Leica Shots: New York City Cityscape:
Hey Everyone. So, I thought I’d post something different than a review this time. I think some of you know my main Instagram account but I also started another one specifically for cityscape and landscape shots, so I’ve been going through some of my older photos just to see what I have. It does take up a lot of time but I love going through old photos. Anyway, I did this for my Fujifilm shots before, so I thought I would post a few photos I took with my Leica gear over time. Some of these you’ve seen in reviews, and various posts. A few are new too but I figure it would be nice to have them here in one post with better descriptions.
So, the first picture below was taken with my Leica M 240 and my 35mm Summicron Version 4. I remember this day pretty well. It was a very hot summer day, and I was showing my cousin, who was visiting, around NYC. The sky was actually very hazy, and the lighting was quite harsh but at the same time, the cloud formation was awesome. So, I ended up taking this photo. For a lens that’s quite a few decades old, the 35mm Summicron performed great. I sold a 24×36 print of the photo below with no problems. The truth is, it is still a fantastic lens to this day. I regularly use it with my Leica SL2.
The photo below was taken with my M 240 and one of my favorite lenses, the Super Elmar-M 18mm f3.8 ASPH. I used to be quite the night owl lol, and I would go all over the city after midnight looking for cool shots. My best friend manages a few restaurants, so he would get out late, which was perfect. He’d keep me company. One night, we were around the Battery Park City area, and I just thought it was cool that the Staten Island Ferry terminal was so deserted. I’ve never seen it like that before, so I set up my tripod, and snapped a picture.
Below is another photo taken with the same set up as above. This time around, my best friend and I were in Long Island City. It had rained all day, so by the time it was night, the rain had left a nice shine on the platform as you can see.
Below is one of my personal favorites, and it was taken on the same night as the photo above. Again, I used the M 240 and the Super Elmar-M 18mm ASPH (review here).
The photo below was taken with my SL2, and Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f4, which is one of my favorite 21mm lenses. I love the images that came out of that lens, and best of all, it was so compact. You can read my review here. I took this right about the time when the Corona virus lockdown was easing up here in late May of 2020. As you can see, it was really deserted, and I must admit, I was a little weird walking around after being home for three months straight.
Below was a photo I took with my M 240 and Super Elmar-M 18mm f3.8 ASPH. There was a point in time when that 18mm never left my camera mount lol. It’s funny because I rarely use it now not because it isn’t great lens but because my main work is street fashion and boudoir. Anyway, the photo was taken in Coney Island during the summer. I just loved the colors, so I took a quick snap.
The next photo was taken with my SL2 and the Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f3.5 Aspherical I was reviewing at the time (review here).
The photo below was taken with the same set up as above. I was walking on the Manhattan Bridge, and saw a little hole in the fence.
I don’t know if the shot below counts as a true cityscape photo but it’s one of my favorites, and a shot I was not expecting at all. I was around the Battery Park City area, and walking home when I saw this scene. I quickly took a snap, and was happy it turned out the way that I wanted it to come out. It was completely unplanned but a pleasant surprised. At the time, I was using my M 240, and if I recall correctly, my Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH, which to this day, is still my favorite M lens ever.
The next photo was taken with my SL2 and the Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 ii MC. I have really become a big fan of Voigtlander lenses over the years, and the 35mm f1.4 is one of my favorites. If you want a lens with plenty of character, this is it (review here). It also is priced decently, so you won’t have to sell a kidney lol. I was walking around under the FDR Drive around the downtown area, and saw a couple there kissing. Normally, I don’t really want to disturb but I was at a respectable distance, and it was right across from the Brooklyn Bridge, so I thought it would make a good shot. I decided to take it.
Below is a photo I took in Fulton Street Station. At the time, I was reviewing the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f4. You can find the review here. The camera of choice was my SL2. I found this combo to be fantastic, and easy to use throughout the day. The lens wasn’t just compact but also light with excellent optics.
The last photo below was another cityscape shot that I took with the Panasonic 16-35mm and Leica SL2 combo. I was walking up the Manhattan Bridge from the Manhattan side, and took this shot.
That’s about all the photos I have for now. As I mentioned, most of my work now consists of street fashion and boudoir but I’ve been trying to find more time to get back into doing some cityscape more often. I’ve lived in NYC all my life, and really love to explore it. I hope all of you enjoyed the photos, and I hope you’ll come find me on my new Instagram dedicated to cityscape and landscape. My gear reviews and model shoots will still be on my original Instagram. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello Patrick,
What a great collection of prior cityscape photos taken with your various Leica cameras! Your lifetime involvement with NYC gives you a real feel for the many unique locations or aspects shown in these photos. And I also appreciated your comments about the Voigtlander 21mm f/4 & Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4 lens as being among your most favored of all you have used. One of my regrets about my parting with my Leica M240 camera when I made the decision to return to Fuji was giving up my Voigtlander 21mm f/4 lens & also a Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar lens that I definitely enjoyed using with this Leica. The Zeiss 50mm probably was no comparison to your Summilux version of this lens focal length, but I recall that many folks found it to be just as good as, or maybe even a bit better than its Leica Summicron 50mm comparison.
But I really enjoyed the look & feel of these very personal views you have created over time that show different aspects of your hometown environment. Any time you think about putting more of them online for viewers of your blog, please do so. Cheers,
Jed
Hi Jed,
Thanks for your very kind words, and great to hear from you!
I love the 21mm f4. I reviewed the newer version as well but for some reason, I favored the f4 version just a bit more. Maybe you should consider adding the 21mm f4 back to your collection, and use it with your Fuji kit :). I haven’t tried it with my X-T3 but I think it would’ve been quite interesting.
As for the Zeiss 50mm, it’s a superb lens. It’s one I’ve always wanted to do a full review of but never did because I figured there are so many reviews for it out there by now haha.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the weekend!
Best,
Patrick
Patrick,
Funny you should suggest getting another Voigtlander 21mm f/4 lens to use with my X-Pro3, as I have thought about it. In the APS-C world, it becomes a bit of an odd focal length, & I already have the Fuji 23mm f/2 & 35mm f/2, along with the companion 50mm f/2. When I returned to using Fuji, I wanted to continue the rangefinder look & feel of things, but also wanted to work with the small lenses Fuji makes the preserve this mode of operation. But if I do succumb the first choice will be to get another Leica 90mm Tele-Elmarit f2.8. That would be a nice addition to my small kit.
Jed
Hi Jed,
I actually saw one of those 90s when I went to Bergen County Camera a few days ago. My dad was picking up a new lens. He’s getting back into film, and recently purchased a new MP haha. I couldn’t believe it but he also has started me on the film path again. I’ve been shooting more film recently, and I have plans to purchase a scanner :).
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick, I really enjoyed this post – you are certainly talented at urban pictures as well as fashion. I first found your website years ago when I was searching for a review of the 18mm and yours was the review that convinced me to buy one. It was an incredible lens. I recently sold it as I have an incredible Panasonic S pro 16-35/4 that is sensational and the Leica 18mm started to stay home as I did not want to carry a separate lens for a focal length that I do not constantly use.
For m glass, I have the Leica 28/5.6 summaron which I absolutely love the rendering and compactness – did I mention it is tiny. I sold the Leica 28/1.4 as I did not need a fast 28 but it is truly an incredible lens. I have the Voigtlander 50/3.5 which is another tiny jewel that has beautiful bokeh for close up objects and has a gorgeous rendering. I sold my amazing Leica m 50/1.4 as the Voigtlander was my preferred lens general use and did not use the 1.4 aperture often and I have other fast glass. I plan to buy a Voigtlander 35/2 APO for a Voigtlander 21/1.4. The Leica M9 and the summaron are wonderful for rendering and for urban daylight photography. I use my Leica SL2 for general photography of all sorts.
We are blessed with so many options with m mount and l mount.
Thanks for your efforts on your blog – they are much appreciated!
Hi Brian,
Thanks so much for the very kind words! You are too kind!
The Panasonic 16-35mm is a fantastic lens. I reviewed it a while back and was thoroughly impressed with it. I still have my 18mm Leica but I must admit, it doesn’t see as much use as before. I just don’t use ultra wides as much as I do but I’m hoping to get back into it soon :). Currently, I’ve been experimenting with film again, and may buy a 18mm OVF to use with my M6 :).
As for the Summaron, I reviewed it a while back, and LOVED it. I don’t like using the 28mm focal length at all but the one exception for me is that Summaron. Like you said, it is tiny, and when you stop it down, you don’t even have to focus :). Plus, it really does have a great look to it.
As for the Voigtlander, they make fantastic glass. I plan to review the 35 APO and the 21 f1.4 but I’m actually afraid to because I might want to buy them in the end haha. I have not used the 50 3.5 but heard good things about it. My dad recently got back into photography, and bought himself an MP. I’ve been telling him he needs to try some of the lenses from the Voigtlander collection :).
We are blessed with so many options. We have so many lenses to choose from now, and even so many cameras that’ll use the same lenses. It’s a great time in photography.
Thanks so much for visiting. I really do appreciate it, and it’s always great hearing from you! Keep in touch, and feel free to reach out anytime my friend!
Best,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
I purchased the Leica 12011 viewfinder a year ago in new condition for about half price but after using it I would have cheerfully paid full price. I have it glued on my M9 when I have the Leica 28mm f/5.6 on. It makes using the 28mm a joy to use with lots of space around the frame lines. I hated the electronic viewfinder on my m240 and sold it – wish now that I had purchased the Leica 12011 but was unaware of it at the time.
I am looking forward to using a 21mm with it once I get one.
It’s information is as follows:
The Leica Universal Wide-Angle Viewfinder M is a shoe-mounted external viewfinder for M-system rangefinder cameras (including M8). This viewfinder offers bright-line frames to match the 16-18-21mm lens. Since the 1.33x conversion factor has to be considered for the M8 digital camera, bright-lines for 21, 24, and 28mm are also included. It can also be used with other fixed lenses that match this range. A parallax compensation dial allows for adjustment of the frame to the focusing distance, in five steps (0.5, 0.7, 1, 2 meter & infinity).
The use of one aspherical lens element and one with achromatic correction in the viewfinder makes it insensitive to stray light, and provides a high resolution and exceptional brilliance image.
An illuminated spirit level helps to keep the camera horizontal even in unfavorable light conditions.
Compatible with the R8/R9 series of diopter correction lenses.
Hi Brian,
Always great to hear from you!
Wow, half the price? Where was this lol? That’s a great deal. It’s currently over $1K now. I used it once when I was trying out the wide angle Tri-Elmar. It was really cool.
So far, I’ve been using my 18mm on my SL2, which has been great but I recently starting shooting film again. I am in the market now for a scanner. Looks like I may be in the market for a new OVF for the 18mm as well, since I will be using my Ms. The level will definitely come in handy too.
Best,
Patrick