Links
The Internet is a remarkably valuable resource enabling previously unheard of information availability.
Access to a wide variety of Internet sites and services has been of enormous benefit to me and my photography - I've had the pleasure of making wonderful acquaintances with fellow members of well organised photography communities.
So, providing these links is to help others gain access to some of the most valuable sites I have regularly used.
Please note that I have no beneficial interest in any of these sites nor their organisations and can only say that all my dealings with them have shown them to have excellent integrity.
Amateur Photographer - all round the best general photography magazine in the world!
I mean what I say. This weekly magazine has contributions from some of the best minds in the industry. Unlike most others, this magazine is not filled with commercial content - reviews and other material is factual and not out to please advertisers. Filled with content such as profiles of masters; readers' portfolios; reviews; technical discussions and broader related essays.
Certo 6 - THE expert restorer of vintage folding cameras
Jurgen is a delightful fellow - willing to help determine what level of restoration your vintage folder should have done; or, sell you a vintage folder he has made even "better than new" or a more modestly restored camera. His level of technical expertise is amazing.
Classic Camera Information Site
This is a useful web site for those seeking information on a variety of classic cameras and lenses. It includes some reviews of specifc classic lens performance. Dan had update his web site making it even more informative.
Clikpic
Websites for photographers and artists. I'm very happy to give my hosts a plug here! Their leading web hosting software technology makes web site development a pleasure, requiring little on-going management - thoroughly recommended.
Erwin Puts' Leica Web Site
Erwin is well known as a genuine expert on all things Leica and in particular Leica's complete range of reflex and rangefinder lenses from Leica's beginnings. What I like about Erwins very detailed reviews of lenses' optical and imaging characteristics is that he writes in amanner that in more qualitative than quantitative and relates his views to what you will see. His site also includes essays on a range of other photographic topics. His book is a "bible" for keen Leica owners.
Flatbed Film Scanning Film Holders - Doug Fisher's great holders
MF and LF shooters often need high quality flatbed scanners with film capability and Epson makes some of the best. BUT, the film holders are not optimal for precision flat film positioning. Doug makes the best going at a very reasonable price. He's also a gem to deal with.
Hasselblad Info and medium format discussion groups
Useful to all MF photographers, I am a member of the HasselbladInfo discussion forum. The members are very capable including very experienced professionals from many countries. It's a low volume site but with intelligent and reliable members.
Hasselblad V series resources & historical information
This excellent resource was established by a very experienced Hasselblad equipment user. The site includes user manuals and excellent resources such as a depth of field calculator for macro photography using extension tubes. It is especially useful for new users of Hasselblad V series equipment.
KEH.com - an outstanding place to fine used equipment
While I have no relationship with this company, I do source used equipment there reqularly. They have a great reputation for integrity as well as an enormous range of stock for all formats at very fair prices.
Leica-Camera's customer forum
Navigate your way through Leica's web site to join its customer discussion and picture forums. It's a very valuable resource to any Leica user - technical issues and equipment selection. It's free and convenient to use.
Luminous Landscape
This link takes you to the Essays section of their excellent site - providing a very wide range of information from equipment to techniques. It's one of the first web based sited I regularly used and is enormously valuable to novice and quite experienced photographers.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/digital-class.shtml#top
Photo Processing - Clarendon Pharmacy & Photo Shop
Despite it's rather misleading name, this small pharmacy operates a high end Fuji Frontier image processing lab and produces first class work. Caroline is the lab manager and is likely one of Melbourne's very best. All images are hand colour corrected. However, they do not do B&W nor E6. I highly recommend them.
Photo Processing - Photo Factory South Melbourne
I came to know these Fuji Frontier operators through their B&W processing lab. Paul is a master B&W printer and maintains a high end optical B&W system. They will even handle E6 film processing. The link takes you to Fuji Film's lab locator.
Photo.net
An enormously valuable and fully featured site for photographers of all types. I've been a financial member for some years now and participate in many forums where I contribute and I learn enormously from others excellent experience. I strongly recommend membership to any keen photographer. Browse the site and you'll see what I mean.
PhotographyReview
This site can be very useful to those less experienced photographers or anyone looking for information about the huge range of cameras and lenses available today in so many equipment categories. Because most reviews are by users you should take care with judging performance and look carefully at the reviewer's background - a useful place to start gathering information.
The Camera Exchange - Australia's leading used equipment dealer
I've been buying gear there for more than 15 years in all formats. Apart from having the largest range of used stock around, the owner is a delight and has an extraordinary level of technical knowledge. His senior staff are similarly knowledgable and a delight to know and deal with. While they do sell through a web site, it's the in-store experience that is so valuable.
Voigtlander and Leica Rangefinder Things - an excellent source from an expert
If you're looking for wonderfully affordable rangefinder lenses for Leicas and Voigtlanders, Cosina Voigtlander have some gems. And one of the most competitive suppliers with outstanding knowledge of this market segment is Steve Gandy. He's also great to deal with.