeh of this lens. It can, depending on the situation exhibit a wonderful out of focusness. Perhaps the Summitar has borrowed "it's" look  from this lens.


Makes you wonder. Here I am, composing this in 2014, hoping that someone might stumble across it via the wonders of the interweb to look at images taken with a lens made in 1934. Strangely, I suspect this 80 year old lens will still be producing images long after I (we) are long gone.

Anyway enough rambling, here are today's images. Straight off the chip, no fiddling about.

Street life goes garden life

Woke up the last weekend looked out the kitchen window and was presented with the following.
You have to admire the work that goes into these. seemed such a shame not to break out the cam  to caputre them in their morning dew glory.

All shot on a Ricoh GXR body but with various combos of units and lenses.  First 3 Macro on the Ricoh P10 unit and the others on the Ricoh M mount A12 unit with a Leitz Canada 90mm 2.8 tele-elmarit.

Roller Derby Leicester 13/09/2014

Due to a series of serendipitous and charitable actions, I found myself at a Roller Derby match between Roller Derby Leicester and Sheffield Steel Roller Girls. Another first.

As a Roller Derby virgin. I soon realised I had only brought one set of eyes when clearly two sets are required to keep up with everything that is going on.

Just about fathomed the principle of the game. Who does what, what they are called and so on.
Then again.

Another observation. Never seen so many Refs.(zebras) in a game  Seemed more refs than skaters.
Then there are the non skating officials. Or the pinks to me.
Regardless of the rules and scoring as a sports enthusiast I had a very enjoyable time.
I could list a few "sports" I would knock off the Olympic list and replace with this.
Tactics, speed, skill, interplay, strength it's all there.

My thanks to Anna and Ester.

P.S. Very good selection of cakes for half time, what more could you wish for.



Anyway, from a photography point of view, I will put this down a series of happy accidents. Technically, focus is generally off and exposure less than ideal. I could put these things down to deliberate use of  slow shutter creative clap trap. The truth is, the lens was way too slow. Upped the ISO to 800 but still not fast enough. Really should have brought the fast glass. Never mind.

No. Scratch that. Never mind the laws and technicals of photography, an image stands or falls as an image, based on itself alone.

Does the image work as it is yes or no?
Does it convey a message or an emotion?
Does it involve or connect the viewer?

Enough rambling. Here are todays poorly exposed, out of focus, camera shaken, non adjusted or cropped images. (as usual straight off the chip no fiddling about).
A few more images here. Roller Derby Leicester 13/09/20014

SSRG discuss tactics.
(Or cakes Or who has the loudest tights.)

Getting Busy

Picking up the pace

 Although it was one of the opposing team. In terms of actual image, I rather like this one. There is clearly speed and motion conveyed in a still image. But it is the stillness on the front skate that sets the image off.

Up close and personal

 Down and dirty

Peace, Love and Hugs.
Again as a first timer to Roller Derby. This was a lovely thing to see and be involved in.

Fire and Love

Out and about for a drive round the local B roads. Stopped off at one of my favorite spots and took some shots of my chariot of fire. When in a serendipitous moment a nice lady in her chariot of Love pulled up.Shared some pleasantries and then got busy with the M8.
Lady I spoke to runs the following business silkandsatinweddings Did not get her name, such as serendipitous moments are.

Chariot of fire

Chariot of Love. (had just been used as a wedding car)

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