Bringing It All Back Home

The Ultimate Portrait Prime? Today's episode of Bringing It All Back Home explores the brilliance behind the SONY FE 135mm f/1.8 GM. Is this SONY 135mm the hidden gem of portrait lenses? How does it hold up on a beach engagement photoshoot? Did SONY succeed in producing some of the best portrait image quality available for full-frame mirrorless? Included: Lensrental's review of the 135mm f/1.8 G, Zoom vs. Prime, EVF vs Optical, as well as the still blissful surprises inherent in the Pentax 6X7/Takumar 105 2.4.

Summer of 95 - Last Chances. Bringing It All Back Home returns for a special summer series — a look back at the summer of 1995 in order to discover still relevant creative themes. In this episode it kicks off with the idea of Last Chances - the idea that time will not wait for you to get your act together. Also explored: the recklessness needed to get out the door and risk failure. Includes: Kai Wong's Old School Photography book, Hermann Hesse, Hemingway, 90s grunge, hairballs, short story writing, autobiographical fiction & how it relates to photography. Glassboro, NJ; Limehouse, East End.

Brilliance On A Budget - Analog Combo: Nikon F2A, Nikkor-H 28mm 3.5, Kodak Gold. Season 5 episode 18 is all about an analog combo that will punch way above its weight - and thrill you with its performance & durability. Nikon F2A, Nikkor-H 28mm 3.5 (AI converted), & Kodak Gold.

Camera $113 Nikon F2A (DP11 viewfinder)

Lens: $50

Film  $8 a roll

More links about the above:

https://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/htmls/spec.htm

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-28mm-f3-5-ai

https://schneidan.com/2016/09/23/nikon-f2-photomic-slr-which-others-judged/

https://www.shopmoment.com/articles/why-kodak-gold-200-is-still-my-favorite-film-stock-in-2024

Three Leica Lenses (That Aren't Crazy Expensive) - Bringing It All Back Home returns with an episode all about three different Leica lenses: a screw-mount, an M-mount collapsible, and a Walter Mandler R mount. Even though they're all classic Leica lenses - they can be found for under $500. Explored in this episode: Elmar 3.5, Vintage Lenses With Character, the perils of finding a decent Summicron collapsible, HCB, Kodak Portra, Nice Film Club, the hidden gem that is the Leica Canada Walter Mandler R lenses.

Links:

CollectiBlend: Library: Leica lens compendium by Erwin Puts

The 50mm Elmar - An Enduring Classic Leica Lens - The Leica camera Blog

Leitz 5cm f3.5 Elmar: The Meaning of Gestalt – The Thoughts & Photography of Johnny Martyr

GEAR - Leica Summicron 50/2 Collapsible – Review by KJ Vogelius

50mm f/2 Summicron-R II - Leica Wiki (English)

Saul Leiter & The Rabbit Hole Of Color

Season 5 Episode 16 returns with an episode exploring the inspiration of Saul Leiter's color photography, the rising cost of color film, CCD sensors such as the Nikon D200 & Leica M8, as well as the rabbit hole of YouTube videos on the subject. Includes: Saul Leiter, Eduardo Ortiz, Nikon D200, Nikon NX Studio, CCD sensors.

Links:

Saul Leiter: 

⁠https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/podcast-saul-leiter-and-the-saul-leiter-foundation?BI=572&gad_source=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs62ir6LIjAMVKF1HAR3I8AipEAEYASAAEgIHIPD_BwE⁠

⁠https://youtu.be/RJdIJkt3Gz8?si=eahA5RO1mxnwGMho⁠

⁠https://www.saulleiterfoundation.org⁠

Eduardo Ortiz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQlTE-gREHw&t=1345s

Lucy Lumen

⁠https://youtu.be/Z6r-1yaDNxs?si=vwaMVQGKi5_UP-ao⁠

CCD/M8

⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBXIS23SzPg&list=PL1--cSVP-SSE85rb2Oq-LSgcAI46AkZO2&index=5⁠

Medium Format Revisited - Going All In? Season 5 Episode 15. Bringing It All Home returns for an episode dedicated to this question: Would you commit six months or a year to exclusively shooting medium format? Would you be able to make the total switch? Included: Hasselblad 500c, Mamiya C3, RZ67, Pentax 6X7, Kodak Tmax 100 ... Is less more? Also: The joy factor inherent in shooting medium format, the current top ten best seller 120 films on B&H.

Mid Century Modern - Today's episode is a rumination on what makes mid century modern homes & motels so timelessly appealing to photographers. Included: characteristics of MCM, why so many new homes & buildings are so ugly, the brilliance of JULIUS SHULMAN, as well as the must-have Taschen book "Case Study Houses." Also: Wildwood's Doo Wop Motels, Margate City's dwindling mid-century buildings, morning light photo walks. LInks:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Study-Houses-Elizabeth-Smith/dp/3836510219

https://juliusshulman.org

https://www.juliusshulmanfilm.com

https://www.instagram.com/midmodnj/?hl=en

https://youtu.be/YaObFp_UK9w

Pentax PZ-70 - Bargain Brilliance From The 90s. Bringing It All Back Home returns with another bargain combo from the mid-90s - The Pentax PZ-70 with its kit 35-80mm lens. Included: a look at its ergonomics, value, metering, as well as getting around the limitations of the KAF2 kit lens. Also, a custom recipe for developing Kodak Eastman's Double-X.

flickr link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gunfire/27618907560/in/photostream/

Analog Combo - Legacy Pro L110, Pentax 6X7, TMAX 100. Season 5 Episode 12 is all about getting stunning results with matching the beauty that is the Pentax 6x7 Super Multi-Coated Takumar 2.4/105 lens with Kodak TMAX 100 b&w film - and a tiny amount of HC-110. This episode includes: Why the cheapest Pentax 6X7 camera bodies (with plain prism) may be the ultimate medium format hidden gem; why the Pentax 6X7 wooden grip is a must; how the 2.4/105mm Pentax lens is a must-have miracle ... And why Legacy Pro's version of HC-110 (L110) is so brilliant at high dilutions.

Link to Alex's article about Legacy Pro L110

http://www.alexluyckx.com/blog/2022/06/27/developer-review-blog-no-30-legacypro-l110/

Analog Combo In The Snow - TMAX 100, Rodinal, RZ67. Season 5 Episode 11 is all about chasing the golden hour morning light the day after a snowstorm - and the gear that brought it all together. Topics: Mamiya RZ67, Rodinal R09, Kodak TMAX, as well as the small stuff that helps keep it from falling apart. Also: digital: Sony A7RIII, SONY FE 28mm 2.8.