Leica Handgrip M Review For The M Typ 240:

For the most part, Leica digital M cameras look and feel like their film siblings.   It’s one of the main selling points of a camera like the Leica M Typ 240, and personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  However, everyone’s hands are different, so some will find that they need more adequate support when handling the M 240, especially when using heavy lenses like the Noctilux or even something like an R lens.  Several third party manufacturers have released handgrips, and “thumb grips” to help individuals achieve better support, and stabilization when holding their M cameras but so has Leica. In fact, Leica has introduced two types of grips: one with integrated electronic functions, and the one that I’m going to talk about here, the Leica handgrip M, which has only one purpose: to make the camera more comfortable to hold. [continue reading…]

Leica 75mm Summarit-M Review:

Leica makes some of the best lenses in the world but they come with a hefty price.  Even used examples can be expensive with most older glass ending up costing more than when they were new.  I’ve been shooting with Leica for over two decades, so over the years, I was able to slowly collect a system that I was happy with.  But I can definitely sympathize with someone who has decided to enter the Leica world as a newbie.  With the lowest priced digital M body costing $5500, it can definitely get scary when a lens is added to that.  There are excellent alternatives from Zeiss and Voigtlander but Leica is famous for their lenses and the truth is, some may want to use a Leica lens on their Leica camera.  Leica’s answer to this is the Summarit line, a lower cost line of lenses with classical spherical designs.  This line consists of four popular focal lengths: a 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, and the 75mm Summarit-M, which is what I’m reviewing here. [continue reading…]

Note from the Admin: Here is a terrific guest post about the classic Leitz 9cm Elmar written by Fabian Franz Rauber.  The great thing about this post is it was shot with the fantastic Leica MP, one of my favorite cameras!  So in other words, this is a post with all film.  I hope you all enjoy it!

About Me:

Hello guys. My name is Fabian Rauber, I am 22 years old, from Austria, and a happy owner of a Leica MP with some lenses.  Now I am going to tell you how I ended up with a Leica, I will try to keep it short:

My first camera was a point and shoot (a Panasonic DMC TZ-5), and I bought it mainly because it has 10x optical zoom and I wanted my own camera. I still have it, but now my mum shoots with it. Back then I knew nothing about photography, I had no idea about film speed, aperture and focal length.

One day I looked a little closer at my Panasonic and noticed it had a Leica DC-Vario Elmar lens. Hm? Leica isn‘t that a camera manufacturer? So I checked out their website and got hooked as soon as I saw one of their M‘s. I knew I had to own one of these. So I took photography more serious and learned about aperture, bokeh and so on. I also picked up my dad‘s old Minolta X300 and shot a few rolls of film. After really enjoying the analog way of shooting, I ordered a Leica MP a la carte last year in August. (9 weeks of waiting time, horror). [continue reading…]

Leica Viewfinder Magnifier M 1.4x Review:

A lot of people love to shoot with fast lenses on their Leica cameras these days, and sometimes those lenses can be hard to focus, especially when you’re using longer focal lengths.  If you own the Leica M 240, you can buy the EVF2 or use the live view to assist in accurate focusing.  However, if you don’t own an M 240 or you don’t like using an EVF, then what would you use?  Well, there is another option: You can purchase the Leica Viewfinder Magnifier M 1.4x. [continue reading…]