Category Archives: Leica M

Review: Minolta 40mm 2.0 M-Rokkor

January 28, 2024 BastianK 11 Comments

Introduction

minolta 40mm 2.0 m-rokkor leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution — Minolta 40mm 2.0 M-Rokkor on Minolta CLE

Originally designed as Leica Summicron-C 40mm 2.0 to ship with the Leica/Minolta CL, this Minolta 40mm 2.0 M-Rokkor version with same optical design (but allegedly improved coatings) was one of the three M-mount lenses destined to be used with the improved Minolta CLE. This is still one of the most compact M-mount lenses and one of few options if you are looking for a 40mm, so let’s have a closer look.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Minolta 40mm 2.0 M-Rokkor →

Analogue, Laowa, Leica, Leica M, Minolta, MS-Optics, Travel-Report, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 28: Japan

January 25, 2024 BastianK 23 Comments

Introduction

kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om — Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/2.0 | Portra 800 +1 | ECN-2

When visiting Japan in early 2023 I exposed 8 rolls of film, this is a collection of pictures from that trip.

laowa 15mm 2.0 zero-d m-mount leica m10 m10r m11 review sharpness contrast coma distortion vignetting 42mp 24mp 61mp — Minolta CLE | Laowa 15mm 2.0 M | f/2.0 | Ektar 100 +1 | ECN-2

Minolta CLE | Laowa 15mm 2.0 M | f/8.0 | 500T | ECN-2

Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4 | 500T +1 | ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 28: Japan →

Leica M, lenses, Review, Thypoch

Hands-On: Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4

January 18, 2024 BastianK 23 Comments

Introduction

thypoch simera 28mm 1.4 fast wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting — Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 on Leica M10

Thypoch is a new manufacturer of photography lenses and entered the market at the end of 2023 with two M-mount lenses, the Simera 28mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4. I only received these lenses one week prior to the release date of the 28mm 1.4, so I am sharing with you here my first impressions of these lenses, to give you an idea if they could be something for you. Both lenses will also receive their individual reviews in the future, as you are used to.

Sample Images

thypoch simera 35mm 1.4 fast wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting — Leica M10 | Thypoch Simera 35mm 1.4 | f/1.4

Continue reading Hands-On: Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4 →

Leica M, Light Lens Lab, Review

Review: Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 Elcan

December 24, 2023 BastianK 15 Comments

Introduction

light lens lab elcan review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue — Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 Elcan on Leica M10

The original Leica 50mm 2.0 Elcan has been produced for the American army together with the KE-7A camera. According to the information I found, only 500 have been made, therefore a set of lens and camera will set you back around $30,000 these days.
Obviously this is purely a collector’s price, that has nothing to do with this lens’ value for actual photography.
Now if you want to use this lens without spending 30k, Light Lens Lab has you covered, as they offer a replica for $800. This is what we will have a look at in this review.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 Elcan →

Analogue, Leica M, The creative process, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 27: Kodak Portra 800 Push +1 ECN-2

December 14, 2023 BastianK 6 Comments

Here we will look how the Portra 800 holds up when pushed by one stop in combination with the ECN-2 processing.
Exposed as ISO800. Processing (ECN-2, Push +1) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.