I've nearly gotten the hang of zone focusing over the past year and half that I've owned my Rollei 35. It's a great camera and takes really good photos, I just find it difficult to use the wider apertures unless I'm fairly confident of my focus distance. Also, making a McDonald's hamburger taste good is an awful lot to ask of BBQ sauce. I'm not sure any sauce is up to that challenge.
Nice! I’ve had mine permanently paired with the 25mm Snapshot Skopar. It’s non-coupled but has 1, 2, and 5 meter detentes in the focus sweep. It’s silver too, like they were made for each other. I skip the viewfinder altogether and pretend it’s mirrorless. Well… it is.
I own the original Leica M1. It does have a rangefinder, but no viewfinder. After a couple of hours, it feels natural. I tend to shoot at the 35/50 with the built in rangefinder. Most of the photography does not require too much extra effort as long as I am not using something like a 135mm lens at 3 feet.
Owning a Bessa-L is sorta like what you having But not in a long shot . the fun part of having a black box that comes with shutter speed and film advance is you get to mount all sort of " modified " lens on the body and just have fun. recently im totally addicted to buying cheap lens that mod into L39 and putting on the camera and just zone focus away with f4 - f8 just have fun it become a point and shoot ( almost ) but yeah its alot of fun.
This is my kind of shooting. I have a couple Canon VT Deluxe rangefinders with 21mm and 25mm color skopars with external viewfinders. The 25mm forces me to zone focus and it is a very relaxing way to shoot. Nice video 👍
Another winning post! Lots of great images, and even the ones that are not my style are interesting. That building and sand at 2:41...I look forward to seeing how you captured it. I could really spend a few minutes there. The Hawaiian motel in the desert was just a case of wishful thinking. I will have to try BBQ sauce on McD's sometime. You guys have a good food channel mixed in with the photography. Edit: Loved the bit about scale focusing and the metric system.
Love those motel shots! It’s great seeing how yours and Jason’s perspectives differ! (Also just as Mace Windu was onto Palpatine, I’m ONTO you!! Don’t underestimate my power!!!!)
I've shot quite a few old folding cameras before most of which don't have viewfinders and those are pretty good fun. I ended up picking up an external rangefinder which is really useful for when your second guessing distances or using wider apertures. Otherwise I use f8 and forget, set aperture to f8, focus at about 5m (so infinity is within focus) and then just leave it works well when your walking about.
Well done and I'm a big fan of the 15mm Voigtlander...the Bessa L with a 15 and 25mm is a lot of fun to shoot, but the body isn't quite up to the Leica build quality. (BTW, congrats on your engagement!)
Purchased a Fed3 awhile back. Was in love...honeymoon phase because now I am over it. LOL I do love that camera body though..of the MDa. I do remember that previous trip. Time sure has flown by! 6:40 solid image! So what is the hand cam shot with? Such a cool addition. 12:27 Baxter's Dad
Nice! I have one of these (body only) that I have no idea what I want to do with - can't decide between selling it or picking up a cheap ultrawide lens. Definitely a neat little camera!
Awesome, you got the ranging in metric down pat already! If you want to change the aesthetic to something “moderne” keep an eye for a Watameter (?sp) rangefinder if you want to try some tighter lenses closer up.
While I realise it’s not the popular cool kids thing to do; have you tried shooting Pan-F versus pushing HP5 when it’s incredibly bright outside. 50 iso is great for bright scenes (like the desert) with shallow depth of field and has a similar contrast profile to pushed HP5. The only thing that might be a downside or might be a bonus depending on your view is the reduced grain size.
I’ve always found those cameras really cool. I no disrespect to my M3 and M5 but I have considered a Bessa T which is basically an MDa with a rangefinder.
Bro, if you're ever going to move to Australia you're gonna have to learn the metric system. Also it's basically a Voigtlander. The amount of external viewfinders they have because of their lens system is insane. I thought given that you like a bit of both systems and that you would like a lot of this camera....
Just like you I became obsessed with this camera despite the shortcomings. I shoot mine with the 21mm f3.4 Leica (Schneider) Super Angulon and 21mm Leica auxiliary finder. Mostly zone focus due the incredible depth of field of the 21mm but on critical images I use a little Stanley laser distance meter to get an exact distance. I am almost tempted to try a Leica M1 as well (35 & 50mm viewfinder but still no rangefinder)
I had the MD-2 and was also surprised at how much I didn't miss a rangefinder. I used it with the Lomo Minitar 2.8 lens, a zone focus lens, so the lack of a rangefinder didn't matter much.
I received a Leica MDa in 2018 from a retired University prof. who said it was purchased for a microscope but never used, to his knowledge. I checked the bottom panel rim and its pure black indicating it was rarely used or not at all. Thanks for the tip.
@@BadFlashes Yes it is for underwater but some of the lenses can still be used on land. They made an orange one and a green one and during either the Vietnam or Korean War some photojournalist famously shot aerochrome through one. I got a fully functional one from my local dive shop for $100 and I’ve puta couple rolls through it in the snow and rain and it really is a joy to use. It only has the viewfinder for composing you have to do scale focusing. The shooting experience is very similar to the mda.
Well that’s my dinner time viewing sorted.
Sick!!! :)
I've nearly gotten the hang of zone focusing over the past year and half that I've owned my Rollei 35. It's a great camera and takes really good photos, I just find it difficult to use the wider apertures unless I'm fairly confident of my focus distance.
Also, making a McDonald's hamburger taste good is an awful lot to ask of BBQ sauce. I'm not sure any sauce is up to that challenge.
hahah I know ... but I helps even if it is just a bit lol
I don't know... Sweet Baby Ray's might be close
🤣
Cool to see some love for the blind version! Should totally throw some Googly eyes on the front, it would look hilarious
shit ... that is a great idea!
Nice! I’ve had mine permanently paired with the 25mm Snapshot Skopar. It’s non-coupled but has 1, 2, and 5 meter detentes in the focus sweep. It’s silver too, like they were made for each other. I skip the viewfinder altogether and pretend it’s mirrorless. Well… it is.
haha it very much is! that's a fun combo!
Nice surprises when shooting blind with no viewfinder at all. I am using the 21mm Super Angulon on mine.
I have the same setup. I gotta say it's possibly the most fun I've had with a camera in ages.
Love it! Love the removal of one thing to enhance evrrything else! Cool stuff, this is a wedding cam for sure !
Hahaha right. Wedding cam!!!
Niice, Jason and Caleb upload at the same time
Always baby!!!
I own the original Leica M1. It does have a rangefinder, but no viewfinder. After a couple of hours, it feels natural. I tend to shoot at the 35/50 with the built in rangefinder. Most of the photography does not require too much extra effort as long as I am not using something like a 135mm lens at 3 feet.
I like and feeels that for sure 👍🏼 😍
One of your best videos! Great shot’s and loved the extra effort for the POV shots 👍
Aw thanks! I’m glad you liked them. :) I had fun with it
You really are going to try and get all the Leicas, I wish you the best of luck in achieving that goal! Amazing video as always thank you!
Fingers crossed! I mean ill try hahahah thanks for the love
Owning a Bessa-L is sorta like what you having But not in a long shot . the fun part of having a black box that comes with shutter speed and film advance is you get to mount all sort of " modified " lens on the body and just have fun. recently im totally addicted to buying cheap lens that mod into L39 and putting on the camera and just zone focus away with f4 - f8 just have fun it become a point and shoot ( almost ) but yeah its alot of fun.
I hear ya! A black box with a focus ring. You can’t beat it! 😜
‘Massive Winnie-The-Pooh. 😂 Hilarious!
Finally! Someone commented on my genius joke lol
@@BadFlashes It took a while, but finally showed up.
This is my kind of shooting. I have a couple Canon VT Deluxe rangefinders with 21mm and 25mm color skopars with external viewfinders. The 25mm forces me to zone focus and it is a very relaxing way to shoot. Nice video 👍
Oh nice!!!
And thanks :)
Another winning post! Lots of great images, and even the ones that are not my style are interesting. That building and sand at 2:41...I look forward to seeing how you captured it. I could really spend a few minutes there.
The Hawaiian motel in the desert was just a case of wishful thinking.
I will have to try BBQ sauce on McD's sometime. You guys have a good food channel mixed in with the photography.
Edit: Loved the bit about scale focusing and the metric system.
Haha food is our second pastime.
I’m excited to show my photos there as well! It was really such a cool place
Great episode as always, love the music🎉
yaya so glad! thanks for the love
without rangefinder mechanism, does that mean minimum focus range depends on indivual lens?
It’s all about the lens specifically.
Love those motel shots! It’s great seeing how yours and Jason’s perspectives differ! (Also just as Mace Windu was onto Palpatine, I’m ONTO you!! Don’t underestimate my power!!!!)
aw thanks! and solid reference lol
Hi, does the old leica visoflex SLR adapter work with the MDa? Might be a solution to the composition blindness.
Yep
Literally almost bought one of these this week. Need to see this now
what stopped ya?
I've shot quite a few old folding cameras before most of which don't have viewfinders and those are pretty good fun.
I ended up picking up an external rangefinder which is really useful for when your second guessing distances or using wider apertures. Otherwise I use f8 and forget, set aperture to f8, focus at about 5m (so infinity is within focus) and then just leave it works well when your walking about.
oh yeah that makes a lot of sense! 😍
Love it got one with a 15mm hologon…looks really cool
Oh yeah!!!! 😍
Good video Love the photos I have the Bessa-L with a Voightlander 25mm lens + view finder & there is a meter in the camera. Not a bad setup.
Solid. So into it
Well done and I'm a big fan of the 15mm Voigtlander...the Bessa L with a 15 and 25mm is a lot of fun to shoot, but the body isn't quite up to the Leica build quality.
(BTW, congrats on your engagement!)
ahhhhh thanks!
and you are right, not quite there but still amazing
Purchased a Fed3 awhile back. Was in love...honeymoon phase because now I am over it. LOL I do love that camera body though..of the MDa. I do remember that previous trip. Time sure has flown by! 6:40 solid image! So what is the hand cam shot with? Such a cool addition. 12:27 Baxter's Dad
🥰 I mean if I told you would that break the illusion???
@@BadFlashes okay I’ll just enjoy the art 😅
Nice! I have one of these (body only) that I have no idea what I want to do with - can't decide between selling it or picking up a cheap ultrawide lens. Definitely a neat little camera!
I mean... I think this video is your guide forward lol
@@BadFlashes lol fair enough! Your shots are making the ultrawide option pretty appealing 😄
wow shooting wide in abandoned buildings does look dope, gonna have to give it a shot!
Do it!!!!!!!
Awesome, you got the ranging in metric down pat already!
If you want to change the aesthetic to something “moderne” keep an eye for a Watameter (?sp) rangefinder if you want to try some tighter lenses closer up.
Trying :)
Oh god oh god now I want this and the chroma/lane 24mm f11 with fixed focus and fixed aperture 😢
sorry ... didn't mean too do this to ya lol
Great vid as usual Caleb. Got a question tho, what camera strap do u use?
this camera has the clever supply strap on it ... I also use heath and hind as well!
While I realise it’s not the popular cool kids thing to do; have you tried shooting Pan-F versus pushing HP5 when it’s incredibly bright outside. 50 iso is great for bright scenes (like the desert) with shallow depth of field and has a similar contrast profile to pushed HP5. The only thing that might be a downside or might be a bonus depending on your view is the reduced grain size.
naw ..... it's sup pop ... you are killing it! deep down I know you know 🥰
@@BadFlashes I have no idea what I just read. But I’m going to interpret it as you buying some pan-f, which makes me happy.
Haha now reading that back, I have no clue what I was trying to say. But keep killing it. Lol
Get a handful of LTM lenses and one of those Soviet turret finders and this thing would be perfect.
boom! that's what's up!
Did you keep this camera?
Yep!!!!
@@BadFlashes I work at keh … I’m thinking heavily about grabbing the mdA
It seems like you got many usable images bro, especially without the range… any thoughts 💭
real eyes.. realize.. that you dont need a viewfinder for dope ass desert pics
naw just a dope ass film stock
I’ve always found those cameras really cool. I no disrespect to my M3 and M5 but I have considered a Bessa T which is basically an MDa with a rangefinder.
I mean those are dope cams toooooo
Or the Bessa L with neither rangefinder or viewfinder, just a meter. (but it is a Leica LTM mount, not M mount)
Way to go Caleb. Baker is a great stop in the desert. You should try shooting hardcore without any viewfinder just point and see what you get :-)
maybe that is my next video lol
I like that washed out Polaroid. Tis art.
Or fART LOL
Bro, if you're ever going to move to Australia you're gonna have to learn the metric system. Also it's basically a Voigtlander. The amount of external viewfinders they have because of their lens system is insane. I thought given that you like a bit of both systems and that you would like a lot of this camera....
I love both for sure!
Love the parade scarf
haha thanks ... I really like it tooo
Well, that answers the question of which would you by first, the MD or M5.
haha yep!
Just like you I became obsessed with this camera despite the shortcomings. I shoot mine with the 21mm f3.4 Leica (Schneider) Super Angulon and 21mm Leica auxiliary finder. Mostly zone focus due the incredible depth of field of the 21mm but on critical images I use a little Stanley laser distance meter to get an exact distance. I am almost tempted to try a Leica M1 as well (35 & 50mm viewfinder but still no rangefinder)
Oh yeah. I mean it would be way too coool!
That's resourceful using the laser for accurate distance..
can you get a Harman EZ 35 and do a review on it
What’s that???????
@@BadFlashes a new 35mm film point and shoot google it
I had the MD-2 and was also surprised at how much I didn't miss a rangefinder. I used it with the Lomo Minitar 2.8 lens, a zone focus lens, so the lack of a rangefinder didn't matter much.
Oh yeah makes sense!!! Love it
Just realised Leica probably named the Leica M-D in reference to the MDa cus you can’t see your picture 🤣🤩🤩🤩
Lol oh shit. That’s right and I want one
Cool gopro
Haha close :)
😂😂😂😂😂
A “Cheap Leica” is an oxymoron like “Jumbo Shrimp.”
but they both taste good! 🤣
You’re killing me! Nothing I don’t love about this…
🥰🥰🥰🥰 didn’t mean to kill ya
Best maintenance for your Leica bodies ? - - -TLC Camera Repair
ok ill check them out sometime!
Lmao the MDMA intro
😝😝😝
yess
Yes yea yesssss
4:05 nice orange-teal
🙌🏼
There. I watched your video. AND I liked and Subscribed. How much more can you ask of me!
Hahaha EVER SINGLE ONE….. forever till the END 😆
Always thought this camera looks horrendously wrong.
but in the best way ??? lol
@@BadFlashes Suure.
I received a Leica MDa in 2018 from a retired University prof. who said it was purchased for a microscope but never used, to his knowledge. I checked the bottom panel rim and its pure black indicating it was rarely used or not at all. Thanks for the tip.
Oh, that’s sweet! Welcome to the club
i would buy a rangefinder that sits on the coldshoe
Yeah. Could also do that!
It's fun zone focusing but I am familiar with manual flash photography.
I take my body height and "lay" myself down to find the distance that way.
Solid !!!
You said Pooh.....🤣
😆
This is basically just like my Nikonos V
but for underwater ? right lol
@@BadFlashes Yes it is for underwater but some of the lenses can still be used on land. They made an orange one and a green one and during either the Vietnam or Korean War some photojournalist famously shot aerochrome through one. I got a fully functional one from my local dive shop for $100 and I’ve puta couple rolls through it in the snow and rain and it really is a joy to use. It only has the viewfinder for composing you have to do scale focusing. The shooting experience is very similar to the mda.
its tradition. Jason first, then Caleb
but sometimes traditions must be broken lol
@@BadFlashes i promise to do so the next time
The reason anyone would buy this is if they can't afford a m3/m2/m6/ etc and have excellent zone focusing skills
Yep. That basically is the thing lol
That's one sexy camera.
Right.
I think you "found the range"
😆
get urself a 21mm lens and suddenly you have yourself a leica hasselblad swc
Oh yeah love that idea.
I bleed for this mfing channel at this point.
happy blood lol
says MDMA at 7:57
😜
Dr. Leica, M.D
Hahahaha DMAN. That would have been a good joke
@@BadFlashes So use it next time. We'll be watching for it.
Hey, Grainy days has double this length. I feel gyped.
have you watched my video ????? I said more to come! lol all in all the same amount of time at this place haha
@@BadFlashes when I get home lol.
Hahaha ok fine 😆
Just buy a smena 8m instead
Ah shit that’s wide lol
Leica is a drug? Drugs are cheaper.
depends on how many drugs you buy tho lol ... not that I know
@@BadFlashes “wanna buy some ektar 100 kid? Big batch, almost half off.”
🤪
interesting I have only tried the Leica MDMA myself and lets just say DADDY LIKES
oh ... love it!