Mark and Dan Discuss Leica Lenses
This past weekend Mark Toal, Panasonic Lumix rep extraordinaire, stopped into Bozeman to discuss Adventures in Conservation and two new Leica lenses. Adventures in Conservation was the program I did for Bozeman Camera at the Museum of the Rockies on Friday, May 11th. I’ll share more of that story below, but first you may want to watch the video Mark and I shot about the new Leica 50-200mm and the recently released Leica 200mm F/2.8.
Spoiler Alert: Watch Dan rummage through Bozeman Camera’s big Nikon counter and pull out a Nikon 400mm F/2.8 to do a comparison in size and weight to the new Leica 200mm F/2.8 (400mm F/2.8 equivalent).
Mark shares with me, on camera, the brand new, soon to be released Leica 50-200mm as well as the recently released Leica 200mm F/2.8. He had a pile of gear with him and many people stopped by Bozeman Camera on Saturday to take a look at some of the things Lumix has to offer.
Dan compares the Nikon 400mm F/2.8 and the new Leica 200mm F/2.8 at Bozeman Camera.
Big Sale on Leica and Lumix
An added bonus was a substantial sale on many of the Leica lenses built specifically for the Lumix cameras. They’re taking a whopping $500 off the Leica 200mm F/2.8 and $200 off the Leica 12-60mm (my current favorite all around lens), $300 off the Leica 12mm F/1.4, and $400 off the Leica 43.5 (85mm equivalent) F/1.2, which is another fabulous lens. Finally, it’s $200 off another favorite of mine, the Leica 8-18mm. Additionally, I didn’t realize it, but there are also Trade In/Trade Up deals on the GH5, GH5S, and the brand new G9. Wow, some great opportunities to get into the MFT system if you’re tired of lugging around the monsters I used to carry.
All gear in this photo is available from all Lumix dealers including our friends at Bozeman Camera.
Friday Night’s Adventures in Conservation Program
My program Adventures in Conservation was a bit different than my typical programs. For a unique slant, I brought my friend, PBI biologist, Geoff York. Geoff and I worked in the field for a couple of bear capture seasons in Alaska. I was actually there when a semi-sedated female polar bear grabbed Geoff by the thigh, chomped down, then immediately fell back to sleep.
Dan and Geoff get a dual selfie in front of the crowd before the program at the Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman.
To say that was intimidating is an understatement. And… that was my first flight and first bear with the capture team ever. Geoff finished the job and then had things checked out at the local clinic. Despite being in the heart of polar bear territory, this was the clinic’s first ever bear bite.
Dan speaking to the crowd from the podium at the Museum of the Rockies. Bozeman, Montana
I remind him to tell that story when we do our talks together. Kind of fun bringing it up really. Hey, what are friends for😁 Not many can say they got chomped on by a polar bear and lived to talk about it.
Dan talking to one of a couple of young people who attended the program Adventures in Conservation. She wanted to know more about polar bears.
It was a great evening, just short of a full house with nearly 200 people in the seats. Much better than the program I gave at Huppins in Spokane, Washington where only two people showed up. Yep, two people and one was there just to talk to somebody from Panasonic about a broken camera. Very good for keeping your ego in check.
Below are a few more photos from our night at the Museum of the Rockies with Bozeman Camera.
Signs at the museum.
View from the audience. Adventures in Conservation.
Dan speaking to the audience at Adventures in Conservation. Bozeman, Montana
The Bozeman Camera crew. Bozeman, Montana
A big slap on the back and thank you to Mark Toal for doing such a great job documenting the events at the Museum of the Rockies and Bozeman Camera. It’s so nice to get pictures from a real professional. Thank you Mark.