At a conservative estimate, our editor Mike Evans has written over seven million words for Macfilos in 5,000 articles over the past 18 years. In quantity, if not quality (Mike would say), this is a staggering example of dedication. It’s ten times more words than the Bible, eight times more than Shakespeare, 1.6 times more than Charles Dickens. The only individual I can find who has been more prolific is the British author Charles Hamilton, with his reputed 100 million, including the Billy Bunter series under the pseudonym of Frank Richards. Good luck to him, says Mike.
Regular readers will know that Mike started the blog in 2008 following his new-found enthusiasm for all things Apple. After retirement, he eventually waved goodbye to Windows and became an Apple evangelist. In early 2005 a friend pointed out that the new Apple Mini was available for £250 and could be returned within 14 days for a full refund for any reason. It was worth a punt, he thought, and the mini was soon rigged up to an established keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
Order of the Boot
Two weeks later, far from returning the Mac mini, Mike was back in London’s Regent Street Apple Store to add a 15in PowerBook laptop to his Apple orchard. Instead, it was the Dell Windows computer that got the Order of the Boot. Life after Windows began and continues still.
At the time, in the mid-Naughties, Apple was still a nerdy company, with a prolific following of compulsive commentators who radiated enthusiasm. It was perfect fodder for Mike’s blog as the Apple world expanded, first to the iPhone, then to the iPad. But while remaining true to Apple, Mike’s enthusiasm began to be tempered by the increasing popularity of the brand. It was no longer such fun to write exclusively about Apple, iPhones, and Macs.
Apple had ceased to be the preserve of the small-time enthusiast commentator. It had gone mainstream, and Mike’s attention drifted back towards photography, a subject that had been a lifelong passion.
Enter Leica
After dallying with Nikon and Fujifilm in the early years of digital photography, Mike had rediscovered Leica with the M8 and M9, not to mention the little X1. Here was a brand that had the same enthusiast following as Apple in its early days. He had owned Leica film cameras from the 1970s and 1980s, but the advent of the digital cameras brought renewed focus on the brand.
Macfilos started to cover Leica in detail, and Apple gradually fell from the tree. The name, Macfilos, was a problem, according to Mike: “I would have liked to choose a new domain, but I got cold feet, mainly because I wasn’t sure at the time how to change without losing all the previous content”.
We were then using the now-defunct Typepad as a blogging system, and later moved to Squarespace. But the blogging game was new to Mike, and he decided to take the easy route of continuing to use macfilos.com, despite the drastic change of direction. Now, as he says, it doesn’t really matter because it’s just a name that is now indelibly linked to photography in general and Leica in particular.
Respected voice
Since those early years, Macfilos has become a respected voice in the Leica and general photography world, and readership has grown steadily. We successfully transitioned from Squarespace to WordPress in 2019 and this has created more flexibility and freedom in design. About six years ago, though, it became obvious to Mike that he couldn’t keep up the one-man-band operation. The drums, cymbals, and mouth organ were almost on their last notes. Fortunately, help was at hand.
First, Jörg-Peter Rau, a professional journalist and Leica enthusiast from southern Germany, joined the team of volunteers. He brought technical knowledge that was lacking, and his big achievement has been the incredibly detailed series of M Files articles — 29 in all so far, and all reviewing lenses and products made for the Leica M system by third-party companies.
The US contingent
Then came Keith James in San Diego, who has contributed many fascinating articles, superb photographs, and an ability to explore new pastures in photography, including his latest passion, anamorphic lenses. Still, despite the three-strong team, the workload continued to increase.
Jon Cheffings in Chicago joined in 2024 and has since developed a style of his own. Jon had been a longtime follower and commenter on Macfilos under the pseudonym “Le Chef”. Mike liked the cut of his jib and one day wrote to see if he would be interested in becoming part of the team.
Jon is always the first to offer assistance with handling a news story or product release when others are lukewarm. And he has created many thoughtful articles and superb photographs over the past couple of years. He was instrumental in devising and coordinating the successful Leica 100 campaign, which continued through much of 2025.
Incidentally, coincidentally and certainly not by design, both Jon and Keith are ex-pat Brits living permanently in the USA. They can therefore well cope with our quirky insistence on British spelling and phraseology.
Bicycle for the mind
All team members work for the love of the blog. Mike admits that he spends far too much time on the computer, writing, editing and managing the business. He even finds some time for travel and photography. But all work with no reward, apart from the satisfaction of a job well done and the interest that keeps all our minds busy. Jörg-Peter is the only one who is gainfully employed; the rest of us use Macfilos as a bicycle for the retired mind, to paraphrase Steve Jobs. Which brings us full circle, back to Apple.
I am the latest addition to the team. I came on board in 2024 after hearing Mike had some issues with the hosting company. You don’t see many articles from me, but I am working constantly behind the scenes as webmaster to keep the system up and running. As the site continues to grow, we have had more than our fair share of hiccups and storage problems over the past year to keep me busy. In my retirement, I also look after several other websites, including that of the UK-based Leica Society. That’s why you will sometimes see a degree of cross-pollination.
Make a donation to help with our running costs
Did you know that Macfilos is run by five photography enthusiasts based in the UK, USA and Europe? We cover all the substantial costs of running the site, and we do not carry advertising because it spoils readers’ enjoyment. Any amount, however small, will be appreciated, and we will write to acknowledge your generosity.
All praise to Mike! Looking forward to meeting Mike, Richard, Jon and everyone else today in London.
Dear Mike, a wonderful job you’ve done over the years. I’ve always appreciated the tinge of humour you addef when editing the articles drafts I sent.
Thanks very much
Jean
Thank you, Jean. Your many articles featuring your travels with various Ricoh GRs have added to the attraction of Macfilos over the years. Thank you for your kind words and for your continued support. Mike
Well done Michael, it’s been great to see how Macfilos has evolved over the years, becoming stronger and stronger. I did much enjoy the interactions with you when I was a more regular contributor in past times. However, it’s not over yet, and there will be more to come e.g. I’ll be in Antarctica later this year, and will even sleep out on the continent one night amongst the penguins. I’ll commit to getting some photographs to Macfilos about that trip.
And be assured that Macfilos is a fixture topic in coffee conversations with John Shingleton every Tuesday. Still enjoying it after more than a decade.
Many thanks, Wayne. We’ve missed you and I’ve missed your regular emails and conversations on photography and blogging. Please do write about Antarctica. It’s something new for us, I think, although Paul Glendell did do something a few years ago if I remember correctly. Look forward to being in touch.
Best wishes
Mike
Evening Mike,
Hope you are keeping well over at Macfilos towers?
I still recall finding Mr X’s article on the Leica X well over a decade ago while doing my research before buying my Xtyp 113 (sadly no longer functioning as intended after ten years of loyal service).
While writing those articles I have on Macfilos, I found a new layer of fun in the form of your editorial style, and the sprinkling of fairy dust you seemed to apply like magic to my humbly poor attempts at crafting an article. It was and always is a fun experience, just a shame my career as it stands keeps me from writing or having the clear space to write new musings. I am still out there with a camera, and taking images though – occasionally they go on the old Flickr account.
Anyway I passed by today as I spotted a Leica product placement in the soon to be published 007 First Light game that is due in a few weeks, and has a Leica camera in the Bond kit for the game – decent bit of product placement by them.
Best
Dave S
Good to hear from you, Dave. Yes, you did several articles for the site and I also regret that your work keeps you from writing at the moment. You are always welcome back! Thanks again for your support.
Mike
You never know, I have a few breaks over the next year – so maybe I will manage to pull something together.
D
Dear Mike, I found this blog while searching for Leica information. This is the best blog on Leica and photography by far. In fact, your articles have surpassed all blogs no matter the category in writing skill and content. You have a lot to be proud of in maintaining the quality of this blog!
Thanks, Brian, and thanks for your unfailing support (including a bit of post-processing for us). How’s the GFX100RF going? Still in love?
Hello Mike,
Congratulations! What a triumph! You have just reinforced my conviction that you and the other stalwarts of Macfilos need a very big hand from all your many, many readers. Your guidance and encouragement have saved so many of us from making bad purchases and made us think more carefully about what we are about to splash out on. What is more the way you illustrate your pages urges us to do better ourselves with our modest talents – whatever cameras we embrace.
I’ve said it before; and I’ll say it again….a selection of the 100 most-read Macfilos entries – and illustrations – must surely lend itself to that format we all think about, but seldom put into one word – a BOOK – that we could pass onto future camera people knowing that the words according to Macfilos would be of guidance to those just embarking on our enthusiasm. I am sure that many of us already have some of your pages stashed away for the rainy day.
Until then ; all strength and thanks to all at Macfilos for giving us hardworking photographers the inspiration to get on and reshoot that portrait, sunset, street stuff, rosebud or whatever fills your lens.
PS I am sure this project would respond to ‘crowd funding’.
Best wishes,
Christopher A
Thank you, Christopher. Your good wishes are much appreciated. I know you’ve suggested a book several times and I have never got around to it. But it’s still on the list!
Mike
Dear Mike,
I’d also like to say a big thank you for our fruitful collaboration, which has been going on since 2015!
With your passion, you’ve created something that brings photography enthusiasts together across all borders.
Keep up the good work!
Best Wishes, Claus
Dear Claus,
Thank you for your collaboration over the past 11 years. I’ve lost count of the number of Messsucherwelt articles we have “poached” (with your assistance, of course); and you have carried many Macfilos articles translated in German on your excellent website. With best wishes and grateful thanks, Mike
Thank you very much for this excellent article—a wonderful and fitting tribute to a true enthusiast! Fantastic!
Even though I only recently discovered this site—and Mike himself—I am no less enthusiastic; in fact, my respect for the work accomplished here has only grown thanks to this article!
Dear Olaf, thank you for being so generous, and thank you for becoming a contributor to Macfilos. We look forward to publishing more articles under your byline.
Mike
I met Mike at a camera jumble sale (possibly Photographica) at the former Black Prince pub (now a hotel) in Bexley Kent. I echoed an opening exchange with Mike that I had learned about from a BBC radio play about a character called Lobby Ludd. Mr. Ludd had been tasked by his newspaper to wander around London until somebody recognized him and approached and said “You are Lobby Ludd and I claim my ten shillings”…
I had been reading Macfilos for a few months and on the basis of what I had learned bought my first Leica from Ivor Cooper at Red Dot Camera in London. I asked him to select a camera/lens package from his extensive library of used Leica’s, and he offered me an M2, with the 50mm DR Summicron lens… And off I went, snapping away, with a personal brief to pursue Mike Johnston’s (The Online Photographer) concept of the OCOLOY (One Camera, One Lens, One Year), during which Mr Johnston stated that whatever sort of photographer you were, the above discipline would make you a better one.
I added a further complication, that since Mr. Johnston said that all photos should be black and white, that I would develop my own film. At the time, with the exception of Ilford XP2, all B&W film was developed by hand and was comparatively expensive, whereas there were many photo labs where colour (C41 process) was carried out by mail order in less than a week, sometimes even while you wait.
Well Mr. Johnston was correct, I am still somewhat quirky, but nevertheless objectively better at composition, and I still develop my own film.
That is, until yesterday, when I tried to develop four 4×5 snaps that I made on Sunday (which being the last Sunday in April, also happens to be known as Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD)). For an as yet undiscovered reason, I made a complete mess and produced four black negatives, it is possible that the new developing tank that I bought from Stearman Press, which is for 4×5 processing only, along with the cack-handedness that my brain injury has caused, is at fault. However, yesterday I had a complete mental crash and very nearly threw all of my toys out of my pram.
Instead, I have slept on this and decided to, as our former PM famously said… “Keep buggering on”. I am indeed finished with film, but will now only shoot with my Leica Q2 and develop my snaps on the computer., mainly with ‘Apple Photos’.
Indeed, after 13 years, using a late 2013 Mac Pro (aka the Trashcan), I have during the last week, bought and configured a new MacMini, which is light years ahead of the old MacPro, and I am all set to KBO.
So, thanks to Mike(s) Evans and Johnston, life with a mashed up brain is still worthwhile, as long as I eschew film from the equation.
Again, my thanks go to Mike Evans for his blog and the inspiring articles that he has produced over the years. Oh and thanks to Jörg-Peter, Keith and Jon, for ensuring that Macfilos continues into the future as the premier photographic blog.
KBO gentlemen!
Dear Stephen, yes, I remember meeting you in Bexley at George’s photo fair. We had a good chat because there wasn’t very much to interest us. Thank you for your kind words and your continued support in our comments columns.
Incidentally, I do remember the Lobby Lud promotion, I think by the Daily Express or Daily Mail. It was a nationwide thing in the 1950s, and I remember that this character (there were probable many Lobby Luds) wandered the seaside resorts such as Blackpool, Brighton, and Morecambe (where I signally failed to nail him and claim my prize). I think you are right that the prize was 10 shillings, 50 pence in modern money.
Actually, Lobby wasn’t so much of a skinflint. Ten shillings in 1956 had the buying power of £33 ($45) today. So it was definitely worth chasing. Hmmm… you’d have needed about 300 of those prizes to buy a Leica M3. Today, you’d need only 227 £33 prizes to buy a Leica M11. So rejoice, they are actually cheaper!
Thanks again, Stephen.
Mike, thank you for sharing your knowledge and providing a wonderful website for photographers. I always wondered the significance of the “MACFILOS” name for your website. I got to attend Steve Job’s introduction of the original iPhone in San Francisco. It was a fascinating time. Your website’s name now makes perfect sense.
Be well,
Richard Clompus
Roanoke, VA, USA
Richard, thank you so much for commenting. I am envious of your presence at the iPhone launch, and I would love to have met Steve Jobs. I watched that presentation live, and it really kindled my enthusiasm for Apple and, of course, the blog. Oddly enough, I was visiting San Francisco in 2011 and decided to rent a car and drive down to Cupertino for the day. I was wandering around the Apple Store on the campus when they made an announcement to say that Steve had died that morning. It’s among quite a few coincidences in my life, such as being in Berlin on the day the Wall fell. Many thanks for your continued support and your contributions to the site. Mike
Mike you are a true legend in delivering such quality content sir consistently. Here’s to the future and many thanks for all the good reads
Keith, thank you for your kind words. As Richard hinted in the article, Macfilos has kept me sane in retirement; it has become a new career without the sort of pressure or constraint that comes from a commercial job. But it’s addictive and I am sure I fall into fruitless pursuits if I gave it up. Mike
Personally, I’m grateful that Mike gave me an opportunity to write some articles for MACFILOS – turns out that I enjoy writing!
And a good job you do too. I’m glad you decided to develop your writing skills with us!
Mike
I start my mornings with green tea and a visit to MACFILOS. It’s an island of calm, good manners and sanity in the world.
May Mike’s fingers never tire of writing!
Thanks Kathy. Fortunately the old fingers are in good shape. If the rest of the editor’s body was in such fine fettle I would be running around with a fulsome SL kit.
Thanks Richard, it was good to ‘see’ you at the recent online Leica Society (TLS) AGM. I have written about 60 articles for Macfilos over the years, including the ‘best selling’ Swiss Roll series which are now immortalised in the Official Leica 100 year book, unfortunately not with a reference to Macfilos, but Mike knows what editors can be like! Some of my Macfilos articles have also appeared in TLS magazine and elsewhere. Other writers, such as John Shingleton, have contributed many articles to Macfilos and only last night I came across a wonderful Macfilos article about train spotting by our mutual friend Keith Walker who is both a member of TLS and LSI (Leica Society International) where I am currently the President. We are holding an LSI meeting in London from 14th-16th May and we will have Stefan Daniel Leica Global Brand Ambassador among the speakers. I have also arranged with Ivor Cooper that Stefan will go to an event at Red Dot Cameras on Friday 15th May, where I believe some TLS members will be present. I have told Ivor and Stefan that I will drop by if I can drag myself away from LSI Presidential duties.
Best Wishes to you and the rest of the Macfilos Team for many years to come and particularly to my old friend Mike.
William
Thank you William. As ever, your support is appreciated. Mike
Wow Mike, I just do not know how you have done it all but what I do know is you have applied exactly the same the same superbly high level of expertise and enthusiasm to whatever else you have done as well as to Macfilos and it has been such as my good fortune and privilege to have known and at one time long ago even worked alongside you. So a massive thank you form me, ando my Long may you continue
Thank you, Don, that is much appreciated. It’s been a privilege, too, to have known you and enjoyed your friendship for 64 years. It’s trite to say, but it doesn’t seem that long. I can still visualise chatting to a much younger you in the car park behind Dorset House when we were photographing some new toy that had arrived. It could even have been the Peel Three-wheeler, which went round corners “as if on rails”. The trouble was that it actually did have rails on either side of the single rear wheel. Show it a modest bend (even in our car park) and the sparks were flying. We sent it right back to the Isle of Man, to Peel in fact. Quality control has improved a bit since then!
Thanks again for your very kind words. Mike