Hey everyone. Right before things were really opening up here in New York City, I was still looking for a few places that I could visit easily that was also outside. At the time, I had the Panasonic S1, and the Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical to review. I wanted to go somewhere a bit different than my usual haunts, so I decided to drive to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. I’ve always loved visiting here, and it was outdoors, so I could get some much needed sun and relaxation.
Gear wise, I did take the S1 and the APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 but I also took along with me my Leica M6 TTL Millennium and my trusty old Summicron-M 50mm f2. This Summicron is actually the first Leica lens that I’ve purchased myself. As some of you know, I started shooting with a Leica M3 when I was around 12. I think this is in my bio page but long story short, my family has been Leica users for a very long time. My dad ended up getting an M3 from my great uncle who had passed away. He sent it in to Leica, and they CLA’ed it. He already had an M6 at the time, and he’s a one camera kind of guy, so he gave me the M3, and let me use his 50mm Summicron. I shot everything with that set up until I was able to finally save up enough money in college to get my own M6 and a 50mm Cron. However, I still have that M3.
↑ The Panasonic S1 with the Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical.
Anyway, this is the same Cron from those days, and even though I now own a Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH, I will never sell this Cron. Besides holding sentimental value, and it being the chrome version (only comes black now), it’s one of the best lenses in the Leica catalogue, if you ask me. The optical design hasn’t changed since what? The 80s or late 70s? I can’t remember but the optics are still just phenomenal. This is still one of the sharpest lenses I own. I’ve never had any focusing issues or anything with this lens on any Leica body I’ve tried it on, so it’s just about perfect to me :).
↑ This was taken with the S1 and Summicron-M 50mm f2 ASPH at wide open aperture.
↑ Here’s another shot with the same setup as above and at f2.
So, not to go on about the Leica stuff but I had the Cron mainly attached to the M6, and the APO-LANTHAR 35mm attached to the S1. I was reviewing the latter combo, so I needed digital images. I brought my Cron along instead of my Summilux-M 50mm because it’s been a while since I had to manually focus, and I was also shooting film. I just wanted to make sure I had tack sharp photos at wide open aperture. I went with my family as well, and my dad brought along his new Leica MP with his new Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH Black Chrome Edition. He was out of the Leica game for a while but now that he’s pretty much retired, he decided to get back into it, and with film too :). The MP is a thing of beauty, and that lens…wow, I have to say, I am a bit jealous haha.
↑ My dad’s MP with my M6 TTL Millennium.
As for the New York Botanical Garden, it was definitely a great visit. It was pretty crowded but at the time, mask rules were still in effect, and there were limits to how many people could enter the garden, stores, and restaurants. It was just nice being outside and getting some fresh air for an extended period of time. We basically just walked around the entire park, and just took it easy all while taking some pictures. It was a last minute trip, so we couldn’t get into one of the exhibits. It was booked up. So, we were mainly outside, and it was a hot sunny day haha.
↑ This was taken with the S1 and APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical, and the settings were f8 and 100 ISO.
↑ Here’s another taken with the APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical at f8.
I actually did end up with a lot more film shots from the Botanical Garden than digital. I have really been getting back into film lately. It’s been a lot of fun. The only reason I have not posted any of my film shots from the New York Botanical Garden yet is because I am still waiting for the scanner I want to be in stock. I mentioned in a previous blog post that the new scanner I had bought recently was messed up after the second time I used it. I started seeing lines in the images I would scan but luckily, I bought it at B&H Photo, which has a great return policy.
↑ This was also taken with the APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical set at f8.
↑ This was taken using f8 and 250 ISO with the APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical .
As for the APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical, this is one of the nicest 35s I’ve used for M mount. I’ve already posted my full review of it here, and you’re welcomed to read it but for those who didn’t, this lens will give you serious bang for the buck. I’m not a big fan of the 35mm focal length but I seriously did not want to send the one loaned to me back.
↑ I don’t know what I was doing here haha but I remember really liking the texture of this plant, and thinking it might look good in black and white. I believe the settings were f4, and this was taken with the APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical.
↑ This was taken with the APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical at f2 using 100 ISO.
What’s also worth noting is the handling and ergonomics are fantastic. Some say it’s a little big for an M mount 35mm but I disagree. I found it to be perfectly manageable, and it balanced beautifully on my M6. Features like the focus ring and aperture ring are some of the smoothest I’ve used from any manufacturer. I did shoot some film with the APO-LANTHAR as well. Hopefully, my new scanner will come soon.
↑ Here’s another taken with APO-LANTHAR 35mm f2 Aspherical at f2.
↑ Here’s one more picture at the Botanical Garden taken at f8 with the Voigtlander lens.
Well, that’s about all I have for this post. If you live in the New York area or planning a visit, you should check out the New York Botanical Garden. It’s worth the trip. I hope all of you have a great holiday weekend. I will be posting a bunch of reviews starting next week. I’m off to Boston now. Stay tuned, and thanks for stopping by!
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Hey! Thanks for brief but fun collection of shots and family info. It’s great to read after techie talk. Actually it’s great that people are able to have family outings now! BTW, some nice flower pix — and flowers are about all I’ve taken these past 15 months!
Fun to read about your Dad returning to Leica after retirement. For a moment I thought he’d bought an M-P but nope: still film: you, too, I see.
My spouse grew up in Georgia; she taught me the saying “fruit don’t fall far from the tree” 🙂
Like your Dad, I just cut the knot and it seems that when you retire, you gotta get new equipment. I’d wanted a zoom for the Fuji X-E3 that’d also work on the M240; I found a good Leica R 35-70 f4 (rather longer on the APS-C).
I’d read all the reviews how wonderful and massively sharp edge-to-edge and micro-contrast and 3D and yada yada. It’s true! A bit hefty on the M, but perfect on the Fuji.
We’re moving to Washington State: mountains, ocean and forest. Can’t wait to get out again with the cameras.
Hi Kathy!
Great to hear from you, and I hope you’re doing well!
Yes, it’s great to be able to see some family again. I didn’t see my grandmother in over a year. Thanks for the kind words about my flower pics. For a while, I definitely did not shoot much, and if I was reviewing something, it would be outside early in the morning. I even did remote shoots during the pandemic, which are shoots through the internet. It’s amazing what we can do in this world :). It was kind of cool, actually. I was shooting with people from around the world, while staying home in front of my computer haha.
Speaking of my dad, I think the MP is only the beginning haha because now, all he talks about is M11 :). Film has been fun. I just stopped it again because I’m still waiting for the scanner I want to get back in stock.
The R 35-70mm f4 is a great lens. I actually had one a long time ago back in the film days. I was using it with an R4s. Loved that camera and lens combo. Regret selling it a while back.
I remember you mentioning your move to Washington State. It should be beautiful there with lots of places to photograph. Definitely send me a few photos, if you don’t mind :).
I hope you get a chance to do more shooting soon. I still shoot but honestly, I keep my outings a bit shorter, and I limit the areas I go to nowadays. My model shoots have definitely been cut down.
It’s good to hear from you again, and I hope to hear back from you soon!
Best,
Patrick