Patrick
September 25, 2018
Leica Summaron-M 28mm f5.6 Lens Review: A Classic Reborn:
Over the years, Leica has released a lot of unique and interesting lenses. There are, of course, lenses that push boundaries like the Noctilux series, the Summicron-M 50mm APO, and the SL lenses. There are also cool retro looking lenses with current optical formulas, which I’m often times a big fan of depending on the model. I’ve been a particular fan of two of these lenses: one being the 35mm Summicron ASPH that came with one of the special edition Anthracite MPs. The other is not a limited edition lens but special to me: the 50mm Elmar-M f2.8 in chrome. You would think something like a Noctilux would be the number one lens on my list of wants but it’s actually this lens, and while it isn’t that expensive in Leica terms, every time I see one, I can’t bring myself to buy it :). I absolutely love this lens and I almost bought it when it was in production. I held it in my hands but the logical side of me chose to buy the Summicron instead because optically, it’s a better lens. Anyway, what I’m getting at is Leica has produced a lot of unique lenses over the years, and they haven’t stopped. For instance, recently, they have released the Summaron-M 28mm f5.6, which is a lens that has actually been modeled after a screw mount version that was in production from 1955 – 1963. This is also the lens that I will talking about today. [continue reading…]
Patrick
September 4, 2018
Leica Summaron-M 28mm f5.6 Lens First Impressions:
Let me start off by saying that I’m not a particular fan of the 28mm focal length. I either go for a 35mm or a 24mm but I’ve been a fan of the Leica Summaron-M 28mm f5.6 since its release. In fact, I waited this long to review it because I was hoping the temptation for buying one for myself would dissipate over time 🙂 (This is a loaner). As some of you know, the 28mm Summaron-M was modeled after an older screw mount lens that was in production from 1955 to 1963, so we’re not after maximum technical image quality here. If that’s what you’re after, you might be better suited with the 28mm Summicron or even the 28mm Elmarit. We’re after character with the 28mm Summaron-M, and in a way, were celebrating the imperfections. So, let’s take a closer look at this lens. [continue reading…]
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f2 ASPH Lens Review:
For the first two and a half years that the Leica SL has been out, there were only two zooms and one prime available. Both zooms have been absolutely phenomenal. I’ve owned the 24-90mm Vario-Elmarit ASPH for as long as I’ve owned the SL, and I can tell you that it is easily as good as Leica M prime lenses, if not even better than some. The first SL prime that was released was the 50mm Summilux-SL ASPH, and all I can say is it’s the best 50mm that I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. It’s a true next level reference lens, and one of the best parts is, it’s also autofocus, which means consistently razor sharp results at f1.4. Those I plan to review in great detail very soon but right now, I want to talk about the APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH. [continue reading…]
My Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm F2 ASPH Arrives:
Hey everyone! I got a call yesterday from my Leica dealer, Bergen County Camera, and heard my APO-Summicron-SL 90mm F2 ASPH was there waiting for me :). So, I drove out to pick it up today. Obviously, I’m extremely happy; I’ve been waiting for this lens since I bought my SL, which was like a year and a half ago.
I’m sorry I have no pics from it right now. Traffic was a killer, and quite honestly, I’m a little tired lol. But I’m hoping to schedule a portrait session before I leave to Japan to test it out, and I will definitely post some of the images here. I am also going to write a major review of this lens, of course. I still have to review the other SL lenses and the SL itself but I think I’ll start with the APO-Summicron-SL 90mm first, since it is new.
Anyways, I’m just super excited. As you can see, the new APO-Summicron-SL 90mm is much more compact than previous SL lenses. It’s funny because I’m so used to the size of the other SL lenses that the 90mm almost feels a little too small :). But overall, it balances very nicely with the SL. The truth is, even the 24-90mm and the Summilux-SL 50mm balance nicely with the SL. In my opinion, one thing really good about the SL is that while it’s not light, it can balance well with a variety of lenses. Getting back to the 90mm, it’s compact, light, the autofocus is good, and of course, the build quality is amazing. The thing’s like a tank.
I’ll post some pics with the Summicron-SL 90mm soon. Next up will be a couple of Fuji related reviews that I want to post before I leave to Japan. Thanks for stopping by!
Patrick
February 28, 2018
Leica CL Mirrorless Camera Review:
I became a huge fan of the Leica L mount when I traded my M 240 in for an SL last year. However, while I’ve been a huge fan of Leica for many years, and I like the fact that Leica also has an APS-C line of L mount products, the TL cameras are just not my cup of tea. I respect the capabilities of the new TL2; the electronics are great, and it does produce brilliant images but it’s just not my type of camera. I can get over most of the things I don’t like because no camera is perfect but having no built-in viewfinder in its price range is a deal breaker for me. Yes, there is a viewfinder that you can purchase separately but it not only ruins the clean lines of the TL2 and makes it bulkier, it also takes away the use of the hot shoe. The new Leica CL on the other hand, seems to be the answer for people who feel the same way that I do. The CL takes a more classic approach than its sibling, and more importantly, it finally comes with a built in viewfinder. It also seems to have many of the characteristics of dare I say, a mini M. So, is this camera all hype or is there something special here? Read on and find out! [continue reading…]
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