Faisal is a San Francisco based lifestyle photographer who currently shoots with a Leica M 240 rangefinder camera. These are his thoughts.
Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5 Aspherical
I finally picked out my first lens for my newly acquired Leica M (240) — the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5 Aspherical lens. I'm enjoying it so far, but I should have a better idea of how it performs over the weekend. Enjoy!
My First Leica (M 240)
I picked up a Leica M (240) last weekend to complement my Fuji X-Pro2. I absolutely love the X-Pro2 but have always wanted a Leica and look forward to the more traditional and slower process. I'm borrowing a friend's Voigtlander 35mm F1.7 (screw mount) lens with an M-mount adapter at the moment. My Voigtlander 50mm F1.5 lens was supposed to arrive today, but should be arriving tomorrow due to the tornados in the midwest. I can't wait to start playing with it and posting some photos.
Picked up a Leica M 240
I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Leica M 240 today. I've been thinking about it for a while now, but have usually come to my senses before pulling the trigger. Today was different, however. The sun went down quickly so I didn't have much time to play with the camera. I'm also struggling with the focus a bit, but I just need more practice. Excited for the journey ahead. Here are a few initial shots — I hope you enjoy them.
Morning Stroll with the XF 56 F1.2
I picked up the Fuji XF 56 F1.2 a few days ago but hadn't had a chance to properly shoot with it outside because of the rain we've been having in San Francisco. I had a few minutes before work to take a stroll around one my favorite coffee shops to get familiar with the lens. There's a bit of chromatic aberration on the photo of the leaves, but that's pretty standard when shooting wide open into the sun. I'm sure I could get rid of it in Lightroom but don't think it's really even necessary since it's a color similar to the flowers on the tree. I hope you enjoy the photos.
Late Night at Slack HQ
I've been going back and forth on a decision to either replace or complement my Fuji digital system with a Leica M (Type 240 or 262). After several days of back and forth, I think I'm finally able to let this GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) go thanks to my coworker and friend Ahmed. Here are a collection of photos taken after one of these conversations.
Rainy Day in Napa
We took a trip up to Napa, CA not too long ago to scope out some wedding venues. California has been getting showered with rain which is very welcome considering we've been in a drought for several years. Here are a few shots for you to enjoy.
Fuji X-Pro2 with XF 23 F2.
Winter in San Francisco
Here's a small collection of photos taken over this past Winter in San Francisco. I hope you enjoy them.
Embarking on a Safari with Fuji
After receiving questions and comments about traveling with Fuji gear and about my editing process, I thought it would be helpful to dive deeper into those aspects of the safari. Over the years, I've shot with almost everything available to me — Nikon, Canon, Sony and Leica. My most recent GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome) has landed me with Fuji, specifically the X-Pro2.
I recently published a story on Exposure highlighting my recent safari in The Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa. The story went into depth about the logistics of the trip itself, along with information on the reserve and lodge that I stayed.
After receiving questions and comments about traveling with Fuji gear and about my editing process, I thought it would be helpful to dive deeper into those aspects of the trip. Over the years, I've shot with almost everything available to me — Nikon, Canon, Sony and Leica. My most recent GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome) has landed me with Fuji, specifically the X-Pro2.
Naturally, the Fuji X-T2 came to mind. By sticking with Fuji, I'd be familiar with the results, the editing process, the controls, and I'd also be able to use my existing lenses on the new body. I decided to rent the X-T2 for the trip as it made little sense to go out and buy another body. The X-T2 is also hard to find at the moment because of its high demand and because of the earthquake that struck Japan that year.
After researching what gear to take with me on the trip, the consensus was to take the longest lens you could afford. Thus, I also rented the Fuji XF 100-400mm OIS lens, which pairs beautifully with the X-T2. I skipped on the external grip because I didn't see much value in it and preferred not to have additional bulk.
Once arriving at the lodge, I quickly realized that I didn't need the 6 batteries I took with me. Because I had a Watson Duo Dual Fuji Charger, I was able to recharge a battery for each body during the downtime between the game drives. Each battery was more than enough for the 3-4 hour game drive, even on with the cameras on High-Performance/Boost Mode.
The comparison between the X-Pro2 and X-T2 is interesting. They're very similar in specs and performance, but vastly different in operation. The autofocus systems on both cameras allowed me to take the photos I wanted, and the EVF was excellent in the rapidly changing light conditions. The differences lie in the different form factors, with the X-Pro2 favoring more deliberate and creative shots while the X-T2 has the ergonomics and controls focused toward performance and fast-paced shooting. In summary, I had a great experience with the gear I took and the cameras served me well.
