So -- I'm going to sell a bit more... If you're interested - drop me a line. I'm not sure about prices just yet -- but they'll be reasonable. All my stuff is in perfect working order -- and cosmetically pretty close to excellent - if not better...

Here's a list of cameras heading to that big auction site:

- Nikon FM2n (I have one chrome - one black - both are GREAT cameras) $225 each
- Canon 1n with power grip
- Canon AE-1
- Canon FD glass -- not sure what all I have -- but maybe 4 or 5 primes

-Voigtlander Bessa R4M- Excellent - ran maybe 10 rolls through it - $510 includes shipping and Paypal
-Zeiss 21ZM with hood - minty condition -- great lens -- $800 includes shipping and Paypal

That's it for now -- I have other things I'll list later...

35L $965+shipping
50L $1175+shipping
24L Ver I $900+shipping (don't have the box any longer)
85L II $1400+shipping (I have the box /warranty card / extra rubber hood)

Just added January 28th:

Canon 10-22mm in Excellent condition - shows some where because I used this one for most of my night shots. $500+shipping

Canon 15mm Fisheye also in Excellent condition - $465+shipping

All prices are in US Dollars. Shipping will vary - remember I'm up in Toronto.

All lenses are in better than EX++ condition -- all glass is minty. I have lens caps and pouches for the two remaining L lenses -- the 24L/85L -- I have a box for the 85L -- but the 24L box is back in Chicago in storage.

Also -- I have a few other things:

Ricoh GR1S - wonderful camera - in Ex+ condition $320 + shipping.

I have some other things, but need to take an inventory and put together proper descriptions.

All of the above items will go on Ebay as soon as I get around to taking photos, etc. I think the prices are more than fair. I hate to see them go - but I'm shooting film like a mad man - and just figured out I could put diopter correction eye pieces on my Leicas -- so -- I can see again! I'm turning 50 soon and have decided to go with film the rest of the way -- it's what I love - it's what I know -- and I'm sticking to my story.

Send me an email if interested in any of the items mentioned here.

Thanks!

If you're interested in any of the following, let me know. I'd rather sell items to people that visit here. Anyone who knows me knows I take very good care of all my camera gear. Here's what's going:

All the L glass listed here is LIGHTLY used - minty glass. I have boxes for a few of the lenses - but not all. I have shades for all lenses - and pouches.

- Canon 85L II
- Canon 50L
- Canon 35L
- Canon 24L
- Canon 70-200L f/4 (the one without stabilization)

- Ricoh GR21 - only 3000 of these made - I love the camera, I bought it new - but it should go to someone who is going to use it.
- Ricoh GR1S - great lens - great camera. It's in excellent condition.

I also have a few Canon film bodies I'll probably sell. The Canon 1n with power grip. The AE2. The T90 (with 50mm f/1.8 I think is what's mounted on it). All in excellent condition.

I'll probably find some other things, too. I've finally realized I love shooting with rangefinders - and older Nikon SLR's for 35mm -- and Hassey and Mamiya for medium format. When I looked back at my film sheets (and folders of RAW image files), I discovered I rarely shoot digital - and I shoot with just a few cameras. I suppose that's the way it should be - and that's the way it's going to be for the next few years.

Yes, it's nice to have all that pretty (and expensive) glass -- but if I shot 3000 images with ALL the L lenses I've listed, I'd probably be over exaggerating. The images I did take with them are wonderful - but the images I shoot with the lenses I REALLY love are equally wonderful - and much more meaningful to me.

My lovely wife will take over using the 5D and 17-40L (she's really great with that combo) - and we'll keep the 40D around for snaps of the girls here and there -- but the next few years for me will be all about FILM. I'll be back in the darkroom - I'll be printing - I'll be improving my processing techniques - I'll be experimenting with alternate processes.

In my mind, the real art is still in the analog process. I feel as though I can develop a signature look to call my own - or at least have a better chance at achieving it through the use of film. I don't feel that way about digital imagery. That's not to say I don't love digital cameras - I do - but my relationship with them has been less than lukewarm for a lot of reasons. Yes, film presents a set of very frustrating issues, but I've been working with film for decades - and I've learned to simply love film for what it is - magical most of the time - mystifying at others (good and bad).

So -- it's clearing out the clutter time. Send me an email if you have an interest in any of the above. I will try to come back and edit this entry to include the prices I'm thinking about -- but the prices will be quite fair.

Happy New Year to everyone -- may you find clarity in all that you do.

Here's what I'll put on the list (I'm thinking about pricing):

Leica M6ttl - fully CLA'd about two years ago by Sherry Krauter - everything works to spec - I'd rate it EX+ - meter spot on and wonderful to use.

Leica M6 Clasic - fully CLA'd just this year by Sherry Krauter - everything to spec - cosmetically it's between VG+ and EX- -- functionally it's a star -- spot on metering and smooth as silk.

Canon 85mm f/1.2II lens -- smokin' lens -- great for portraits - no, WONDERFUL for portraits -- but I just think the lens needs to go to someone who will use it properly (in the studio or on a tripod) - still minty condition.

Hexar Silver AF - has the silent mode upgrade - works like new -- the lens is every bit as good as my Leica Summicron 35mm.

Contax T3 - Silver or Black -- I can't make up my mind which one I can do without -- I love them all, but how many T3's does a guy really need? :-)

Ricoh GR21 -- this one is a classic -- only 3000 of them made and I got mine brand spanking new. I think I've run all of a dozen rolls through it - maybe, if that. It's minty - it's beautiful - the 21mm lens is just outstanding. Original leather case, lens cap, lens shade, etc... I hate to let this one go -- but I love my GR1V and GR1S more --

That's it for now. I just need to get down to the cameras I use all the time. My Leica MP and M7 will both be buried with me -- along with the M3 I got when I was knee high to a weed hopper...

I also have several Voigt lenses I'll probably sell, too. I like them enough - but Leica glass is so much better - and after 35 years of shooting I finally realize I like less than a handful of focal lengths.

If you're interested in any of the above, drop me a note. This is NOT a fire sale - so don't make some ridiculous offer. Those who know me, know that I take great care of my cameras and lens. I still have my original Nikkormat FT2 and you'd be hard pressed to tell it was used -- even though I've run over a few thousand rolls through it!

I have more stuff I'm going to sell, I'm just not sure what. I sold the 5D to John. I saved all my Canon lenses (I still have the Canon 1n and AE2, both of which I love). If Canon ever releases the follow-on to the 5D, and it has weather sealing, and some sort of dust removal technology, I'm game. Until then, it's all film for me.

Speaking of film. Amazingly, I've been shooting way more now using film than I ever did with my digital cameras. I don't know why. I think it's because film is what I've know for most of my life. There still is a magic in it for me - processing film - imagining what will be on the negative - or better yet, imagining what will be on the negative as I press the shutter. Yep. That's a good way to put it - the way I still feel, after 35 years of pressing the shutter and wondering what the negs will look like.

I think I've processed over 30 rolls in the past month on my own - and probably half that amount I sent out for processing. I'm still not doing all my own color. Sometimes it's just cheaper and faster to have the lab do it for me. Still, I developed a lot of black and white. I can't remember the last time I went through two batches of developer in a month! I'm happy with the results, too. I had lots of help from some wonderful photographers and masters of developing film. I've learned a lot, and will learn even more as I step things up even more.

The weather is cold and bitter, but I'd like to drag the 4x5 cameras out for a bit. I have a nice 4x5 film development kit, and I need to use it. I have some new ideas I'd like to try out, and the 4x5 will work perfectly for me.

I'm encouraged by all the email I've received over the last month or so, inquiries all about film. I'm always happy to help, it's fun to see people excited about something other than RAW converters and layers in Photoshop. The reality is there have been several new films introduced already this year. Also, about half of the professionals still use film as their primary media. All good. I'd like to see film stick around for at least another 35 years -- and -- I'd like to be around for most of those years.

I need to clear out a few cameras that I just don't use much. Okay - I probably have more than just a few, but it'l be hard for me to part with them all - so I'll keep it to just a few to begin with. I have two Rolleiflex's that I just had CLA'd ("just" means like 4 months ago - I haven't even taken them out of the packing!) -- I'll probably keep one and sell one.

Hell - I don't know. Just keep an eye on this blog if you're interested in picking up something nice at a good price. I'll probably make up my mind soon.

I've decided to shoot 99% film - yep - film. I like the 5D - but it'll probably be the first to go. I just don't use it all that much. I like it for night photography, but after shooting with film and seeing the results, I'm sticking with film for long exposures. I find it more challenging with film - and the results are heavenly when shot properly...

I like film best for most everything these days. Leica has the new M8 out - but who cares? Five grand for a camera that gives you a magenta cast - nice. I can scan a boat load of film for 5K... I'll stick with my Leica film cameras for now -- film is most certainly not dead.

For those few people who read this part of No Traces - have a great holiday - for me, I celebrate Christmas, so - Merry Christmas! and have a wonderful New Year!

Keep in mind - I'm going to be out of town all next week. So unless you get to me today or tomorrow, chances are I won't be able to send anything out for about 10 days.

So -- here's what I have. I know some of you have sent emails --- this is a first come, first serve dealio -- so get on it!

Canon 20D - Great shape - 90% of my night shots were taken with this camera. My guess is I've shot less than 5000 images with this camera - maybe 7,500 - but that would be stretching it. I have a box around somewhere - I think it's in my storage place I pay way too much for each month - and never go to - and have tons of books stacked to the ceiling - and baseball memorabilia - and all sorts of stuff I just don't need but can't throw away -- and I don't feel like going over there -- so you'll have to take this camera AS IS -- no box. Tough it out. I have the instruction manual somewhere around - I can find it -- and I'm sure all the software that came with it - I've never used - and cables.

Battery grip goes with the 20D -- they're mated for life.

Canon 10-22mm lens -- LOVE this lens -- but it won't work with my 5D -- gotta go.

70-200L f/4 version -- wonderful lens -- took MAYBE 50 shots with it -- I just can't get into long zoom lenses -- not the way I see the world.

USER Leica M4 body -- anyone who knows Leica, will know what user body means -- speeds all seem fine - bright viewfinder - it's good to go. I've taken some great photos with it - I love it -- but I have way way way too many camera bodies right now. This one is really nice.

Prices:

Price includes shipping to anywhere in the US -- outside the US -- we'll have to talk.

20D WITH battery grip - no batteries (I need them) 512M Ultra II card ---- $800

Canon 10-22mm lens --- $590

Canon 70-200L f/4 --- $ 500

Leica M4 body --- $ 650

I can take PayPal -- and prefer to -- I'll pick up the fees -- no problem.

Anyone who has bought from me knows that I keep my stuff in nice condition. All of these items are of no exception. The only thing I can think of that might need a little elbow grease is the 20D - it may need to have a quick sensor cleaning -- but other than that - it's a fine camera - low useage... I love the 20D / 10-22 combination -- it's just fantastic. I'm going to miss that lens a lot.

There you have it -- I think I have the original kit lens that came with the 20D - not sure -- but if I do, I'll just toss it in the box with the 20D.

Remember, I'll be gone all next week - starting Sunday - so if you don't get to me today or tomorrow, I won't be shipping out until I get back.

I'm going to sell a few things that I just don't use all that much. If not for taking night shots, I'd probably sell the 5D - I love film that much - but the 5D is just so great to use for long exposures.

That being said, I'm going to sell:

The 20D with battery grip AND Canon 10-22mm lens - all in one package. I shot most of my night shots with that combination. I love the camera, I just don't use it all that much.

I'll probably sell the 70-200L -- I think I've taken maybe 200 photos with that lens. It's great, but I swear, I rarely use any focal length over 85mm. Most of the time I'm in the 12-35mm range -- just what I love.

I have two Leicas I'm seriously thinking of selling -- A really nice M3 and a user M4. I'm going to have to think long and hard about this one. More than likely I'll sell just the M4.

I have a Mat G that I think I ran a roll of film through. I just don't use it. I have several Rollei's -- and love using them much more than the Mat G -- and now that I have the Hasselblad -- well, there's nothing like it.

I may sell one of my T3's, but I'm sure Jimbus and Ross will talk me out of it.

Stay tuned. I just thought I'd give sort of a pre-auction look-see. I'm still noodling pricing, but anyone who's dealt with me knows I price to move, and my stuff is always in better shape than I describe.

Oh -- the Nikon Coolscan V was sold - and the XT.

You probably get tired of me writing about how tired i am all the time. I need to change some things around in my life - soon - and I'm working on it. The problem for me is I think I'd be happy walking away from what I do every day, but the reality is I really live for the art of the deal. I was born a businessman first - a photographer second. I have to admit this to myself. (Self - I admit it).

The good news is I now realize I can put the two things together and maybe make something of it all. I talk with a number of photographers / designers / artists / writers who have great and wonderful talents but have little or no desire to sell themselves. As a result, they struggle when they shouldn't have to. I have no desire to be anyone's agent - so don't get any ideas. I do think maybe I could figure out a way to build a business encompassing all the things I love. I just have to noodle it all in my head. I can sell, I can manage a business, I can work relationships, I can create images and I love it all. That's good, right? Yep. It's good. I just need to figure out what to do with it all.

My friends tell me to to just figure something out and do it. My challenge is I'm so busy with the work I do now that I just can't seem to find the time. I barely have time to keep No Traces running with decent images. I haven't been out under the moonlight in what seems like forever. I haven't had time to get around to all the great photos sites out there. I haven't been returning emails the way I should -- and as I write this I begin to feel so anxious. Why? Because I love doing all these things, yet I'm strapped into work - but I let myself be that way. It's crazy, I know.

I like what I do for a living. No. I love what I do. However, I realize things are changing - good people are leaving and the workloads to fill the gaps are unbearable. Something's going to give way soon. I'm just not sure I want to be around when it all happens. Or maybe I do. See? I'm nutty.

The other good news is I'm at a point in my life where it's just me and my dog, Lainey. My kids are grown up and doing their thing. I'm relatively debt free and have a few eggs in the nest. All good things. And each morning I go to my local coffee shop for my nice soy latte, I see the same guy there -- he's happy - whistling a tune -- telling a story -- being the mayor of the place. He used to work in the corporate world - like me. He thought the same things I'm thinking now. He has talents of his own - and he did something about it. He's happy he's out. He's doing what he wants with his life. A few hours a week to pay for a few things, and he's building his own little business - at his pace - doing things his way.

Something for me to think about.

I still have the Coolscan - I'm in no hurry to sell it, but if you're interested, let me know. If not, I'll probably toss it up on ebay.

In other news -- I'm swamped with work. Swamped - a good word. That describes my work life right now - but I'm happy as a clam. I love being in the thick of things -- (and using all sorts of clichés) -- so not to worry. I'm fine. I'm just not able to get to a scanner -- or to my darkroom - or even to a camera, for that matter - and I may not be able to for a few more weeks. IF I'm lucky, I'll find the time to scan a few frames of farm photos -- a great old farm I found up in John's neck of the woods -- so stay tuned - I think they'll be pretty nice...

I have managed to use the Nikon 9000 a few times - it's aweseome. I'm incredibly happy with it. I just need to find the time to scan the 20+ rolls of 120 I have laying around! I can't wait to scan some Velvia and Provia to see what it's really capable of doing...

My vacation to Europe will be delayed. I'm okay with that. If I get through these next few months - and things turn out the way I plan - it'll all be worth it. I think Europe in the fall is nice, too -- I may even have to swing through Munich again for a little Octoberfest! Oh yes --

I do have a welcomed respite this weekend - Lala will be visiting. So I'm sure she'll make me drag out my Holga -- or something Polaroid -- so, I just may have some things to post up for fun. Stay tuned...

I'm adding some links to my pages on No Traces -- small links -- advertisement. Yep. I've had several offers over the last year or so - I turned them all down, but this time I thought I'd give it a try. Hey - it'll pay for all my film and processing each month -- not a bad way to go.

For those of you I promised prints to -- I haven't forgotten - really, I haven't. I just need to find the time to process the files and ship them off for printing. I think we have a break coming up here in a few weeks -- I plan on taking a day to finish my printing task -- bear with me, please...

That's about it from here. Life is hard at times to get a good grasp and balance yourself. I'm having a good time right now -- but I'm sucking at the balance thing. I'm working on it - really I am. I think good things are on the way for No Traces... Thanks for sticking with me -- thanks for viewing -- thanks for sharing...

Enjoy your weekend --- and be kind to one another -- no matter how hard that may be for some of you....

I'll probably sell a Leica body - most likely the M4. Maybe my little Canon XT -- and a few cool cameras I just don't use all that much.

So -- stay tuned!

The point is this - find the tools you work with best - and stick with them. Learn them - master them - know their nuances - know their strengths - and exploit them as best you can. Don't let anyone tell you what's best for you - you need to find that out for yourself - and it will take time and practice. Stick with it -- if you sense something is working for you, work it harder - wring out more... If something isn't working -- and you find yourself thinking, "but the whole world is going this way" - I might suggest you take a different turn - grab something else from the toolbox -- until you find something your comfortable with.

I say all of this because I'm lucky enough to have a site where more than a few people visit each day. I get more than a few emails each day - lots of them asking for specifics behind a particular image. That's all fine - I've done it myself - I still do - it's in our nature to ask HOW?. That being said, too many times I read emails from people who simply want someone to give them a magical recipe: take one digital slr, add this lens, this remote, this tripod, and expose for this amount of time - and voila!!! you get the cool image you were after!. Nope -- doesn't work that way. If it did, I think we'd have maybe two camera makers at most - and all the walls in the world would be covered with incredibly boring photos.

I can be - and am - very opinionated about what images I like - and don't like. I may even change my opinion from moment to moment - and I've done that. I'm also very opinionated about the tools we as photographers use. My opinion? Whatever works for you! - Simple, eh? Maybe - for some -- and maybe not so simple for most of us.

At any rate -- these are my thoughts this morning -- as I ponder a short leave from No Traces - to recharge my batteries -- to catch up on things -- to think about my next milestone...

Have a wonderful day -- think about what's important to you as a photographer - don't get sucked up in the vortex of all the hype -- stay focused on your work -- and learn to use the tools you've chosen for your craft -- and learn them well...

Here is the comment I left on the image titled, "Just Over the Edge":

As you know, I've taken a lot of night shots using my digital cameras. I mostly use digital because I get instant feedback - and I needed to learn more about light - and what happens over a longer period of time -- certainly longer than 10 or 20 or even 30 seconds. Most of my exposures are well over 120 seconds - and in some cases 12-25 minutes. Light does wonderful things over time - versus say over a fraction of a second....

Now - I have my arms around what I'm doing - I understand what happens to light when clouds move in -- I've experienced all sorts of cloud coverage -- and moon angles -- and winds -- and reflections -- and other things I'm probably not mentioning here. I've not mastered all the elements - just have come to know them... I still have lots to learn, for sure...

My point is this - digital is nice - but I prefer the qualities and results I get from various films. I've spent an equal amount of time with a few specific films taking lots of photos in daylight - and learning how to process them to bring out the best qualities. I feel pretty satisfied with knowing which films to use - for which situations - and which developers to use -- and processing times, etc --- all to create an image I'm satisfied with.

So - I find myself at an interesting point - I've traveled a long way - and learned a lot - and now find that the world around me is changing rapidly -- from analog to digital -- from film to sensors... Still, my real love is with film - and as of yet, I've found no real easy method for achieving in the digital world the results I now get when using film.

I'm determined to push on. My favorite cameras all use film to record images. My favorite image making process requires various films and chemicals. My favorite results over 30+ years are all from film. Pure joy in imaging, for me, comes from working with film.

I say all this because this particular image sort of represents my waypoint - my milestone - to continue on the path - and as a reminder that I still have much to learn in the analog world - and a reminder that light is analog in nature - not digital.

I'm planning a few new night projects -- all with film. I'm sure to fail - I'm sure to come home with nothing to show for my efforts - nothing tangible - but plenty of new found experiences -- and perhaps a few steps closer to making images I've always dreamed about...

Stay tuned -- should be a fun spring and summer....

Still -- that leaves me with trying to figure out what's best for Dogsbreath. Someone mentioned Pixelpost -- but I've heard that's really buggy - and users are experiencing some serious commenting issues... I'd go with Expressions - but I have my own hosting service and domain -- I don't think that's for me.

I could install MT - and give that a whirl - but I'd have to hire yet another programmer -- and for dogsbreath - I'm not sure I'd want to pay all that much.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to something simple and easy to set up? My main issue right now is spam - I'm getting killed. I get a TON on No Traces - but I have a pretty robust spam blocker in place to keep things under control -- not so with Dogsbreath. Also, Folderblog feels flakey - and it is. I went to post a new photo today, and had issues with it not showing up as the most recent post. I had to basically delete my last two entries - and then repost. It's working fine now - but I get this strange feeling the whole thing could come crashing down... I love the site - and I have tons of great photos in the queue - I just need to make a transition before posting up another dozen images and the place comes crashing down.

I'm open to all ideas! Thanks...