Glass workshop Waterford Eire with Industar L61 on Leica M8

While in Waterford recently I passed a glass gallery, its located near the Bishop's Palace. The workshop door was open and the glass-blower was at work. I attached my Industar L61 52mm and took a few shots.
Processed into B/W in Lightroom

Rocolax IR/UV filters with Leica M8

Finally a day when its not pissing it down in York.
I had a walk around the city centre with the Rocolax IR/UV filter on my Voigtlander 15mm Heliar and looked for some people wearing black synthetic fabrics.
As can be seen in the photo the filter works just as it should, black is reproduced as black.
Also as expected the DNG files straight out of the camera had cyan corners and, something I'd not read about, the filters also upset the white balance on the M8. Both these are easily fixed, the cyan corners in Cornerfix and the WB in Lightroom.

Some people in York wearing black taken without the Rocolax IR/UV filter

Some people in York wearing black synthetic fabric shot using Rocolax IR/UV filter

His and Hers Canon shooters

I spotted this couple shooting around York Minster and noticed they were both photographing the same views, I followed them around for a while and got them in formation. He had a 5D2 she was using a smaller Canon DSLR. Appropriate cameras for a Minster!

Moody Minster

Stonegate in York

So, in conclusion I can report that the Rocolax IR/UV filters work as expected and if you want to save a bit of money are worth getting. They seem to be available only via Ebay in the UK.

Leica M8 IR/UV filters

Waiting for me in a customs cleared packet (no duty charged this time) when I got back from Waterford were the IR/UV filters I'd bought from Ebay. A 49mm for my Elmarit 28mm and a 52mm for the new Voigtlander 15mm Heliar. I paid £25 each for these compared to around £50-60 for B+W equivalents.

Rocolax IR/UV filter boxes

Quite nicely presented in a quality box, the filter being further contained in the usual clear plastic filter case. I've never heard of Rocolax filters (I think it sounds more like a laxative brand!) but they claim to be made with German technology, whatever that means, and have a hologram sticker so they must be good! 

I've had a quick Google for Rocolax filters but all I can find are various forum messages from people asking if anyone else has used them and if they were any good.

Leica M8 with Rocolax IR/UV filter on Voigtlander 15mm Heliar

The filters reflect red like the Leica ones. No one will ever know!

When the UK gets a bit of sunshine I'll take some shots of people wearing black polyester to see if they work.

Waterford with the Voigtlander 15mm Heliar

I've just returned from Waterford in Eire. I thought this might be a good opportunity to take my new Voigtlander 15mm Heliar with me to try out.
Unfortunately the weather was awful apart from an hour or so on the last day of my visit.
I managed a stroll around Waterford and took a few shots with the M8/Voigtlander 15mm combo.
First impressions are that the lens is sharp and has a prominent vignette, which Cornerfix successfully removes once a profile has been made. However I rather like it and left it in for these photos, in fact I added a bit more vignette in Lightroom to a couple.
Unusually for me I think two of these look better in colour so I left them like that.

Cosina Voigtlander 15mm Heliar aspheric Leica M Mount

My Cosina Voigtlander 15mm aspheric Leica M Mount has arrived.


I bought this from an Ebay  vendor (rangefinder2008) based in Thailand. The service was top-class and the lens arrived quickly.
Once in the UK however it could not be delivered as HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs) decided that I had to pay the duty and VAT. I suppose I've got to make my contribution to paying for the ridiculous 60th jubilee concert by tired old performers after a knighthood. Don't you think that Elton John looks more and more like Anne Widdcombe? 
Anyway I digress. The lens is really well constructed, fit and finish are superb, as good as my Elmarit. 
Unfortunately its really shitty weather here today so I've not had the opportunity to take any pics with it and I'm allergic to cats so don't have one to take a photo of, so I'll have to post some later. In the meantime here are some pics of the lens, mounted on my M8 and compared to the Elmarit 28mm.

Cosina Voigtlander Heliar 15mm M Mount

Lens is very compact mounted on the M8

Compared to Elmarit 28mm

With the M8 crop factor of 1.33 the 15mm gives FF equivalent of 21mm, which as it happens is one of my favourite focal lengths. I now have (equivalent) of 21, 35 and 70mm lens for the M8 which for me is pretty much all I need.
Next I'll be coding the CV15mm as a WATE. I'll report back on Cyan corners and IR/UV filters later when they arrive.

Lightroom vs Photoshop

I normally process my photos in Lightroom. I find it very easy to use and the B/W conversion is really nice to use. Most of my photographer friends use Photoshop.
So today I decided to have a go at using PS instead of LR. 
Both PS and LR use the same version of Adobe Camera Raw so the results should in theory be the same.


Any good?

Leica Elmarit 28mm and Industar L61

I got the chance to get out in some reasonable weather with the Industar L61.
Can you tell which ones are the Elmarit and which are the Industar?