A la carte X2

David Farkas over at Red Dot Forum gives his thoughts on the Leica X2, D-Lux 6 and V-Lux 4 from his visit to Photokina.

Leica is really firing on all cylinders this show. The new M is probably the biggest hit of the show. The S camera has some really solid updates and three new S lenses were introduced. But, these weren’t the only introductions from Leica. There is plenty of compact camera news, too. You, know, for when you don’t want to carry your full kit and just want something to take out to dinner with a group of friends.

Leica introduced the X2 back in May at their Das Wesentliche event in Berlin alongside the M Monochrom (see my full M Monochrom review). The camera was a significant update to the X1 and has been extremely well received (see my full X2 review). Personally, I use it as my everyday camera. All my photos of various Leica staff members were shot with the X2. Unfortunately, it doesn’t focus as close as I’d like sometimes, so I used a D-Lux 5 for all my product close-ups.

Obviously, with the camera just introduced a few months ago, the X2 isn’t due for any major updates. Instead, the X2 is getting some special style treatment for Photokina. First up is the Paul Smith Edition X2. Limited to 1500 pieces and designed by British fashion designer Paul Smith, this X2 is quite boldly styled. With an orange top plate, lime green bottom plate and British racing green leather in between, the look isn’t for everyone, but it is unmistakable for sure. Combined with a handsome tan leather half case, I’m sure this limited edition, being sold only through Leica Stores and Boutiques, will go very quickly.

Continue reading and see more photos on the Red Dot Forum website.

Paul Smith Edition Leica X2

Different leather options

Silver, titanium and black

New 3″ 920K pixel LCD with virtual horizon and exposure info displayed

Leica expert David Farkas of Dale Photo & Digital talks about the first day at Photokina 2012, the world’s largest trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries.

Last night I read every piece of available information in the press kit I was handed on my way out of the Das Wesentliche event, on the Leica website and in dealer releases to get a better handle on the new products before seeing them today at the show. I figured I had a pretty thorough understanding of the new products from a technical perspective, but you never really know a camera until you get your hands on it. How will it feel? Will it perform up to expectations? Well, I got most of those answers today at the Leica booth.

Truth be told, last night was a very late one, with me seeing the sunrise out my window before I could even think of getting into bed for a few hours. So, getting to the show late, I reasoned that it only made sense to look at one product and really understand it, instead of flitting from product to product or booth to booth. I decided with all the interest, I’d focus on the new Leica M.

Coming in the South Entrance to the Koelnmesse, I headed straight to Hall 1 for the Leica stand. Hall 1 isn’t in the flow of traffic like Leica’s regular spot of the past in 2.1. In fact, you have to walk through Halls 3 and 2 to get to Hall 1 and there is no other hall connected. In other words, you wouldn’t end up there by accident – you’d have to mean to go see Leica, not just happen upon it meandering through exhibits. Did this keep visitors down? Not from what I saw. The Leica booth was hopping with activity, but avoided feeling crowded due to the sheer scale of it. Different demo tables were set up around the room with letter designations for the different systems.

Continue reading and see many more photos on the Red Dot Forum website.

Everyone wanted to check out new M

Focus peaking button is in easy reach of middle finger

GPS in an M camera? Yes, please.

Live view on the LCD

Why yes Virginia, there is an optical rangefinder on the M

Nice to have true macro, and the 100 APO really isn’t that big on the M.

Chip Litherland is a self-diagnosed color addict. Pretty much sums it up. He is also an award-winning photographer based in Florida, with over a decade of experience working in photojournalism. He is a regular contributor to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and ESPN the Magazine, and his work has appeared in TIME, The Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, among others. His work has been recognized by Pictures of the Year International, Best of Photojournalism, Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, Southern Short Course, and the National Press Photographer’s Association. Since his departure form newspapers, he has been tackling the marketing, advertising, travel, and wedding world with the same passion as his editorial work. His newest venture is FOCUSED, a project challenging 200 photojournalists, including 30+ Pulitzer prize winners, around the globe to using only one click of the shutter on a single roll of film to create one compelling and lasting frame. Chip is married to his lovely wife, Elaine, and they have two beautiful daughters together. He is on a 12-step-program to break the cycle of addiction to random gratuitousness in his work, filling rectangles with extremely anal, over-saturated compositions, and consuming his weight in Chipotle burritos.

Sometimes bigger isn’t better.

I’m traveling a lot these days. Between commercial work, editorial, and weddings I find myself in random cities and countries a lot lately often wandering streets unknown with no direction and a curious eye. It’s absolutely the best part of being a photographer. What I don’t have is a camera that I want to carry around all the time besides my iPhone, which is wonderful, but I’d love in certain situations to carry around something small like a point-and-shoot but with a bit more control and functionality.

Enter the Leica X2.

I’ve used Leica’s before off and on for years when I can, but the price point is a little high (albeit the quality is off the charts) for me to start investing in that gear rather than my workhorse DSLR’s. Those cameras pay my mortgage, make the wife happy, and feed my kids. The Leica X2 is something like a mistress. We’re going to be sharing a lot of time together.

At an entry price point of $1995, it’s definitely at the high end of small cameras, but this camera is totally worth every penny I’m going to break into my piggy bank for. The fine folks at Photo Brigade and Dale Photo & Digital sent me one to play with, and I decided to pack her up for a week-long trip of shoots in Saint Martin and Harbour Island in The Bahamas.

My first impression? The camera is beautiful. That’s it. It comes in both silver and black and both models really scream the Leica brand. Moreover, it’s light, easy to use, and fun right out of the box. There was literally no real time needed in acquainting myself with it. I literally pulled it out for the first time and was able to start taking nice frames on a water taxi taking me to Harbour Island for my first day with it. The best part is finally having a small camera like this I have full control over on manual, which is the only way I ever shoot. It weighs next to nothing at 11.2 oz was great to just wrap around my shoulder and go.

Its accessories are awesome, although they will up your investment. The Leica X2 EVF2 Viewfinder is almost necessary and I don’t think I will be able to pull the trigger without it. I don’t like to shoot on live-view mode, so the viewfinder is welcome addition, albeit at a 1/4 of the price of the camera. The electronic viewfinder never left the top of my camera, and with the 90 degree rotation, it was great for street shooting. I walked around like I was carrying around a twin-lens and people were disarmed and had no idea I was making pictures. It allows for sharper focus, and the rule-of-thirds grid helped keep my compositions completely anal.

The other accessory I was sent was the Leica Hand Grip, which is essentially a hunk of metal to make the body of camera fit more snug in your grip. Not much else to write, except I’ll be getting it because my man hands needed something else to make it feel a little better as I walk hand-in-hand with her.

Shooting with the Leica X2 is just pure fun. Metering is accurate and you are able to preview the exposure before firing, which is a nice touch. Autofocus is fast enough and never had any frames that were ruined by relying on it. I tried some manual focusing (which I wanted to do from the bottom of the lens in true rangefinder mode), which is great to have in certain situations. The digital preview for the autofocus is a little tough to read, but with the viewfinder accessory it was a breeze. I was anticipating shutter lag to be an issue, but I was able to snag shots of children jumping off the docks at the exact moment I wanted without any shutter delay at all…and it is absolutely silent. That last part is a huge bonus.

The built in flash pops out of the top of the camera like a little probe droid from Empire Strikes Back. Albeit clever and slick, I have a feeling I’ll break it off. I gaffer taped it down. I don’t use strobe anyway. The ISO range on the X2 is solid and it performs well in low light.

On my DSLR I walk around with a 24mm most of the time anyway, and the 24mm f/2.8 Elmarit ASPH lens felt right at home. Combine that with a 16.1 Megapixel on the CMOS Sensor and you have the right ingredients for great files. The real test came when I pulled them into Lightroom, and I was nothing but pleased. With very minor post, I was able to punch them up without much effort. My work is color-centric, so I was happy to be able to bring the files into my world of color porn. The information retained in the RAW files (opened at around 46 MB 4928×3264 px) was extraordinary across the board from shadows to highlights. Every file was tack sharp and was really impressed with the rectangles this little beauty of a camera was able to produce.

Overall? I didn’t want to send it back. I’m fully convinced that this review was just a ploy for me to buy a camera, and they got me hook, line, and sinker. The X2 is everything Leica advertised. It definitely gives me what I needed in size/weight, discretion, and quality.

The X2 is just a fun, little lady to have around on my hip in my world travels.

Pure happiness.

“OK, now I am going to remove the 35mm f/1.4 Summilux Aspherical and put on the 35mm f/1.4 Summilux FLE ASPH.” Not a sentence that I speak frequently, however thanks to the generosity of a few friends of ours, I was able to compare these two iconic Leica lenses. The Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical is one of the rarest and most expensive Leica lenses to date, less than 1,000 were made. This lens is sometimes known as the “AA” or “double aspherical” due to it having two aspherical glass elements. Fast-forward 18 years and today we have the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE, showcasing the latest in Leica optical design with both aspherical and floating elements to minimize aberrations and focus shifting.

Due to the elaborate and expensive nature of producing a lens with two aspherical elements, Leica was forced to limit production of the lens, giving it a modern-day “cult” status. However, this is not just a lens for collectors; it is prized not only for its rarity but for its unique rendering of images. Naturally, when I was given the opportunity to shoot with this lens on an M9, I could not pass it up. The most frequently asked question I get about this lens is how it compares to the modern version with the floating element, so I knew a comparison was in order. After securing a loaner copy of the modern lens, I made a quick trip to the beach to take a few shots.

On the left, the modern Leica Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE. On the right is the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical.

What strikes me the most is not how different these lenses are, but how many similarities they share. Their size is nearly identical. The newer 35mm uses a smaller, screw on metal hood compared to the plastic, clip-on hood of the older lens and also has a larger focusing tab. I found both lenses very easy to focus and work with; I had a hard time remembering which lens I had attached without checking. While the particular lens I had was not 6-bit coded, the M9 has this lens (product code 11873) in its database, so I was able to select it manually from the menu (which I only did for the last image, as I was most interested in the lens’ natural rendering). To see the full size image, simply click on the picture and an uncropped, full resolution file is available to view and download.

Leica M9 with Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux Aspherical, ISO160, 1/25 at f/1.4. In this image the lens shows some vignetting, as I did not select it from the M9′s menu and elected to have the lens’ true character be shown.

Leica M9 with Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE, ISO160, 1/25 at f/1.4. This lens was six bit coded and identified as such in the Leica M9′s menu.

After shooting with both lenses, I found myself intrigued by the qualities that the older, double aspherical lens exhibited. While not as “technically” perfect, I found it had LESS chromatic aberration at f/1.4 than the modern lens, and had a “dreamier” way of rendering out of focus areas. It is not as sharp near the edges as the FLE lens and has slightly less contrast, as one would expect from a film-era lens. Using Adobe Lightroom 4 I was able to remove almost all offending chromatic aberration and equalize the contrast, now I was able to study the way that each lens rendered tones and bokeh.

Leica M9 with Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux Aspherical, ISO160, 1/125 at f/1.4. In this image the lens shows some vignetting, as I did not select it from the M9′s menu and elected to have the lens’ true character be shown.

Leica M9 with Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE, ISO160, 1/125 at f/1.4. This lens was six bit coded and identified as such in the Leica M9′s menu

Conclusions? I am amazed at how well the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical performs, considering was it designed in the late 1980s, 20 years before a digital Leica M camera would be available. It is easy for me to see why this lens is so highly prized, especially in the pre-35mm FLE days. The Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE is a great lens, however I doubt that we will ever see a lens as unique as the double-aspherical, and have a feeling that its value (roughly $12,000 or so depending on condition) will remain the same for many, many years.The best part of all is that this rare, elusive lens is for sale, check it out on Dale Photo & Digital’s website.

Leica M9 with Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux Aspherical, ISO160, 1/125 at f/1.4. This time I selected this lens from the M9′s menu so the vignetting was corrected in-camera.

Leica M9 with Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE, ISO160, 1/125 at f/1.4. This lens was six bit coded and identified as such in the Leica M9′s menu

David Farkas of Red Dot Forum and Dale Photo & Digital traveled to Germany for the Leica’s May 10 Berlin event.

Ah, how I love Leica launch events. I’ve been to many such events over the years, but Leica somehow manages to make each one fun, entertaining and unique. The May 10 Berlin event was no different.

There was already a certain excitement in the air as I boarded the bus to take everyone from the Hotel Meliá to C/O Berlin where the Leica event was being held. The trip was surprisingly short, only a few minutes. We all filed out and, after all taking pictures of the front of the building (par for the course I suppose), headed inside. After being confirmed “on the list” I got a snazzy Leica USB bracelet with “Das Wesentliche” printed on it. This was my re-entry pass if I had to leave for any reason.

Continue reading and see more photos of the event on the Red Dot Forum.

It’s that time of the year again! Time to make your photographic gift list in hopes that Santa will bring you everything your camera bag desires. Also, it’s a great time to get your last-minute shopping in before the end of the year so you can deduct the purchases on your taxes!

We decided to ask a handful of our photo-industry colleagues what products they recommend and/or have on their gift list this holiday season. They came back to us with some great recommendations… many from our sponsors like PhotoShelter, ThinkTank, Dale Photo, and AdoramaPix who are all offering some special deals to our readers! Feel free to share some of your gift ideas in the comment section below!

• Robert Caplin

• Robert Caplin is a full-time freelance editorial, corporate, and portrait photographer based in New York City and is founder and co-editor of Photo Brigade.

 

• Thumbs Up for Leica – $126

• I recently got myself my first ever Leica, an M9. Is great, but the camera body itself is rather boxy and doesn’t have great grippage… I opted to purchase this Thumbs Up accessory that slides into the hot shoe of your camera and mimics a film advance lever. It’s super simple and gives your thumb a nice spot to grip the body… I highly recommend if you own the M8 or M9!

• Artisan & Artist Leather Neck Strap for Leica – $129

• One of the things I hate about buying nice cameras is that they never provide you with a quality camera strap… even Leica gives you a cheap one! One of my friends showed me his preferred camera strap for his Leica and now I definitely want one for Christmas! It’s a one size fits all, so none of those awkward adjustable plastic devices…and best yet, it’s leather, so it ages and gets nice and soft!

• Canon S100 – $429.95

• My wife an I have been looking for a simple point-and-shoot and have decided that we’re asking Santa for the Canon S100, the successor to the popular S95, which is a great point and shoot itself. The s100 has a slightly larger sensor, a wider angle lens (24mm vs 28mm), higher quality video (1080HD vs 720HD), and is slightly smaller, among numerous other improvements over it’s predecessor.

• Apple 11″ MacBook Air -$1,139

• I’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately and thought the iPad would be the perfect fix for all my long flights, that was until I saw my first 11″ MacBook Air… I couldn’t believe how small the laptop was… ultra thin, but with the versatility of a computer vs the one-app-at-a-time nature of the iPad and iPhone. It’ll also be perfect for assignments in which I need to transmit on site… No more lugging around the bulky MacBook Pro! I’ve already got one of these suckers on order and cant wait to put it to good use.

• Kindle Fire – $199

• I’m a sucker for murder mystery novels, but I can’t stand lugging books everywhere… I feel it’s a time to go the eBook route. Now with the Kindle Fire not only can you do the eBook thing, you can also watch movies, listen to music… and much more!

• iKlear Cleaning Kit – $18.95

• If you’re anything like me your electronics, especially my monitors and keyboards, get covered in crap… iKlear makes quality cleanser for all your electronics. I was turned onto this product by the Apple Geniuses after a recent trip to the Apple Store.

• PhotoShelter 30 Day Trial – Free

• Listen up… if you’re serious about your photography, you MUST start building your archives through PhotoShelter. Not only is it a wonderfully manageable place to store and make your archives searchable to photo buyers worldwide, but it’s an amazing image delivery tool for your clients whether it be for a corporate gig, a wedding, you name it! PhotoShelter makes it super simple to sell prints and even make a slick portfolio website. My entire business is built around this product. PhotoShelter has been so kind to offer our readers a 30-day trial for FREE… You have no excuse now!

• Think Tank Airport Airstream – $299.75

• I’m a lover of Think Tank products and highly recommend this bag if you’re in the market for a roller bag. It’s the smallest of their Airport Series Rollers line and perfect for a camera kit with a couple of cameras and various lenses, or a small light kit that can carry numerous small-system lighting strobes and up to a smaller ProFoto kits. Check out a recent review I wrote about the Airport Airstream.

• AdoramaPix Photo Book – $14.95 and up

• Gift your friends or relatives a custom photo book of your work, make a photo album from your latest vacation for your loved one, or finally put together a high-end portfolio to send out to clients by using AdoramaPix!

• Mike Isler

• Mike Isler is based in NYC and provides consulting services on photo and video productions. He is also an aerial coordinator and technician for helicopter-based photo and video projects. He’s played an integral role on projects for National Geographic, Goldman Sachs, Cosmopolitan, Accenture, Wired, Condé Nast, the band Evanescence, and many others.

• Eye-Fi Pro X2 – $89.95

• Cut the cord between your camera and laptop or iPad! Using WiFi, the Eye-Fi Pro X2 will quickly transfer images as you shoot so you can instantly share them with others. An iPad serves as a much better display than the back of a camera when others need to see what you’re shooting. The newest Eye-Fi, the Pro X2, can send photos directly to your favorite social media website directly from your camera. To top it off, it can also geotag your location in the pictures automatically!

• Singh-Ray Vari-ND – $390

This seemingly expensive filter is invaluable for video as well as landscape photography. Neutral density filters let one use a wider aperture or slower shutter speed without having to affect other parts of the exposure. Normally, one would have to carry a whole set of various filters for different lighting conditions. The Singh-Ray Vari-ND filter lets you dial in precisely how much neutral density you want, from 2 stops all the way to 8 stops of light blocked. No need to carry a whole wallet of filters any more.

• PocketWizard MultiMAX – $295 each

• These highly advanced PocketWizards give you incredible flexibility and control when working with multiple strobes or remote cameras. Its advanced timing functions enable you to synchronize multiple cameras (to the millisecond), shoot time lapses, do a multi-pop strobe effect, and more…all from over a quarter mile away. Each channel has four zones, letting you decide which group of lights or cameras you want to fire. No more running around to test each flash’s output individually. The MultiMAX lets you decide right from the camera what will fire.

• TetherTools Wallee – $119

• With iPads becoming ubiquitous on photo shoots, it’s important to have a good way to keep them close at hand. The Wallee is a mounting system consisting of an iPad case as well as mounts that attach to tripod heads, C-Stands, SuperClamps, wall mounts, and more. Combine this with the Eye-Fi Pro X2 card (they’re actually offered as a bundle from TetherTools), and you’ve got a fantastic iPad-based photo review tool. The Wallee case’s versatility and smart design make it a great tool for any iPad-owning photographer.

• NewerTech Guardian MAXimus – $249 and up

• Many photographers rely on external hard drives, but aren’t always protected in case of hard drive failure. The Guardian MAXimus from NewerTech is a RAID-1 external drive system, which writes your data to two identical drives at the same time. This protects you from hard drive failure, and also gives incredibly high disk read speeds. It’s equipped with Firewire 400, 800, eSATA and USB3 ports. Prevent data loss, enjoy high speed.

• X-Rite ColorChecker Passport – $99

• Get accurate color every time. Warm or cool your images in camera in a controlled manner. Create a color profile for your camera so it’s always spot-on, and the Passport will slip into a small camera bag pocket so it’s always with you. This color checker is an industry standard for ensuring what you photograph is what gets printed.

• Manfrotto 175F Justin Clamp – $53.90

• Get that flash off of your hotshoe and end the deer-in-the-headlights look. With Bogen’s “Justin” clamp, you can mount your flash anywhere. On top of a lightstand or tripod, to a SuperClamp, or clamped onto almost anything you can imagine. It will also support your flash in a variety of positions on a tabletop or any other flat surface. In addition to mounting cameras, with the right adapters it can be used for GoPro cameras for behind the scenes footage of your shoots.

• idMyStuff and Custom Labels, from Maverick Labels - $9.95 and up

• Nobody wants to lose something, but when we do we hold out hope that we’ll be reunited with it soon. Labels on everything can increase the chances you’ll see it again. Maverick Label makes two great products for marking your gear: the ready-made idMyStuff labels, as well as fully custom labels. Starting at $9.95 + shipping, the idMyStuff labels are a cinch to order and are perfect for labeling a few items. For a bit more customizability, Maverick also offers fully custom labels (http://www.mavericklabel.com/quoter.html) where you can specify the size, colors printed, background, material, and even supply the artwork or logo for the label.

• Josh Lehrer

• Josh Lehrer is a Leica Specialist  at Dale Photo & Digital who works with consumers and professionals alike to make sure that all photographic needs are filled and is also the editor of Red Dot Forum.

 

• Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium – $1,195

• The Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium is a limited edition kit that includes possibly the best compact camera out there today, the Leica D-Lux 5, in a titanium-color finished, and a special leather case. The D-Lux 5 is the perfect camera for the photo enthusiast, combining RAW image capture, full manual control, and a fast, 24-90mm lens that is f/2.0 at the wide end. Only 1,500 of these sets will make their way to the US. The D-Lux 5 excels where most compact cameras fail, especially in low-light situations.

• Leica M9 – $6,995

• The Leica M9 represents the ultimate in 35mm digital photography. It brings together 60 years of Leica M camera design with a full frame, 18 megapixel Kodak CCD sensor and the ability to use just about any of Leica’s legendary M lenses. The M9’s sensor has no blurring, anti-aliasing filter of the sensor and thus delivers image quality previously reserved for the rarified air of medium format cameras. Leica classic design meets modern technology, and it brings us the smallest full frame digital camera ever made.

• Leica Ultravid Binoculars – $2,199

• Do you remember the first time you watched HDTV after years of standard definition? That is the same feeling you will get when you first look through Leica’s Ultravid Binoculars. Fully weather sealed, the Ultravid series from Leica will change the way you see the world. Leica optics have never been better. Every photo-gear head enjoys good lenses and these do not disappoint.

• Gitzo Traveler Kit – $999.99

• Travelling with a tripod can be a pain. Not only are they heavy, but nearly impossible to bring with your carryon luggage. That changes today. The Gitzo Traveler series of tripods fold up small enough to fit in a standard rolling bag, and is sturdy enough to hold over 15 pounds of weight. Super-strong carbon fiber means the Gitzo 2-series traveler weighs only 3.8 pounds but expands to over 5 feet in height. The best tripod is the one you have with you, and you will not leave this one at home.

• Schneider Filter Holder - $160

• Nearly all photographers are familiar with HDR done in post processing, but what if you could do it all in camera? With Schneider graduated neutral density filters attached to a Lee filter holder, you can. With 3 stops or more of graduated neutral density available, the filter holder allows the glass filter to slide up and down to allow for precise adjustment of the affected area. The Landscape Control Kit includes both a holder and a 2 stop soft edge graduated neutral density filter.

• Artisan & Artist Laptop / Photo Bag – $379

• Why does a camera bag need to look like one? Artisan & Artist camera bags are handmade in Japan, and look like traditional messenger bags. The outside is treated canvas, designed to resist the elements, and the inside is well padded to protect your gear. There are plenty of pockets available to store your extras, and a wide, comfy shoulder strap. Their bags come in a wide variety of styles, but for SLR and laptop storage, the ACAM-8000N is ideal.

Charles Ludeke

Charles Ludeke, a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, is a New York-based freelance photographer whose work focuses on storytelling and relationships.
 
 

• Memory cards – $15 and up

• As camera megapixels grow larger, the amount of our memory cards needs to grow as quickly. Especially with DSLR video. Show your photographer how much you love them with a high-performance memory card.

• Rode Video Shotgun Microphone – $229

• Like the video cliche goes, an audience will look at bad images, but they don’t listen to bad audio. Help out your burgeoning video-making photographer with a Rode shotgun mic from B&H.

• LomoKino & LomoKinoscope – $110

• Two words: 35mm movies. Photographers love toy cameras. Photographers love analog. What will photographers really love? This new Lomography movie camera that uses 35mm film!

• Think Tank Photo Gift Certificate

• Don’t know exactly what your photographer wants in a bag? Want to surprise them without asking exactly what they want?
  Get a gift certificate from Think Tank Photo and let them have the pick of the bunch!

• Printer/Scanner - $99 and up
  

• The administrative parts of photography are not our favorite. But getting a printer/scanner and knowing she didn’t blow her last gig’s paycheck to get it? Any photographer would be happy.

• Gloves (Men’s: $21.95 - Women’s: $17.95)
  

• No one likes photographing in the cold. And we certainly don’t want to lose our dexterity.
  Get some gripped gloves so his fingers stay warm!

• LaCie 2TB Hard Disk – $129,95

• B&H is offering this 2TB Lacie hard drive

• I Photo NY Tote Bag – $25

• Everyone loves a great tote. Surprise your loved one with a photographer’s take on Milton Glasser’s classic “I Heart NY” logo.

• Peter Taylor

• Peter Taylor is a commercial photographer based in North Carolina specializing in People, Food, and The Outdoors.

 
 

• Manfrotto ML360H Midi-36 Hybrid LED Panel – $169.89

• Not sure why I want this light, but I do! I can see a ton of different uses for this light. I can’t wait to get it and play around with it.

• 5×5 tri folded promos from Paper Chase – 250 for $311

• Everyone needs promo pieces and leave behinds. These have a much larger impact than a single postcard and the quality is excellent.

• Domke Gripper Camera Strap – $19.89

• I HATE the camera straps that come with the new cameras. No one needs to know which model I have around my neck and Canon isn’t paying me to advertise. Make the thieves work harder to know which model they are trying to grab! I’ve been using these straps and at least one of the ones I use now since 1990!

• Manfrotto 327RC2 Lightweight Magnesium Body Joystick Head – $154.95

• I finally replaced my old tripod after 20 years with a nice set of carbon fiber legs and figured the old 3-arm head could use updating too! I love the ease of using this head.

• Leatherman New Wave Mutli-Tool – 84.95

• Every photographer should have a tool like this. It has saved my ass  more than a few times. Tighten a bolt on the tripod, tighten a screw, cut open a package, clean the dirt out from under your nails, trim a gobo or reflector, fix your car? This can do it all.

• Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer, thin mount – $240 and up
  

• Since I started shooting more outdoor sporting activities, this filter has been indispensable! It is on my camera for almost every outdoor shoot I do, esp. when I am around water.

• Professional Organization memberships

• Every one of you should be a member of at least one professional organization. We need groups to lobby on our behalf and on our businesses behalf. If you don’t belong, they won’t exist and we won’t have anyone to be our voice. They all have additional benefits and professional discounts. Sign up today!

• APA – http://www.apanational.com/
• ASMP – http://asmp.org/
• NPPA – http://www.nppa.org/

Jared Wickerham

Jared Wickerham is a freelance sports photographer based in Pittsburgh covering college and pro sporting events for numerous clients ranging from magazines, newspapers, and wires.

 

• Foliobook Photo Portfolio App – $9.99

• Most of us by now own an iPad or iPhone. Instead of sitting awkwardly next to someone (i.e. and editor) while you show them your images on a slow loading computer, hand them your iPad with high res versions of your images ready. No waiting for your images to load and it’s a much more personal and engaging way of showing off your portfolio to anyone! Foliobook is also by far the most professional and customizable portfolio app out there.

• Manfrotto Magic Arm ($95.97) + Super Clamp ($19.95)

• These can come in handy for almost anything from a backboard remote camera to an extra hand when shooting your own family portrait. Make sure to pick up some safety cables at your local hardware store along the way as well if you plan on setting up your camera in high places!

• 1.4x Teleconverter (Nikon: $489.95 – Canon: $309.00)

• Great for sports or news! Keep the local authorities happy while on the scene of a fire without losing a picture. And for sports such as football, you’ll start seeing little moments from a play that you might’ve otherwise missed because you didn’t have the reach.

• Think Tank Modular Component Set – $142.75

• The ThinkTank Modular Component Set is perfect for anyone constantly changing lenses! For those of you who don’t have the money to spend on an extra camera body, this is definitely for you as well. It’s semi-hard case allows for protection of your gear while also staying lightweight.

• Think Tank Pro Speed Belt – $39.75

The pro speed belt allows you to easily adjust and customize the location of your lenses around your waist. And the best part? The pouches are weather sealed and come with a built in rain cover!

• Your Logo – on anything! – $60 (approximately)

• Your local embroidery store can digitize your logo (approximately $50) on a CD. Once you have that file, you can email it to family members or friends and they can have it printed anywhere on things like t-shirts, hats, or your camera bag for around $10 each. So instead of wearing that vintage Metallica t-shirt to cover your local high school basketball game, you can wear a nice collared shirt with your company name on it. It’s much more professional looking than screen printing and will last much longer.

Josh Lehrer, a Leica Specialist over at Dale Photo & Digital put together an informative set of videos detailing the physical and menu features of the Leica M9 on the Red Dot Forum. Check them out below!

Last year, we posted our Leica S2 Instructional Video series on YouTube and they were a big hit. We received a lot of requests for more videos, and we are pleased to announce that we have completed our next video series, detailing both the physical operation and the menu system of the Leica M9.

Learn all about the Leica M9′s physical features and functions:

How to operate the Leica M9′s menu system:

See more cool Leica related information on the Red Dot Forum!