Vintage Archives - Macfilos https://www.macfilos.com/category/cameras/vintage/ Leica cameras, photography and discussion Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:26:06 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.macfilos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/macfilos-removebg-preview-1-150x146.png Vintage Archives - Macfilos https://www.macfilos.com/category/cameras/vintage/ 32 32 183858286 James Jarché — A largely forgotten former London Fleet Street press photographer https://www.macfilos.com/2025/02/21/james-jarche-a-largely-forgotten-former-london-fleet-street-press-photographer/ https://www.macfilos.com/2025/02/21/james-jarche-a-largely-forgotten-former-london-fleet-street-press-photographer/#comments Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:00:52 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=79227 James Jarché — a now largely forgotten former London Fleet Street press photographer — came to fame in 1936 as the first photographer to capture the future Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson in public. He was also the grandfather of the famous actor, Sir David Suchet…

The post James Jarché — A largely forgotten former London Fleet Street press photographer appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2025/02/21/james-jarche-a-largely-forgotten-former-london-fleet-street-press-photographer/feed/ 5 79227
Meet the Praktica Family: a film camera and lens system at reasonable cost https://www.macfilos.com/2025/01/29/the-praktica-camera-family-wins-new-admirers-for-doing-the-important-things-really-well/ https://www.macfilos.com/2025/01/29/the-praktica-camera-family-wins-new-admirers-for-doing-the-important-things-really-well/#comments Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:02:11 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=80902 The Praktica cameras from East Germany enjoyed a good reputation even in the West. Rightly so, as we see even after decades…

The post Meet the Praktica Family: a film camera and lens system at reasonable cost appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2025/01/29/the-praktica-camera-family-wins-new-admirers-for-doing-the-important-things-really-well/feed/ 6 80902
My Leica III and its 91-year journey through life https://www.macfilos.com/2024/12/16/my-leica-iii-and-its-91-year-journey-through-life/ https://www.macfilos.com/2024/12/16/my-leica-iii-and-its-91-year-journey-through-life/#comments Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:00:20 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=80256 Photography can often be described as a journey, and this is the story of a 91-year journey for a Leica III that had been forgotten and left behind by time. I feel like I've been away from photography for a while. Like most people these days, the general state of the universe has got me down....

The post My Leica III and its 91-year journey through life appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2024/12/16/my-leica-iii-and-its-91-year-journey-through-life/feed/ 14 80256
Leica X1: Neglected for five years but now resurrected, and it’s as good as ever https://www.macfilos.com/2024/10/07/leica-x1-neglected-for-five-years-but-now-resurrected-and-its-as-good-as-ever/ https://www.macfilos.com/2024/10/07/leica-x1-neglected-for-five-years-but-now-resurrected-and-its-as-good-as-ever/#comments Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:00:11 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=75517 The Leica X1 was John's passion. It became his favourite lightweight carry around camera. Then it languished unloved for five years. It's now been resurrected and it's as good as ever...

The post Leica X1: Neglected for five years but now resurrected, and it’s as good as ever appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2024/10/07/leica-x1-neglected-for-five-years-but-now-resurrected-and-its-as-good-as-ever/feed/ 13 75517
Sixth Wetzlar Camera Auction: October 12 is the red-letter day for collectors https://www.macfilos.com/2024/09/25/sixth-wetzlar-camera-auction-october-12-is-the-red-letter-day-for-collectors/ https://www.macfilos.com/2024/09/25/sixth-wetzlar-camera-auction-october-12-is-the-red-letter-day-for-collectors/#comments Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:00:57 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=75332 The sixth Wetzlar Camera Auction on October 12 brings a raft of exciting collectors' items to the table.

The post Sixth Wetzlar Camera Auction: October 12 is the red-letter day for collectors appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2024/09/25/sixth-wetzlar-camera-auction-october-12-is-the-red-letter-day-for-collectors/feed/ 2 75332
Light Lens Lab’s new/old 28mm f/2.8 9E https://www.macfilos.com/2024/09/18/light-lens-labs-new-old-28mm-f-2-8-9e/ https://www.macfilos.com/2024/09/18/light-lens-labs-new-old-28mm-f-2-8-9e/#comments Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:00:56 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=75170 Light Lens Lab re-made another classic Leitz/Leica lens: The first Elmarit 28/2.8, also called 9E for its nine elements, comes with an interesting mixture of old virtues and modern improvements.

The post Light Lens Lab’s new/old 28mm f/2.8 9E appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2024/09/18/light-lens-labs-new-old-28mm-f-2-8-9e/feed/ 5 75170
Classic Digital Cameras: Is the revival a passing phase? https://www.macfilos.com/2024/08/12/classic-digital-cameras-is-the-revival-a-passing-phase/ https://www.macfilos.com/2024/08/12/classic-digital-cameras-is-the-revival-a-passing-phase/#comments Mon, 12 Aug 2024 13:00:18 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=74091 Does the “classic digital” camera exist, or is the term an oxymoron? Many believe that a classic is, by definition, a film camera. But evidence now points to the opposite, and supports the case for the classic digital compact. After nearly three decades of digital photography, interest in older digitals —mostly compacts — is burgeoning. […]

The post Classic Digital Cameras: Is the revival a passing phase? appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2024/08/12/classic-digital-cameras-is-the-revival-a-passing-phase/feed/ 44 74091
The Leica M5: Ugly duckling or the most underrated rangefinder ever? https://www.macfilos.com/2024/07/12/the-leica-m5-ugly-duckling-or-the-most-underrated-rangefinder-ever/ https://www.macfilos.com/2024/07/12/the-leica-m5-ugly-duckling-or-the-most-underrated-rangefinder-ever/#comments Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:00:56 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=72765 When the Leica M5 came out in 1971, it was received with much criticism. Too big, too ugly. The built-in light metering got less praise. Even Leica collectors often ignore this ill-fated M model. We give it a try and show what the M5 is capable of.

The post The Leica M5: Ugly duckling or the most underrated rangefinder ever? appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2024/07/12/the-leica-m5-ugly-duckling-or-the-most-underrated-rangefinder-ever/feed/ 23 72765
My decision is final: We will take the risk — Ernst Leitz II in June 1924 https://www.macfilos.com/2024/06/17/my-decision-is-final-we-will-take-the-risk-ernst-leitz-ii-in-june-1924/ https://www.macfilos.com/2024/06/17/my-decision-is-final-we-will-take-the-risk-ernst-leitz-ii-in-june-1924/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:00:18 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=72570 One hundred years ago this week, Ernst Leitz II took the momentous decision to produce the Leica Camera. But it was by no means a unanimous decision, as the legend of the meeting suggests…

The post My decision is final: We will take the risk — Ernst Leitz II in June 1924 appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2024/06/17/my-decision-is-final-we-will-take-the-risk-ernst-leitz-ii-in-june-1924/feed/ 20 72570
Lawrence of Arabia: It’s 89 years since he died on his beloved Brough motorcycle https://www.macfilos.com/2024/05/20/lawrence-of-arabia-its-89-years-since-he-died-on-his-beloved-brough-motorcycle/ https://www.macfilos.com/2024/05/20/lawrence-of-arabia-its-89-years-since-he-died-on-his-beloved-brough-motorcycle/#comments Mon, 20 May 2024 13:00:27 +0000 https://www.macfilos.com/?p=71802 The story of T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, continues to fascinate 89 years after his death. He died in a motorcycle accident while riding his cherished Brough Superior SS100 on 29 May 1935.

The post Lawrence of Arabia: It’s 89 years since he died on his beloved Brough motorcycle appeared first on Macfilos.

]]>
https://www.macfilos.com/2024/05/20/lawrence-of-arabia-its-89-years-since-he-died-on-his-beloved-brough-motorcycle/feed/ 19 71802