Capturing photos with the Leica Sofort – and so on

MANILA, Philippines -  I am not a photographer. Perhaps, if there were such a thing as a “beginning beginner,” that would be me. I am also amazed at people who can take beautiful photographs. So in my mind’s eye, I imagine myself being able to take good photos of my pet companions, too.

How does that saying go, “If you imagine you can do it, you can.”

With that mantra, I have started shooting – and, seeing is believing.

It was with much joy that I recently got the opportunity to shoot a Leica Sofort. I was quite excited. Let me add that I really liked the way the camera looked when I first caught sight of it at the Leica store in GB5.

The Leica Sofort is the latest member of the brand’s camera family. It is a versatile instant-picture camera. It boasts a unique Leica design and special features, offers quick and easy access to photography and the fascination as well as the unique experience of spontaneous photos that can be seen and shared in seconds.

At the same time, Leica brings its photographic expertise and commitment to creative heights, ease of handling, and quality to the world of Instax instant photography. The creative scope offered by the Leica Sofort provides opportunities to rediscover instant photography and create small, haptic works of art and lasting memories.

For the newbie photographer that is me, this means instant gratification: I get to see a printout of each photo I take instantly.

Yes, I do take photographs with my handy cell phone, but getting a printout is another story. So, I have started taking photos with the Sofort.

I will add here that I have tried the other instant cameras on the market, but the Leica Sofort is different. How?

For starters, it has that unmistakable styling and look, developed as it were especially for the camera by the Leica design team, and a choice of colors in orange, white and mint reflects the light-hearted fun and fascination of instant photography.

Yes, yes, looks aren’t everything.

First shot

If there is one thing that I appreciate in any tech gadget, it’s that it is simple enough to learn to use straight out of the box.

And this was definitely the case with the Sofort. I was able to charge the battery, load it into the camera; put the film in the camera and take my first shot in a matter of a few minutes – after about 20 minutes of charging the battery.

Was I happy with my first shot? Not really. But I am aware that using an instant picture camera takes more than a first shot to get the hang of it.

So, I took out the literature in the box and read up on the many modes for shooting photos with the Sofort.

In automatic mode, the Leica Sofort takes advantage of available natural light for as long as possible without triggering the integrated flash. This results in pictures with a much more authentic and natural look.

In addition to the modes Automatic, Party & People, Sport & Action, Macro and creative programs for multiple and time exposures, the Leica Sofort also offers a mode for self-portraits and a self-timer with two different delays. To ensure best results every time, the camera automatically adapts parameters such as the exposure time and aperture to the mode the user selects. Flash triggering can either be left entirely to the automatic flash function of the camera, or users can turn it on or off, depending on the pictures they want to take. To make things easier when shooting self-portraits, the Leica Sofort also features a rectangular mirror on the front.

With the Leica Sofort, I discovered, by trial and error, that the focusing distance can be set independently from the selected program mode. Depending on the standard or long distance setting and the mode chosen, this brings even more creative freedom when shooting with the camera.

I am still learning – and will need another box of film soon. It’s great that I have been advised that film is readily available.

 Also, in addition to color film, Leica also offers a monochrome counterpart for users who feel more at home in the world of black-and-white photography. To reflect the nostalgic character of instant photography, the frames of Leica Sofort photos are kept in a warm shade of cream. Color and monochrome films will be offered in packs with 10 exposures and color film will also be available in double packs for 20 pictures.

Style and comfort

There is a range of accessories for both the camera and its pictures offered for the Leica Sofort. Safe and simple carrying of the camera is guaranteed by the range of straps in the colors mint, orange and black and white, while classy Leica Sofort cases are available in black or brown to protect the camera.

In the future, I will perhaps learn to appreciate these options, too. Leica Sofort Postcards will be offered in sets of three. Each card has a different design and enables the integration of a picture. The Sofort Photo Presenter can be filled with photos and placed on a flat surface as a decorative object or for presentation of the pictures. For anyone wishing to revel in memories, the Leica Sofort Photo Album is the classic solution for showing and sharing pictures and keeping them safe.

The Leica Sofort Storage Boxes in mint/black, white/black and orange/black combinations round off the range of accessories and are the ideal solution for safely storing your favorite pictures. The boxes will be available as sets of three – each set contains all three-color combinations.

For me, using the Leica now is more than just pointing and shooting – I have learned to look for shots that will please me. My cat, Mr. Gizmo, is a good subject because he loves to sit still and stare into the Sofort lens.

I hope to capture him at his grumpiest this weekend.

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Leica Sofort is available at Leica Store Greenbelt 5 and Leica Boutique Shangri-La. For information, call 729-5567 or visit www leica-camera.com.