jim_a

<p>Hi James. Funny timing on your post. My iMac Retina configured the same as your with a 512GB SSD arrived today. Upgrading from a 2009 Mac Pro. I'll be disappointed if I don't see a big leap in performance with LR.</p>

<p>Daniel, yep, that is the one stupid thing about the X100T. Fuji went brain dead on this one. A firmware fix would be welcomed. But it obviously doesn't bug me as much as it did you. I rarely go into the menus now I configured the camera to my liking. I've trained myself to hit the menu or Q button, hit the live view button, makes my changes, then hit the view mode button 3 times to cycle back to viewfinder only mode. </p> <p>Talking about stupid decision, I'm still peeved over Canon's lack of Exposure Compensation when in manual mode with auto iso engaged. Leica got this right with the M9 and Fuji not until the X100T.</p>

<p>Arthur,</p> <p>In full disclosure, the Fuji X100T has become my other favorite camera. I purchased the original X100 when it came out, hoping it would cure my rangefinder viewing itch. I had a love/hate relationship with that camera. It sat unused most of the time after about a year when I gave up on it.</p> <p>When the X100T came out all the reviews spurred me on to rent one. I had previously rented the X100S but it didn't fix the usability flaws for me. The T is a whole different camera operationally. Fuji pretty much nailed it. I sold the X100 and bought the T. It has become my every day carry camera. It's so small and light you don't have a reason NOT to take it everywhere. The Leica M-E has become the camera I take when I out just to photograph. It's so zen and the the sensor is still stunning. Since the 35mm FOV is my favorite these two cameras form a versatile duo depending on my whims and needs. I have found myself using the EVF and flash on the X100T from time to time. It's nice to have them.</p>

<p>Arthur,<br> About a year and half ago I purchases a Leica M-E at a great price. It was my first digital M, but I used film M's for many years, so I already had the glass.</p> <p>I'd like to put a different spin on this. Why did we shoot Leica M's in the first place in the film era? For me, at first, it was about the mystique of the Leica M itself. I remember the first time I enlarged images from my first M2 with a 35mm Cron. I was blown away by the sharpness, contrast and clarity compared to my Nikon 35mm lens.</p> <p>After using the M for about a year, I noticed something changed in my seeing and compositions; my images became more dynamic and composition less rigid. Seeing through the rangefinder window was liberating. Everything from near to far is perfectly sharp. You start to see spatial relationships. Through the SLR I was seeing everything at f/2.</p> <p>The images I was making with the M were more satisfying than those I was making with an SLR. That sold me on Leicas, or perhaps better stated, the RF way of seeing.</p> <p>When digital rolled around for me in 2003 I started down the DSLR path with Olympus, then Pentax and finally FF with Canon. The M8 held no interest. And it was a rough start for Leica. I could not swallow the price of the M9 upon introduction.</p> <p>Stumbled upon the M-E at a show and was smitten. It felt better than any M9 I has played with. Rented one for 10 days and purchased mine soon after. It's by no means a low light monster, but up to 1600 it's usable for me.</p> <p>I was thinking about the Leica MA the other day. It gave me hope Leica would one day continue with a digital Leica MA, which would really just be the 240, sans video and live view.</p> <p>Unless you are invested in seeing through a RF camera, you are probably going to be better served with other offerings at a better price. For the pure RF way of seeing the Leica M-E/9/240 are about the only options. They are still wonderfully simple digital cameras compared to anything else I've used.</p>

<p>I agree with Wouter. Finally upgrading from my 2009 Mac Pro to the Late 2015 27" iMac. I opted for the 4GB card as I tend to keep my Macs for a long time and hope the benefits of the top-end card are realized in LR and PS.</p> <p>The <a href="http://atp.fm/episodes/141">Accidental Tech Podcast</a> guys linked to an interesting video showing the heat build up of the new iMac compared to the last iMac 27" Retina version. Apple has made improvements: <a href="

<p>1.202 is the latest M9/M-E firmware. 2.024 is the latest M8 firmware: Use the pulldowns to navigate between the cameras. M9 link below:<br> <a href="http://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93710&subcategory=93713&type=108942&language=93871">http://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93710&subcategory=93713&type=108942&language=93871</a><br> FWIW, I run the latest version on my M-E and there are no issues. I would upgrade. 1.196 included</p> <ul> <li>Further improvements of SD-Card compatibility</li> <li>Implementation of the Lens detection of the new APO-Summicron-M 1:2/50mm ASPH.</li> <li>Improved power management</li> </ul> <p>1.202 seemed to be for only lenses, but you will get the other improvements from 1.196 in 1.202.<br> Cheers,<br> Jim</p> <p> </p>

<p>If you don't have to buy right now, hold on. New models coming in the next month or so.</p>

<p>FWIW, I also use a Leica M-E. :)</p>

<p>I find the T misses focus rarely compared to the original. I know what you mean by the controls. The T is miles ahead with the addition of the Q button. I don't know how many times I raised the X100 to my eye to find I had hit some button, throwing the camera into an unexpected mode. Frustrating.<br> I've locked the T down so I can't hit a button and find myself in panorama or movie mode. The back spinning ring is now a 4-way pad to which I've assigned focus points. Everything else I might want on occasion lives under the Q button (flash, flash exp comp, ISO, ND filter, self timer, etc)<br> A big change is the ability to use exposure compensation while in manual mode with auto ISO. Usually I set the shutter speed and aperture manually and let the camera pick the ISO.<br> Rent a T if you can before giving up on the X series.<br> BTW, I liked your photo of the man with the violin.</p>

<p>Eyal, <br /> Do you have the original X100, S or T?<br /> I purchased the first X100 when it came out. I had a love/hate relationship with the camera. Eventually the frustration side won out and it sat on my shelf. I rented the S when it came out, but that camera didn't solve my issues with the camera.<br> <br /> For a while I had been following Mark Alor Powell on Flickr ( <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/locaburg/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/locaburg/</a>). He started shooting a lot with the original X100. He spurred me on to get mine off the shelf and give it another try. The firmware updates really helped. While using the X100 again I made <a href="http://www.jimarnold.org/images/details.php?image_id=1080">this image</a>, which rekindled my interest in the camera.<br> <br /> I started to read about the X100T and decided to rent it for 10 days. The T solved all my issues with the original X100. It's the camera I wished for in the first X100. It's become my daily shooter.</p> <p> </p>

<p>In today's dollars he spent $5,706 for the two bodies and three lenses.</p>

<p>No brainer. The 40mm 2.8 pancake. Less is more. Slap this thing on the 6D and you have a lightweight package you will actually want to carry. When you carry your camera you make images. Simple as that.</p>

<p>You might find this helpful: <a href="http://www.anandtech.com/show/9136/the-2015-macbook-review/8">http://www.anandtech.com/show/9136/the-2015-macbook-review/8</a></p>

<p>Using <a href="https://www.arqbackup.com/">Arq</a> to back up my images to Amazon Glacier. Arq can back up to a variety of cloud services. My view of cloud back up for my images is one of last resort. I'm hoping I never need to access the images. <br> Everything on my computer is also sent to Backblaze, not just the photos.<br> It took about a month to get around 600GB of photos into Amazon Glacier and took about 8 months to get everything in Backblaze.</p>

<p>For the M9/M-E I highly recommend the Panasonic Gold Class 10 SD Cards. </p>

<p>I've been backing up my photos to Glacier for 13 months now. Total charges for the first year were $68.50. Once I had it configured (Glacier and S3 isn't exactly intuitive) Arq worked on its own to upload my photos. I highly recommend Arq. The app is routinely updated and the developer is responsive to queries.</p> <p>Using Uverse I initially uploaded about 440GB of images. I averaged .8GB (that's point 8) of data uploaded per hour, taking about 24 days.</p> <p>I'm also experimenting with Backblaze to upload everything, not just my photos. I snagged a year of their service for next to nothing, so it was worth trying. But it will almost take a just to upload all my data.</p> <p>Since I have my images backed up to multiple HD's, one of which I keep in my office, I view Glacier as a backup of last resort.</p> <p>With Google's Nearline and Amazon's Cloud Photo Storage in the mix, the cloud storage market for photographers became more interesting and confusing.</p> <p> </p>

<p>The 35/2.8 Zeiss Biogon-C is a stellar lens. Having pitted this lens agains the Leica 35/2 ASHP, it's as good as the ASPH at 2.8, perhaps better. You are giving nothing up with the Zeiss in terms of optical quality. Sharp wide open and flare resistant. Peaks at 5.6. Better OOF background transition and smoothness compared to my Leica ASPH. This lens balances so well on M bodies compared to the ASPH.<br> <br /> Zeiss Biogon-C on Leica M-E<br /> <img src="http://www.jimarnold.org/images/data/media/21/l1002603.jpg" alt="" width="700" /><br /> Wide open<br /> <img src="http://www.jimarnold.org/images/data/media/21/L1001606.jpg" alt="" width="700" /></p>

<p>John,<br> Why not copy the prints with your D700? Seems much faster than a flatbed.</p>

<p>I think you will find this <a href="http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html">dirty lens article</a> interesting.</p>

<p>M2-R, M6 or .58 MP with Zeiss 35/2.8 Biogon-C</p>

<p>Researching this same issue in early 2013 I found that some people would get a 6D with some wear or a few thousand shutter actuations. Mine arrived in like-new condition with full warranty. Unless Canon reset the counter on my camera, it started with frame 1. I ordered my 6D (body only) from the Canon store and paid just under $1,300 including shipping and tax.</p>

<p>You may want to view this video on setting up the 6D wifi. It can be a PITA to get set up initially, but it's been reliable once connected.<br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnPlzeXi80A">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnPlzeXi80A</a><br /><br /></p>

<p>Sorry, start of a rant...<br> Perhaps Canon will finally program the next 6D to use exposure compensation while in manual mode with auto ISO. I've bugged Chuck Westfall several times over the last few years about this. Not holding my breath Canon will ever issue a firmware update.<br> Ray, keep an eye on the Canon refurb site. I snagged a like new 6D for just under $1,300 late last year</p>

<p>Ray, have you rented an M240?</p>

<p>Rent them first and see what you like. Less is more.</p>