Happy World Series Sunday break-day, everyone! I am fully immersed in the current World Series — it’s been 32 years since we’ve had anything truly worth cheering about north of the border, and this team is chock-full of great players and great men. It’s so easy to be a fan right now. It would be an absolute pleasure to come back next Sunday knowing the Blue Jays are world champions. And even if they don’t pull it off, this has been the most exciting season as a baseball fan in my entire life.
Technology-wise, it was the week of the Leica M EV-1, Leica’s first major step forward (or to the side?) to future-proof the M line of cameras. Now, I’m no true Leica connoisseur or bleeding heart — I own and adore my Leica Q2 and I would love to own an M with one or two “Lux” lenses in the future. Until that spendy day, I will hope and dream, but more importantly, research and get a feel for what the real connoisseurs are feeling. I’ll have more on the EV-1 below.
Lastly, I gave ChatGPT’s Atlas browser a shot this week. For the first time, I came away impressed with an AI-first browser. Having ChatGPT at your fingertips to read and analyze your open tabs is pretty neat.
Here was my little experiment:
I found myself on the Wealthsimple website researching some of their latest developments and clicked over to the careers page (I’m most certainly not seeking employment, but it’s fun to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s available in your line of work). From there, I found a “Tax Specialist” listing which caught my attention, so I clicked on it and did some reading. Of course, not to be found inside that job listing was a salary range to be expected if you were given the job (why, why, why is this not a thing?). So I asked ChatGPT in Atlas to read through the job description and search for other job listings that had the same requirements, and to provide an expected salary range from that one specific listing. Atlas gave me a base, medium, and high range to expect, depending on experience and other post-designation particulars, and it asked if it could help build out the research further. It also showed its sources, so I could continue to do the research myself.
Overall, this was precisely what I was looking for. It brought a bigger set of sources to my disposal and summarized everything into one coherent report answering the question I was asking.
For this one experiment, I was pretty pleased.
I can never quite seem to land with two feet on any one particular AI product. We pay for Google Workspace in the office right now, which comes with all sorts of Gemini features. And those Gemini features are incredible when they are baked into Google Drive, or Gemini’s Deep Research, or even Gmail itself.
But OpenAI’s ChatGPT is noticeably quicker, seemingly friendlier, most certainly better designed, and just keeps calling my name. I’m tempted to pay for ChatGPT Plus and Google Workspace at this point.
Kai W on the Leica M EV-1
Kai is the very first photography YouTuber I watched way, way back in the day. I remember doing countless hours of research on the Nikon D7000 back in 2009 or 2010 and Kai Man Wong’s breakdown with his pink D7000 always hit the top of my list. DigitalRevTV became my favourite place for all things photography. I’ll forever miss those days.
Somehow, though, Kai Wong lives on and is still reviewing the latest cameras from all the camera companies. He’s particularly helpful and entertaining in Leica district still, so naturally he was the first YouTuber I honed in on regarding the new M EV-1. I sincerely appreciate Kai’s attention to the “soul” or “character” of the heralded Leica M line, and whether that same soul or character has been included or ripped right out of the M EV-1.
The next question becomes: Who is the EV-1 for? Well, it’s for probably someone like me — someone who wants to gain access to M-line lenses but feel the rangefinder-plus-manual-focus endeavours are too much to swallow. I can’t imagine I’d capture a single keeper in my first two weeks of Leica M ownership with the current array of cameras and lenses. Instead, the EV-1 could potentially eliminate one of those barriers to entry, or at least minimize the shock factor.
We’ll see how the EV-1 evolves. An autofocus M camera seems too much to ask for, so I won’t hold my breath there. Instead, perhaps the EV-1 will adopt some focusing aid ideas Kai discusses to improve the focusing experience in the coming years.
Side note: This is the first time in a long, long time when there are enough cameras on the market to actually tempt me. I’m increasingly stunned with any Hasselblad X2D 100C photos these days. The FujiFilm GFX line of cameras continues to provide stunning results. And of course, as a Leica Q2 owner, the Q3 43 mm makes a ton of sense. All told, though, each of these cameras are expensive, so it’ll be at least a few years of saving before pulling something off.
Weekly Meditation: Luke 10:22
I’m attempting to read through the book of Luke over a 30-day period (which is still far too quickly, if you ask me). This week, I came across the following verse, which of course picks up right where I left off in the Sunday Edition just a few weeks ago:
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
I believe this verse requires the truest form of meditation and pondering. Based on John 14:16, Jesus says you will know the Helper (the Holy Spirit) because you know the Son. Furthermore, John 14:6-7 says the following:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
So, you will know the Holy Spirit because you have known the Son, and you will see and know the Father because you have seen and known the Son. But if, and only if, per Luke 10:22, the Son chooses to reveal himself to you.
My understanding of the above verses is currently the following:
- The Trinity Godhead is real — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equal and eternal. If you know one, you know all.
- You will be called, and before that point, you simply will not be able to see.
I write out my thoughts above to potentially spur thoughts in others, but also as a historical record for myself. I’m excited to see how my understanding grows through prayer and study.
The Second Cup
Destroying Lego Cities
This video is so much fun to watch. If, like me, you’ll be mesmerized. How long did it take to make this video? Think about all the building and rebuilding and creative time to build each battering ram.
Insanity.
Quality Overload: CSQM 1 and the Death by a Thousand Checklists
I don’t talk about my line of work too often (I have to talk about it all day, after all), but I appreciated this article. Everywhere, in every industry, in so many Western jurisdictions, it feels there is a clamping down on the small business owner. A growing bureaucracy filled to the brim with checklists and jargon. And when those who are not beholden to the checklists and jargon don’t play the same game, it becomes very difficult to see the benefit in the checklists and the jargon.
Every Way to Fry an Egg
Bet there’s something new in here for you. I am trying to imagine the taste of the “butter poached” egg.
What’s in Peter McKinnon’s Camera Bag in 2025
Fourth of four videos this week. Peter McKinnon’s camera bag videos have been popular since time immemorial, and it’s extra fun to see how it has evolved after all these years.
Happy Sunday. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
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