Leica M6 TTL or Voigtlander Bessa R4M?

Have you been in a dilemma where you are considering a Leica or Voigtlander rangefinder? I found myself at this cross junction when I first got into rangefinder cameras. I bought my first rangefinder, a Voigtlander Bessa R4M with Color Skopar 21mm f/4 4 years ago and have been enjoying it. However, if you are into rangefinder, you would have heard of the ultimo brand called Leica. So last year, I decided to see what is so attractive about Leica rangefinder. I went online to search for a comparison for the Voigtlander and Leica systems. However, I managed to find only 1 review doing mainly technical specification comparison. For me, I wanted a more user-experience type of comparison, not the technical spec which I can find readily online.

To put everything short, I managed to score myself a black paint Leica M6 TTL 0.85 ICS version from Hong Kong to see for myself the differences. After using both cameras extensively, I decided to come up with a review to compare the experience of using both cameras. The review I did was posted on Film Shooters Collective so that my fellow film enthusiasts can share. Do help to share this review so that others like me who are deciding between the 2 systems can make an informed choice. So here is the review! You can also click on the image below to enter the site.

 

Impossible Project: Instant Lab Mini Review

Finally received my Impossible Project Instant Lab last weekend while I was away in Bangkok. Really thrilled to see it after months of placing my order on Kickstarter. As it was a Kickstarter campaign, I got to have my choice of word inscribed on it and as you can guess, I chose my nick 'kaxdd'. Hopefully I can be famous one day and have this as a sought-after item! Hahaha! OK, please allow me that little bit of space for daydreaming. 

Alrighty! Here's the package with 2 packs of PX 680 Color Protection films.

After removing the plastic wrapper and the outer sleeve, a cool matte black box with raised IMPOSSIBLE lettering greets me. The box is of a very good quality cupboard and has a very good solid feel to my fingers.

Upon removing the lid, this is the view that I saw. Very sexy black Instant Lab! Can see my nick on the bottom left corner. The cradle holds a iPhone 4, 4S and 5. Underneath the cover reveals a lens that is used to focus the image from the phone onto the film.

The inner compartment contains the charger that is used to charger the Instant Lab (which means it probably  doesn't utilize the battery in the film pack). It also houses a Instant Lab photo-book that welcomes me! Below the photo-book lies a pouch that can be used to hold the Instant Lab. Thin layer of cloth. Would have prefer a thicker, velvety or suede-like matter to really protect the Instant Lab from bumps and scratches.

Really to load my film! The phone cradle must be pulled upwards. After which, push a slider on the front of the Instant Lab to open the compartment to put in the film. After putting the film in, you would need to download the Impossible Project app from iTunes for it to project the image onto the film. There is a tutorial in the app to show you how to operate it. Basically you put in the film, close the shutter slide (push in the metal slider), load the app and select the photo to transfer, flip the phone screen into the tower, wait for the LED flash to light up, pull out the shutter slide and wait for the flash light to disappear. After that, eject the film by pressing and holding the eject button for about 1 second. Then voila! Film will be in your hand!

Load the app and follow the instructions

Pull out the shutter slide when the LED flash is lit

Close the shutter slide and eject the film

Moment of truth! Here is a comparison of the iPhone image as seen on the phone and the image created on the film. You can see that it has a sepia tone to the images and also, the images are a bit blurry. My missus doesn't really like the blurry effect. But I think that it was pretty decent. But considering the cost of the Impossible films, I can see where my missus is coming from. Further down will be direct scan of the films from my Epson V600 scanner. 300 DPI scan. You judge for yourself on the quality. I am pretty pleased with it. ^__^

Conclusion: The Instant Lab is fun to play with and has a good quality feel to it. I am now looking forward to a cradle that can house other phone types as I am currently using a Samsung Note 2.

My Review of the Lytro Camera

Disclaimer: This is not THE review by professionals stating technical specifications and mathematically correct calculations. Believing that this is THE review by professionals is like believing the men in white is doing their job not for the money, but for the passion and the heart to serve the people. And now, MY review.