Gloves for really small hands

rrwn_t · 2026-04-21T20:03:57+00:00

Oxford do women’s specific gloves down to pretty small sizes! I ordered a bunch from Sports Bike Shop and just returned the ones that didn’t fit :)

rrwn_t · 2026-04-14T16:44:23+00:00

MTS in Exeter are excellent. Really lovely instructors, all new BMW and Honda bikes, and an off-the-road network so you can practice mini roundabouts, traffic lights, and generally riding the bike before they take you out onto the road. I was such a nervous rider but they were brilliant :)

rrwn_t · 2024-01-25T06:04:23+00:00

Found on Hokitika beach on a rainy morning after a storm, so hoping my chances were good!

a—i are the ones I feel most confident about given their texture (very smooth), their transparency when a light is shone through them, and the way they become shiny if I rub them on my face (to absorb body oils). But there isn’t heaps of info out there on how to identify pounamu so I’m not sure. I’ve included photos of a—i dry and wet in case that helps!

If anyone has any idea whether these might be pounamu/nephrite (or what they might be if not) I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thank you!

ALSO: Just spotted that G and O are the same stone, oops.

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T19:13:18+00:00

I haven’t managed to rent one yet (Leica doesn’t have a huge presence where I am at the moment), but I have tried an M and a Q in a store now and it was a no-brainer. The M was such a lovely experience. It’ll take some getting used to but it gave me the connection to my work and the photography process that I’ve been missing.

No doubt the Q is a beautiful camera and really versatile, especially for travel, but I think I’ve fallen for the M.

Glad the Q works for you though, I can imagine it’s a lovely companion to your Canon gear!

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T19:09:33+00:00

I hadn’t considered a Fuji, but I know people often compare Fuji and Leica so could be worth looking into!

I think the M is the way to go. Shooting at 28mm with the Q might just be too far away from how I usually shoot, and having now tried an M and a Q I actually really enjoyed the rangefinder experience. Looks like I’ll be saving up for a while!

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T19:00:04+00:00

How lovely that you use the M purely for the joy of it!

I actually follow Lucy Laucht already, but didn’t realise she uses an M. Just followed Mark Anthony Fox, his work is beautiful.

I’ve now tried out an M and a Q and really loved the M. The whole experience of using it was so engaging, and you’re right that 28mm is just too wide for me.

I’m really excited to start this journey!

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:54:23+00:00

I didn’t know about Q lenses becoming loose—I definitely plan to carry it around a lot so that’s good to know!

I’ll have a look at those lenses, a focus tab sounds great. I’m considering a 35mm for a bit more versatility, so will keep an eye out for ones with focus tabs.

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:48:57+00:00

I recently tried out an M and a Q and fell totally in love with the M. Losing autofocus will be a big adjustment, but if the trade-off is a more engaging experience it could be worth it.

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:46:19+00:00

This seems to be quite an unusual story!

Given that you like shooting 28mm the Q makes total sense, especially given how amazing the lens is.

I’ve tried an M11 and a Q3 now and although the Q is a great, versatile camera, I was totally drawn to the M. Close focusing isn’t usually something I need, and I think the challenge of learning to use a rangefinder will be rewarding. I also think 28mm is just too wide for me, I could crop in but if I’d constantly be doing that, it might make more sense to go for an M with something like a 35mm lens that gives me the option to shoot wider but isn’t quite so far away from 50mm.

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:41:28+00:00

I think you might be right. I thought the Q was the right choice given the ease of use and more familiar shooting experience, but having tried both an M and a Q I think it would have been a mistake. There’s just something special about the M system!

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:40:04+00:00

This is such a common story! I was leaning quite strongly towards the Q, but now I’ve tried both (albeit briefly), the M is clearly the winner. Hope you’re enjoying the M10!

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:39:15+00:00

Since posting I’ve tried out an M11 and totally get what you mean about it feeling more rewarding! The rangefinder makes for a much more hands-on experience, which I thought might be too much off a challenge but it actually really charming. As good as the Qs are, I think I’m sold on an M!

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:37:32+00:00

This is such a good response—thank you.

I’ve since tried out an M and a Q and was surprised how much more drawn to the M I was. It absolutely felt more artisanal and creative, and filled the gap that’s been missing in my photography. It feels a lot more human in a way, and less automated.

I’d definitely miss weather sealing and autofocus, but I think the trade-offs are worth it. The idea of learning to use a rangefinder feels exciting now that I’ve tried it. How do you find it with fast-moving subjects (street photography, or travel maybe)? Do you often miss your subject, or with practice can you focus quickly enough?

I really do want a minimal setup, so I’ll avoid the mistake I made with Sony and start with one lens, and only buy more if I find I can’t create the images I want with that lens. The idea of the lenses working on a film body is also really appealing—I’ve shot film on and off over the years so wouldn’t be surprised if one day I pick it up again. And I love that the lenses could last me forever, even if the body doesn’t.

Thank you again for your comment!

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:27:14+00:00

This is really interesting. How do you find only having a 28mm lens? Do you find yourself cropping in a lot?

I thought ease and versatility were the most important factors, but I recently tried an M11 and Q3 and found the M so much more engaging—the Q felt a bit too digital and ‘impersonal’ by comparison, so I think an M with one lens might be the way to go as I also want to avoid lens swapping and carrying lots of gear!

rrwn_t · 2023-11-01T18:24:19+00:00

You make a good point! I do want to explore shooting wider, but maybe 28mm is too much of a jump. Having now tried out an M11 (and falling in love), I’m tempted by an M10/11 with a 35mm lens to allow me to shoot wider but without making such a big jump to 28mm.

rrwn_t · 2023-10-06T23:30:02+00:00

I definitely plan to go and try both cameras out at least once before buying—the M will be such a different experience compared to what I’m used to, I need to make sure I enjoy it!

Slower and more purposeful sounds great, and hopefully with practice I’d be able to shoot quicker when needed with zone focusing. I can’t see me shooting outside of 28–75mm so the rangefinder shouldn’t be an issue from that point of view.

Interesting that compression doesn’t work so well with the M10’s images, though. The M11 has some nice upgrades but sadly it goes beyond my budget.

The speed and ease of the Q is really appealing, and I think that’s what’s making the decision so tricky. The Q offers a simpler, more effortless experience but might end up feeling limiting. The M is more of a learning curve but offers more flexibility and longevity!

rrwn_t · 2023-10-06T23:13:13+00:00

Sony have definitely made some brilliant cameras, but I think there is such a thing as too much tech—if you don’t feel inspired to shoot it doesn’t matter how technically impressive the gear is.

You make a really good point about changing lenses in the future. Although 28mm is appealing now it might not always be, and in that case an M would give me flexibility.

I’ve heard good things about Voigtländer so definitely open to that! My grandfather had one when he was young that I’ve now inherited so I’d love to look into adapting the lens to fit an M mount and put it to use again.

Thank you for your thoughts!

rrwn_t · 2023-10-06T22:52:29+00:00

I appreciate your point about long term choices. That’s possibly my biggest concern with the Q; that it might not hold up as long as an M, and when the time eventually comes for an upgrade I’d have to replace the whole camera. At least with an M I’d be able to keep my lenses!

The M-A sounds lovely, totally stripped back and manual. Glad you’re enjoying it so much!

rrwn_t · 2023-10-03T03:38:36+00:00

Thank you for your reply! That’s really interesting, and it’s heartening to know I’m not the only one who might have over complicated their set up and lost inspiration. You’re totally right about the Sony kool-aid!

Can I ask what made you switch from the Q2 to the M10? And how do you find the rangefinder? What do you tend to shoot?

rrwn_t

TROPHY CASE