Vintage Digital: An Art Space In Gibsonville.
It is becoming more and more clear that I am a rangefinder head.
My logical self did not sign off on this. It makes no sense.
But here we are.
I have access to AF cameras. Some seem almost supernaturally proficient at AF. Because of this I thought that I would keep rangefinder excursions to low risk fun work. For low risk events where I would not be bothered if I missed focus on some or even everything. But more and more I have learned to trust myself with a rangefinder and I have started using it without a net for work that is important. Not paid word necessarily. But important as in I really would like to have photo evidence of the proceedings that was good enough to be public facing.
Even spent years looking for my preferred best daily carry AF lens. And I recently found it. Proved the concept at a recent family event. It performed every bit as good as I expected it to.
Great. How did I celebrate the acquisition of the best AF daily carry lens for my purposes?
By going back to my rangefinder at the first opportunity.
The setting.
A local bar and coffee venue Bar Stop Beers & Bottles, here and here. Found out about it through an invite from Cesar.
The tool of choice.
Camera.
A wonderful old rangefinder. Leica M Type 240.
Lens… mostly this one.
A gem of a thing. Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.2.
The pics.
I will get the few I took with the other lens I had on hand first. When I secured my main rangefinder Voigtlander lens, I thought I might convert to an all-Voigtlander house. But I decided I was good. On the long end, I have the 7Artisans 75mm f/1.25.
The reasons I am staying put.
- I like.
- I can not part with this lens. I have absolutely no issues with the images this lens produces.
- Value.
- New it is a great deal in my opinion. Used it is a steal. I believe I paid two hundred and something for my used copy that was in perfect condition. A new or used Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 costs multiples of that. Admittedly I needed to calibrate it. Something that my old M body proved invaluable for. And it has done all that I have asked of it since.
- A bit faster.
- A quarter of a stop is a difference I would not notice in use but also puts a finer point on spending more for it not making sense.
Is the Voigtlander better? Might be. But not enough for me to spend so much more. I threw in Leica lenses at this focal length for giggles. No one is cross shopping either lens with the Leica variants. Enough of that. Here are the 75mm images from last night.
Ok. On to the main act. The M and 40mm. First up the submissions from yours truly. Two of my favorite images.
Next up are the offerings from Mr. Cesar Molina.
Next up are submissions from @poemxxyou.
Here is Leah, who extended the invite.
Here is Matt.
And now the pics of me going ham having fun snapping pics.
Restaurant across the street.
A small park down the street with a model railroad track.
Welp. That is about it.
A great time.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 