More from the LX5

Without doubt, the LX5 has become a favourite among my collection of vintage compact cameras, nearly always finding a spot in my camera bag on weekend shoots and often in my daily carry bag for work.

I had started today with my Lumix GX8 and Olympus 12-40 pro lens, for its weather proofing, given that the start to todays outing was slightly damp.

I took a few shots along the Exeter quayside with this combo but as the rain ceased, out came the LX5 for what I had thought would be a few shots but turned out that I would shoot with this one for the rest of the morning.

In terms of image quality the GX8 wins hands down over the LX5 but there is just something about the ‘5’ that makes me want to use it, so I do just that.

Some may suggest that the older CCD sensor has a ‘filmic’ quality which is why digicams have had such a resurgence, others say that the collaboration with Leica for the fixed lens makes it such a good camera, both are compelling arguments but for me, it is the fun I get in using this little pocket rocket.

Saturday not as planned

Today was to have been an early train from Exeter to Teignmouth, the intention being to hopefully capture the sunrise, my optimism was unfortunately thwarted by pouring rain for most of the morning.

With Plan ‘A’ out of the window, plan ‘B’ would be to seize any window of opportunity, however brief to continue my dalliance with shooting squares, my latest self imposed challenge.

I use the word ‘challenge’, yet in all honesty this has ceased to become a challenge, put simply, it’s turned out to be a whole lot of fun, especially the monochrome emphasis.

Once again, I chose the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 lens, just for its compactness and the fact it is becoming one of my favourite focal lengths.

September sunrise

The summer months have slipped by all too fast this year, it’s hard to believe that the middle of September is almost upon us.

It has been eight weeks since my last visit to my home town of Salcombe, I had some catching up do, a two day stay with my dad was the priority, an early walk on Saturday morning with the camera would be a bonus.

After a couple of weeks of a belated heatwave, the signs of autumn’s approach have been delayed for the time being, only the later timing of the sunrise to a more sociable 6:45 am give some hint to the shorter days this season brings.

I was still awake at silly O’clock but waited until just after 5am for the first leisurely brew of the day, before setting out at just before six.

A subtle hint of dawn mist floated like gossamer on the calm waters of the estuary, while the sky showed promise with pastel hues as the sun began its ascent.

Other than a couple of pleasure fishing boats being readied for the days outing by their keen occupants, there was not a soul around, the place was ours, the anglers supping their mugs of tea, while I readied my camera for what may come.

I was not to be disappointed, the sunrise was everything I could have hoped for, it’s mornings such as these that are such a pleasure to wake up to and photograph.

Beesands in black and white

After a busy few weeks during the peak season, I am back to a Monday to Friday routine, seeing a welcome return to my visits to my home town of Salcombe.

While I am still focusing on my ‘squares’ project, the black and white theme was temporarily put on hold, as Saturday’s early outing rewarded me with some beautiful light and colours, so today saw the return to ‘normal service’

Today’s shoot was with the latest bargain buy, an Olympus EM10 mk III, with a 17mm F1.8 Olympus lens (35mm full frame equivalent).

This particular focal length is probably my favourite, certainly my most used after spending a year shooting with just a Fujifilm X100F just a couple of years ago, going back to it once more is like slipping into a comfy pair of well worn shoes.

Today’s outing is at Beesands, on the South Devon coast, a couple hours here before my return to Exeter for the start of another working week.

Inspired by the Olympus ‘Grainy film’ mode, I have developed some custom presets, some with less grain and contrast, others to emulate that gritty analogue vibe, Capture one being my editing suite of choice, that said, I do like the in camera output enough to use on some occasions.

I am really enjoying the challenge of the black and white format, learning to use the light and tonality to my advantage, looking for other shots when the light is not in an ideal place, I do feel that I am learning to ‘see’ in black and white the further I get into this project as my shot choices are becoming more selective.

Twelve months of digicams

This is a post I never thought I would be writing this time last year, I had just dipped my toes into the world of retro digicams with the purchase of a Canon S95 compact camera, a camera I thought I would use now and again, then after the curiosity value had faded, it would end up in a box or cupboard, rarely seeing the light of day again.

How wrong could I be, with this initial purchase justified as a ‘phase’ the collection has grown somewhat over the last year, as the phase has become something bordering on obsession!

For this post however, it will be to celebrate my humble S95 and how it still finds its way into my camera bag.

There are many videos and discussions about the early generation digital cameras that sport the ‘ccd’ sensor, the precursor to the cheaper CMOS sensor used in most cameras these days, the ’95’ has the ccd and I think there is something about the colour rendering that digicam fans really like, myself included.

It was not my intention to walk the same route with the S95 as I had for it’s first outing, that was a case of pure serendipity but I am glad I did, if only for the sight of three kingfishers darting to and fro in a blur of bright blue and orange, too fast to capture with the camera but locked away in my mind as one of natures gifts. a memory to treasure.

Even the weather was similar to that first shoot, skies of blue and still waters on the Exe, creating some lovely reflections.

Of course the ’95’ is not perfect but is any camera?
It is a camera that I have learned to use with the restrictions that a smaller sensor brings but for me the flaws are outweighed by just how much fun it has been to experience that learning curve and return to taking good old fashioned snapshots.

It is fair to say that I have taken some of my favourite shots this year, with this camera and others in my collection, simply by virtue of having them with me most, if not all of the time.