Goodbye Adobe and thank you Peak Design

The potential of Adobe feeding their AI with my work when I use their system already had me looking for the closest exit. Things got accelerated when they decided to increase the monthly subscriptions from $9.99 a month to $14.99, with no increase in value on my end. I've been subscribing since around 2007. I'm moving onto Darktable and working on how I'm going to display my work without the use of Adobe. I'm going to have to update this post later once I've going through the cancellation process. I'm just disappointed right now.

Had the time to cancel Adobe today. I deleted my sites and then I started the process in cancelling Adobe. It was a couple more steps than I thought but mostly painless.

Big thank you to Peak Design for opening a store front near me. Took a trip over to the store and was greeted by three wonderful staff. I was able to try on gear and configure gear that is geared for how I use their products. I picked up the Camera Cube V2 XSmall for my travel backpack. I also picked up a Slide Lite, Ultralight Packing Cube Small and 2 nicknacks. I'm thinking on trips, I would have the Travel Backpack and on the days I want to go light, I'll take the Camera Cube out and attach it to the Slide Lite. 

Another 7 years another bag

Seems like the 7 year itch works with bags too. I do my best to carry my camera bags out when I go out. After about 7 years of use something begins to fail and I get a new one. This time the hardware connecting the bag to the shoulder strap was fraying and ripping. Because I didn't want to be walking around and the bag suddenly falling off my should and my stuff hitting the ground, I reached out to Peak Design for help. Thankful with Peak Design's lifetime warranty I was able to replace my Everyday Messenger v1 to v2 for free. 

Differences

• v2 has the luggage slip to attach to the handle of a luggage while traveling (+)
• v2 feels like it has a bigger main compartment (+)
• v2 front compartment is missing organizational compartments and half as deep (-)
• v2 added connection points and attachable straps so you can strap stuff onto the bag (+)
• v2 has some weird folds that can be used as small pockets (0)
• v2 adjusted the shoulder strap connection point by 90 degrees (concerned that the weight is now carried by one end of the connector and not distributed)
• v2 replaced the connection hardware from metal to plastic (-)
• v2 is more bulky (-)
• v2 removed the phone pocket (-)
• v2 replaced the top handle with a more premium leather feeling handle (0)
• v2 is ash while v1 is charcoal (0)
• v2 is able to stand without support (+)

One of the things I'm looking forward to doing with the v2 is strapping my tripod to the bag. I had a hard time doing it with the v1 and almost lost it one time. Here is to another 7 years, lets go exploring!

PS if PD can find someone to give the v1 some tlc and send it back out into the world it would give me great joy. v1 has been a great travel companion and I feel like it has many more miles left in it. Thank you good friend and thank you PD!

A week in London redux

Four years ago I struggled to get take photos I was happy with during the trip. For whatever the reason I had a hard time getting any photography done while navigating and exploring the city with my party. This time around one of the party members has gotten more into photography and I have a better grasp of how to get around the city which in turn allowed me to feel more free to at least get some snapshots off. 

While planning for this trip, I came across the Tulip stairs at the Queen's house in Greenwich. From other photos I can find on the internet, I figure the stairs were pretty narrow and there is not a lot of space available. The question is if my 35mm will be enough to capture enough of the stairs or if I will need something wider. If I went wider, would I bring two bodies or just the Canon or rent a 24mm. Other complications involved was that we were taking a river cruise to Greenwich and the website said that the duration would be 1 to 2 hours long, scheduling wise the earliest time we could take the cruise was 2pm. The Queen's house closes at 5pm. Our window could have been either comfortable or pretty tight. I decided live with what I have and just take the 35mm and wits.

On the day, the cruise took 1.5 hrs, when we got there we found out that the area was closed off because of a wedding and the stairs were being used by the bride and groom. I totally understand and would have done the same. Fortunately I was told that if we came back in 20 minutes we would be allowed access to the base of the stairs. Sounded like we might get access to the stairs the last 30 minutes before closing, didn't know if others were waiting for the rope drop as well.

We came back 20 minutes later and was escorted to the stairs. The nice lady that lead us there would stay with us until we were finished. I guess to make sure we didn't explore restricted areas or gnawing on the stairs. As expected the 35mm while standing at the base isn't wide enough but laying flat on the floor worked out for me. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to or not but I took the do it and apologize later strategy. I felt pressure because I know the lady was standing there watching us and I took it as a favor that we were allowed into the area, I didn't want to give her a bad experience for being nice to us. We took turns taking a couple shots and we left after saying our thank yous. 

Back at the computer, I wish I didn't rush myself. I wish I would have noticed the light fixtures and did something to avoid it. I wish spent the time and tried a couple more angles and compositions. I can't believe I was given private access to the stairs and they were so lovely. Odds are very low that I would get this opportunity again. I'm so thankful for the time and access.

Thank you Peak Design

I purchased the Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13" back in 2016. My had totally worn down my Domke F-803 so I was trying something new. I can totally see myself with another Domke down the line. So 5 years in the Peak Design has been working pretty well for me. The wear that I can see is from the shoulder strap. The padded area is getting sticky and main loop that I was using is getting stretched out and lot of signs of wear.

 

I emailed Peak Design asking how much it would cost to replace the strap and they reminded me that the bag is covered with a lifetime warranty. I didn't feel like it was warranty worthy but I wasn't going to turn down a free replacement. They sent me a free replacement and it got here pretty quickly. I really appreciate their customer service. 

This should be a V1 strap but I'm noticing some differences between the one I have and the new one. Mainly around the padded part, hopefully the change was an improvement. The pad becoming sticky was getting gross and hopefully the new pattern will make the padded area more flexible. 

Big thanks for Peak Design for designing great products and for having great customer service. I'm looking forward to visiting your store in SF one day. 

Accessorizing the M9

Decided to treat myself after so many months of being in lockdown from Covid. I ended up buying from Amazon a thumb support and a soft shutter release.

With the thumb support, I immediately felt the difference. Feels very comfortable and natural in the hand. Since the support is attached from the hot shoe, the camera doesn't catch when putting it into my bag anymore. There is a concern that its in there pretty tight. Not confident that I can remove it from the camera, especially without making marks on the camera. I'll worry about that down the road.

With the soft shutter release, I'm still figuring it out. With the shutter release on, the top is no longer flush anymore which now is the piece that is catching when the camera goes in and out of the bag. From a quick photowalk, I'm noticing that my photos are slightly tilted. The photos don't have shake or blur but at times not straight. Maybe something I'll need to get use to. I do like the look, the black release totally matches with the black top of the camera.

I'm definately happy with the support but I may leave the shutter release behind. 

Update: Just came back from a photo trip and I enjoyed having the thumb support but not so much the shutter release. I just felt in the way and not natural to my hand. I didn't like to worry about it catching the inside of my bag all the time so I remove it mid way through the trip. I'm thinking you choose to use one or the other but not both at the same time.

Selling my gear to KEH

I've bought a couple things from KEH over the years, I figure its time to send some gear back to them. I need to clear up space in my bag and prepare for where my photography will lead in the future. 13 years ago I picked up my third ef lens for my Canon Rebel XT, the first lens I've purchased that cost me over $1000, my Canon 24-70 f2.8 mark 1. Over the years, this lens has been a true reliable partner, gone with me to many trips and jobs. It is time to let this one go.

I decided to offer my gear first to KEH and see what their offer would be. With the whole COVID 19 thing going on I didn't think it would be wise to meet up with people on Craigslist. Setting up the request was painless and easy. I found a box that would contain all the gear I was shipping out to them. I had half forgotten but for my 24-70 I kept the box, booklet, warrenty card and the styrofoam that came with it. Packed it all up and tape the provided shipping label on it. Drove to a FEDEX drop off location and dropped it off there. The drop off was an uncomfortable experience. I took my package to the counter and the personal told me to place my box near the front of the entrance without scanning my box. Had my box been stolen or the person kept the package for their self, how would I have proven that I had dropped off the package. I was not given an tracking information so I had no idea where my box was until KEH updated me a week later that they had received the package. Compared to my recent Amazon return where I took my item to a UPS location and they scanned my phone and took the item and handed me a receipt and tracking information. I didn't even have to find a box to pack my item in. A couple days later I received the updated offer which they had agreed with me of the grading I had thought my gear was deserving of and to my surpise they had offered an amount greater than what was initially given. I grateful accepted.

At the crossroads

Recently I was asked to take photos of a friend's kids birthday party. I brought one lens, the 24-70 for the event. During the event I started to feel in the zoom ring, that something would catch or click ever so often. I finished the event and the photos look fine. The next day I brought the lens to Canon Service Center and to my dismay the 24-70 v1 a lens that they will service anymore. The tech wouldn't open the lens up but says that with what I'm describing its a matter of time where the lens will stop functioning as it should.

What to do? When I bought into Leica I kept my Canon gear for the times where the Leica may not be the ideal for what I want to do. Times like harsher weather, taking photo of things that need a telephoto for, taking photos of things up close and for those times where AF is beneficial within a time constraint. A majority of what I take photos of is for fun and learning or helping friend's out. I generally don't get paid for what I do. This is a hobby and something I enjoy doing but with limited funds and shifting focuses I'm at the crossroads with what I feel like I can keep doing and what gear I should continue to invest in.

Options I'm considering

1. Replace with another 24-70 v1
2. Replace with 24-70 v2
3. Wait till then buy the rumored Canon EOS R5 and the rf mount 24-70
4. Get an entirely different mirrorless system with a ~24-70 range like Sony or Nikon
5. Let it go and stop investing more on SLR style cameras
6. Getting the current lens serviced by some other vendor

I feel like option 1 is putting in the least amount of money but fastest to a dead end, any issues with it will bring me back to square one. Option 2 is similar but just more money and a further dead end. Option 3 and 4 is just a lot of money. Option 5, deals with the feels, missing out on the feels of making a family/person happy with the photo you're able to produce. Option 6 deals with trust, I'm not sure how I feel about this one.

Part of me wants to say, if the people who ask me to take photos for their event aren't supporting me financially then I should feel comfortable with slowly retiring my Canon gear, especially when I'm at a time where I enjoy shooting with a rangefinder more. Another part of me feel like its an obligation to benefit others with the material and time I've invested into this hobby.

Could I keep going with what I have left? Yes, but its not ideal. Does it have to be ideal? No...? Its just harder. In regards to the 3yr old birthday party, I could have done it with the 50 or the 16-35. I have to sort through the EXIF data but I felt like I was shooting between the 35 - 50 range the most. The 70 end did come in handy a couple times as well. I could eat a bowl of milk and cereal with a fork but why? But do I stop eating milk and cereal?

What I want is to pick up a couple more things on the Leica side and if I were to upkeep my Canon side, it would financially slow or prevent me from doing so. Even if I went with option 3, I wouldn't be able to make a move on that for another 2-3 yrs.