🔴 Monthly Recap – Jul25
Newsletter: Photography related posts, videos and hopefully a source of inspiration!
Flickr portrait of the month (Most liked)
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Founded in 2013, I share my experiences and reviews of Leica, film cameras, lenses + more. View the last 100 blog posts and search 400+ articles. Photos? See Flickr and Instagram.
Last month
All change for my camera line-up. I sold the recently bought mint Leica SL2 and got a nearly new Leica SL2-S instead. It was time to say goodbye to my Leica Q and I step outside the Leica bubble to buy my new B camera, a Lumix S9. We’ll get onto that plus I fly to Budapest to teach another 1:1 Leica workshop and head north to complete my 2-day charity bike ride.
Leica SL2 > SL2-S
After being very excited and settling on the Leica SL2 (see the Leica SL2 vs SL2-S blog post) I soon regretted having excessive megapixels when I crop in camera and shoot models. A combination of the SL2 being more than I needed plus knowing I could swap to a newer camera AND get a good chunk of money back to put towards something else sat heavy on my shoulders. I listed my SL2 on eBay and it soon sold and I was lucky to find a clean copy SL2-S from a Patreon friend/ workshop student.
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My new B cam – Lumix S9
I’m not new to Lumix. My first camera was a point and shoot Lumix TZ20? My first interchangeable lens camera was a Lumix G1 (one of the very first micro four thirds cameras). Years later I discovered Leica after a period with Nikon and then I went back to Lumix when I got the Lumix S5 (see that Leica vs Lumix article).
It was that time again where Lumix cameras offered me featured that I could get from Leica (mostly for video). I’ll do a full blog post write up but in brief I got a Lumix S9 instead of the Lumix S5IIX because of the small size and small price tag. (See on YouTube). These cameras are an absolute bargain on MPB and compact for my travel.
Bye-bye Leica Q
After buying a Leica Q camera for wedding photography jobs some years ago I finally sold it. My Q has been gathering dust for 2-3 years since I quit weddings and now I focus on teaching photography workshops. The Q is a great fixed lens point and shoot camera but I love experimenting with interesting lenses so it’s not a great fit for me. Featured in this YouTube video.
Charity bike ride
After a year of planning and months of training (on and off) it was time to drive north to complete the coast to coast 2-day bike ride with friends to raise money for charity. 8 riders, 1 driver and a support vehicle. 150 miles on day 1 and 120 miles on day 2 across England. Mentioned in this YouTube video and see full highlights video on Patreon (free).
Macfilos article
After being featured on the Macfilos website the article was shared again in their Top 5 article (and with my photo as the cover image).
Leica workshops
Most of my Leica workshops are in London but after the success of my recent workshop in Budapest I flew out to Hungary again to teach a US model photographer/ Leica user. While I was there I also taught a photographer from the Netherlands. Get in touch if you want to meet me in London, Budapest or Gdansk. I arrange our models, the studios if required and can help you with finding your accommodation.
Model photography
Here are a few sample photos from the latest model photography workshops in Budapest –
MrLeica 1:1 workshops
The beauty of 1:1 teaching vs. groups is I can meet your individual needs –
- Lightroom+Photoshop editing
- Film and digital cameras
- Portfolio reviews + Instagram
- Vintage lens/ camera help
- 1 or 2 professional models
- Available light, LED or flash
- Try before you buy (lenses)
- Indoor spaces or outside
- Leica gear shopping (old&new)
Complete the survey
Use the survey to register your interest in a MrLeica workshop near you.
Future travel plans
Contact me to book a workshop. Here are my travel plans so far –
JULY 2025
- Czech-Germany Roadtrip IIÂ –Â Read Tobi’s write-up from our first roadtrip
- Wales family gathering – Get a glimpse of Wales in this video
AUGUST 2025
- Poland teaching – TBC
- TBC
SEPTEMBER 2025
- Poland GdaÅ„sk – 1:1 Leica Workshop
- Netherlands – Leica Workshop
Private 1:1 Tuition
Visiting London? Message me to request a private 1:1 workshop (see prices and testimonials)
Leica+Model Workshops
Digital photographers
If you follow me you know I love Leica cameras and my preference for film vs digital.
- Digital cameras – Leica CL (travel), SL, SL2S (portraits+video), M262, M10P
- Lenses – See all lens reviews. I’m testing a few I can’t mention yet so stay tuned
- Editing with presets – All my images are RAW + LR preset
Download Leica presets
View GearList for recommended products & discount codes
Film photographers
- Film – Fallen behind again for 2025 and still need to develop 120 film from 2024
- Cameras – Leica M7 (See video + Follow to see the blog to come)
- Lenses – As above, multiple new lenses in the pipeline
- Film Processing – See old newsletters for details on developing, scanning and prints
Directory: Leica Repairs + Leica YouTubers
Have feedback following a Leica service, repair or CLA? See the Leica Repair Directory page. What are your favourite Leica YouTuber channels?
Latest YouTube videos
Catch up on YouTube videos (Last 30 days) –
Affordable L mount primes for portraits (Lumix vs 7Artisans vs Leica)
New Light Lens Lab 50mm f1.5 Z21 (in Budapest)
My new B-cam (Pocket size full frame L mount camera) Lumix S9
Bye-bye Leica SL2 + Getting the SL2-S
Discussing the best Leica for video (with Lukas)
My new favourite light mod for portraits – Gobo Projector Snoot
New! Thypoch Simera 21mm f1.4 vs Voigtlander Nokton 21mm f1.4
My first Anamorphic lens for Leica (Sirui Saturn 50mm T2.9 L mount)
Latest blog posts
400+ written posts (+ full res images) to supplement my YT videos. Sorry not many articles written in June but more coming soon.
Flickr photo of the month/ year so far (Most liked)
Patreon post (shared)
Join over 1000 members to see more of my content. Here are some Patreon article you might have missed (Join us today!)(Patreon testimonials) –
- “Indie photography” Sign up to view (free)
- “Charity bike ride video highlights” Sign up to view (free)
- “How to get your images “Explored” on Flickr” Sign up to view (members)
Coming up next month..
Lots of new gear reviews to come as I’m testing various kit behind the scenes. A few people sent me questions about what video rig I’m now using as lots has changed recently. I’ll do a full breakdown video for that in July (in addition to the usual lens reviews etc).
Looking forward to the 2025 European road trip with Patreon friends in July so you’ll likely see some of that in YouTube videos soon. (If you’re interested to hear what it’s like travelling with me check out Tobi’s Substack as we often travel together).
YouTube video – spotlight
The first video to come in July is probably not one you’ll rush out to watch but I talk about stepping out my comfort zone. I kept the video to around 3mins so one of my shortest ever and share my first attempts at shooting a music video(and compare it to my usual model photography).
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