i35mm

Ilford Pan 100 B&W Film 35mm

Ilford pan100 is a cost-effective film. Its contrast and dynamic range are very good, and ordinary people can achieve good results. Compared with films in the same price range, Fujifilm’s arcos 100 has more details, but its dynamic range is not as good as Ilford pan100. The Fomapan100’s dynamic range is good, but it’s a bit noisy.

With yellow filter

The packaging box of Ilford pan100 is black with yellow letters. I think this design is telling you that it will look better with a yellow filter. So when I use the Ilford pan 100, I pair it with a yellow filter, especially if I’m shooting portraits with a yellow filter. I’m actually pretty happy with how it worked.

Cost-effective film

Ilford is a leader in black and white film, with advanced chemistry and a proven production history. For example, Ilford’s delta400 / fp4+ and hp5+ are high-end films and have many loyal fans. Ilford pan100 is a popular film, a mature and stable film. It is said that this film was originally designed for the Asian cheap market, and later became loved by enthusiasts around the world because of its excellent cost performance.

Ilford Delta 400 Professional 35mm

Any black and white film from Ilford is good, especially high-end film like delta. The image quality is very delicate, and the ISO 400 film can actually produce such small particles. Ilford is indeed very powerful.

Generally speaking, iso400 film is suitable for street photography. Delicate image quality is not a characteristic of this type of film. But delta 400 is an exception, it provides better picture quality and higher speed. The Ilford Delta 400 is a competitor to the Kodak T-Max.

sharpness

There is a triangle on the delta 400 packaging box, which is actually a hint. It tells us that this film is sharp. In fact, ilford delta 400 uses a T-shaped crystal particle, and the image superimposed by this particle will be very sharp. The film image is composed of countless tiny particles, and the shape of the particles has a great impact on the image. This is different from the digital imaging principle.

Grayscale

Perhaps the biggest difference between delta 400 and hp5+ is grayscale. The hp5+ has richer tones from highlights to shadows, and the contrast is not as strong as the delta. This is why hp5+ is more popular than delta. When I use the hp5+ for street photography, I like to add a yellow filter to add some contrast, but with the delta, I don’t need a filter.

Summarize

The delta400 is not cheap, so it is quite luxurious for street photographers. And it has very high requirements on exposure, so you must try to expose it accurately to take advantage of it.

Have you ever seen a photography book without pictures?

Street Beijing

Have you ever seen a photography book without pictures?

Walking Around

I just heard about an awesome photographer moving to NYC. Unexpected, but it makes sense. I like his work, they are interesting and you can see an independent thinker. His favorite camera is the Fuji x100 and I love the Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 and take my Leica everywhere I go. And I’m not going to New York, I’m in Beijing.

Interesting photography is more than just good looking photos. The photograph is just the medium. The personality of the photographer is deeply imprinted in the work. We think about life through photography and photography through life.

Photography Book Without Pictures

In short, don’t think that street photographers only have time to take pictures and get lucky. In fact, when not taking pictures, photographers are reading and thinking. One more thing, many photographers have never read a text-only photography book. Can a photography book be without photos? Yes, a good photographer must have read picture books without words and photography books with only words. Have you ever seen a photography book without pictures?

Compact Camera

Many street photographers prefer to use Fuji x100 cameras, while I like to use Leica film cameras. Of course, whether the photos are interesting or not depends mainly on the photographer, not the equipment. But one thing we have in common is that we both use small, quiet rangefinder cameras, which are actually more conducive to street photography. Cameras that don’t disturb other people are more advantageous in street photography. Therefore, sometimes the choice of equipment is also very important for the photographer. the Leica m3 and the Leica Summilux 35 f/1.4 pre-asph are my favorites. I learned this from a photography book without pictures, which was an interview with a photographer. Many street photographers choose cameras for street photography that are compact and don’t interfere with passersby.

Billingham Hadley Pro: My Go-To Photography Bag After a Decade

A friend recently asked for a photography bag recommendation for their commute—something simple, elegant, and versatile enough to hold a camera, laptop, iPad, or phone. Without hesitation, I pointed them to the Billingham Hadley Pro. I’ve been using mine for over ten years. It’s worn at the edges, but that’s a badge of trust—I’ll keep using it.

Crafted in England, this bag boasts a three-layer waterproof canvas with a butyl rubber core, shrugging off rain like it’s nothing. At 8.75 liters, it swallows my DSLR (no grip), two lenses, a 13-inch MacBook, and phone with room to spare. The removable padded insert (foam-lined, Velcro-adjustable) keeps gear safe, while the Quick Release System—brass buckles and leather straps—lets me grab my camera in seconds. I know its quirks like an old friend.

It’s not just a bag; it’s a quiet companion for the daily grind.

LEICA Old Lens Serial Numbers & Dates

Buying old Leica lenses is a lot of fun. By the number we can locate the year of its production and by the year we can know its value. Examples are rarity, state of preservation, and how Leica operated during that period, the quality of the lens, and the history of the world during the same period as the lens. It’s a bit of a mystery how it has anything to do with world history, it does, and old Leica lenses have documented an entire century.

Serial Numbers & Dates
156 001 – 195 000 1933
195 001 – 236 000 1934
236 001 – 284 600 1935
284 601 – 345 000 1936
345 001 – 416 500 1937
416 501 – 490 000 1938
490 001 – 538 500 1939
538 501 – 565 000 1940
565 001 – 582 294 1941
582 295 – 593 000 1942
593 001 – 594 880 1943
594 881 – 595 000 1944
595 001 – 601 000 1945
601 001 – 633 000 1946
633 001 – 647 000 1947
647 001 – 682 000 1948
682 001 – 756 000 1949
756 001 – 840 000 1950
840 001 – 950 000 1951
950 001 – 1 051 000 1952
1 051 000 – 1 124 000 1953
1 124 001 – 1 236 000 1954
1 236 001 – 1 333 000 1955
1 333 001 – 1 459 000 1956
1 459 001 – 1 548 000 1957
1 548 001 – 1 645 300 1958
1 645 301 – 1 717 000 1959
1 717 001 – 1 827 000 1960
1 827 001 – 1 913 000 1961
1 913 001 – 1 967 100 1962
1 967 101 – 2 015 700 1963
2 015 701 – 2 077 500 1964
2 077 501 – 2 156 300 1965
2 156 301 – 2 236 500 1966
2 236 501 – 2 254 400 1967
2 254 401 – 2 312 750 1968
2 312 751 – 2 384 700 1969
2 384 701 – 2 468 500 1970
2 468 501 – 2 503 100 1971
2 503 101 – 2 556 500 1972
2 556 501 – 2 663 400 1973
2 663 401 – 2 731 900 1974
2 731 901 – 2 761 100 1975
2 761 101 – 2 809 400 1976
2 809 401 – 2 880 600 1977
2 880 601 – 2 967 250 1978
2 967 251 – 3 013 650 1979
3 013 651 – 3 087 000 1980
3 087 001 – 3 160 500 1981
3 160 501 – 3 249 100 1982
3 249 101 – 3 294 900 1983
3 294 901 – 3 346 200 1984
3 346 201 – 3 383 200 1985
3 383 201 – 3 422 890 1986
3 422 891 – 3 455 870 1987
3 455 871 – 3 478 900 1988
3 478 901 – 3 503 150 1989
3 503 151 – 3 540 467 1990
3 540 468 – 3 583 830 1991
3 585 831 – 3 610 680 1992

The 10,000 Hour Theory of Photography

Many people believe in the theory of 10,000 hours, but I used to suspect that photography does not exist this theory, photography is the need for talent, is the need for inspiration. But after 10,000 hours it feels as if the understanding of photography is completely different from the initial period, no longer pursuing good looks, no longer pursuing image quality, and even no longer pursuing the feel of the hand ……. However, if I believe in the 10,000 hours theory at the beginning, I can’t stick to it. So, beginners, don’t believe in the theory of 10,000 hours in photography, believe in their own talent, believe in their own inspiration, is the driving force of photography.

Time, a touch away

Amidst the endless dance of light and shade, 
The seasoned lensman delves in yesteryear's cascade, 
Through old photographs, 
a surreal reverie, 
Where time feels but a breath away, 
tender and near.

Photographers, 
souls of romance and verse, 
Capturing tales of life, 
blessings and a curse, 
Embracing the mystical, 
the unseen, I, too, embrace this truth, 
a poet's dream.

How to focus off-center with Leica M?

When using Leica M rangefinder cameras, focusing off-center is actually quite simple. Just focus on the off-center object first, then keep the focus ring in position and shift the camera left or right to recompose the image. If you can estimate the distance to the object, you can also use the distance scale on the lens focus ring, a technique commonly known as zone focusing.

However, with SLR cameras, focusing off-center is more complicated. It typically involves using a focus point selector to find the focus point on the screen. Some SLR users opt to lock focus as an effective alternative method.

However, there’s one thing to keep in mind – don’t just praise Leica for its 50mm lens. Leica’s off-center focusing method may not always be accurate due to the potential error introduced when shifting the camera after focusing. Nevertheless, what sets Leica lenses apart is their ability to produce stunning images even when there is a margin of error. Hehe.

Leica uses SR44 or LR44?

LR44 and SR44 are both button cell batteries with a similar size and shape, but they have some differences in their chemical composition and performance.

LR44 batteries are alkaline batteries, while SR44 batteries are silver oxide batteries. Alkaline batteries have a higher energy density and a longer shelf life, but their voltage output drops more quickly over time compared to silver oxide batteries. Silver oxide batteries have a more stable voltage output, which makes them more suitable for devices that require a consistent power supply.

In terms of performance, SR44 batteries typically last longer and provide more consistent power than LR44 batteries. However, LR44 batteries are more widely available and cheaper than SR44 batteries.

In summary, the main difference between LR44 and SR44 batteries is their chemical composition, which affects their voltage output and overall performance.