Category Archives: Leica M

Leica M, lenses, Nikon, Review, Sony E-mount, Voigtlander

Lens Reviews in one Sentence – Part 1: Voigtländer

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Introduction

Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton on Leica M6

Modern Voigtländer branded lenses are made by Cosina in Japan. These are all manual focus lenses but except for the M-mount lenses they all feature electronic contacts to communicate with your camera. This is an overview of ~50 of their lenses with my opinion summarized in one sentence to give you an overview and starting point before delving into our in-depth reviews.
Last Update: September 2025

The one sentence reviews are a new concept I am testing here, please tell me in the comment section what you think of it.

Continue reading Lens Reviews in one Sentence – Part 1: Voigtländer →

Leica, Leica M, Review

Review: Leica 35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MK II

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Introduction

35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MKII mark 2 leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma summilux 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica 35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MK II on Leica M10

In 2022 Leica started updating some of their f/1.4 Summilux-M lenses. The first lens to receive this treatment was the Leica 35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph (now often referred to as “FLE MK II”). While the optical design seems to have remained mostly the same, the new lens features a different casing design and also focuses much closer. It is public knowledge: I was not a big fan of the first generation of this lens, so let’s find out if the seemingly minor update was enough to sway the scale!

Sample Images

35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MKII mark 2 leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma summilux 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica M10 | Leica 35mm 1.4 FLE MK II | f/5.6 | CPL
35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MKII mark 2 leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma summilux 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica M10 | Leica 35mm 1.4 FLE MK II | f/1.4 | CPL
35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MKII mark 2 leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma summilux 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica M10 | Leica 35mm 1.4 FLE MK II | f/1.4
35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MKII mark 2 leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma summilux 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica M10 | Leica 35mm 1.4 FLE MK II | f/1.4
35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MKII mark 2 leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma summilux 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica M10 | Leica 35mm 1.4 FLE MK II | f/1.4
35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MKII mark 2 leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma summilux 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica M10 | Leica 35mm 1.4 FLE MK II | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Leica 35mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph FLE MK II →

Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton – Better than its reputation?

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Introduction

Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.1 nokton noctilux review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting coma
Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton on Leica M10

Not counting special editions Cosina released ten different 50mm rangefinder lenses by now. This Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton was the first super fast one, featuring an all spherical design similar to the Leica 50mm 1.0 Noctilux. Despite its appealing f/1.1 maximum aperture, this has never been one of Cosina’s more popular lenses – which is clearly reflected by its used price, as you can often find it for ~$500. For a lens this fast that is not a bad price, reason enough to have a closer look at this lens myself.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.1 nokton noctilux review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting coma
Leica M10 | Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton | f/1.1
Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.1 nokton noctilux review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting coma
Leica M10 | Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton | f/1.1
Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.1 nokton noctilux review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting coma
Leica M10 | Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton | f/2.0
Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.1 nokton noctilux review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting coma
Leica M10 | Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton | f/1.1

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Leica M, Review, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon

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Introduction

zeiss zm 21mm 4.5 c-biogon classic wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon on Leica M6

The Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon is the widest of the three “Classic” designs in Zeiss’ ZM line up. It has long been discontinued and it wasn’t in production for a long time, so it is a bit rare and rather expensive on the used market. I always wondered how it would compare to the similarly compact yet newer Voigtländer VM 21mm 3.5 Color-Skopar and now we will finally find out.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

zeiss zm 21mm 4.5 c-biogon classic wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon | f/11
zeiss zm 21mm 4.5 c-biogon classic wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon | f/11
zeiss zm 21mm 4.5 c-biogon classic wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon | f/4.5
zeiss zm 21mm 4.5 c-biogon classic wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon | f/11
zeiss zm 21mm 4.5 c-biogon classic wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon | f/8.0
zeiss zm 21mm 4.5 c-biogon classic wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon | f/11
zeiss zm 21mm 4.5 c-biogon classic wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 21mm 4.5 C-Biogon | f/4.5

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Laowa, Leica M, Sigma, Sony, Sony E-mount, Technical, Voigtlander, Zeiss

Different Filter Stacks and what they mean for us: Sony E | Nikon Z | Leica M | Kolari UT

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Introduction

filter stack comparison sony e nikon z fe leica m kolari UT

When Sony released the first affordable fullframe camera with the A7 in 2013 almost none of the enthusiast photographers were aware of issues related to filter stack differences. Filter stack describes what is in front of the sensor and different manufacturers decided to go for different thicknesses here that can influence how our lenses perform. If you stay within just one system this is usually not something to care about, but when adapting lenses it is very helpful to be aware of this topic.

In this article I try to tell you about these differences and for what lenses they matter, so you can find out if it is something that might affect you.

Continue reading Different Filter Stacks and what they mean for us: Sony E | Nikon Z | Leica M | Kolari UT →