Archive for October, 2002

10/30/02

Published on October 30, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

Woohoo!!! This will be the last entry about my search for equipment for a long time. I am completely happy right now. I have finally finished this equipment change business, and I am 100% satisfied with the results. But first, a story…

So, yesterday after the funds finally came through in the bank transfer, I called the guy that had offered me the M6 classic and 50mm Summilux and went to meet him, cash in hand. I was feeling good because after buying the camera I would just go order the 35 and 21 from Stephen Gandy and be done with the matter. So I met the guy at a Starbucks and he showed me the camera and I was immediately disappointed. He had said the camera had been used with only 5 rolls of film. Unless the guy carried it around in his backpack for a few years and held it in his hands and looked through it and focused it all the time, without ever really pressing the shutter, he lied about the 5 rolls thing. But the price wasn’t that bad, so I went against my better judgement and just said, “Looks good, here’s the money.” So, of course he counted it and I was on my way. Then after driving a bit I pulled over to have a closer look at my very expensive new camera, and found that things were a bit worse than the cosmetic condition alone. The rangefinder patch had a bigh crack in it, the aperture blades had oil on them, there were dings all over the top plate, etc… I was pissed. So I actually called the guy and asked for a refund, and to my surprise, he agreed. So he wasn’t so bad after all. But that left me feeling very frustrated. I had already missed out on Grant’s camera because of slow money, then this guy’s camera sucked, now what?

Well, today I was looking at Leica stuff, and was just about to bid on an auction for a “mint” M6, when I found KB Camera. They had an M6 classic that was listed with a great price and was described as “like new” condition. I was quite skeptical, but luckily I found that they were only about an hour and a half away, so I drove on down there, and the camera was even better than I had imagined, and the prices for the lenses I wanted were perfect, and the guys there, Richard and Steve were really cool, and I walked out with everything I wanted and a huge sigh of relief. I would and will recommend these guys to everyone I know. Richard is very knowledgeable and they are actually authorized Leica dealers, along with pretty much every other camera brand. I could go on and on about how happy I am with their sevice and products, but I won’t, except to say that thanks to them I am finally happy with my equipment, and now I can finally start focusing on photography. I now have an M6 classic 0.72, a Leica Summicron 50mm f/2, a Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 and a Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f/4. The End.

10/29/02

Published on October 29, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

So it took too long for me to get the money to buy Grant’s M6. Oh well. I just read Dave Beckerman’s journal and it looks like he bought it from Grant instead, and if Grant had only told me that Dave wanted it, I would have told him to forget about me and send it somewhere it would get some good use!

So now I actually have the money, but I don’t know what to buy and who to buy from. So I’ll just have to wait until I see a good deal come along. I ended up with more than I thought I’d have and now I’m very tempted to get an M7, but at $800 more than an M6 classic (both on eBay) I’ll have to give up the camcorder and possibly a lens. I really don’t want to have to do that. There is a guy selling an M6 for a bit more than I want to pay for it, but it’s supposed to be in like new condition, which is always a plus. Who knows? I just really wish I could be done with this crap. I hate obsessing over equipment, but I hate regretting bad decisions even more, so I really want to do this right, because I don’t want to be trading my M6 (or M7) for anything, at least not any time soon.

10/27/02

Published on October 27, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

So I’m sitting here in front of Aldo’s in Irvine waiting for Brian (I’m early) and I am an idiot because I left my cell at home. Oh well. So I was sitting here looking around (oh, and Also’s is closed on Sundays so that sucks) and I realized that Irvine is very boring looking. Then I realized most of Orange County is very boring looking. I love Orange County, but I just think it looks boring, and I realize why. It’s mostly too perfect. Most great photographs are of imperfections, and that’s what makes them interesting. The exceptions would of course be product photography and hot women. They are best portrayed as perfect. I don’t think I’d much care to have a nice close look at Milla Jovovich’s pimples. So I’m moving to New York or Boston and they are much older places than Orange County, and there will be more imperfections, and somehow that is more beautiful. I like photos of old run down buildings and farms or broken down rusted cars that have been overgrown by vines sitting in someone’s backyard. I don’t much care for pictures of new faarms or houses or cars just sitting there looking shiny (actually I dont think new houses and farms are probably that shiny…). And where am I going with all this? I don’t remember, because I’m hungry and Also’s is closed.

10/24/02

Published on October 24, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

It’s actually just past midnight… but technically it is already the 24th. This past night I watched the videos I had shot on mini-DV while I had the Canon GL1, and it reaffirmed my belief that a camcorder will be necessary on this trip. There was video of Kido and Sol when they were still puppies, and pictures alone would not be able to convey what the little video clips could. I can’t state enough how much more significant photos are to me, but I still see a place for video in parts of my life, and so I need a new video camera.

I also spent a little time on Lan’s computer editing the video clips to burn onto a VCD (VideoCD) which can be played on most DVD players. This gave me a little idea for the presentation of the photographs and video that I will be shooting during my trip across the US. I was already planning on doing a nice little photo essay on the trip, but now I’ve decided to also do a more personal VCD for friends and family which will mix my video clips and photos into a short movie that can be watched on TV. This will not be a substitute for viewing the photographs live, of course, but will be a great way to send something back to the people in California to see. So now I need to get a camcorder. I don’t want to spend too much money on it because I need the money of rmy Leica gear and I will not use video even 1/100th the amount that I will shoot stills, but I don’t want junk that I won’t use either.

I think I’ve pretty much narrowed my choices down to 2 camcorders, the Canon ZR20 and the ZR40. They are cheap ($350 for the ZR20 and $450 for the ZR40 on eBay) and very small, and have all the features I need, which are very few. All I want is a cheap, small, mini-DV camcorder with Firewire interface and black and white mode. I was looking for good low light capability too, but that was lower on my priority list and ended up losing out to the other features, and mostly to the price of the Canons. Sony has the best low light performance with their infrared technology, but they have no cheap small camcorders. Oh well, sorry Sony.

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So I got an offer recently for an M6 in absolutely mint condition, with a 50mm summilux for only $1850. I can also go pick it up in LA so there will be no shipping charge. It’s very tempting. VERY tempting. However, there are good reasons for me to turn it down. First, Grant Heffernan, the guy selling me his M6 (he’s holding it until I have the $$) has been very accomodating, waiting for the $$, so it would not be cool to back out and go with someone else’s camera. The kicker is that the other one is supposed to be like new, where Grant’s has a little paint damage and has been used quite a bit. The 50mm Summilux is quite tempting, but I think I’ll go with the Voigtlander lenses first so I can figure out which focal lengths I like the best, then when I can afford it I will get the Leica glass that I need, along with probably another M6, hopefully I can find one in new condition.

So, the current plan is an M6 classic, 50mm f/1.5 Nokton, 35mm f/1.7 Ultron, 21mm f/4 Color-Skopar, Canon Powershot S100 digital camera and Canon ZR20 camcorder. This all with the Minilux will be a complete setup for me and my trip. I had originally planned on getting a Bessa R2 as a backup body to the M6, and more importantly as a way to walk around with 2 focal lengths easily accessible, but with the purchases of the camcorder and digital camera, that’s just no longer possible. Oh well. Maybe later when I have a job.

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Good news!!! Someone actually chose the Buy It Now option on my G2 system (not to say it’s not worth what I got for it, just that I didn’t think anyone would want it with the problem the 90mm has), which means I will be getting more for it than I planned, which means I will probably be getting the Bessa R2 body after all. I want the R2 as a backup for many reasons, though I’m still not 100% decided on it. First, I want it as a backup body, in case anything happens to my M6 (I’m sure the chances of this are slim, but they exist). I also want it to bring to places I might not want to bring the M6. — OK, I was sitting here after typing that line trying to think of places I’d rather bring the R2 because I’d be afraid to bring the M6, and I can’t really think of one. I was thinking maybe parties. But 1, I don’t go to parties, and 2, the M6’s strap would never leave my neck. I guess this isn’t a valid reason — I also want to have a second body to hold another lens to make it quicker for me to switch focal lengths on the street. I could have the 35 and 21, or the 50 and 21. But then again, would I really want to carry 3 cameras around with me? I always have the Bessa L with 15mm Heliar in my bag. But maybe I shouldn’t. How often do I use 15mm anyway? I think walking around the street I could have the M6 with the 21mm around my neck and the R2 with the 50 or 35 in my Domke F803 in case I need a longer lens. Damnit!

I really hate obsessing over equipment. Every time I go and sell equipment and buy different stuff I go through the same damn thing. I have told myself this will be the last sell of and new purhase though, because where else am I gonna go in 35mm from Leica? And I know that when I do start using medium format I still won’t abandon 35mm. So I will only add to my Leica system, not trade it for something else. That I can live with. I just can’t wait until this switch is done. I really won’t know exactly what equipment I’m going to have until it’s all in my hands. When I started this out, I was planning on getting an M6 TTL with a Noctilux and 21mm Elmarit. I don’t even know where I thought I’d get the money for that kit. Anyway, I think I should at least stop writing about this crap in the journal. I don’t need to record the pain I went through in choosing my equipment, I will know the final result when it happens.

10/23/02

Published on October 23, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

I had thought that I didn’t want to write in the journal during this time of my life, because I down and unhappy, etc… but now I realize how ridiculous that is. This journal is here to document my life and photography, and although it is supposed to be focused on photography, it certainly isn’t restricted to it, and most definitely shouldn’t be. I had thought that I would keep this journal on topic, always about photography, for two reasons… first, so I could go back and read the things I had done and learned and how it all happened. Second, I wanted to stay on topic for the rest of the people who would read my journal, if any. Now I realize that this journal is for me first, and if not a single person besides myself ever read it, that would not matter to me in the slightest. Also, if people do ever stumble across it and decide to read a bit, I want it to be honest and complete. I shouldn’t censor my thoughts and ideas because they don’t conform to what I had in mind for the rules of my “photography journal”. So I now declare that I will write in this journal anything I damn well feel, and it will truly document my life, not just my photo expeditions. I don’t think, however, that I will turn this into a blog type journal, with just rantings and ravings about how my roommate pissed me off by drinking the last of the milk or crap like that. Then again, who knows?

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So, as an update to what is going on… I have a bunch of stuff up on eBay, including my Contax G2 system and my Contax Aria system. When they sell and I get paid Grant Heffernan will be selling me his M6. Then I’m going to just go and buy a few Voigtlander lenses to tide me over until I can afford some Leica glass. I’m planning on getting the 50/1.5, 35/1.7 and 21/4. I really wish the 21mm was a 2.8, but oh well, what can I expect for $350? I’m also going to probably purchase a camcorder. I think I had a little rant about camcorders and their importance earlier this month, so I won’t go into it again. I’m probable also going to get a Canon PowerShot S100. I used to have one, and I sold it to Lan, who gave it to Bonny, and now I’m borrowing it to take pics for eBay. I had planned on getting an Olympus Stylus Epic for my snapshots, but now I think I’ll just stick with digital for my junk snaps, and my Minilux for everything else that my M6 will not be present to take. I doubt I will want to take the M6 everywhere. Like hiking, biking, etc… The Minilux or the S100 will be good for that stuff.

I have decided that I want to try and start buying and selling cameras (well, I’ve done this for the past few years, but now I actually want to make money instead of losing it). It’ll have to start off very small, just finding old cameras like Canonets and stuff at garage sales then selling them on eBay. I do have bigger goals, though, and would like to actually be a camera dealer when I can afford to put out a bunch of cash to get started. Maybe I’ll start learning camera repair, too. I think I would be happy with a little camera store and repair shop. I’d probably sell mostly older cameras, because how can you compete with B&H for the new stuff?

Um… what did I start out talking about? Oh yeah, where I’m at with the whole moving situation. Well, things are going slowly, but they are going. I’m pretty sure I’ll get out of here by Thanksgiving. I am going to work on selling my car this weekend, and hopefully I can get it sold quick. Also, it would be nice to get enough from its sale to enable me to buy a decent Cherokee that will not only make the trip to NY, but will perform well when it’s there. It’ll have to be able to start in the morning when it’s below zero out.

Speaking of below zero weather… mama pajama! I hadn’t really thought about the cold yet. Well, I’d thought of it, but just superficially. I haven’t really thought about it. Damn it’s gonna be cold. I’m going to need some really warm sweaters and jackets and boots and longjohns and earmuffs and… a whole bunch of stuff. I think that living in So. California for so long has really made me take for granted the 3 days of rain a year and the Christmas days spent playing volleyball at the beach. It’s definitely going to be strange to actually have to look at a weather report and fear that it may not be sunny. Actually, today is an overcast day in LA, but I can still trot around in shorts and T-shirts. In fact, that’s what I’m wearing right now.

10/20/02

Published on October 20, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

Well, my life has turned upside down now, and I’m moving to New York, or maybe Massachusetts, if I like Boston. Either way I’m leaving the west coast for the east coast. I’m also leaving all my Contax gear for Leica gear. After I have sold most of what I own and traded my G2 for an M6, I will begin my drive across the US. I think that’s a pretty good way of breaking in the Leica…

Well, I’m not really in the mood for writing, and may not be until I am settled in NY (then again, who knows?), so for now, updates on this site will be suspended… probably. Unfortunately all my planned Hollywood and Los Angeles photo projects and essays are canceled until I move back, if ever. See you soon…

10/8/02

Published on October 8, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

Well, today I saw a guy looking for a G2 kit on the contaxg.com mailing list, and I offered him my kit. If he buys it then I will buy an M6, if he doesn’t, then I will stay with the G2 for now. It would be much easier to sell the entire kit all at once than to sell it as a smaller kit and a few seperate items on eBay, although I’d get a bit more doing everything seperately. I will also sell my Aria and lenses if he buys this, and put some of that money into another lens for the Leica, and some toward a camcorder.

Speaking of camcorders, I have just spent two entire days looking into them. I’m trying to figure out the perfect comromise between price, size and features. I don’t think it exists right now. Basically, what I want is a mini DV upright-style camcorder with a 1.8 lens, night shot mode down to 0 lux that works in B&W (not green), and preferrable has manual aperture selection capabilities. Things like image stabilization and color viewfinders and big zoom ranges and all that other junk don’t matter to me. I do like the idea of having 1 megapixel still image capabilities, because that would solve my snapshot camera dilemma. I would like to pay no more than $700 for this camcorder on eBay in mint condition. The closest I have found is the Sony PC100. It’s the predecessor to the PC110 which came before the PC120 and I think now they are coming out with the PC130. It’s an oldie but seems to be a goodie. The only thing I don’t like about it is its lack of aperture control. That was the great thing about the GL1, it had all the exposure modes that my film cameras have. Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual and Program… and even Auto. Oh well, the GL1 was not palm sized, and that’s why it never saw any use. I guess you can’t have it all, at least not affordably, not yet.

10/7/02

Published on October 7, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

Last night I took Lan annd Bonnie to see The Big Funk. It was horrible. Opening night everything worked. The acting was good, the scenes flowed, the audience was great and the experience was very enjoyable. Last night was just bad. The actors were screwing up their lines a lot, and they weren’t really staying in character… they kept cracking up. Also the audience was a bunch of idiots… there were these giggling girls on the right side, and these two cackling women on the left. No one was reacting the way I would expect an audience to act, and I think that was hurting the actors’ performances even more. Oh well, at least I got to see it when it was good, unfortunately Lan and Bonnie did not, and they were very disappointed.

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Lan just bought a video camera. It’s the Sony TRV-140. Digital 8mm format, 20x optical zoom, f/1.8 lens, night shot mode, etc… it’s a pretty decent camera for the $500 he paid for it. Seeing it really made me miss my Canon GL1, which I sold in June for rent money. The truth is, that camera did not suit me, but it was hard to let it go regardless of that fact. I didn’t really ever use it because it was so big and bulky. The quality was amazing but the size just made it impractical for daily, or even just regular use. If I still had it now I would probably sell it and use the money towards a Sony IP5. Now that is something that could be of use to me.

I love still images… I love shooting photographs and I love viewing photographs. There are, however, some things that call for video. I am talking about recording memories here, not creating art. Snapshots are wonderful, but supplementing them with well done video snippets is a great way of storing memories. I have a bad memory, and photographs can bring back many past experiences for me. There are times, however, when I may forget a person’s laugh or even the sound of their voice. A picture of your friend saying one of the dumbest things you have ever heard just won’t compare to a video recording of it. So it makes me sad that I don’t have a video camera anymore. The bad thing is that I made more videos with my junky old Sony Hi-8 Handycam than with the GL1. I think I may need to get a video camera soon, something small and portable enough that I will be willing to take it anywhere. We’ll see.

10/5/02

Published on October 5, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

I took a look at the photos I had in the “new photos” section, and realized that they suck. I don’t mean that they weren’t that good, or that they could be better, but that they really sucked. There was only one that I liked, so I took down all but that one. The bad thing is that when I posted them I knew they were no good, but they were all I had, because Lucky won’t let me go out and shoot new stuff, but I didn’t want to have no photos at all up there. Now I realize that no photos is better than sucky photos, so I got rid of them. One big benefit to this experience though was that I realize how great the new photos section is for weeding out the no-so-good images. In the future, when I have better stuff to post, leaving photos in the new section will give me time to get over the new and interesting factor and really see these images for what they are… and if they are nothing then I can take them down and never have to worry about them again… but if they turn out to be something then I can put them in one of the galleries.

10/4/02

Published on October 4, 2002 in Text. 0 Comments .

Last night I went to a play. It was, in my opinion, really good, and it also was not at all what I expected. Granted, I haven’t seen too many plays, and I didn’t think I’d like this one in the beginning, but as it went on it got much better. One of the great things about it is that it was free. Apparently the people involved think that art should be free. I think that’s a great concept, but I can’t fully support the notion because then how would I sell my photography in the future? I do support the idea if I benefit though, as I did last night. I would have gladly paid to see it though, it was really well done.

In order to go to the play last night, I had asked that Anthony watch Lucky at his place for the night. He was really cool about it and didn’t seem to mind at all. When I picked her up this morning, though, it was a different story. Apparently she was not too happy with being in a strange new place and howled and whined all night long. He didn’t really get much sleep. I feel pretty bad, but I must say it was really great going out last night. I had a great time, which is something I haven’t been able to say for a long time.

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