john sypal

<p>"Stunning" is a great word to describe the Titaniun MP.<br>

<img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_kqj75oiueo1qzpwppo1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0RYTHV9YYQ4W5Q3HQMG2&Expires=1280296817&Signature=yac52PsqgMTspG7QdXBQlL9wnDA%3D" alt="" width="900" height="675" /></p>

 

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3614384271_3a86222b56_o.jpg" alt="" width="876" height="586" /></p>

<p>I was talking about "lifelong cameras" with my friend yesterday and he told me that his was an M3 with a summilux- to the point where he had his and his wife's wedding rings made to look like a summilux lens barrel. He is an editor for a camera magazine while his wife is a professional photographer, so from what I understand he had little resistance in this choice of wedding bands. A friend of his who is a jeweler created the rings. His wife's ring has the aperture markings, and his is the larger one below it. Both have the distinctive ridges of a vintage Leica lens. The M3 that they are mounted on in the picture is a miniature custom plastic model that he asked another friend to make to fit the rings. <br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3615202594_561b45b0bc_o.jpg" alt="" width="876" height="586" /></p>

<p>A front view of the set- remember, the camera is a miniature model made to fit the rings that make up the "lens". You can see the Summilux ridges here. </p>

<p>One final note- I did not take this photo, but I did get his permission to share it. Enjoy!</p>

<p>It was indeed a Minolta. And the first one I had ever seen being shot on the street... a very beautifully designed camera.<br>

He had a short cable release on it for some reason. You can sort of see it in the larger picture:</p>

<p>http://tokyocamerastyle.com/post/108577875/minolta-asakusa</p>

 

<p>Today I went to a large festival in Asakusa and ended up taking the following pictures within 2 blocks and 15 minutes of each other. The greatest thing is, everyone was actively shooting what they had. I had to wait for the gentleman with the Nicca to finish taking his wife's portrait (she had the G1) before I could approach him. The girl with the canon was not much older than 20, and the guy with the Noctilux was able to show me some of his photos via his iPhone. What a great city. <br>

<a title="asakusa rangefinders by John Sypal, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21347087@N02/3535905668/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/3535905668_1dfac84014_b.jpg" alt="asakusa rangefinders" width="172" height="1024" /></a></p>

<p>As usual all the pictures can be found (larger) on my blog: <a href="http://tokyocamerastyle.com/">Tokyo Camera Style</a><br>

Tokyo Camera Style will be featured in the June 2009 issue of Nippon Camera here in Japan. By all means check it out if you have a chance.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>A Canon P with a new Voigtlander lens and you'd be set. Or, like in the picture below, match it up with a Canon 35mm f2.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3514924517_c0e869691a_o.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>You bet.</p>

<p>http://tokyocamerastyle.com/</p>

 

<p>In case you are interested in seeing more of the man at work:</p>

<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp8pGumbFfQ</p>

 

<p>I second the Mamiya 7. It is the perfect walkabout camera, quieter than any Leica and the prints I can make with it are amazingly detailed.<br>

It looks huge compared to a Leica M, but when placed side by side with a new DSLR . . .<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3201475888_237b6f0052_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p>ok, I have no idea how to correctly get a flickr picture into these threads...</p>

<p>here is the link:</p>

<p>http://www.flickr.com/photos/21347087@N02/3407121756/</p>

<p>Mine jammed at 1/1000 but was ok at the lower speeds. Like you, I could get the shutter gently back into place with my finger but it would just jam again. <br>

Intrestingly enough, the electronics freaked out as well, so my MP is also getting a new circut board to go along with it's new shutter. This is 2 years after getting the chassis replaced ($1100) after it fell off my shoulder to the ground, warping the frame.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Does it look something like this? This happed about 2 weeks ago on vacation. My MP is now at Leica Japan getting a new shutter... there goes $500.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21347087@N02/3407121756/" title="Busted Leica by John Sypal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3407121756_0dfd903165_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Busted Leica" /></a></p>

<p>The William Klein edition is the one I'd prefer...</p>

<p>http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M6/M6-Special/M6-William_Klein2001/index.htm</p>

<p>Looks similar to a Diana camera that I have...<br>

http://www.lomography.jp/microsite/dianajp/content/buynow/images/diana+white.jpg</p>

<p>If you click on "Show Continue" (in small print near the bottom) you can see the Aki-ashi ordered leather replacement.<br>

http://kazuyank.plala.jp/archives/date/2006/04/28/213000.php#comments</p>

<p> This gentleman's blog article is about how he installed the leather himself. I've used Aki-ashi leathers on three polaroid SX-70s and one Olympus OM-1. Great quality and very easy to apply.</p>

 

<p>If you click on "Show Continue" (in small print near the bottom) you can see the Aki-ashi ordered leather replacement.<br>

http://kazuyank.plala.jp/archives/date/2006/04/28/213000.php#comments</p>

<p> This gentleman's blog article is about how he installed the leather himself. I've used Aki-ashi leathers on three polaroid SX-70s and one Olympus OM-1. Great quality and very easy to apply.</p>

 

<p>Have you seen this? It is fairly interesting:</p>

<p>http://www.kenrockwell.com/voigtlander/21mm.htm</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I picked a great book of street photos last weekend in Tokyo: <em><a href="http://www.vacuumpress.org/booksimin.html">Citizens</a></em> by the photographer <a href="http://www.vacuumpress.org/aboutabejun.html">Jun Abe</a>. It is published by an Osaka based publisher called <a href="http://www.vacuumpress.org/">Vacuum Press</a>.</p>

<p>I put some photos of the book and a mini review on my blog which you can see here: http://kenshukan.net/john/archives/2009/03/16/jun-abes-citizens/</p>

<p>If anyone might be interested, <em>Citizens</em> is available from <a href="http://www.japanexposures.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=10336">Japan Exposures</a>. </p>

<p><br /></p>

 

<p>What lens are you shooting with and what frame lines do you need?</p>

<p>Stuart- Yeah, the anthracite MP was beautiful- and the texture of the finish felt quite tough. Similar to the titanium M6, but a litthe rougher. The vulcanite was nice too- wish my MP had the same covering. <br>

Steve- My experience has been that people in Japan take great care of their gear. It is quite rare to see cameras in rough shape, and all the used shops in Shinjuku (save for a shop called Camera Box) seem to be interested only in offering the nicest looking stuff. </p>

<p>Whoops. That last picture should be this one:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3317573820_17398218dc_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p>To encourage and support the photo scene in Tokyo, the Nikon Salon in Shinjuku offers free portfolio reviews by well known photographers several times a year. Yesterday Hiromi Tsuchida was on hand to look over about 25 people's portfolios. In addition to some interesting photography (75%+ shot on film) there were a lot of people with interesting cameras. For your viewing pleasure I present:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3508/3316393312_6d667735ed_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3315566813_30728e3cce_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3315566913_483e9147b1_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /><br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/3316393064_7f098d015a_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3316393250_471da33edf_o.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="700" /><br /><br /> This is the first time I had ever seen the half frame version. Only one of 50 ever made! <br /> The owner (and daily shooter) had an <a href="http://www2.mitte.nir.jp/~m-kam/">MS Optical</a> custom lens made from the glass off of a <a href="http://homepage3.nifty.com/usa_tarou/camera/AF600/AF600.jpg">Nikon Mini</a>. <br /><br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/3316393184_7314fdf1fe_o.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="700" /></p>

<p>Only in Tokyo...</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/3317573928_9c36c907c9_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p>A little bit later I approached a guy with a D3X off his shoulder and and M6 hanging off of his neck for a picture. He saw my MP and pulled an <a href="http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M3/Leica-MP/MP_Anthracite_kit/index.htm">MP Anthracite</a> from his camera bag. "It was a birthday gift from my wife." he told me. Wow.<br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/3316749017_d65f319848_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3317574120_35a1a2c022_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p>Tossed in my MP to see what 10 grand in cameras looks like. (Hint: It looks great)<br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/3316749183_4fb8ec1f5e_o.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="700" /></p>

<p>Later a man with an R6.2 stopped by to check out the two galleries next to the room where portfolios were being reviewed.<br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3317642696_2c2669e5b5_o.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p>Tokyo has to have the highest daily percentage of people shooting on the street with Leicas and rangefinders in the world. . .</p>

<p>Here is a blog of a photographer in Japan who shoots his M8 with a Nokton (among many other lenses- see the categories at the right)</p>

<p>http://sen3.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/cat14429443/index.html</p>

<p> </p>

<p><p>A CLE is a must have for cool kids at Tokyo gallery openings. Most CLE shooters I see on the streets are under 30.</p><br>

<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21347087@N02/2824953254/" title="Leica MP, Minolta CLE by John Sypal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2824953254_62d330c8cf_o.jpg" width="700" height="525" alt="Leica MP, Minolta CLE" /></a></p>

<p><p>An M5 is another acceptable option for meet and greet events.</p><br>

<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21347087@N02/3186116096/" title="yokohama by John Sypal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3186116096_8d3b173b68_o.jpg" width="700" height="525" alt="yokohama" /></a></p>

<p>Agreed- if you are shooting on the streets of Tokyo, I assure you the last thing anyone is going to hear is a shutter. However if you want a really quiet camera pick up a Mamiya 7! The prices have dropped quite a bit lately.</p>

<p>I think it is a Ricoh GR. <br>

There is a cafe in Shinjuku near where he took the photo of the guy next to the lion statute- Moriyama is often there so it's kind of a cool surprise to sit down and look over to see him sitting right there at the table next to you with a coffee in hand.</p>

<p>Here's an 8 min video of Moriyama Daido shooting on the streets on Shinjuku, and from 7:00 on, his darkroom habits. Check out his chemical mixing technique!</p>

<p>It's a pity that there is no sound.</p>

<p>

<p><br /></p>