Coming up, I share the latest YouTube videos, blog posts, guest articles, Patreon and now Substack. January started off in Spain and later in the month I was back in the Czech Republic. (I’m currently teaching in Fuerteventura so writing this before every wakes up!)
In December I decided to check out Substack – a platform I knew nothing about but had heard great things. After immersing myself in the Substack community I now post there daily and found inspiration to shoot colour film again. (More on that below).
If you’re sick of Meta ads on Instagram and Facebook, join Substack. It’s so refreshing to see real photography and stories without all the junk filler you have to get past on Instagram.
I tend to go all-in when I do things and after making photobooks in December I was eager to make more “bigger better” ones just a few weeks later. I’ve now come to my senses and realised if I wait til later in the year I’ll have time to create more images to share in the next series of books.
To hear about future photobooks just add your email to the questionnaire below
Share your Leica images
Are you a passionate Leica user looking to reach broader audience with your photos? I invite you to write a guest post for the Leica Club(Super easy – just answer a series of Leica related questions).
Share your experience with Leica: Get in touch and I’ll send you the template.
For January I arranged another photoshoot trip in the Czech Republic. First I met model friend Jolana for 2 days, then Tobi arrived from Germany and we went onto the city of Pilsen to meet more models for the weekend.
I’ve been so busy I’ve not really had time to go through the photos yet but here are a few I posted on Instagram of Jolana. I’ll do a full Substack trip write up when I’ve caught up with BTS images etc.
On the Monday we drove back to Prague and visited our usual places – FotoSkoda and the Leica Gallery. Tobi picked up a Contax rangefinder camera and I got a vintage Canon 100mm f3.5 LTM lens. (Look out for a video on that soon).
Local photographer Ondrej Trojan saw my Prague Instagram story so reached out to meet us for a quick coffee. Great guy, see his Leica Club guest post to follow. (*Always feel free to reach out – If I have time I can meet you).
Always wanted to try model photography? Check out my eBooks
Remote working in Spain (III)
Following my successful trips to Spain in December I booked again for January. The goal was simple – remote working to escape the UK winter weather + a few photos.
Sadly my luck finally ran out and it rained most of the week. I made the most of the few sunny spells and hunkered down on the wet days working (in my hoodie and the heating on!) See my write-up “How to travel the world taking photos” for more details.. or my Travel Guide eBook).
Again, i’ll do a full Substack Spain trip write up when I’ve caught up!
Leica workshops
My Leica and model photography workshops are usually in London but I teach in Europe and occasionally the US too. Hello from a multi-day workshop in Fuerteventura and I’ll be in Dallas for a week in April teaching 1:1.
Zoom calls let me assist photographers around the world remotely. Whether it’s buying new cameras/ lenses, portrait lighting techniques or need help mastering your new Leica camera, I can help. See Zoom testimonials.
Students ask for mentorship and portfolio reviews so I offer these too. Check my availability and feel free to get in touch!
Complete the survey to register your interest in a MrLeica workshop near you.
Dubai Workshop, 2022
Future travel plans
Here are my provisional travel plans. Maybe I’m coming to a city near you or somewhere you’d like to visit. Feel free to contact me to organise a workshop.
FEBRUARY 2026
Fuerteventura – Private workshop (Student invited me to join him for 3 full days)
Since joiningSubstack I’ve been inspired to give colour film another chance. (If you’re a regular viewer you’ll know I’m a black and white guy). Back in 2016 I bought some Kodak Vision3 400ft roll short ends (50D, 200T and 500T). What I didn’t shoot back then has been sitting in my fridge for TEN years. It’s time to get it spooled. (I’ve already shot 8 rolls of colour on my recent trips and more to come).
For home developing, I ordered the Cinestill Cs41 Simple Color powder mix for 1L tanks. Below is a sample from when I shot colour film in the past. (See the Substack article for more info/ past images).
February is going to be really busy as I’d already booked my trips then a student invited me to fly out to him in Fuerteventura. I squeezed it in between my existing trips (and Leica workshop bookings) but it won’t leave much time for making videos/ writing blog posts/ Substack posts/ anything else. All good, I prefer to be busy!
YouTube video – spotlight
The first YouTube video of February was delayed thanks to bad wifi and multiple failed upload attempts. Finally posted, I review the new compact 28mm lens for Leica M mount from a company called Artralab. See the Artralab 28mm f2.8 lens video.. and if you’re tempted to get one you can use my discount link to save some money.
P.S. My Light Lens Lab 35mm f1.4 AA lens finally arrived so I’ve been testing that behind the scenes (on digital and film + on a 60MP sensor). Loving it so far. Video will be out later this month.
(NEW) Thypoch Ksana 21mm f3.5 (M) – Last month Thypoch announced their planned Thypoch Eureka 28mm f2.8 lens for Leica M mount (available for pre-order and expected in late spring). Now they’ve just released a compact wide angle lens for Leica M mount – the Thypoch Ksana 21mm f3.5. (This will be a direct competitor to the existing Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f3.5 and older f4 version). Long term hands-on review is out in the coming days as I’ve been enjoying the pre-release version since last summer – Subscribe on YouTube to see the video.
(NEW) Artralab 28mm f2.8 (M) – A brand you may not of heard of is Artralab. They too just released a compact 28mm f2.8 Leica M mount lens with vintage styling. My copy is on the way to test so look out for the video soon. (This will compete with the newly announced Thypoch Eureka 28mm f2.8 plus existing lenses like the Voigtlander Skopar 28mm f2.8, Leica Elmarit 28mm f2.8 and Brightin Star 28mm f2.8).
(NEW) 7Artisans 75mm f1.25 II (M) – Some of you might remember the original 7Artisans 75mm f1.25 lens. It wasn’t the smallest or lightest lens I’ve ever used but it was nice for portraits. Now we have the new version II lens which is smaller, lighter, more refined AND with lume on the lens so you can see your aperture/ distance in the dark! (I’ve been enjoying this lens for a few months but I’ve delayed the YouTube video until I meet my Patreon friend who owns the version I. Side-by-side test to follow plus compared against the popular Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f1.5.Coming soon!)
(UPDATE) Light Lens Lab35mm f1.4 AA(M) – You may have already seen some reviews popping up on YouTube for the titanium version of the much anticipated Light Lens Lab lens. The aluminium version has been slightly delayed but they say shipping will start by the end of January. Once mine arrives I’ll be sure to make the video! (Will I love it as much as their “1966“.. hope so!)
(UPDATE) Mandler 35mm f2 (KOB Homage) (M) – Many of you asked me about this lens after I made the YouTube video. Mandler have been in touch and their new International store is almost ready to go live. (I’ll share a link in the next newsletter).
(RELATED NEWS) Ricoh GR IV Monochrome – Until now if you wanted a black and white only digital camera then you likely bought a Leica Monochrom (current models are the Leica M11M and Leica Q3M that I’ve reviewed for YouTube). Yes there was the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome a few years ago but now we have the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome. Ricoh cameras compete directly with Leica Q cameras for the street photographers market so this might be bad news for Leica. The GR IV is much more pocketable than a Leica Q3 so it will be interesting to see how well it’s received.
(RELATED NEWS) Insta360 Ace Pro2 (with Leica Lens) – Insta360 collaborated with Leica for their latest action camera release, the Insta360 Ace Pro2. If you love Leica lenses you can now have a Leica lens on your action cam too! Great camera as a YouTuber and for Patreon BTS videos. See the review on YouTube.
Looking to share your photography and passion for Leica? Get in touch to have your work featured on the blog!
Since the last newsletter I’ve received articles from Rex, Dan, Matthew and even the YouTube legend Peter! Read them on LeicaClub.org or via the links below –
As the user experience on Instagram continues to decline I was looking for better alternatives to immerse myself within a photography community. Substack is exactly what I was looking for! Likeminded photographers posting inspiring articles and images (and without all the spamming and ads like on Instagram. Bliss!) Highly recommended. Check out some of the latest articles:
“I photograph through purposeful constraint. If the gear disappears, the work gets better.”
Hey everyone! I’m Matthew Daiter, often based in Zurich or San Francisco, and I’m a camera engineer as my main profession. For an interim as full-time, and now contractually, I’m also a photographer. My work centers around events and usually falls under “culture and conflict”. My work ranges from recording Yerevan mass demonstrations during the Nagoro Karabakh / Artsakh conflict to an Azerbaijani palace wedding; Japan’s national sumo wrestling tournaments to Australia modeling shots; and Sri Lanka + Bangladesh tourism exposes (personal work) to the Milei election night in Buenos Aires. Photography serves as my outlet and a creative product of my engineering work, along with being an alternate lens (no pun intended) into another culture.
Photography grants you access to worlds otherwise unaccessible. That’s what keeps me coming back.
Who is Matthew?
I started photography in 2019 after picking up a Minolta X-700 for 200 euros at a Dutch photography shop. My friend Quentin (IG: @___lancelot) had recommended a X-700 to me a few years prior, and I was already in grad school for optics and camera development. “This could be the artistic and creative outlet I’d been looking for previously”, I thought. An innocent thought flashed through my head: it’s just a plastic camera with some film, how hard could it be?
Oh lord — did time teach me that answer.
That camera was my ticket to events, and so to events I went. Anything from a casual trip to Dover Cliffs, to compensated gigs recording hackathons, and I was there. Photography made me default to being more social: it was, by far, the easiest way to finagle my way into events, talk to people, and share my work with others. I was hooked.
About six months after starting, a hackathon in Boston invited me to photograph the event. Right before the event started, a photographer from a company I had worked at approached me and said “Oh, film? How cute”. That dismissive, disregarding tone pushed me to ensure that with the three rolls of film I had brought to that event, I would outshoot anyone there. My first sense of feeling accomplished as a photographer was winning almost all coverage of the event through my own exclusive photo set, outshooting professionals on multi-thousand dollar setups with a 200 euro camera from the 70s.
My goal, from then on-out, was to prove to myself that anything could be shot well on a reasonable system. My mantra going forward was, firmly: artists learn the limitation of their gear and push that to make the best artwork possible. Consistency through purposeful constraints > anything else.
My journey to Leica?
So my journey to simplifying my setup began! First, I transitioned from a SLR to a rangefinder (Voigtlander Bessa R2A) with a 50mm, a 90mm, and a 28mm. That was my first true “pro-am” setup, and the camera I shot the majority of my work in Azerbaijan and Armenia with. Having a rangefinder on-hand made it easier to focus in the dark, simpler to tuck into the pocket and carry, and a fun lecture to anyone else trying to use my camera to take a photo 😉 . That’s where I learned to first truly zone focus and frame without looking through the camera.
Why Leica?
Sadly, the Voigtlander Bessa R2A electronics died, and I wanted yet another challenge. So, I decided on a purely mechanical system with a light meter, which left me with the Leica system. After yo-yoing an “oh shit” at the price tag and sending $3k over eBay to a guy in Philadelphia, I received a Leica M6 TTL with a loose top-plate. Luckily the Leica store repaired it on-the-spot, and it was good to go.
After a few years of only-film work, I picked up both a Leica SL2-S for digital, video and documentary work. The M6 was my daily driver, and my SL2-S was my event / experimental camera when immediate results were necessary. For modeling shots (with MrLeica!), my SL2-S maintained a tactile feeling, compactness, and visual aids to help use purely mechanical lenses onto my SL2-S. The M6 probably received the most use as a simple, mechanical system.
Since that point, I’ve shot a documentary on Afghan women smuggled into Greece on my Leica SL2-S, the aftermath of October 7th in Amman’s Palestinian community on both cameras, the Milei election on my digital system, an Azeri palace wedding on my M6 TTL. Even on world-trip sabbatical for nine months, just those two cameras and three M-mount lenses got the job done. And, carrying them around doesn’t make you feel like you’re about to go on a safari / film your kid’s soccer game / spy on your neighbours (looking at you, Nikon).
What Do You Photograph and Why?
“Culture and conflict” — anything from cultural events to diaspora documentaries, with the occasional headshot / modeling gig thrown in.
My why’s fairly simple: photography serves as a window into another world. It’s the greatest excuse to make a conversation with someone, take a trip, keep pushing the boundaries of what you knew about another culture, and reflect and elevate how you experienced that setting visually. For the conflict and documentary work, the bonus is that you can make a dent in a cause that matters to you.
Some of the most purposeful work I’ve done in the past few years has been recording stores of Afghan victims in Greece for a doc that never released to the general public. Why? Those victims know their stories have been recorded and are actively being used by NGOs and UN/EU establishments for reforming broken migrant treatment. That alone makes the weeks of visiting migrant camps, attending demonstrations, and conducting interviews to produce this documentary worth it. Those were the same sorts of motivators that drove the work surrounding the Milei election coverage, the Amman October 7th protest coverage, and the Yerevan demonstration coverage during the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, recording the National Sumo Tournament of Japan still stands as a portfolio highlight. With no other profession (that I can think of) can you roll up to an event with a camera (and no plan), show a few photographers your portfolio, and be invited to the front row of such an event. The gratitude photographers show others worldwide is always humbling, and the perspective photography allows you to experience and capture of another culture is unparalleled.
Thoughts
tl;dr: Modern lens marketing has been getting under my skin. Specifically, this obsession on “lens performance” and upselling people to “professional lenses” over making the work with what you have. At the benefit of camera marketers, upselling has somehow eclipsed purposeful lens / camera constraints while making good art.
Purposeful constraints make a great lens what it is. The photography industry has lost its way by eclipsing purposeful lens constraints with technical performance.
(Rant incoming)
There are a few factors to any lens:
1. Compactness / ergonomics. I’d actually say this is emphasized least in a kit lens, and most in high performance lenses (like a Leica). For example: is my lens weatherproofed? If I work on a boat, waterproofing matters far more than an extra f-stop. Autofocus or manual? Tiger paw focus grip? Thread size so I don’t need to buy 4 extra filters anytime I upgrade? Rubber focus ring or metal? My headspace is: if you nail ergonomics and compactness, you gain a mammoth artistic benefit from consistently taking your camera everywhere. This far (far) outshines having an extra f-stop or a bit sharper of a center point. 2. ”Sharpness”, which only brings you so far. But marketers have a convenient way to sell lenses through that metric, and so people hyper-obsess about this. 3. Bokeh quality and falloff. That’s my biggest tell. Bokeh can make or break an image, because it inherently becomes something people internalize and learn to deeply connect with. 4. Element count / aspherical / yada yada. These are important, but less important.
Ken Rockwell has a great article on sharpness that I agree with fully. I went to a MSc in electrical engineering with a specialization in Optics and had open offers from multiple camera companies to work on lenses after graduating, and I mostly agree with what’s said here. As a more visual person: I’d say that the distinguishing factors between entry and pro are contrast, size / weight, and aberrations (spherical, chromatic, etc).
Most kit lenses look kinda clinical and not so sharp. Others make the (bad) exchange of trying to do everything under the sun. Great lenses make it quick and easy to dial in settings (focus point + aperture), ensure poppy colors / bokeh, and then get out of your way. (Said otherwise: every 10x dollars you put in, you’ll usually see a bump in “3D pop” or “hyperrealism”)
For the amateurs swayed by marketing and hype factors, when purchasing a new lens I’d focus mostly on:
Does the lens focus fast and cover the ranges I like to see?
Does it give me sharp photos wide-open that I can use? (<- this is a bar to pass, not a metric to constantly adjust)
Does the lens give me purposeful constraints to lock into?
The Leica Summaron f/5.6 28mm is a pro level lens that weights 180g, is a 28 f/5.6, and sells for $2.5k. It’s incredible at what it does (all manual focus + aperture, super discrete, incredibly sharp, great bokeh + no aberrations). But probably not what everyone (especially a studio photographer) needs. Street photographers loves this lens for its high “performance”. But the MS Optics 28mm f/2 Apoquilia goes for that rate as well! Super swirly bokeh, very different output. Super consistent though, and easy to use. The Petzval bokeh, pancake shape, and compactness are constraints of the lens. In a wedding photographer’s hands, probably bad constraints. In street photographers’ hands, it’s so good.
For F-mount, the Nikon 135mm f/2 DC has incredible defocus control, for unparalleled bokeh. But it doesn’t beat a Zeiss 135 f/2 APO. I still went for a Nikon 135 f/2 DC though, because I don’t want to carry around a manual focus lens that weighs almost a kilogram on my neck. And I can’t even fully see the color that the APO lens corrects for. So who cares? A MTF chart?
If you’re an amateur, though, neither of these should be your first choice. Why? They’re both super heavy, and it’s gonna be a chore getting reps in on either of these. A Nikon 135 f/2.5 AI-S should be your first tele-photo: it’s small, manual, and sharp enough for Nat Geo to have published arguably their most famous photo. So it’s good enough for you too. And they typically go for around $150.
Whatever helps you accomplish what you need to do without getting in your way (and guaranteeing consistency) is your definition of optimal. It’s different for everyone, you kinda need to decide. Sadly, the camera marketing industry has been so wrapped up in “we can sell more cameras if we tell people more megapixels / APO-chromatic / sharpness” that it’s kind of lost its way. But whatever can get you a clean rendering of what you want, in a package that you like, with the visual signature you prefer, is your pro lens.
I used to be a Leica M6 TTL user for a while. I almost never used a battery. I really only purchased the TTL because the shutter dial’s bigger than the M6 reissue, and my fingers are clumsy. My only lenses were the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.2 ASPH and the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-chromatic. Most of my professional work was made on that lens setup. Sharp wide-open? Absolutely not (for the 50). Best in-class bokeh? No. But, compact travel setup that led to incredible images? Yes. Investing more in education (through classes and books) led to more tangible artistic “gains” than any lens swap would have led to, yet amateurs myopically obsess over swapping lenses to cover for poor decision making.
A few years later, I swapped to a Mamiya 6, where each shot costs $4 (price of film) and the body + lenses cost $2500. My shots were…okay, but the pricing made me so conscious that I missed way more than I took. Definitely “sharper” than the Leica, due to it being medium format. But that’s not a constraint I actually care about. I care about “can I put it in my jacket”, “are the electronics gonna die”, and “does it burn a hole in my wallet when I take a photo”. Better lenses / film sharpness (on the Mamiya, head to head with not-$8000 lenses from Leica)? Sure. Suited to my constraints? No.
(The irony was: this photo took $5 to take on this setup, but none of the lens / camera attributes “made” the photo what it was. It’s really about leading lines, rule of thirds, and using tasteful abstraction)
My second photo in this article of the woman gesturing in the augmented reality headset was taken on a lens and camera combo that cost $200 total. Minolta x-700 and a 50 f/1.8 (nicknamed the “plastic fantastic”). Stupidly good. Zero thought required. Outshot pros with $5k worth of equipment multiple times.
The tl;dr of my mini rant is: lenses are like clothes, and the definition of “better vs worse” lenses is really a relationship with your personal preferences / aspirations / use cases. You eventually develop tastes to understand what your metrics of professionalism and quality are.
One of my favorite portrait sessions last month is below, where lens sharpness / bokeh (the typical selling points of a lens) mattered way less than the ergonomics of shooting in low light and making a unique expression that captured my friend’s personality (what actually mattered).
At first, through the YouTube channel! A late-night gear-video spiral landed me at his YouTube. Many (many) videos later, I found that I really enjoyed his style of “gear → output example → back to gear”. It’s simple and cuts through the noise of a lot of superfluous lens characteristics that trip up amateur photographers (looking at you, MTF charts).
A half-year later, I booked a day-long session with Matt in London. To some readers, that might come as a surprise: glamour photography doesn’t have much overlap with event (and especially not conflict or documentary) photography, so why book a glamour guy to help elevate my work?
Turns out, my portrait work had become pretty reliant on environmental lighting, and I realized how inexperienced I was with any artificial lighting source. In turn, my work had suffered to isolate and elevate individual characters while telling a visual story, both through a studio and augmented lighting setting. I needed to grow into more of a portrait photographer.
When we met up in London, what surprised me was how casual and on-brand his personality was to his YouTube presentation. We grabbed some coffee, he (casually) approached and secured the contact info of someone he wanted to TFP with, and we went about our day in the studio.
Matt has this fascination behind gear, and it bleeds through in his videos. But the biggest (and by far the most helpful) takeaway I got from his course was: body language and energy on-set are 80% of the job.
If you put your subject at ease, the photos will come naturally. If you’re tense and shifty on-set, the photos will suffer. Energy is contagious. Gear (ironically, for the guy called MrLeica) just has to pass a certain bar. Beyond that, it’s really about how you work together and communicate with your subject to create the best possible art.
(two examples from our photo session)
(two direct applications of using the principles learned in his class in the wild)
Favorite Leica Camera?
Here’s my rogue choice: the Minolta CLE, the off-spawn of the Leica CL that was co-designed by Leica and Minolta in the 70s.
The reason the Minolta CLE takes the crown for me isn’t that it has auto-exposure, a 40mm rangefinder frameline set (if you haven’t checked out the Minolta 40mm f/2 MC-Rokkor, you absolutely should), or a TTL system and additional features that rendered it the most advanced M-mount electronics and metering system until the late 90s. It’s that it did all of this for way less than any other Leica camera cost.
The Minolta CLE’s philosophy is what won me over. Mechanical, unkillable camera compared to a M6? No. But it was never really meant to be. It was meant to be an advanced, “more than a prototype” camera for the average consumer. A gateway into modernity and Leica glass.
It let so many people enter into the world of Leica that would have never been able to get a M-mount rangefinder camera. Even now, the Minolta CLE lets you enter the ecosystem for around $700 on eBay. Compare that to the Leica M6, coming in new at a hot $6415 dollars(!). The Minolta CLE let more people enjoy and elevate their work through a world-class set of lenses, without having to shell out money for a body that does an identical function on a mechanical body.
Funnily enough, the original Leica CL superseded the Leica M-system at the time in terms of nearly every capability, cannibalizing Leica M-system sales so much that the Leica team ended the manufacturing contract and ripped the product off the walls as soon as possible. Minolta rebranded and sold the CLE as a “Compact Leica Electronic”.
(Also, bonus points for not having a big red dot that screams “steal me”. That might be more of a me-thing though.)
Favorite Lens?
For M-mount? The Voigtlander 28mm series (Ultron, Nokton) probably takes the cake on the best price-to-performance lens system before multi-thousand dollar systems. I tend to ding up my equipment pretty heavily, and the Ultron stuck has survived everything from a bridezilla to a full-scale Middle Eastern riot. Ironically, what killed my 28mm Ultron was dipping it into a bog in Bangladesh on accident, and even then the sea water took a few months to erode the helicoid metal. And even though I couldn’t really twist the lens to focus, it’d still take tack-sharp shots by stopping down.
For a M-mount hipster lens? The MS-Optics 28mm f/2 Apoqualia is pretty incredible. Miyazaki-san doesn’t mess around. It’s compact, it’s got incredible Petzval curvature wide-open, and it snaps fast between “slightly soft” at f/2 to “tack sharp” at f/4. I’ve only had a limited exposure to it, but it’s like what Leica should have done with their Leica Summaron f/5.6 28mm, but with the additional three stops of exposure and background separation in a smaller package.
For innovation, regardless of the mount? The Nikon 135 f/2 DC series is pretty compelling. Having a defocus control to adjust spherical aberration and bokeh dynamically is pretty incredible technology that was sadly discontinued in the 90s.
For future lenses? Panomicron’s 1.5x anamorphic’s what I’m most excited about in 2026.
Favorite Film?
Kodak Tri-X 400 for most of my work. Velvia 50 for landscapes, Provia 100 for color, although I usually lean on Ektachrome when I can’t grab Provia. I’m partially color-blind though, so my hands tends to hover to Tri-X most of the time.
Thanks Matthew for a fantastic write-up. It’s so refreshing to see someone using a Leica film camera as a capable work tool rather than just a fashion accessory (in the modern era). (Fun fact – When I first spoke to Matthew he only shot film for his travel work. I was like.. this is a cool guy!)
Let me quickly touch on a few of the gear topics –
New lenses – As a lens junkie (gear-head) I agree once a camera or lens passes my ‘bar of approval’ I’m happy to then use it for creative purposes. (I’m very much a 50:50 split – part ex-auditor / mad scientist that just LOVES to test and experiment. Part creative and former painter that loves to use light to shape my images. A new lens won’t improve our photos (unless you a craving a specific look). It’s better to master lighting through practice than buying new lenses.. but as a YouTuber I’m guilty of both!
Leica CL vs Leica M bodies – The CL or CLE film cameras are great for street and travel but I don’t use mine as a portrait photographer. Why? The effective base length of a Leica CL is short, like many Voigtlander Bessa cameras, meaning ease of accurately focusing fast lenses is drastically reduced compared to something like a Leica M6 0.85x or Leica M3. As my eyes age, a camera’s EBL is becoming a top priority for me.
Compactness (in general) – 100% agree. As most of my photography is now overseas I’m SO reliant on smaller gear. Cameras or lenses might be great but if they’re too large or heavy they won’t get used. Examples: Leica Summicron 90mm f2 Pre-ASPH – Fantastic portrait lens but I never carry it. Leica CL is usually my first choice beating my Leica M10-P or Leica SL2-S. Leica iii cameras are smaller than Ms (and definitely smaller than my Leica R kit). I carry ultra-compact 35mm f2 not my best 35mm f1.2 and small 50s not my best 50s. My chunky Mamiya RZ67 and 4×5 cameras wait impatiently in the meantime.
Better than a Leica – If you shoot film and want more detail, as Matthew says, skip the premium Leica lens and just buy a medium format film camera instead! 6×6 is like 400x the resolution of 35mm as the negs are just so much bigger. The Mamiya 6 paired with the 75mm “kit” lens is super compact for 6×6, as it the Fuji GF670 if you want even bigger negs (or the popular Mamiya 7). If those are too expensive look at vintage 6×6 and 6×9 folding cameras like the Voigtlander Perkeo II and Agfa Billy Record II. (I’ve done reviews on most of the popular medium format cameras from owning over the years).
Minolta cameras – Even as the “Leica guy” I own the budget Minolta X-300 and these cameras can be fantastic. As a takeaway thought.. of every premium Leica camera and lens, every medium format (and large format camera) setup I’ve used in my life, my most like photo by FAR is the image below, shot with.. a £50 Minolta X-300 (It’s what you arrange and light in front of your camera that’s important, not the camera itself!)
Always wear a camera – The importance of being ready for fleeting moments.
Who is Dan?
A short introduction about me first. I began taking photography seriously back in 2015. I became fascinated with the photographers of yesteryears, the greats; such as Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Frank and Gary Winogrand to name a few. It was also during this time that I picked up my first Leica M camera. A beat up old M3 paired with a 50mm Summicron ridged. After a few years finding my footing, I now run Analogue Cameras here in the UK, a second-hand film camera store which I consider a dream job!
My journey to Leica
While in college I fell in love with film photography. I was very lucky in a sense that I had unlimited access to the darkroom we had one site. Often, I would be the only person printing, this allowed me to really home my skill and become a pretty competent printer.
Over this period I really developed a skill in making traditional B&W silver gelatine prints. When it came the time to look to upgrade from my Olympus OM-10 and Nikon D3200 I was using, it seemed logical to go down the film route. I was able to pick up a rough Leica M3 and 50mm Summicron Rigid for less than the current mid-range full frame DSLR at the time. Since then I have not really deviated from the Leica path. For me the Leica is a tool which feels comfortable in the hands and after years and years of use does feel like an extension of my eye as cliché as that sounds.
Why Leica?
Having heavily studied the master photographers of the past I found one thing in common with them. Most of them shot Leica’s. I wasn’t interested in landscapes, macro or studio work. This meant that the perks that other camera systems offered didn’t appeal to me. Leica’s are small, unobtrusive and reliable, all factors which matter a lot to me.
What do I photograph?
Many would label it as ‘street photography’ but I really dislike this term as it doesn’t describe anything. For me I prefer documentary photography because I prefer to work on a cohesive body of work. This can sometimes take years to complete but for me it gives photography a meaning and allows me to really focus on a subject matter. An example of this would be my recently completed body of work named ‘The Mechanics of Talat Noi’. In this series I explore the slowly disappearing street mechanics that can be found in the Talat Noi area of Bangkok. Many of the workers here have called this place home for decades but with new development plans being made this area is being redeveloped and some of the workshops are needing to relocate elsewhere.
Even when I am reviewing camera equipment for my personal site, I like to work on projects closer to home whether that be on the London underground or in Northern Wales, both being projects I have yet to complete.
Thoughts
I think as I have grown as a photographer, I have learnt that likes and social media are not everything. You can easily fall into the trap of questioning your work if it doesn’t generate the engagement you had wished for. We need to keep in mind that not everyone is going to like our style of work but for me as long as I am happy with how a picture or series turned out that’s all that matters. And if others also share the same opinion, then great and if they don’t, I won’t lose any sleep over it.
I had followed Matt for a few years and really enjoyed his series on cheaper Leica alternative lenses as there are so many hidden gems out there.
It was in the spring of 2024 when I was in the process of lunching ‘Analogue Cameras Type – 517’ 35mm film that I reached out to Matt directly and we worked together on testing and launching this product.
To date I have sold over 8,000 rolls and only have enough film to make another 4,000 rolls so if you have not tried this film yet, get some before it’s gone for good! (Buy Here). Photo below was shot with ‘517 –
Favourite Leica camera?
I do cherish my black M4 but I am sorry to say it has to be the Leica M3. This camera has been with me since the beginning and has never skipped a beat. Being fully mechanical you don’t need to worry about batteries and while yes I am a big fan of the 28mm focal length I prefer to use external viewfinders for this anyway.
Favourite lens?
This is a tough one but I would probably have to say the first-generation Leica 50mm Summilux f1.4. This is a lens I have only recently acquired and mine is in poor condition but out of all the 50mm’s I have shot with there is just a magical quality about this one. Tac sharp when stopped down and having painterly qualities wide open.
Favourite film?
Kodak Double X has become my new standard film replacing Kentmere 400 that I had used for years. I spool this myself and have found the results to be very close to Kodak Tri-X at more than half the price.
Thanks Dan! I wish I’d had access to a darkroom in college.. I was very much a late bloomer pushed to film from my dislike of my Nikon D800 files in around 2012. (I met up with Dan in London for his photowalk and hope to collab again in 2026!)
I can confirm that the respooled Ilford FP4 cine film (aka, Typ 517), is excellent. The photos below shows the tonality I achieved from Typ 517 with my Leicas.
Typ’517 shot with a 1931 Leica ic camera during a morning run
Happy New Year! So December started in Gdansk (Poland) and was the month that I joined Substack, signed, number and posted 100+ photobooks and commenced Leica user guest posts on LeicaClub.org (sister site).
In addition to that, I was in Lanzarote with a model friend (to help her with her camera) and headed to Spain for remote working plus to test new gear for YouTube. See the blog post about travelling the world taking photos.
You’ve probably heard of the platform Substack. My Patreon buddy Tobi has been on it for around 12 months so I often hear about it from him. I thought it was time to give it a try so I set up a free profile and I’m loving it. My plan for 2026 is to post trip highlights on Substack like I used to do for the blog back in 2013. Behind the scenes photos, a bit about gear, photos, related YouTube videos etc. (I’ll still share the high level summary here too).
I’m currently writing “2025 Phototrip (4/10)” for Substack as I need to write up 10 trips for 2025 before starting 2026. (FYI – Substack is fantastic for photographers. It reminds me of Instagram when that first started. People posting real photography without constant ads, filters, and other spam). I might even attempt a 365 project on Substack for 2026 where I post something every day. Check out Substack and join the friendly community!
After ordering a short run of photobooks zines (5 different books), the majority sold out in December. (There are a handful left if you want one – website now shows remaining stock quantities). Thanks to everyone that showed an interest in my books, I didn’t expect to sell 100+ zines in the first month.
Sold my only copy by mistake
After mis-calculating my photobook quantities I messed up and sold my own 1of15 Gdansk book. Because of this for early 2026 I plan to print a small batch of larger thicker books (perhaps 65-80 pages vs 44 pages (to still fit inside a C4 envelope for shipping).
Pre-orders for 2026
When I ordered the zine photobooks in bulk I was able to reduce my costs and sell each book for £10. With larger thicker books and smaller quantities, these next books are likely to cost around £20-25 each. The plan is to design and print 4 new books to test the format and for those that missed the first book run.
“120 Girls” – Models shot with medium format film cameras (Best of)
“Girls with cameras” – First edition soft back version
“Travel (v2)” – More photos included, different format
“Gdańsk (v2)” – The regeneration of
I know some of you love books so if you want to secure a copy please add your email to the following questionnaire and I will be in touch before I place the order. (This is not a “hard sell” – I’m just printing the books for my own enjoyment so can print you a copy if you’d like one).
Checkout difficulties
Sorry for those of you that had difficulties at checkout. The two issues were
Photobook orders to be posted (No address fields visible) – Address fields now added
Feature your images on the blog!
As mentioned previously, my plan is to eventually merge Patreon, Leica Club members and Blog Insiders all into one new do-everything platform. (Free access + tiered access). For this I’ve setup a new sister website – LeicaClub.org (Still evolving).
Are you or your friend a passionate Leica user looking to reach broader audience with your photos? I invite you to write a guest post for the Leica Club. To share your experience with Leica just get in touch and I’ll send you the template to complete.
As briefly mentioned last month, from November into December I was back in Gdańsk to meet Patreon friends Tobi and Thomas. Our only plan was to hang out, have fun and take photos. As a continue to document Gdansk, I’m always looking for a new angle of a familiar scenes to create images for future photobooks.
If you saw the latest YouTube video on Leica lenses + 120 film, here are a few samples photos. (I still need to develop my 35mm film).
Flickr photo of the month (Most liked overall)
Lanzarote workshop
A few years back I travelled to Lanzarote with long-time model friend, Rachel. Rachel has since got into photography so for this trip we travelled together and I helped her with her camera. Below are a few photos of Rachel trying out model photography (working with Jess who I know from previous visits).
As described in my Travel Guide eBook, I booked us my usual super cheap flights plus an apartment for us to share. Situated close to the airport and 5mins from the beach, this is the ideal spot for photoshoots and for my morning run/ swim!
If model photography is something you’ve always wanted to try check out my eBooks.
Remote working in Spain (II)
For December I was also back out in Spain for remote working and to escape the UK winter weather. For this trip I stayed near Valencia. I was there to test cameras and lenses and mainly for vitamin D (sunlight). I did arranged a photoshoot with Claudia while I was in town who I know from other trips. (See my write-up “How to travel the world taking photos” for more details.. or my Travel Guide eBook).
Leica workshops
My Leica and model photography workshops are usually in London but I teach in Europe too.
Zoom calls let me assist photographers around the world remotely. Whether it’s buying new cameras/ lenses, portrait lighting techniques or need help mastering your new Leica camera, I can help. See Zoom testimonials. Last month I was helping individuals in Kansas, Israel, Bali and other places!
Students ask for mentorship and portfolio reviews so I offer these too. Check my availability and feel free to get in touch!
Complete the survey to register your interest in a MrLeica workshop near you.
Dubai Workshop, 2022
Future travel plans
Here are my provisional travel plans. Maybe I’m coming to a city near you or somewhere you’d like to visit. Feel free to contact me to organise a workshop –
Since moving to the Valoi Easy35 and Easy120 film scanners (where I use my digital Leica SL or CL cameras) I’ve pretty much stopped using my flatbed scanner. I’m really happy with the Valoi Easy120 for 35mm film (the bigger light source gives an even illumination across the negative) but 24MP isn’t enough for high res scans of 120 film.
As my Leica SL / SL2-S / CL are all 24MP I’ve not been scanning my 120 film as that meant more time firing up my Epson v800 scanner. That was for over a year so I thought finally it’s time to scan some of my old negs shot with the Hasselblad H3D-39 (+ film back), Hasselblad 501c, Mamiya M645 Super and other cameras. The negative below was shot in 2024 in the Czech Republic with expired Fuji Acros 100 @50. (Amazing film for portraits/ skin tones!)
For January I head out to Spain to remote work again. The idea is more sunshine but I think it will be wet for some of it. The plan is to run in the mornings then lock myself away and pump out content the rest of the time (+ meet a few local models if they’re free). Later in the month I fly to the Czech Republic to meet a model friend for portfolio work and then to team up with Tobi again. Looking forward to that!
YouTube video – spotlight
The first YouTube video of the year / month will be out later today – Leica made their own film! Monopan 50 helped me create my highest resolution 35mm darkroom print so far so I’m happy! (I printed on 5×7 and 8×10 papers last night – you’ll see in the video).
New videos are also coming for a new wide angle lens for Leica M mount (well 2 lenses actually) + later in the month the new Light Lens Lab 35mm f1.4 AA lens that I ordered (awaiting delivery). Excited!
Leica Q3M Monochrom – Leica release the monochrome version of their popular Leica Q3, the Leica Q3M. I was lucky to get my hands on possibly the first Q3M sold in France thanks to my workshop student Jean-Marc who visited me the day after purchasing it. Watch on YouTube and I discuss whether I will buy this camera.
Leica Safari lenses – Leica release 3 new lenses, a safari green Leica Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH II, a safari green Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 ASPH II and the 50mm in gloss black paint too. (If money was no object I think I would enjoy a Safari green-silver panda style Leica M camera!)
Thypoch Eureka 28mm f2.8 – Thypoch announce their second compact Eureka lens following the popular Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2 lens I reviewed for YouTube. Their new 28mm pancake lens is now available for pre-order and is expected to be released in March 2026. I’ll try to get a copy to review so we can see how it compares to similar compact 28mm lenses for Leica M mount. It needs to beat lenses like the Voigtlander Skopar 28mm f2.8, Leica Elmarit 28mm f2.8 and the Brightin Star 28mm f2.8 I reviewed this year. (I’ll go into more detail as we get closer to the release datebut on paper it seems to tick many boxes – compact, lightweight (130g), silver or black, 0.4m MFD and vintage lens inspired styling).
Walter Leica contrast filter – Isn’t it great when you put on a pair of sunglasses and suddenly everything looks clearer and with more clarity. Now you can get the same for your Leica M camera. Walter Leica contrast filters come in different colour options such as golden and this makes it easier to see clearly using a rangefinder camera. Walter offers prescription options too so with mine I now have 20:20 vision. A must for my aging eyes! See this video where I cover eyepieces in the second half. (Fits all Leica M camera viewfinders).
Thypoch L-M adapter – This has been around for a few months but I don’t think I mentioned it. If you enjoy a Leica SL or CL series camera and are sick of your L-M adapter feeling wobbly then this is for you. This adapter lets you cinch down any M mount lens and has a release lock so the lens is held securely. (Nicely made and from my experience is better suited to bigger heavier M lenses adapted to L mount).
MrDing Contax Biogon G28/2.8 for Leica M-mount conversion kit – If you love Contax lenses but use a Leica M camera this might be for you. Similar to the G35 and G45 conversion kits but now said to be a lighter aluminium build. (A move away from the solid feeling MrDing Pactcron 35mm f1.8 I covered on YouTube).
Wotancraft Pilot Series Bags (Now in brown leather) – If you love the thought of owning a premium leather camera bag, Wotancraft have released new brown leather Pilot series bags in addition to the existing black leather bags I have. (For December they also run a promotion where you get free gifts with every purchase*).
Light Lens Lab35mm f1.4 AA – I mentioned this last month but I’ve now pre-ordered my lens via the official Light Lens Lab website and awaiting delivery so I can make a video. Excited!
Mandler 35mm f2 (KOB Homage) – Many of you have asked me about this lens since I made the YouTubevideo last month. Yes it’s currently difficult to find but they told me that they are working on an international online store. Stay tuned!
Want to share your passion for Leica and photography? Get in touch to have your work featured on the blog! (I will send you all the information via email).
Michael, Sundeep and Tobi have already had their articles published. Read them on the new LeicaClub.org sister site or via the links below –
My Patreon buddy Tobi is always telling me how great Substack is so I’ve signed up. The plan is to share daily notes in addition to trip highlight from the last 12 months. (Similar to the format of my older blog posts 8-9 years ago).Substack content will complement info shared on the blog and YouTube and I hope to use it like a 365 project (finding something to share every day). Hope to see you there!
Leica M EV1 – The rumours become reality! I bet no-one ever expected Leica to actually make a Leica M camera with an electronic viewfinder but they’ve done it. Well done Leica! Purists will complain but the new Leica M EV1 is perfect for Leica M owners that struggle with their eyesight. I can see a lot of Leica SL3 and Q3 being dumped on the market as photographers buy the M EV1. The SL series was too big for many and the Q series is very limited because of the fixed lens. The M EV1 seems to tick all the boxes.
Light Lens Lab35mm f1.4 AA – It’s been a long time coming and experienced various delays but finally the Light Lens Lab remake of the famous Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 double aspherical is here. Available to pre-order on the official Light Lens Lab website if you want one (I ordered the silver chrome version as I know it will be a big hit like their 1966 remake). I’ll make a full video reporting everything you need to know as soon as the lens arrives.
Mandler 35mm f2 (King of Bokeh Homage) – I was very excited to test this hard to find lens. Currently the Mandler lens is difficult to source outside of China and Indonesia. I suggested they setup a global shop so hopefully in 1-2 months it will become available. The lens comes with a metal round vented hood and a rectangular hood. My metal SquareHood hood for my 28mm Elmarit paired perfectly on the Mandler lens. Watch on YouTube.
TTArtisan40mm f2 AF – If you’re looking for a small and compact autofocus lens in Leica L mount take a look at this YouTube video. It’s not optically perfect but works great for female portraits if I need an autofocus lens with my Leica SL2-S.
7Artisans 35mm f1.4 AF – If you like modern well corrected optics with autofocus you’ll probably like this lens. It reminds me of lenses for other brands in terms of size and the extra buttons and switches. I featured it in the same YouTube video as the 40mm.
Back in the “old days” Kodak actively marketed cameras for travel. If you’re reading this newsletter you likely already own a nice camera but do you take it on exciting trips to capture memorable photographs? Cameras deserve more than just sitting on a shelf.
Over the last decade I’ve completed over 500 flights so I’ve learnt what works when it comes to travelling as a photographer. I thought it was time to write the book to help others looking to get away with their camera. 62 pages split over 7 chapters including bonus tips, photos and checklists.
If you dream of organising photoshoots abroad or just feel overwhelmed by the potential stress of travel I’ve got you covered. See how I fly overseas for less than a train ride to London and start planning your next getaway the “Matt way”.
Black Friday Sales!
It’s that time of years where brands are offering some fantastic discounts. Wotancraft are doing their free gifts with every order. Thypoch and Sirui have some amazing deals right now (I see their ads on Instagram). Visit the discount code page for all brand links to save.
You’ve probably seen my eBooks listed when shopping for presets. Fast track your learning for less with £5.00 off all eBooks until the end of November using code “BFS5” at checkout.
Despite being ill for half of November I still managed to get some stuff done. New eBook, photobook zines for Patreons and remote working in Spain. I also managed to set up the Leica Club website to facilitate the wider Leica community. All that plus links to articles and YouTube videos shared in the last 30 days.
After over a decade of regular travel (500+ flights) it was time to sit down and write the book. What started out as short 10 page check list soon developed into a 60+ page full travel guide with photos. Every tip and trick I could think of which might help you replicate my photographer-travel lifestyle. Now available to download on the eBooks page.
Thanks to Mike and the team at ExWhyZed for helping me print my photobook zines. (Maybe I’ll write a future blog post explaining the process of making a photobook). Books include my annual photobook zines for Patreons (Girls on Film) plus two new books, “Travel Memories” and my 14 year passion project, “Gdansk”.
Each book design was a limited print run and all books will be numbered and signed before shipping. See moreHERE (to view the Patreon post).
Want to feature on the blog?
As mentioned previously, my plan is to eventually merge Patreon, Leica Club members and Blog Insiders all into one new do-everything platform. A mix of free access and tiered access and bringing all services into one place. For this I’ve setup a new sister website – LeicaClub.org (which is still in its infancy and evolving).
When I do portfolio reviews via Zoom I get to see some fantastic images. If I can help Leica photographers share their work to a wider audience via the new Leica Club platform this will help inspire the wider Leica community.
I invite you to write a guest post for the Leica Club. If you’re a passionate Leica user wanting to share your experience with Leica (together with sample images), get in touch!
Read the first Leica Club guest post submitted by Patreon Michael –
Quick shout out. If you remember, last month I was in The Netherlands teaching a Leica workshop. One model we worked with was Eva. I just wanted to give Eva a mention as our photos together made for the 3 most liked portraits of November on Flickr.
Shot on both film and digital our portraits seemed to appeal to a wider audience. (The first photo you might remember from last month plus the photo of the month (above) is also Eva*). Well done Eva!
If model photography is something you’ve always wanted to try check out my eBooks.
Remote working in Spain
If you’re like me, I really suffer from a lack of sunlight in the UK winter months. I was ill for two weeks at the start of November which is unlike me so I was like screw this, I need some sunshine. I booked a cheap trip to Spain for some much needed vitamin D and worked from there instead.
Below are a few photos from one of the photoshoots in Spain –
Back in Gdansk
I will cover this trip more next month, but on the last day of November I flew to Gdańsk to meet Patreon friends for a few days. (Thanks Tobi and Thomas for an enjoyable trip!)
I continue to document Gdańsk and despite just publishing my A5 Gdańsk zine book for Patreons I plan to make a larger more premium coffee table book with extra photos in the future. The photo below is one of the images in my new Gdańsk book and it was also my most liked image on Flickr in November, surpassing all portrait images.
Flickr photo of the month (Most liked)(As seen in the Gdansk book!)
Leica workshops
My Leica and model photography workshops are usually in London but I teach in Europe too. Often European or US photographers meet me in London as was the case this month.
London workshops
Jean Marc joined me from Paris for an afternoon of Leica portraits in London. I booked Nicola for our half day workshop and below are a few sample photos.
Jean Marc kindly let me borrow his new Leica Q3M to try so perhaps I can put a short YouTube video together to share my thoughts. Despite him owning the SL3 and Q3M, once Jean Marc tried my Leica M10-P he was immediately impressed. I think he’ll be moving to a Leica M camera next!
Zoom calls let me assist you remotely if have questions on buying new cameras/ lenses, portrait lighting techniques or need help mastering your new Leica camera. Students ask for mentorship and portfolio reviews so I offer these too. Check my availability and feel free to get in touch. See Zoom testimonials.
Complete the survey to register your interest in a MrLeica workshop near you.
Dubai Workshop, 2022
Future travel plans
Here are my provisional travel plans. Maybe I’m coming to a city near you or somewhere you’d like to visit. Feel free to contact me to organise a workshop –
My label printer arrived (plus my custom ink stamp) so now I need to get signing, stamping and posting out the Patreon zine photobook orders. I’ve already sold half of the “All books bundle” so if you think you might be interested, act soon.
I have a few more overseas trips before I visit family for Christmas. Look out for the new article on “How To Travel The World Taking Photos” and check out my Travel Guide eBook if you want to see how I do all these trips.
YouTube video – spotlight
The first video in December will be.. a surprise but likely a short video on the Leica Q3M or a classic Leica lens review. I’ll see how much time I have!
I think the Black Friday sales have almost finished but check out these website for possible deals – Thypoch, Light Lens Lab, Funleader, TTArtisan, 7Artisans, Sirui. *I pre-ordered my Light Lens Lab 35mm f2 AA lens. Can’t wait!
Coming up I share photos from the latest trips to Poland, Hungary and The Netherlands and talk about printing my new photo books (and my latest eBook). All that plus links to articles and YouTube videos shared in the last 30 days.
As someone that flies overseas usually twice a month, I often receive questions. Matt, how do you find such great deals? Where do you find your free models? What accommodation is best for photoshoots? What cities do you recommend for photos? How do you get around once overseas? etc.
After over a decade of regular travel and 500+ flights I thought it was time to sit down and write the book. What started out as short 10 page check list soon developed into a 60+ page full guide with photos. Every tip and trick I could think of which might help someone trying to replicate my lifestyle.
I need to read over it a few more times before it goes live so I’ll likely announce it as available in two weeks (in the mid-month Leica Newsletter). If you’re subscribed to the free newsletter you’ll see it.
After discovering ExWhyZed, a UK print house, I can finally get back on track with making my annual photobook zines for Patreons. As with previous photobooks, these are my Girls on Film books. Black and white model photography images shot mostly with 35mm film Leica cameras. Each book contains the 40 best (most liked) images of that year. Loyal VIP Patreons will also receive a free additional book as a gift.
For each book, I print a limited run of 25 copies which are numbered and signed by me. I’ll announce the books on Patreon once available so follow there (for free) or share you’re preferences in my books and darkroom prints here –
Get featured on MrLeica.com – Guest posts
As mentioned previously, my plan is to eventually merge Patreon, Leica Club members and Blog Insiders all into one new do-everything platform. A mix of free access and tiered access and bringing all services into one place.
To help support the wider Leica community I plan to invite fellow Leica fans to write guest posts. Companies contact me all the time offering to pay me so they can sell their various products via a sponsored posts on MrLeica.com. I keep declining. What I’m looking for are fellow passionate Leica users wanting to share their experience with a particular Leica camera (film especially), together with sample images.
When I do portfolio reviews for students via Zoom, I’m both flattered that they want my opinion but also often amazed at how good some of the work is. I said to Stefan after the last call, you need to get some of these in a gallery! If I can help such photographers share their work to inspire others it’s a win for everyone.
The plan is to start invite guest posts from the beginning of 2026 so if that sounds of interest feel free to get in touch.
Gdańsk is one of my favourite cities and I’m happy photographing local models or exploring the old docks with my film cameras. I took my new-to-me silver Leica M4 paired with my Leica MDa (now back from CLA)(see below image). As with all my trips, see the BTS videos on Patreon.
If model photography is something you’ve always wanted to try check out my eBooks.
Photo Trip 2 – Budapest
My second trip for October was to another of my favourite cities (as described in my mentioned new Travel Guide eBook). The plan was a 50:50 split of model photography to create new portfolio work and exploring with my Leica M4 (see image below). Follow the blog to see the full M4 write-up, sample photos and related YouTube video to come.
Sadly, as is common with model photography, I had a few cancellations so I used the time to write more of my eBook. I’ll visit again so can hopefully catch them next time.
Leica workshops
My Leica and model photography workshops are usually in London but I teach in Europe too.
London workshops
Cindy, one of my US students from Dallas was over in October so we did two workshops in London. She’s not into portraits so it’s more mastering her camera and walking around talking photos. One day I went to her place and then second time we met in the centre.
As Cindy had just got the Hasselblad 907x (to pair with her Leica M cameras) I helped her find a lens adapter so she can mount her existing Hasselblad 500 series lenses (V mount lenses). We also visited the Hasselblad Museum, now called Camera Museum in London. (Always worth a visit and nice to say hello. It’s been a while since I was over there).
Workshop shoots in The Netherlands
My third workshop for October was a multi-day event in The Netherlands. I got the Eurostar from London to Rotterdam to meet Patreon friendThomas. (Thomas joined me for a workshop in Gdansk a few years ago and we’ve stayed in touch ever since). Thomas kindly arranged 4 models for us and Sigi joined us on the last day. (Download my free eBook to see how Thomas found 4 free models).
Bonus – One of the models really connected well with me so she’ll travel to the UK for a follow up shoot! I love this aspect of my job. Always meeting beautiful fellow creative people that I would never normally talk to if it wasn’t for my camera. If you’ve never tried model photography I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s transformed my life for the better.
All the digital photos I’m sharing are edited with the new Leica SL2-S preset pack (for Lightroom). Originally developed for my Leica SL2-S but I’ve been loving them on all my cameras – Leica CL, SL 601 and Leica M10-P. (For film photos I used my dedicated 2-step film presets rather than the popular Negative Lab Pro).
These B&W presets are different to my other preset packs as I created them on light temperature rather than contrast (high/ low). (Patreon friend Arno even bought them for his Sony camera.. and he is very specific about the look he likes!) Find all MrLeica presets here.
Zoom calls let me help photographers buying new cameras, lenses, and assist with mastering a Leica camera remotely. Students ask me to mentor them so I cover that too. Check my availability and feel free to get in touch. See Zoom testimonials.
Complete the survey to register your interest in a MrLeica workshop near you.
Dubai Workshop, 2022
Future travel plans
Here are my provisional travel plans. Maybe I’m coming to a city near you or somewhere you’d like to visit. Feel free to contact me to organise a workshop –
I think i’m going to be busy signing and sending photo books once they are printed later this month. I need to look at getting a proper label printer to streamline things.
With rain, grey days and a lack of sunshine in the UK, I can’t wait to escape to Spain in November for photoshoots and hopefully some vitamin D. Look out for my new Travel eBook to learn how you can do the same!
*For those of you asking, I’ll share my thoughts on the new Leica QM (I mean “Leica M EV1” as they called it) in the mid-month Leica newsletter.
YouTube video – spotlight
The first YouTube video in November is the New compact flash for Leica. I review two new flash units during a photoshoot trip in the Czech Republic. I also have a new 35mm lens for Leica M mount coming so look out for that video soon!
Is that time of the year again where brands are offering some silly good discounts. You’ll need to check individual brands but I know for sure that Thypoch are offering some great deals right now on their M mount lenses. I read some comments on Cam Mackay’s recent Thypoch 28mm YouTube video (love that guy!) and people were saying they’d found some bargain prices.
You might know the YouTube legend, Peter Elgar who still makes videos today. I was keen to invite Peter to share his thoughts on Leica. This is what he said –
Who is Peter?
I discovered the Magic of PHOTOGRAPHY in 1951 at East Ham Grammar School when on a trip to the Festival of Britain a School Mate showed off his Kodak Brownie Reflex camera – we all peered into the Viewfinder – it was all in Colour too! ” You can learn to do your own Processing at the School Photographic Society, Thursdays in the Chemmy Lab” he said, so I went and in a Semi-Dark Room the Chemistry Master ‘Gabby ‘Heyes was handing out small sheets of paper to boys who took it and put a negative onto it in something like a Picture Frame then held it under a Light on a Retort Stand, then across to the sink where they took out the blank Paper and put it into a dish of liquid and LO and BEHOLD !! A Miraculous Event happened — the paper darkened and a photo appeared ! Then into two other liquids then dry onto blotting paper – I was HOOKED !
I rushed home and got my Mum to find her Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Box Camera from the 1930’s and cycled 4 miles to a wonderful Emporium in Leigh Bridge Road Leytonstone called ‘Marston and Heards’ where the Ancient Proprietor sold all manner of ex- WWII Films, Chemicals and Papers — he would blow the Dust off a purchase – I bought some Ferrania ORTHO film 120 size as I was told ‘ORTHO FILM’ could be handled under a Red Light — so I wrapped some Red Paper around a 25 watt bulb in the bathroom and ‘blacked out’ window with an old blanket, then See-Sawed the Film though a dish of Home-Made developer as shown by the Chemistry Master then Fixer — the Greyish Negatives I got I thought were the Bees-Knees !
As School Boys no-one could afford a 35mm Leica or Contax or even a Paxette on our Pocket Money so all prints were done on Kodak ‘VELOX’ Chloride Contact Print Paper . It was a Big Day when the School bought a ‘Gnome’ enlarger so I could do Half Plate size prints! I joined the South Essex Camera Club in 1952 age 16 and entered the ‘Beginners Section’ — there were many Fellows of the Royal Photographic Society there and one, George Crosby FRPS showed me how to do enlargements using ‘Amidol’ home-made print developer and his wife Anne would keep me supplied with Marmalade Toast then I would cycle all the way home with a load of damp prints.
One evening a member showed 20×16″ enlargements done with a 35mm LEICA on Ilford Pan-F film processed in the Beutler Formula — magnificent ! By that time I had got a British ‘Ensign Selfix 16/20 Model II’ but his prints beat my efforts although I was not printing to 20×16 ” only up to 10×8″ — It set the Seeds of LEICA into my brain.
My journey to Leica?
So as I did not go to University the Armed Forces beckoned and I joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Pathological Technician — I kept up membership of the S E C CC as I was stationed in London at the RAMC College then to The Royal Herbert Military Hospital Shooters Hill . Then in 1957 was sent to GERMANY – WoW ! The Camera Shops in my first Posting Munster were full of Rolleis, Leicas, Contaxes which the British Public could not get due to Import Restrictions. I still had my Ensign Selfix though, Then sent to the BMH BERLIN in the British Sector where a Camera Dealer used to come round once a week — he had a LEICA III with 50mm f2 Summitar all scratched but a CONTAX III with 50mm f1.5 Sonnar so I bought THAT one after all for about £38 Sterling.
So I had a 35mm Camera at last – I used it for the early AgfaColor CT18 film and B&W Agfa Isopan, then when I got sent to BMH ISERLOHN in the safety of the British Occupied Zone discovered ADOX films !
In the Town was a Camera Dealers with NEW LEICA M3 and IIIg Cameras for 820 D-Marks when we got 11.50 D-Marks (Deutsche Marks) to £1 Sterling but I was paying off the £38 for the CONTAX still … then in the Canadian Maple Leaf Store I bought a Braun Hobby flash for £14 when they were over £39 in UK IF YOU COULD GET ONE — BUT they also sold NEW LEICA IIIf + 50mm f3.5 Elmar for £45 ! I could not afford on Army Pay to get one.
Many years passed – I joined Barking Photographic Society in 1959 after the S E CC folded and joined the Royal Photographic Society as well – must have been the youngest but KEENEST Member in my 20’s The Legend of LEICA was at the back of my mind but I exchanged the CONTAX for an Asahi Pentax S3 in 1961.
Fast forward to the 90’s — I heard of a Clergyman of St Lawrence Church , Village of Blackmore with LEICAS for sale — he sold me a 1934 Model II + 50mm f2 Leica Summar and a Model III + 50mm f3.5 Leica Elmar for £250 — (Don’t Tell The WIFE! )
The Model II was STOLEN at Thorpe Park in a drive-by theft. Then a Camera Club Mate was going Blind and sold me his 1965 LEICA M2 + 35mm f1.4 Leica Summilux and 1957 90mm f4 Leica Elmar collapsible for £450 – then another Camera Club Mate wanted to sell his 1986 Leica M6 + 35mm f1.4 Canadian Leica Summilux so I lashed out and got it for £1,000 ( DEFINITELY Don’t Tell THE WIFE!! )
Luckily all these Purchases were income Tax Deductible as by that time I was a working Professional with my ‘Letters’ ARPS and ABIPP gained in 1970 by submission of work .
My Leica M system: L-R is :90mm f4 collapsible Elmar with hood from1957, 1965 M2+ 35mm f1.4 Summilux German 1988, 1986 M6 with 50mm f2 Summicron from 1989, 35mm f1.4 Summilux Canadian from 1989
Why Leica?
I wanted to experience the ‘Mystic’ attached to the Leica brand for myself. It has not meant I take any BETTER Snaps though and the 35mm f1.4 Summilux lenses both 1966 Canadian and 1988 German are just too soft at full aperture easily beaten by a Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 I tested from a mate.
I did Photography for a Studio in Barking where I got introduced to local PRESS Photography and got my Asahi Pentax S3, then after a stint with School Photography got job at University College London Geology Dept where I introduced Asahi Pentax for making slides for lectures, then set up as Freelance in 1970 doing the Dreaded Weddings, PR work, Theatrical Work, Local Press Photography.
I used LEICA for some jobs but the very SLOW FLASH Sync Speed of 1/50th was no good for fill-in outdoors when the opposition had NIKONS with 1/250th Flash Synch Speed – so I also used Rolleicord and later ‘flex and also a Mamiya Press Super 23 — all Tax Deductible.
When I was at UCL Geology Dept in 1969 NASA sent us a slide with Moon Dust that Neil Armstrong had put into his pocket and I had to do Photomicrography of it — I was on about £27 a week by then and all the well-paid Professors looked at the results and said there was a Globule of Glass formed by the action of Sun on the Moon Dust and it was Published half Page in the Sunday Times with my named Credit ( NO CASH ! ) but I was suspicious as I could press down on the slide cover slip and the Globule would change shape — I was RIGHT – it was a minute piece of PLASTIC from the Sieves that NASA used to sieve out all the Best Bits before sending us the remains — but I was only a Lowly £27 a week Snapper — NOT a Professor !
Now I am retired an 88 years old but Still Snapping with Old Cameras I get Given and Outdated Film! I still make up my own Film and Print developers as taught in 1952 at School ! The Magic of LEICA has FADED somewhat now– I find I need autofocus for my Street Candids as trying to follow-focus with the small Rangefinder Patch is so difficult.
Thoughts
I have done the famous 20×16″ size prints from LEICA but now it’s just too Expensive on my Pension. I am Past President of Brentwood & District Photographic Club and teach the Beginners (but they don’t get Marmalade Toast) !!
If you’ve ever searched for film camera reviews on YouTube you may have come across Peter’s channel. Straight talking, no fluff and often with fantastic darkroom prints. What a breath of fresh air Peter is in today’s world!
I do my best reviewing all the various Leica camera and lenses but I wanted to hear how Leica cameras were perceived by the previous generations. Thanks Peter for sharing your story!
