↑ Leica M9 and Zeiss Distagon 35 1.4 ZM – click on image to enlarge

Note from Admin: Today, we have an excellent guest review of the brand new Zeiss Distagon 35 1.4 ZM written by Markus Gerhards.  I’m sure many of you have been waiting for a lens like this from Zeiss, and I’m just glad and thankful that Markus has decided to share his experience with it here.  He is a great photographer and he also has his own website, http://gerhardsphoto.com/, which I urge all of you to visit!  Enjoy!

Zeiss Distagon 35 1.4 ZM Review (on Leica M9)

I was lucky to get the chance to test the all new Zeiss Distagon 35mm f1.4 ZM for a couple of days. While it is not officially released, it will be available pretty soon and it is eagerly awaited. Mind you, the images shown here are not made with any aesthetic claim in mind. They are just examples to show the optical characteristics. I also express my personal opinions here solely. Your experience might be different. With that out of the way, lets get started…

Introduction

I have to admit that I love the rendering of Leica lenses on my M9 camera and I never owned or even shot a Zeiss lens before. I even decided against an upgrade to the M type 240 because of its cmos sensor and the more modern look this camera produces. But the hype for this new lens model is tremendous and so I was very excited to see how I would like it. Leica lenses are famous for their optical quality. They are almost flawless in actual use and very well build. They render images with great detail, nice color and contrast. Especially some older Leica glass adds some kind of glow that many people love. Pictures also appear to be very vibrant with great transition from focus to out of focus parts. But Leica lenses are also famous for being pricey, especially when its fast glass. The latest Leica 35mm Summilux with its floating elements costs 4200 Euro. This Zeiss alternative is expected to cost around 2000 Euro. That is not even half the money. So how good is it ? [continue reading…]

Leica X Typ 113 First Look:

I thought I’d post a quick look at the Leica X Typ 113 before I post my review at a later date.  First off, it’s always great to try out a new Leica even if it’s not mine, especially since I’ve been a big fan of the X Series for a while now.  I know the X Series isn’t perfect; for instance, an internal viewfinder would be nice.  But there are a lot of great things about this particular series I think are worth mentioning like the image quality, the solid build, and the sheer simplicity of its design. [continue reading…]

Leica 35mm Summicron-M f/2.0 ASPH Review:

The 35mm lens is one of the most common focal lengths for Leica M shooters because the angle of view makes it very versatile and perfect to shoot a number of different subjects, such as, but not limited to environmental portraiture, street, landscape, and candid work.  Because this focal length is so popular, Leica currently makes three different 35mm lenses for the M system to suit a variety of needs, tastes, and budgets.  One of these lenses is the Leica 35mm Summicron-M f/2.0 ASPH, a lens whose lineage has reached legendary status, and considered by many as the quintessential lens for the M. [continue reading…]

Leica T Typ 701: A Quick Hands On First Impressions:

I stopped by my local camera shop, Bergen County Camera, a couple of weeks ago to check out the new Leica T.  I’m a Leica fan but I had mixed feelings about the new camera.  On the one hand, I think it’s great that Leica has finally decided to compete in the mirrorless class.  On the other hand, the Leica T is clearly designed to be different than an M, which some may or may not like. [continue reading…]