A few weeks ago, I read about an interesting independent watchmaker in Ohio who has been creating limited runs of about 20 different types of military style watches. I started doing some research and got bitten by the watch bug. Most guys who are into watches go straight for the generic fancy labels: Tag Heuer, Omega, Rolex etc. And all fine watches. I looked at them but I was really drawn back to the military style watches. The military and government currently issue the Marathon Navigator watch… which looked nice but an interesting post on a forum enlightened me to what is probably a very true reality: actual military issue watches are contracted out for the lowest price and are probably cutting some corners. Ha! So I also checked out Traser watches which was interesting too (specifically the P6500). Lastly, I spent some time looking at the Breitling Avenger in black but at $4000, it was way out of my price range (I even looked into ordering a Breitling Chinese knock-off).

After 3-4 weeks of pounding the online pavement, I kept circling back to that independent watchmaker: Lum-tec. My original criteria was pretty much what I had currently been wearing… a black face and case, a chronograph for timing my runs, a diving bezel because I thought it looked nice (would have gone with a GMT bezel which is probably more practical) and a date. No Lum-tec model fit all these criteria. The closest thing they have was the M14. But it was already full on the pre-order list. So I kept looking… Hamilton, MKII, Seiko, Citizen, IWC, Luminox etc. What I kept getting drawn back to was the original Lum-tec watch that I saw… the B-series. Extremely clean, simple and beautiful. And when I put a picture side-by-side of the Lum-tec and one with a chronograph…I started shifting towards the cleaner, simpler Lum-tec.

There were 3 choices of the B-series that had black cases/black faces: the original B1 which is out of production now and has an interesting dial pattern from 0-60 which probably would have slowed down my time telling anyway, the B2 which is like the B1 but with a date and normal dial and the B3H which was a limited run with a display case and no date. All beautiful and when I finally let go my silly criteria, I settled on the one that would be most practical for me every day: the B2.

When I got the B2 in, it was a really cool looking tank of a watch. Solid and the first mechanical watch I had ever owned. I wasn’t completely sold just yet but after a short week of wearing it, I knew I was in love. I didn’t miss the chronograph and really liked the pilot-watch-type styling. And there is just something very charming about the fact the watch was put together by hand in a private shop in Ohio. It’s like buying local. The anti-reflective coat is beautiful and has withstood well against scratching. I got a green Nato band for it and it’s been a pleasure to wear. And you know you have a unique timepiece when within the first week more than half a dozen people have asked about the watch.

Now a note about Lum-tec. They really are a privately-owned family business. The owner picks up the phone when you call! How often does that happen these days. They were extremely accommodating and worked with me to get a second watch to me before my trip for a friend. I won’t go into detail as not to set any ridiculous precedent for them but don’t hesitate to order. It’s well worth every penny! My Tag is off to eBay.

Order yours here.

Watch in Auckland New Zealand.

We had a FAST 1 week 3 city trip to China (Beijing, XianHua via Guang Xao, Hong Kong). I thought’d I share what equipment I travelled and matching pictures.

First off… I am not a telephoto shooter. Previously, I brought only a 70-200 f/2.8 IS on trips (monster to travel with). In fact, that’s the only telephoto lens I own (next down is the 100mm macro). I pained trying to decide about picking up a 135L or 200L or 70-200 f/4 IS or even a cheap 70-200 f/4. I wanted a black lens and something that wouldn’t duplicate the 70-200 I already had that I do use for shoots and wouldn’t think about getting rid of. I got an early great deal on the new 100mm macro L so I snagged it and brought that. What a great lens!!! Lighter than my 24L. Small, compact. It makes some weird noises but I feel it is faster at focusing than my old 100 USM Macro. This is definitely my new travel telephoto. Beautiful bokeh. I am not sure if it is better than the old lens but the IS is well worth it and makes it a useful all purpose telephoto. My old 100 USM will be on the market soon.

I also brought the 50L & 24L for night shooting. And my trusty 16-35L mkI as an all purpose 80% of time lens. I brought my 5DII as a lightweight traveller (we probably walked 6-10 miles per day). And 1DIII as a backup… which never left my luggage.

The 5DII was great EXCEPT… did have some low-light outer focusing points struggles. No surprise there. Nothing detrimental. And as the Classic 5D, dust was a mess inside the viewfinder. Not TOO bad on the sensor but after day 2 on the Great Wall… there were several dust bunnies INSIDE the prism box… not accessible with a simple blower. Just annoying than anything. But the pictures were gorgeous and a pleasure to carry all day compared to all my previous trips with the 1DIII (this was the first outing with the 5DII. Definitely more inconspicuous too.

Usage was probably 80% 16-35L, 8% 50L, 8% 100L, 4% 24L. Did I regret bringing the fast primes? No… they got some great night shots I know I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to get. But I didn’t use my 24L as much as I thought I’d would since the high-ISO on the 5DII was just that good. I think my 1DIII is really good in the ISO realm too but I was shooting at ISO2500 with confidence which I never had the confidence to do with the 1DIII.

I did not bring a tripod. Night shots were all handheld or camera set on railings, trash cans etc.

Here are some picts (I am a vignetting freak so most of the vignetting here is added in post):

100L Vignetting added in post, ISO800

24L ISO2500

50L ISO200 @ f/1.2 (I took variations at different ISO and apertures… this, probably by chance, turned out the best)

16-35L

16-35L

100L Slight T&S effected added in post

See rest of picts here.