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…]
7artisans Photoelectric 55mm f1.4 Lens Review:
Photo gear can get really expensive after a while. Things like more lenses, flashes to even accessories like memory cards add up over time, so it never hurts when we can find some decent bargains. This leads me to a lens that I was testing for a while, the 7artisans 55mm f1.4. My copy was a Fuji X Mount version, and factoring in the crop factor, it equates to about an 82.5mm. That makes it similar to Fuji’s own XF 56mm f1.2 but the difference is the 7artisan 55mm f1.4 costs just $119! In comparison, the XF 56mm f1.2 is $999 with the APD version being a whopping $1,499. So, I’m sure many want to know, how does the 7artisans 55mm perform? Can it be a viable alternative for those who just don’t want to shell out $1,000+ for a fast short tele? Read on and find out. [continue reading…]
Fujifilm X-T100 Mirrorless Camera Review:
There are times when I’ve struck up a conversation with a complete stranger who sees me carrying my Fuji X-T2. The conversation often starts out with something like, “I’ve seen these Fuji cameras around. I’ve been think about getting more serious about my photography but I’m wondering, are there any entry level Fuji cameras you’d recommend for someone who doesn’t want to come out with a ton of cash at first, and something that wouldn’t be so complicated to use?” Well, as some of you know, there are many different models in the Fuji X Series line. There are, of course, the top end models like the X-T2, X-Pro2 or the X-H1 but there are also some great lower end models that while may be cheaper, still pack quite a punch. But in an attempt to make the X Series even more accessible, Fuji has released another entry level model: the X-T100. Let’s take a closer look. [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…]
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