Category Archives: Leica M

Leica, Leica M, lenses, Review

Review: Leica 50mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph

10 Comments

Introduction

leica 50mm 1.4 summilux-m summilux asph asph. aspherical review leica m10 m10r m11 42mp sony a7rv a7riv a7 contrast sharpness resolution bokeh vignetting
Leica 50mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph on Leica M10

This Leica Summilux-M 50mm 1.4 Asph is definitely among Leica’s most famous M-mount lenses. When it had been released in 2004 there was nothing quite like it. A compact fast 50mm rangefinder lens with aspherical element and floating elements design? You could not find this anywhere else.
But – maybe unlike some of the Nocitlux lenses – this wasn’t just a showcase of engineering technology, it actually proved to be a useful and capable lens cherished by many to this day.
Leica kept this in their portfolio – with unchanged optics – for 20 years, so how does it stack up against its younger and significantly cheaper competitors in 2023, especially the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.5 Nokton MC and the TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 Asph? Let’s find out in this review.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

leica 50mm 1.4 summilux-m summilux asph asph. aspherical review leica m10 m10r m11 42mp sony a7rv a7riv a7 contrast sharpness resolution bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f/1.4
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f/1.4
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f/1.4
leica 50mm 1.4 summilux-m summilux asph asph. aspherical review leica m10 m10r m11 42mp sony a7rv a7riv a7 contrast sharpness resolution bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f/1.4
leica 50mm 1.4 summilux-m summilux asph asph. aspherical review leica m10 m10r m11 42mp sony a7rv a7riv a7 contrast sharpness resolution bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f/1.4
leica 50mm 1.4 summilux-m summilux asph asph. aspherical review leica m10 m10r m11 42mp sony a7rv a7riv a7 contrast sharpness resolution bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 1.4 Asph | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Leica 50mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph →

Analogue, Leica M, MS-Optics, Projects

Analogue Adventures – Part 20: Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2 processed

2 Comments
Kodak Color Plus 200

Even with the limited amount of different color negative films available these days Kodak manages to confuse the people by offering two different “low cost” ISO 200 daylight films: the Kodak Gold 200 (which I already had a look at here and here) and this Color Plus 200.
From what I gathered the Color Plus is based on older emulsion technology leading to slightly grainer and contrastier pictures, so let’s have a look at some samples.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.

color plus 200 color+ kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.8 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
color plus 200 color+ kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.8 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
color plus 200 color+ kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/8.0 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
color plus 200 color+ kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
color plus 200 color+ kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.8 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 20: Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2 processed →

Analogue, Contax G-Mount, Leica, Leica M, MS-Optics, photography, Zeiss

Analogue Adventures – Part 19: Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2 processed

5 Comments
Fuji Superia X-Tra 400

Any film is hard to get these days, but the Fuji films are even harder to get than the Kodak ones here in Germay. Therefore I developed the habit of buying any type of color negative film I haven’t used before for this series – even when it means paying 20€ for just this one roll of Fuji Superia X-Tra 400.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Fuji Superia X-tra 400 ECN-2
fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/8.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2
fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2
fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2
fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/4.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 19: Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2 processed →

Accessory, Leica M, Review, Sony E-mount, Technical, TTArtisan

TTArtisan Leica M to E 6-bit Adapter – Product of the Year?

43 Comments

Introduction

ttartisan leica m to sony e adapter 6 bit code programmable exif
Voigtlander VM 75mm 1.5 via TTArtisan M->E 6-bit adapter on Sony A7rII

Since I bought my first E-mount camera seven years ago I have been using adapted M-mount lenses. Missing Exif data have always been a nuisance though and while the “Lens Compensation” camera app was a ray of hope, it didn’t exactly work all that well.
Now TTArtisan came up with a product which I have pitched to so many manufacturers before: a semi programmable Leica-M to Sony-E adapter. Let’s have a closer look!
Update May 2023: TTArtisan released an improved MK II version of this adapter, I summarized for you what has changed
Also a version for Nikon Z-mount is available now (affiliate link)

Continue reading TTArtisan Leica M to E 6-bit Adapter – Product of the Year? →

Analogue, Leica, Leica M, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 18: Choosing a secondary Camera

23 Comments

Introduction

If you followed my Analogue Adventures over the past year you probably noticed I have been shooting quite a bit of 35mm film lately. Doing that, I discovered things I like as well as things I don’t like. Either way, I decided to continue with these Analogue Adventures as I think there is still a lot to be learned for me, but I also decided to get a second analogue camera with M-mount for doing that.

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 18: Choosing a secondary Camera →