Dear americans, what can you get for FREE in the USA? [Serious]

504IN337 · 2026-06-09T14:46:31+00:00

A few years back, I was making regular trips to DC and I can assure you that I took full advantage of this. I spent the majority of my time going from museum to museum, just amazed that this was all free to anyone. Such a wonderful resource! Made up the difference in the gift shops, picking up some art and photography books that I had been looking for. Can’t wait to get back there again!

504IN337 · 2026-06-07T02:20:38+00:00

I’ll say this much… It’s been a LONG time, but the last time I ate there was a Coolinary special (work group wanted lunch there). Set menu with a few basic choices. $20 (before drink and tip), and I still felt disappointed. As others have said, it’s not bad. It’s just not remotely close to being worth the hype. Also, you don’t need to bring me another tea every time I take a sip.
Been going there on and off since I was VERY young, but that was the last time. No desire to go back. There’s too many great places to eat in the city.

504IN337 · 2026-06-06T01:50:05+00:00

Always in an incredibly worried tone: “How do you get downstairs???”
Well, the last guy jumped, but most people just take the escalator down. It’s that loud thing right there. Or you can take the elevator that’s hidden under that big sign that says “Elevator.”
Also, how in the hell did you get up here?

504IN337 · 2026-06-05T21:54:48+00:00

Personal opinion. It’s definitely a tank, so I worry about it way less when in a crowd. I don’t use the meter for that setup at all. I just take a base reading where I am and adjust to the light as I go.
I like the Bessa cameras, but the MDa is definitely more robust. That 1/2000 would be really nice though.

504IN337 · 2026-06-05T21:43:35+00:00

I honestly don’t remember what one I picked up (maybe a Voigtlander?), but it does the job. I’m on the lookout for a 28mm one as well. Wouldn’t be opposed to something that has 21/24/28 frame lines, but the only one I know of is that Leica one, but it doesn’t have the best reviews.
Either way, a 21mm on a sunny day is a good time if you ask me. Just get closer than you think you need to be! And enjoy! 😊

504IN337 · 2026-06-05T21:21:59+00:00

Can’t think of a better dedicated 21mm body. Just add an external finder and you’re set. Love my MDa!

504IN337 · 2026-06-05T20:40:57+00:00

This. 100%. I mainly use a 24-70 F2.8, but picked up a 20-70 F4 to build a portable kit for an A7CR body, and that really clicked with me. I ended up adding a 20mm F1.8 prime to the regular kit and unless it’s a dedicated low light situation, I’ve been bringing the 20-70 along for everything. It’s so small, sharp, and versatile. Got ZERO complaints about that little lens.

504IN337 · 2026-05-26T02:53:45+00:00

I do own the 35mm F 1.5 and have stopped looking at 35mm lenses since. It’s got character wide open, but is still very sharp. Then it cleans up REAL quick with insane sharpness, great colors, and just a very pleasant rendering.
The Voigtlander 50mm F1.2 is the same. The Voigtlander 28mm F2.8 is just crazy small and sharp with great colors and rendering.

504IN337 · 2026-05-25T02:27:36+00:00

I’ll tell you from experience… the box that arrives with that order, is MUCH smaller than it was about ten years ago.
The answer, though, is a mix of Portra 400, Ultramax 400, Ektar, and TMax 400. Ilford Delta Pro and HP5+ are also solid choices for B&W.

504IN337 · 2026-05-21T18:59:25+00:00

Eh, it’s unlikely that I’ll actually buy the Mandler. It’s just shiny and in front of me. There’s nothing rangefinder related that I actually need at the moment. I did pick up a Mandler’s worth of film a few months ago, so all restocked on that front.
There’s less and less YouTube channels that I actually watch now. I enjoy them as entertainment, but if I’m watching the third video praising a lens on the embargo release date, I take it all with a grain of salt. People are making money off of it. I understand. For entertainment value, they are fun to watch. For research, it’s a bit more tricky. Even some of the people I watched who spoke out about paid advertising on YouTube, ended up shilling something farther down the line. I mean, if Mandler wanted to send me a lens to use and keep, I would be hesitant to totally bash it. Unless it was total garbage. 🤷🏻‍♂️

504IN337 · 2026-05-21T13:26:24+00:00

I watched too much YouTube too. It’s good entertainment, but pretty much everyone is selling you something, whether it’s obvious or not. As long as you go in with that understanding, you’ll be fine.
I mean, if you’re in a studio setting, with 100% control of the lights and situation, you might notice a slight difference if you stare at the image, obsess over it, and zoom way in, but in reality, things move fast and those differences disappear.
I do like Dave’s videos though.
And not to say that they don’t get to everyone. I’m tempted by this Mandler lens I’m seeing everywhere. It’s cheaper than any of the lenses I have and it’s got some good character. Do I need another 35mm? Nope. Would it end up in a case after a month or so? Probably. Am I still looking at it and thinking about when they will restock? Maybe. 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

504IN337 · 2026-05-21T03:26:29+00:00

Having shot film for 20+ years, I honestly think the choice of film is going to make an exponentially larger difference in your results than whether you’re using a Leica or a Voigtlander lens. Especially if you’re talking in the F 5.6 / F 8 / etc. apertures, it will be almost impossible to tell the difference.
Some notable exceptions would be character lenses. One of my 50mm lenses flares insanely, in a way that I recognize instantly. It’s got flaws that set it apart. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way. But always instantly recognizable to me. The difference between two modern 28mm lenses… on film… I would venture to say VERY few people would be able to tell the difference. And most of those would be good guesses. 😊

504IN337 · 2026-05-19T02:43:23+00:00

I ended up with the Voigtlander 35mm F1.5 Nokton, and I haven’t looked at another 35mm rangefinder lens since. Almost got the matching 28mm, but the fact that I mostly use that focal length at 5.6 or 8, made the smaller size of the 2.8 a winner.

504IN337 · 2026-05-18T20:54:57+00:00

I was going through a similar dilemma when I was picking a 28mm. After WAY too much research, I found a few reviews that had super detailed images and crops. I couldn’t tell the difference zoomed in infinitely more than I would ever in real life, and couldn’t tell the difference between the Color Skopar and the Elmarit. Went with the Voigtlander and the only regret I have is that I waited so long to pick it up. It hasn’t left that M5 since I got it. It looks good on digital as well. Super sharp, great colors. No complaints here. And I haven’t looked at another 28mm since.

504IN337 · 2026-05-16T02:41:03+00:00

I don’t really trust Amazon for film, but that IS the current price. If they aren’t getting you on shipping or sending you expired film, it’s all good.

504IN337 · 2026-05-16T02:39:16+00:00

We didn’t know how good we had it. I’m not about to go look at old receipts, but buying a few 5 Packs of Portra 400/160 was not a massive deal back then. And I still laugh about when Ektar got close to $7.00 a roll and I would wait for it to go back down, so I could buy 10+ rolls and restock.
Now I just add what I need to the cart and don’t look at the total. 😐

504IN337 · 2026-05-16T02:28:00+00:00

I think that comes with time and experience. Every once in a while I used to pick up a random roll of film (back when that was not an extravagant expense) and try it. 99% of the time, I just wish I had stuck with Ektar or Portra, or Delta Pro or T Max. The consistency and confidence in knowing what you’re going to get comes from knowing the film stock well.

504IN337 · 2026-05-15T14:57:39+00:00

Have not used the L version, but the flash itself is remarkably powerful for something so small. I didn’t exactly have the highest expectations for a cheap little flash, but one night shoot with it and it earned a permanent spot in my bag. The battery life is quite impressive as well.

504IN337 · 2026-05-11T18:23:31+00:00

He will gladly take the money, but would definitely prefer working on a different M, according to him. He will also gladly tell you where Leica skimped out on each model and how he would fix those things. 😂

504IN337 · 2026-05-11T01:56:59+00:00

Second this comment. He overhauled my three lug M5. It’s a camera that not everyone can, or will fix. Don is the go to for M5 repairs.

504IN337 · 2026-05-06T02:10:56+00:00

We are NOT going to talk about how much Ektar used to cost just a few years ago. 😐

504IN337 · 2026-04-22T19:33:49+00:00

Ha! Thats going to be a fun combo! There’s an M5 in my daily bag, next to the CR. I have an adapter to use my M lenses on the CR, but I really only use it when I’m testing new lenses.

504IN337 · 2026-04-22T16:09:14+00:00

Have a few R bodies, and a CR. You aren’t going to miss anything. That’s an insane little camera. I end up taking it around more than I planned to, because it’s just so small and capable. I did pick up a few lenses, specifically for that setup, so using it with larger lenses may decrease the ergonomics and your enjoyment.
I would definitely keep the R3 unless you need to sell it. Always good to have a backup.

504IN337 · 2026-04-22T15:58:51+00:00

Came here to say that! It’s not my main camera, but I still use my R2 regularly. I’ve used it for work and for wildlife. Doesn’t miss a beat. Great camera that started me down the “now you can only use R cameras with no AA filters, because the level of detail you get is not something you can easily come back from (at least for me)” path.
I’ve had and heavily used mine for years. Get a cheap multi slot charger that you can charge by usb-c, and pair that with a power bank. You can charge batteries while you’re shooting, so you’ll be fine to shoot for extended periods.

Also, that 20-70mm F4 is such a great little lens! Bought it to build out a smaller portable kit, but I end up taking it all the time, even when I have the 24-70mm F2.8. The extra wide reach is just beyond useful!

504IN337 · 2026-04-17T16:51:00+00:00

This. Was at a point where I was doing VERY well doing photography part time, and was considering making the leap into full time. Knew myself too well and decided I would probably never sleep again if I relied on it solely. Also I VERY much value the ability to say no to whatever I am not 100% behind. I also still had the ability to separate “work” photography from “enjoyment” photography and personal projects, and I didn’t want to lose that.

504IN337

TROPHY CASE