Category Archives: Leica

Comparison: Fast 28mm f/1.2 | f/1.4 | f/1.5 Fullframe Lenses

Introduction

28mm fullframe comparison 1.4 1.2 1.5 voigtländer laowa nikon af-s af-d argus nokton thypoch simera sigma art dg contrast resolution bokeh vignetting coma sharpness loca ca
Sigma 28mm 1.4 Art | Nikon AF-S 28mm 1.4E | Nikon AF 28mm 1.4D | Laowa 28mm 1.2 Argus | Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton

To me, fast 28mm fullframe lenses are very useful. No matter where I go, I either carry a fast 28mm or a fast 35mm lens. When it comes to the 28mm focal length we are not exactly blessed with great options though. I gathered six of those ranging from f/1.2 to f/1.5 and will compare them, to give you an idea which might work best for your needs.

Continue reading Comparison: Fast 28mm f/1.2 | f/1.4 | f/1.5 Fullframe Lenses

Analogue Adventures – Part 28: Japan

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

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 28: Japan

Comparison: Super Fast 50mm M-mount Lenses

Introduction

comparison super fast 50mm m-mount leica 24mp 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting noctilux 0.95 zhong yi speedmaster voigtländer vm nokton 1.0 1.2 MS-optics ISM mr. ding 1.1
Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux | Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 M | Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton | MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM | Mr. Ding 50mm 1.1 | Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.2 Nokton

The M-mount seems to be more popular than ever, thanks to plenty of manufacturers – old and new – from Europe, Japan and China designing and releasing countless of new lenses every year for this bayonet.
Super fast 50mm lenses are especially popular here, so many manufacturers designed one as their “flagship” lens.
Thanks to a reader and very cooperative companies I managed to get 6 of these lenses on my table at the same time, so let’s see what each of them is good at – to help you figure out which one might work best for your needs.

Continue reading Comparison: Super Fast 50mm M-mount Lenses

Review: Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph

Introduction

leica 50mm 0.95 f/0.95 m 24mp m11 m10 m10r sharpness contrat resolution bokeh vignetting review
Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph on Leica M10

For one decade (2008-2018) the Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph was Leica’s most expensive M-mount lens and it is still the fastest lens in their line up to this day.
Now in 2023 there are many f/0.95 lenses from China available for your mirrorless camera of choice, but in 2008 – when most people were using (D)SLRs – this was a unique offering and something you could only find in the M-system.
But is this lens (still) worth the asking price? Let’s try to find out.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

This lens is also part of my Comparison of 6 Super Fast 50mm M-mount Lenses together with the Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 M, the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton, MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM, Mr. Ding 50mm 1.1 and Voigtänder VM 50mm 1.2 Nokton.

Sample Images

leica 50mm 0.95 f/0.95 m 24mp m11 m10 m10r sharpness contrat resolution bokeh vignetting review
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
leica 50mm 0.95 f/0.95 m 24mp m11 m10 m10r sharpness contrat resolution bokeh vignetting review
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
leica 50mm 0.95 f/0.95 m 24mp m11 m10 m10r sharpness contrat resolution bokeh vignetting review
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
leica 50mm 0.95 f/0.95 m 24mp m11 m10 m10r sharpness contrat resolution bokeh vignetting review
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
leica 50mm 0.95 f/0.95 m 24mp m11 m10 m10r sharpness contrat resolution bokeh vignetting review
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
leica 50mm 0.95 f/0.95 m 24mp m11 m10 m10r sharpness contrat resolution bokeh vignetting review
Leica M10 | Leica 50mm 0.95 | f/2.0

Continue reading Review: Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph

Analogue Adventures – Part 26: Kodak Portra 800 ECN-2

kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Kodak Portra 800

In 2023 Kodak Portra 800 is the fastest (or rather most sensitive) color negative film that is still in production. Ever since using that awful Cinestill 800T I was curious what results from a real ISO 800 color film will look like, so here we are.
Exposed as ISO400. Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.

kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 Aporia | f/11 | Portra 800 ECN-2
kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 Aporia | f/11 | Portra 800 ECN-2
kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 Aporia | f/11 | Portra 800 ECN-2
kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | Laowa 15mm 2.0 | f/2.0 | Portra 800 ECN-2
kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4 | Portra 800 ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 26: Kodak Portra 800 ECN-2