JE Labs

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Classic Light Meters

Light reading gadgets

Selenium - batteries not required

Clockwise: Weston Master IV (accurate, serviced by Quality Light Metric), Leningrad 2 (?), Weston Master II (seems to match the IV) and Zeiss Ikophot (?)

Battery dependent

Clockwise: Voigtlander VCII (almost as sensitive in low light as the built in meter in the M6), Gossen Luna Pro F (very sensitive) and Sekonic L-208 (not for low light)

When I like to travel light I go back to my roots and shoot Sunny 16 with this gizmo. It's just as good as (if not better than) any of the other toys above since it exercises my mind.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Thursday, May 31, 2012

A music lover's system based on a CD transport + DAC as source, JEL 76/6SN7GTB line stage preamp with remote volume control, JEL SE10 mono block amps driving PHY-HP 2-way 12" co-axial speakers housed in Hans Kortenbach enclosures.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Leica M3 + Summicron 35 and 50

Despite my fondness for Leica screw mount (LTM), it was this M outfit I received in trade for a SE300B amp I built that got me hooked to cameras and photography - a '61 M3 with '61 rigid 'cron + '66 8-element 35 'cron which I was using with an external VF until I acquired an M6.

This well used single stroke M3 as received was working but in dire need of a CLA and a new vulcanite so I sent it to Sherry Krauter. Upon return, Sherry noted separation in the viewfinder and highly recommended TLC in handling. That was in '97 and so far, have not noticed further deterioration.

When I visited Shanghai in 2010, I bought this half-case from Mr. Zhou. I would like to believe the padded leather is providing added protection aside from a spruced up look. The .91 (almost 1:1- life size) viewfinder magnification of the M3 is its greatest asset. It is so much easier to frame and focus a 50mm, 90 mnn or 135mm lens on this model compared to the M6's .72 VF.