David Farkas

David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica at Photokina 2018: Wrap Up 6 years, 8 months ago

Entering the Koelnmesse for Photokina never loses its excitement, even as I head into my sixth show. The hustle, the bustle, and energy of the show hits you as soon as you weave your way through the crowds of […]

garydmorris replied 6 years, 8 months ago

From your shots it appears that this show is well attended. Is it or are there some vendor areas that are substantially more crowded than others?

Were you able to get any sense in the L Mount meeting whether or not a new SL is around the corner or the current model has some more years left? The current trade-in discount could be interpreted as clearing out inventory.
- David Farkas replied 6 years, 8 months ago
  
  Hi Gary,
  
  Yes, the show was very well attended from what I could see. In fact, the attendance just kept growing every day, as the weekend approached.
  
  I will have the detailed interview about the L-mount alliance up within the next day. I'll let you make your own determination about the SL.

David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Adds Three More SL Prime Lenses to Roadmap 6 years, 8 months ago

At the press event today, Leica announced three new SL lenses. Slated to be released in 2020, these new optics will add fast, wide-angle primes to the system. With focal lengths of 21, 24 and 28mm, all lenses […]

David Farkas replied 4 years, 9 months ago

Delayed due to ‘global circumstances', but still coming!
David Farkas replied 4 years, 8 months ago

My guess is that due to the current situation, theses lenses will most likely get pushed back to 2021. But, that's just an educated guess.

David Farkas wrote a new post, Photokina 2018: Day 0 – Leica Press Event 6 years, 8 months ago

Alright, so Photokina 2018 hasn't actually started yet. But that didn't stop Leica from making a bunch of announcements today at their special press event. I arrived at the event in time to get my ticket with this […]

David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Announces CL in Silver Anodized Finish 6 years, 8 months ago

Today, just ahead of the start of Photokina 2018, Leica has announced that its popular Leica CL mirrorless camera will soon be available in a silver anodized finish. All the technical specifications and features […]

David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Announces L-Mount Alliance with Panasonic and Sigma 6 years, 8 months ago

Today at a special press conference the day before Photokina 2018, Leica announced a new strategic alliance with partners Panasonic and Sigma. The L-Mount Alliance seeks to create cameras and lenses around the […]

David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Releases New FOTOS App for Wi-Fi Connectivity 6 years, 8 months ago

Today, Leica Camera has announced the Leica FOTOS app. A brand new mobile app for iOS and Android, the Leica FOTOS app provides support for almost all Wi-Fi enabled Leica camera models. This is a dramatic change […]

jsevidon replied 6 years, 8 months ago

I installed it on my iPhone and mated it to my Leica TL2.
Not yet ready for prime time. It does connect very easily, a big improvement over the old and very fussy
TL iPhone App. But the new Fotos App. also disconnects when not intended, requiring new acquisition. I realize it is a Beta version, but I think you ought to contact Fotos and tell them that the App has this problem.
- Josh Lehrer replied 6 years, 8 months ago
  
  James, I am sure over the next month Leica will be gathering feedback from all the beta testers so that by the time the app is released it is ready for use!
dave@davecooperphoto.com replied 6 years, 8 months ago

For what it's worth, I've been beta testing the Foto app for about 10 minutes and it has frozen my M10 twice. I had to pull the battery to restart. Let's just say that it's not ready for the masses.
thegman replied 5 years, 1 month ago

Hi, I've just bought my CL and downloaded the Fotos PRO app but I cannot get it to capture using the remote. I can adjust some basic settings but when I touch the button to take the shot nothiing happens. Not impressed at all with the app. Anybody any ideas if I'm doing something wrong. Thanks.

David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica Announces Black Sofort Instant Camera 6 years, 8 months ago

Today, Leica has announced a new color option for the Sofort Instant Camera. The Leica Sofort in black shares all the same specs as its orange, mint and white versioned siblings. Not exactly the big Photokina […]

David Farkas wrote a new post, Stay Tuned for Full Photokina 2018 Coverage 6 years, 8 months ago

Photokina is here again. In two weeks, the biggest photo equipment expo in the world gets underway.

I will be heading off to Cologne, Germany for what should be another great show. As I have done for the past […]

David Farkas wrote a new post, Leica C-Lux Now Shipping in the USA 6 years, 10 months ago

The first shipment of the new Leica C-Lux has just landed here in the US. Unveiled at the Celebration of Photography event at the Leitzpark 3 Opening in Germany last month, the C-Lux is a full-featured compact […]

David Farkas wrote a new post, 2018 MacBook Pro 15″ with 6-core i9 Shows Severe Thermal Throttling 6 years, 10 months ago

Not sure this is the info you guys wanted, but it is unfortunately what I was afraid of when looking at the specs of the new 2018 MacBook Pro 15″ refresh…

Well-respected computer reviewer Dave Lee (Dave2D) […]

Jack MacD replied 6 years, 10 months ago

David,
I appreciate your comment:

This is just not cool.
Roger replied 6 years, 10 months ago

Apple has replied that the throttling was a firmware fault and it has been corrected ?

David Farkas wrote a new post, Apple Updates MacBook Pro to 8th Gen Processors 6 years, 11 months ago

Finally. For months, Apple users have been expecting a 2018 refresh to the MacBook Pro, last updated in 2016. And today, Apple has addressed at least some of the community's desires for the 13 inch and 15 inch […]

Jack MacDonough replied 6 years, 10 months ago

David,
I really appreciate your comments on this new machine, and I look forward to your decision. I am relatively happy with my mid 2014 15” MacBook Pro, and have avoided an upgrade until 32Gig Ram was finally available. I am also looking at an upgrade to my desktop and for similar money I could rationalize an iMacPro.

I know you are an agnostic on operating systems so I pay attention to your thoughts. Your comments on 4K rendering speed catch my attention.

Too bad that instead of a Leica watch, Leica doesn’t make a computer.
- David Farkas replied 6 years, 10 months ago
  
  Jack,
  
  I have a feeling that we won't have to wait too long for in-depth benchmarking tests on the new MBP 2018. Besides the raw numbers, I will still need to go to the Apple Store to see for myself if the slightly tweaked keyboard is any better a typing experience.
  
  As far as a desktop goes, I think the only way to go these days is to just build your own. A quality i7-8700K 6-core build with a 30% overclock (5GHz) can be had for $2,100, even with a beefy GTX 1070Ti graphics card (faster than both the Vega 56 standard and Vega 64 top of the line option on iMac Pro). Then pick up an LG 43″ 4K monitor with 100% sRBG gamut and super accurate color for $700. Yes, 43 inches. Yes, $700.
  
  So, for roughly half the price of the iMac Pro, you get a solid imaging workstation that chews through photos and video. Here's a quick config I threw together: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/qpwwq4. You're not limited to a 27″ screen, and you can upgrade the SSD, add additional internal storage, upgrade the video card (or add a second in SLI), even change out the CPU. Half the price, with up to 50% better performance in Adobe apps. I know a lot of people like the 27″ screen, but as someone who uses a 34″ ultra-wide LG everyday, 27″ is tiny. And I'm seriously eyeing the 43″ 4K LG to gain even more screen real estate. For serious content creation, more is almost always better.
  
  And honestly, if you didn't need a monster video editing machine, scaling back the graphics could save you a few hundred, to well under $2K. I just wanted to give an apples to apples comparison (pardon the pun). Realistically, with a $5-6K budget, you could get a tricked out Razer Blade 15 laptop (32GB RAM / 2TB SSD) for $3,500 and a desktop for $2,000-2,500. Or, just plug the 43″ monitor into the laptop and call it a day, for $4,200. All that being said…. I'm still pulling for the MacBook Pro to surprise me when reviews come out this week.
- Albert Knapp, MD replied 6 years, 10 months ago
  
  I use the new iMac PRO for lightroom/PS and it is wonderful.
  Albert
Nunnzzzz replied 6 years, 10 months ago

Good article David. I ordered mine with the 4TB SSD today. Will report vack
- David Farkas replied 6 years, 10 months ago
  
  Looking forward to your experience, Mark!
  - Albert Knapp, MD replied 6 years, 10 months ago
    
    David-
    I am on the fence as well. Still using my 2015 Mac pro in the field but am perplexed as to why they dropped the SD card reader???
    - David Farkas replied 6 years, 10 months ago
      
      Albert,
      
      Apple dropped the SD card reader for the same reason as why they omitted full-size USB-A or HDMI ports, and why the keyboard has such short travel – thinness. Thinness at all costs. And, if you check out my update from today, you'll see that there seems to be a very tangible performance penalty as well.
David Farkas replied 6 years, 10 months ago

The new 6-core Windows laptops render video as fast (or faster) than most desktops. The Gigabyte Aero 15x, Razer Blade 15, MSI GS65, and Dell XPS 15 all are able to cool the new processors and are only 1-3mm thicker than the MacBook Pro. They weigh between 4 and 4.5 lbs. Other larger gaming laptops, like the Aurus X9 are even able to run overclocked i7 and i9 processors around 5GHz and still stay under 80 deg C. This computer is no lightweight at 7 lbs and 0.9 inches thick, but certainly no where near the bulk of previous generations of gaming laptops.
malcolm anderson replied 1 year, 8 months ago

Exciting news for Apple enthusiasts! The update to the MacBook Pro with 8th gen processors is a game-changer. With these new processors, we can expect even better performance and efficiency from our MacBooks.

First, I started using this MacBook for my work at the https://hrforecast.com/ company. The company purchased these MacBooks for all its employees half a year after these MacBooks went on sale.

Member David Farkas

@david-farkas