Northwest Tatau Festival | Leica M6 | Kodak Portra 800

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I recently got a chance to attend the annual Northwest Tatau Festival. Name aside, this event is essentially a tattoo convention. If I remember correctly, this would be the third year in a row that I went to this event. Previously, it was held at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center but was moved to one of the event spaces at the Puyallup fair grounds.

This particular visit was different for me because I decided to shoot some film. I brought along my Leica M6, 2 lenses (7artisans 35mm f/2 & Zeiss Planar 50mm f/2) and a roll of Kodak Portra 800. 

I had a good time photographing the various artists and watching the ending ceremony. 

If you're interested in buying any of the gear mentioned, check out the links below. If you use them, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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Leica M6 https://amzn.to/2MdItB7
Zeiss  Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM http://amzn.to/2H2ru2I
7artisans 35mm f/2 Leica M Mount https://amzn.to/2tNc10Q
Kodak Portra 800 https://amzn.to/2tVM5A9

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Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM

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When I purchased my 0.85 magnification viewfinder Leica M6, I decided that a 50mm lens would be the best fit for it, so I picked up this Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM lens.

Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f2 ZM | Unboxing & Overview.jpg

Looking at the packaging this is a very typical Zeiss M mount lens box. White with black and blue accents. I ordered this lens from Japan and it seems like Zeiss has included a sticker stating that this lens is exclusive for the Japanese market. This of course isn’t so because this lens is available in many other parts of the world. I heard from other owners of this lens that their boxes have a similar sticker but with the name of their country. This just seems like Zeiss is trying to appeal to whichever country they are selling this lens to.

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As you can see, this lens is rather small. It weighs only 8.1 ounces/230 grams but you can still feel the heft and quality thanks to the all metal construction. The length of the lens is pretty much equivalent to the size of the rear cap. So if you own a Leica M mount lens and wonder how big this lens is, just look at your rear lens cap and you can get a good idea. 

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On the front of the lens is the model and technology etched into the body. As indicated by the T*, this lens features Zeiss’s proprietary T* multicoating which helps to prevent flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color fidelity.

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This lens utilizes 10 aperture blades and as indicated by the aperture ring, this 50mm has an aperture range from f/2 to f/22 that opens and closes in third stop increments. The aperture ring does click, so for those who are interested in using this lens for video, just be aware of that.

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This is of course a manual focus lens so there is a manual focus ring. Like other Zeiss M mount lenses, this one features a focusing nub. I have the Zeiss 35mm Biogon so am used to this design. It is better than not having anything at all, but I still prefer to have a traditional two pronged focusing tab.

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For those who zone focus, this lens of course also has a depth of field and distance scale right behind the focus ring. As you can see here, this lens has a minimum focus distance of .7 meters or 2.3 feet, which is sort of standard for a rangefinder lens.

And that’s really all there is to this lens. Like other manual lenses, it’s pretty straight forward. Aperture and manual ring, pretty much all that you really need. I obviously own the black version but if you’re interested, there is also a silver version.

One annoying thing about this lens is that it does not come with a lens hood. That is actually sold separately and cost about $84.

As previously mentioned, I recently picked up a Leica M6 with 0.85 magnification and specifically picked this lens for that camera. Prior to picking this lens up, I did some research to see how other M mount users felt about using a 50mm lens with a 0.85 viewfinder and there seems to be a lot of argument for it being both a good match and it being not. A lot of it came down to wether or not you wear glasses, which I do. Some people say that it’s hard to see the 50mm frame lines with glasses. I ultimately decided to just go for it because if you think about it, the M3 featured a 0.91 magnification viewfinder and was designed with a 50mm in mind. If people managed to use a 50mm with the M3 viewfinder, then I'm sure that I can manage with the 0.85 viewfinder.

So far, I’m pretty happy with this purchase but of course image quality means more than anything with a lens. I'll just have to get more time in with it before I can really make a review of this lens.

If you're considering on buying any of these products, please support my work by using the links below.

Zeiss  Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM
http://amzn.to/2H2ru2I

Leica M6
http://amzn.to/2H02ARk

Black Paint Leica M6 TTL 0.85 Dragon 2000

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I just got my dream camera and today, I'd like to share with you brand new black paint Leica M6 TTL Dragon 2000 millennium edition. 

This camera was originally made for the millennium year of 2000 and this year happens to coincide with the year of the dragon when considering the Chinese calendar. Once you know that, it’s pretty obvious how this camera got it’s name and concept.

There were 500 made in total and as you’ve probably seen, my particular camera is number 123. One thing to remember when buying cameras that are numbered is that some are more valuable than others simply because of the number. Number 1 will likely be the most valuable no matter the edition and another standout will be the last camera of a particular run so in this case, number 500 would be desirable. Then you have interesting numbers like my Dragon 2000. Again, mine is number 123. The sellers felt the need to mark the price on this addition up by $200 simply because the numbers are in order. My seller also had 299 and 377 but those are pretty much just random numbers to me so I had to get 123. I didn’t pay the upcharge though. 

Since this is a special edition, there are a few things that set this camera apart from other Leica M6s or M6 TTLs.

First, this camera features some design cues that are more similar to the M3. This includes the solid metal one piece film advance lever versus the two-piece design of a tradition M6 and the flat twist style film rewind versus the angle film rewind crank. Another little thing that would be appealing to Leica enthusiast is the reintroduction of the Leica script logo on the top plate.

One complaint that many diehard Leica users have about the original M6 is that it was made from zinc instead of brass like previous cameras. Many consider the zinc to be a cheaper alternative. This is another difference with the Dragon 2000 M6 as both the top and bottom plate are made from brass. The addition of brass has also enabled Leica to produce a camera with a black paint finish. 

For those who are not very familiar with the M6, they traditionally come in either silver chrome or black chrome. Again, the Dragon 2000 features a black paint finish. The chrome finishes are much more durable than black paint. They do not wear off as easily and hold up for much longer. So what is the appeal of a black paint camera?

When I said that this was a dream camera of mine, I did not necessarily mean this exact model, but just a black paint Leica M6. The M6 is my favorite Leica M camera and black paint is my personal favorite finish from Leica, so a black paint Leica M6 has always been a dream camera of mine. 

The way I see it, there are really only two reasons to buy a black paint camera. One is for collector purposes because they tend to hold their value and sell for much more than a chrome counterpart. I did not buy this camera for that purpose because I tend to use this camera. I want a black paint camera so that I can wear the paint off myself and this is the other reason to buy a black paint camera. It allows you to use the camera and have it patina in a way that no other camera will. As you use a black paint camera, you create something truly unique to you and that is what I love about black paint Leicas. Some people may not like the patina brassing look, but I personally love it.

 

If you are also interested in a black paint M6, cameras made in the year 2000 is where you will want to first look at because I can think of 5 different black paint M6 made for this year alone. You have the Leica M6 Millennium edition, the Millennium NSH, the LHSA, the Oresundsbron and of course the Dragon 2000. These various models will feature minor differences but all will have the brass top/bottom plate and of course the black paint finish. 

You may be wondering why I chose the Dragon 2000 over the other models. Well, I knew that I wanted an M6 with M3 controls so the LHSA and Oresunbrun were out of the question even though they were cheaper. The Millennium and Millennium NSH are the same except the regular Millennium had 2000 made while there were only 400 of the Millennium NSH so as you can imagine, the NSH will cost quite a bit more. This was actually the model that I wanted not only because it is the rarest and most sought after, but because the millennium models had more black paint parts. If you are observant, you’d notice that the strap lugs on the Dragon 2000 are silver. The Millennium editions actually have these black painted. Whether or not this is worth costing another $1500 is up to the buyer. For me as someone who intends to wear the paint off anyways, I didn’t think it was worth it even though the impulsive buyer in me was screaming for the NSH Millennium edition. Apart from that and of course the Dragon 2000 branding, the two models are pretty much identical. If you don’t mind the differences and don’t intend to buy these cameras for a collection or resale, the Dragon 2000 is definitely the better deal. 

Another important thing to consider between these different black paint models is the viewfinder magnification. All 500 Dragon 2000 cameras featured a 0.85 magnification viewfinder and this is pretty standard across the board on all of these black paint M6s. They all offer a 0.85 magnification viewfinder except for the Millennium and LHSA models which also feature a 0.72 option. This is of course up to personal preference. Both my M6 and M7 have a 0.72 viewfinder so I don’t mind trying something different at all. 

In conclusion, if you are interested in a black paint M6, there are a few to choose from. I’m happy to have gotten mine and plan to use this thing to the ground. I’ve never had a black paint Leica before so it will be fun to see how long it will take to actually wear this paint off. 

If you guys are interested in picking up a black paint M6 for yourself, I’ll include some links in the below to help lead you in the right direction. 

If you're considering on buying any of these products, please support my work by using the links below.

No More Bloody Shins While Deadlifting | Slingshot Shin Savers by Mark Bell

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I have a little confession to make, I deadlift with bad form. This can be attributed to various things but what I’d like to point out is the fact that I rarely keep the bar close to my shins on the initial pull and drop. I used to be very good about this but if you do keep the bar close to your shins, you’d know that your shins get torn up quite a bit. 

I’ve tried to combat this by wearing higher socks and thicker sweats but it never worked out and what resulted is me leaving a gap between myself and the bar. 

Well, I recently discovered the Shin Savers by Mark Bell.

The Shin Savers are made from a neoprene-like material that’s under 5mms thick. They are 12.75 inches in length and are available from size Small to 4XL.

 

One thing to note on sizing, at the largest point around my calf, I measure about 15 inches around. This means that I’m sort of in between sizes small and medium. I went with a medium because to me, the Shin Savers were not designed to give you a super compressed fit or at least I didn’t buy them for any compression benefits. I’m using them to purely protect my shins. So in my mind, I just need something that holds in place. If you are between sizes, from my experience, sizing up was not a problem. I actually feel the compression around my calf so the medium really isn’t all that big on me.

These Shin Savers are specifically designed to save your shins from getting ripped up, but they do have the added benefit of keeping your calves warm and providing extra protection anywhere else needed. 

One thing that I would complain about with the Shin Savers is that it kind of sucks trying to get them on and off. Getting it on is okay but I always end up struggling getting them off. I have to straighten my foot as much as I can and then try to stretch the Shin Savers over everything. This isn’t the easiest thing because the material itself doesn’t stretch too much and this is really not something that I want to deal with after working out all night. The manufacturers can fix this by switching over to a design using either velcro or a zipper because after all, you only need these things to stay in place. You don’t have to worry about whether or not the velcro or zipper will burst open because your calf size doesn’t change too much when flexed. 

I’ve also only had these for a short amount of time so can’t attest to the durability but I personally don’t think they’ll last too long. Not because these are poorly made, but because they will be constantly rubbing against the knurling of a bar so just by nature, they will take some damage. But who knows, I could be wrong and they could last a long time. We’ll just have to see.

Overall, I’m enjoying this purchase and think that they will be really beneficial in the long run. They protect my shins and that’s all that I care about. 

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Slingshot Shin Savers by Mark Bell
http://amzn.to/2EYxw2G
https://goo.gl/3v6ip7

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Winecountry Camera Filter Holder & Blackstone ND Filters

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When I sold the majority of my Nikon gear, I sold my filter system along with it and I have to admit, I’ve been missing being able to do really long exposures. That’s why I recently purchased this Winecountry Camera filter system.

At the heart of the Winecountry Camera filter system is the filter holder itself. This was the main reason for me choosing this system over the others in the market.

The system consists of three main components, the lens adapter ring, the filter holder what Wine Country Camera calls a filter vault.

The filter vaults are used to house square filters. The vaults are made from a high density glass epoxy material that’s approximately half the weight of aluminum but more capable of abrasion resistance, friction, impact, corrosion and material fatigue. These vaults help to provide protection for the filters and help prevent filter breakage. There are currently two vault sizes which accommodate 100x100mm square filters and 100x150mm rectangle filters.

Wine Country Camera also currently produce their own line of solid ND filters known as the Blackstone ND filters. The filters currently come in 3 densities, 3, 6, and 10 stop reductions. These ND filters are advertised to have color cast so slight that it is indistinguishable from having no filters at all. These filters were made from the highest quality optical glass and developed to be used with some of the highest resolution camera systems on the market to ensure that there is no loss in resolution.

The filter holder includes a dedicated recess built in to create a light-tight environment for the ND filters. Having the vault around the filters on all sides also helps to eliminate internal reflections that are caused by light entering from the edges of the filter. This ensures that you get the best possible results when using a filter.

This filter system utilizes a removable internal polarizer. The polarizer is mounted inside the body of the holder instead of on the outside like many other filter systems on the market. This eliminates possible reflections and vignetting that occurs when mounting the polarizer further away from the lens. The polarizer rotation is adjusted via the wood knob located on the back of the filter holder and allows for easy adjustment even when looking through the viewfinder. 

The filter holder allows you to hold three filters along with the aforementioned circular polarizer. The first slot closest to the camera is intended for use with a solid ND filter and the two other slots are for ND grads. I’m not currently using ND grads with this system so am using the outer slots more for stacking solid NDs when necessary. The holder features push buttons which allow you to adjust the filter vaults and make lining up ND grads much easier. Each filter stage is independently adjustable and there is a safety catch so that the filter doesn’t accidentally fall through and hit the ground.

The things mentioned earlier and all the attention to detail really added to the value of the Wine Country Camera filter system for me. Things like the ability to add and remove the filter system without disturbing framing, integrating various wood parts so users having an easier time handling the system in cold climates and manufacturing the parts in a way that increases the overall results. These wood handles were even carved away to reduce possible vignetting. 

This system is also very lightweight. A complete holder system with two vaults, polarizer and adapter ring weighs only 15 ounces so less than a pound.

I think that overall, this is a great filter system and really stands out from the crowd. The filter holder was a forethought and not just a means to hold filters that a manufacturer makes, like it seems to be for many other filter holder manufacturers. I don’t dread using this system and that’s where the value really comes in. I don’t mind bringing this system along on trips and actually look forward to using it. If you’re looking for a new filter holder or an entire filter system, I would highly recommend checking out what Wine Country Camera is offering.

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Wine Country Camera Filter System
http://amzn.to/2r0w65D
Wine Country Camera Blackstone ND Filters
http://amzn.to/2Dry2Xq
Wine Country Camera Filter Vaults
http://amzn.to/2CUn9fG

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