Leica APO Summicron SL 90: The Last Lens You'll Ever Buy* (Episode 1)
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- Please show the love to B&H for making the Summicron SL 90 available by purchasing at: bhpho.to/2XRXWfx
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Welcome to our new, highly idiosyncratic series "The Last Lens You'll Ever Buy." This episode: the $5,000+ autofocusing APO Summicron-SL mounted to the $3,700 Panasonic Lumix S1R. I love it - but you may not (or allocate budget to it). In future episodes I'll show you that you don't need to spend anything REMOTELY this much - but for now: whoa, what a combo.
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Sony a6400 DC DN for Sony E
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It's on my bucket list of lenses to buy and leave to my daughter when I ascend to the great Lightroom in the sky.
I love that! Yes, it’s that kind of optic.
Dude, you made my day with this comment!!
This is how I feel about my Fuji 16mm f 1.4. It's a lens that just begs me to take it out and discover the world through its wide, delicious field of view. It brings me inspiration, and is a pure joy to use.
🤪😅🤣😂
I must say, should you decide to leave photography to be a philosopher I have no doubt you will be equally as successful. Love your videos!
So appreciate your encouragement - thank you!
I agree with this sentiment, but thank goodness he is both photographer and philosopher. :-)
So few of us would even attempt to connect the meaning of Life, the universe, and the human existence to "cropping the crap out of it", much less actually doing it so eloquently. I salute you.
I LOVE THE WAY YOU TALK! You are a storyteller! Fairytales for adult! Go for it! Thanx!
LuposVoice Thank YOU! 🙏🏻
Strange... I hear that same sentence from my bank manager with every lens I buy...
HAH!
👏🏻😂
Would include this episode as one of the best ever posted by anyone on the subject of photography. - thanks
Pete
I don't shoot Leica, im just here for the relaxing talk. lol .Good video as always ✨
That lens for me is the first one I bought when I went to Fuji system and it's the Samyang 21mm f1.4. It served me perfectly on X-T10, then X-T1 and now X-T2. The way it renders images I haven't been able to reproduce with any other lens on other systems. It's a bargain for the price it sells.
So glad you had an opportunity to share that feeling with the rest of us at a very different price point! Who else has their story to share? Weigh in, please! 🙏🏻😊
Possibly the best review of this lens I have listened to (or read) because it focuses on the emotional impact the lens produces beyond its technical capability.
😊👍🏼🖖🏻
I got my hands on that lens briefly when we were in Austin. What a beauty!
PhotoJoseph Right?
Absolutely phenomenal photo. Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed the review and that lens is definitely on my list of lenses to get. I’ve had an SL for about 2 months now and have been loving it equipped with the 50 Summilux SL lens.
Another brilliant optic! Thank you for your encouragement - welcome to the conversation!
that 2 min intro..... PURE PHOTOGRAPHIC NARRATION AT IT'S FINEST!
The first few minutes sum up perfectly why I love photography
I’m at a loss for words. This has been the best review video I’ve ever seen. You should get an award for this!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Isn't it great when you find something that wows you to the point, it drowns out all the silly noise on this platform💖 I wish more channels had the poetic view of photography you have Hugh, and the ones that don't went away
Longrider ❤️😊
Yes I have had this experience, enriching, life changing and dangerous; three years of GAS has followed. In the 80s I added a gorgeous little Rollei 35s with a stunning 40mm f2.8 Zeiss Sonnar and recently I wanted to recreate that experience. I looked around and Steve Huff was extolling the brand new Leica X113 which I bought unseen; a small quality APS camera with a fixed 23mm f1.7 Summilux lens with leaf shutter. OMG. My Nikon kit, built since 1990, was the first casualty. I went to a Julia Margaret Cameron show in London and the monochrome photo I took in the Science Museum Cafe (now my UA-cam bannor photo) changed my life and photography. I couldnt believe what I was seeing. I cropped top and bottom into a Panarama and suddenly I was a panaramic street photographer. The tilting Visoflex completed my transformation. This was now the standard all equipment had to exceed. First, I am a scientist so I wanted to know why the images were so good and why Nikon was so bad; that took me over a month, I must be getting old. Then, cutting a very long story short, I have thrown money at it. This last week has been traumatic as my Leica TL system failed to reach the standard and is now downstairs boxed awaiting the courier on Tuesday. My Nikon Kit has had a D700 added to my FM2n and has been ruthlessly dismembered with only D-primes and equipment made before 2010 remaining. The courier will be bringing a Nikkor 85mm f1.8D to complete that kit. My main kit is now very definately my MFT Panasonic GX9 with low glass f1.8 primes. And, surprise surpise, the Visoflex has been replaced on my gorgeous black Leica X113 which nothing, not even the leica TL2, has managed to surpass ( pic.twitter.com/T56adBUgWz my perfect camera? It is for now. The TL2 had the quality but not the reliability in getting the image - sigh). So these three years have transformed my photography and reached a very acceptable stability. Does the perfect camera and lens exist? Dont be silly, of course it doesnt but, Pandora's box has opened and the search continues. I will wait till the market sorts itself out after this disasterous year in the industry. Let's see what appears in the 2020s once the junk they are making now is cleared away. I wouldnt want to be in their board rooms right now explaining the 14% market drop and deciding what direction to take before, what will be the most climactic event ever, 2020 Photokina - winks ;-)
I shoot with the S1R + 90 Summicron-SL plus the 50Mm Summilux-SL and the IQ is better than anything I shot including the GFX. The SL lenses are unreal.
Gah, don't tempt me!
I agree! Iq on the gfx was good, but images were sterile and boring. My SL and 50/90 gives beautiful results with high IQ and lots of character! Can’t wait for the SL2 to get that sensor from the S1R!
I couldn’t agree more about cropping. It is all about the creative process to the end result. Well said sir. Btw love the Channel.
Thank you, my new friend.
I absolutely love your videos when you are discussing a topic that relates to my style or equipment. I recently sold off all my Canon gear and switched to Lumix. The only thing I miss is the shallow DOF you get with non mirrorless sensors. I don't have the full frame sensor but I do have a G9 and some other cameras. I will be returning to NYC to visit the family and will be walking many miles with my G9 and the 14-140 Lumix lens. It isn't the sharpest or the fastest, but the range seals the deal for me when doing street photography.
Back in the late seventy's and early eighties, the ultimate street lens for me was simply the Canon FD 50MM. It took great sharp images and did good in low light. I still have a bunch of FD lenses with Lumix adapters that take great images, but all the auto everything with stabilization has us spoiled. Anyway, keep pumping out the great videos.
instagram.com/jeremy_jayson_photography/
By now we're all accustomed - I dare say addicted in some cases - to the tone and thought process of your videos. But this rises far above and touches the passion. I like this new series. No. I love this new series. Please ramble on at will. This video - this very one - was barely over that I was reaching for my Z6 and my mid-80s. manual focus, oh-so-silky to the touch Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED AI-s. My contribution to this conversation. Have to go now, Need to take camera and lens for a walk.
Charles Michaud what a lovely way to start the day - thank you!
A wonderful lens for my Leica CL, a companion for the SL 90-280. Thanks for showing and sharing the potential of this lens.
Eric!
I wasn't sure what to expect from you based on the title, but you got me hooked after the first few moments. I was pleasantly surprised! Well done and I fully understand and like where I think you are headed with this series.
Rekishi no Tabi Welcome!
My Endgame lens will probably be the Leica 50mm Summilux-M f1.4 V.3 from the early 2000‘s for my M5 and my future M10-p or M11 if I’m ever able to afford one these. It’s the classic Summilux design but with the 0.7m close focus of the new ones. It’s still amazingly sharp but has a more subtle contrast and a more cinematic look. And I hope that it’ll give me the flares the new Asph. one won’t give me.
Great video as usual Hugh, I had a similar experience with the sigma art 35 f1.4 that I saved a few weeks for. I was in Porto in Portugal, a beautiful city and was shooting at 1.4 with a heavily darkened Nd filter and in the direction of the sun I took a quick shot of an angel statue, quickly rotating the aperture wheel to about f8 on my trusty 6d. It was not the perfect set up by any means, the image was under exposed, was shot directly into the sun, the iso was higher than I would have wanted and the framing at an awkward angle, but, I should not have worried. I had forgotten about the image and a week later in lightroom I decided to humour myself and bring up the exposure and I was floored to reveal that a little girl had been standing on the statue, hugging the legs of the large angel. I cropped in heavily, straightened it out, balanced the highlights and now have the most moving photo I've ever taken, one that still makes me feel and one that I doubt I would have have resulted had I not had this stellar piece of glass. It's my favourite lens I own because no matter what you do (right or wrong) it has your back and sees what you see, sometimes more. Sometimes gear matters, sometimes it doesn't but in this case I was glad I'd spent the weeks of working, ramen noodles and not even even thinking of purchasing a coffee on the way to work just to afford this hunk of metal and glass. I resonate a lot with your words. Thanks again and I always look forward so much to your content and insights.
Much love,
Chris.
Chris, what a powerful story - a perfect illustration of what I’m talking about. Thanks so much for sharing it with the rest of us! I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY!
Amazing story, thank you
It's so great and rare to have such an interesting and fruitful comment section. 3BMEP viewers are the best!
I paused at 1:30 just to say wow. You described the feeling so alacuently and precisely.. I just laugh at that moments, full of satisfaction.
Tal Shagan Right? 😊
I think I prefer m Fujifilm XF 90mm f2 on my X-T3 or my X-PRO2. It has an aperture ring and is weather sealed and incredibly sharp, focus is quick and spot on, not to mention that I get change out of $1k at B&H. Just my 2 cents' worth...
What’s not to like about that! Thanks for weighing in!
Excited to see more of this series.
Your writing compels me to put down the computer and go create images so this comment will be short as I must now go pack up my gear and head for the mountains. Well done.
What a gift you just gave me! Thank you for sharing. So glad you’re seizing the day!
I pray that your moments of transcendence translate to beautiful photography. I've heard somewhere that photos lasts longer & speak more than words
🙏🏻
Fantastic talk HB, while the gear you review is the thing that gets the initial attention, it is your delivery style that makes your presentations exceptional. For $5200,00 it had better be all that!
Thank you for appreciating the work. 😊
I do love the 90, but for me the 75mm-SL is magical
I understand. 😎
Excellent video and one that inspires to truly save for good, special glass that speaks to you and gives you that something extra other than just "sharpness" (so many lenses these days are very sharp but lacks most other things, mostly "soul"). One or two Leica SL lenses and perhaps a Lumix 50 1.4 is all that is needed for the S1R I'm starting to think. Rather than buying ten lenses over ten years it might be better to buy two or three and truly learn them and enjoy them. Thanks for the video!
Great review. Also top notch audio placement of Splasher in the outro.
Please get your hands on the 50 0.95 and tell us your thoughts. Make sure you team it up with the SL and or S1/R for focus peaking and magnification. It's nothing like you've seen before. I'm still in awe every time I shoot with it.
I like that idea!
Great video! I purchased the 35mm Summilux-TL 1:1.4 ASPH and holly-cow I am blown away with what I am seeing. I own a Leica 24-90mm and the image are outstanding but this 35mm is a site for sore eyes.
I have never heard someone describe the photographic moment is such poetry as you have. Inspiring!
Wing Kong Yip 🙏🏻😊
Thanks for this, i use the CL and have all the TL primes... this video has me thinking about that SL90 now. Blast you for that! Keep up the outstanding work. I would love to see a video that covers using the S1R and the TL lenses in an apsc crop for video... maybe comparing it to your regular setup... food for thought. Thanks again.
I’ve been thinking about it. On my list!
Thanks for explaining this. I never saw the need for high resolution sensors. I now get it!
Glad to be of service, Jarrod! It cuts down on the number and weight of additional lenses we carry - and allows us to see things in post we couldn’t at the time of capture.
Informative and elegant vlog. Lovely and educational. Thank you for doing it!
Alan Kim, Jr. Thanks for watching!
Very true about it taking a lot of shots and experiences to finally be clear about one's most favored focal length. For me it's the 85mm focal length (full frame terms) aka my Sigma 50 EX DG f1.4, although its not perfect with my mirrorless bodies due to its AF mechanism. But considering my Fuji bodies, I might just end up selling it when I can fully commit to one system.
Thanks for your insight into Leica, with your help I felt confident applying for my dream Job at Leica (which I got). If you are ever in Sydney feel free to come say Hello.
So pleased for you! Congrats! Glad to be of service. 😊
The first two mins are poetry to me. The rest of the video, a super-well-spoken declaration of love to Leica :)
🙏🏻😊
Sigma comes out with the full frame mirrorless foveon next year. If it is an L mount, you will be able to put this lens on that sensor. Imagine the colors! 👍
The Keto Life Agreed - and cannot imagine it wouldn’t be L mount. 🖖🏻
Every video is a fantastic story. Never hearing uh or um. Flawless execution.
My favorite reviews from my favorite reviewer!
🙏🏻
Brownstone - u"ve done it again... made me skip work & grab the Fuji's & head out to a foggy morn here @Newcastle AU.
Ian Johnstone outstanding!
Hi Hugh 😊 Your channel, for me, is the best on UA-cam 😊😊😊
Learn so much. Thank you for your efforts to share your knowledge with us 😊❤️
Thank YOU, Silvio!
the last lens you'll ever buy because you'll never have money again lol - anyways always enjoy your take good sir. I just got myself 4 new lenses, I couldn't help it since I just got paid. But not new since they were vintage lenses.
Hey - vintage can work!
Your channel is outstanding and amazing. I love your insight !!!
Thanks for this Hugh.
Many years ago, i obtained my first Leica, a Leicaflex SL and a Elmarit-R 2.8/90, which made me happy simply because of all these wonderful results - i had always the feeling, whatever you shoot (wide open) with this lens will look beautiful. Therefor i think you are right, this new 90mm SL-prime can easily be "the last lens". Happy new Year! :-)
Greetings Andreas
You can sell snow during a snowstorm! You should try it lol
It's all the good $100-$900 glass that produces amazing quality images for me, stops me from buying The Last Lens I'd need.
Right this moment I'm editing an image from my $200 40F2.8 pancake that I've shot a week ago, and OMG ... It's a freaking time machine! The detail, the contrast and color - all flawless. It turns my computer screen into a magic window. Well, it's not a 90mm lens. But my $500 100F2 USM is a very capable lens too. And if I did buy this Last Lens I Ever could, then, I guess, it really would be my last, because I wouldn't have the money for any other lenses :).
But I agree with many things said in this video. The quality, the high detail, it all matters. Cropping is a tool. And utilizing and actually seeing clearly all those megapixels we pay for is the whole different level of photography. All the crazies fooling around and flooding the Internet with tiny fuzzy little snaps and preaching nonsense like "cameras don't matter" are simply too blind to understand the beauty of high definition digital photography.
I love your videos and more to the point, your voice and narration, so I take every opportunity to watch each new UA-cam release of yours. As for lenses, I worked like a dog for a year to save up enough to buy the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 and 28mm f1.4. Ever since, with each lens release I hear/learn about, I grin and think of my two Otus jewels, and keep it moving! 😁
Enjoy!
Great video!
I appreciate the qualifier at the end. One can definitely get fantastic pictures with gear less mechanically perfect than that lens.
But man, it would be fun to play with.
Just so!
Leica APO Summicron SL Line of lens are the best currently available across brands, I would like to see you review the 21mm version. I also wish voigtlander comes out with a wide angle version of it, As these Leica are very expensive. (I am okay with L or M mount). If possible I would like to know of alternatives to the 21mm if any exists.
It's always about the lens...
I love my cheapie Canon 50D.. It's simple. It's 10 years old. But snap on a great lens, and you can create a great pic. No problem. Having a great body for a great lens certainly helps. My Panasonic GX8 is in another galaxy in features, performance and usability. But a great pic: The 50D can do it with a great lens and a little more work.
This combination is not a cheap kit. You can now buy the Hassy X1D MK2 and lens for the same price more or less. But when it sings to you, that's all that matters.
Thanks for another great video!
Great points, great examples - thank YOU!
For a portrait lens I'd wish to see some portrait examples 😅
Hello you do have an amazing way with words, its away a pleasure to listen to what you say. I love your explanation of cropping. I tend to agree with you about kit, As I am at that time of life that allows me to get the better kit, with some of my best images done on old second hand gear. Its now just so nice to have better glass and kit as it just help me try and get some nice images. Thank you for a supper video and I will look forward to the next episodes.
Welcome to the discussion!
Inspiring video and with the new SL2 I can’t wait for your review of the package of this lens and the new camera from Leica...
Me either! 😎
Are you had used Leica's SL 75mm and if so what are your thoughts?
Travel small? A Fuji XT2, kit lens and a Samyang 12mm F2. Last lens I bought? Fuji X 50mm F2 which I used to grab a shot of a friend walking in to a room towards me through a midday lit door. With no flare at all
Sounds good to me! I loved the X-T2 (spoiler alert: there is a Fuji lens or two in this series)! Thanks for sharing your experience!
It seems you'd also enjoy the same shot and extra resolution on the GFX100 :) Almost the same budget as the S1R and the SL90. the GF110mm is outstanding.
Sacha Martin agreed - the thought has not escaped me. 😎
your words are art!
Thanks, man!
Hugh, you are bad for my wallet. I just ordered this lens...
You’re welcome. 😈
@@3BMEP So far you have inspired me to buy an M10-P, an SL2-S and now this lens. Keep up the good work! :)
Great video Hugh! I'm looking forward to what comes next. Actually the Batis 2/40 mm on my Sony A 7iii seems to be the last lens, but.... :-)
Great glass!
I miss the good old manual focus nikors back from the mid 80’s.
That moment of epiphany happened to me with the 90mm M APO summicron. Sigh, one day I may try the L one
Yes, an enviable combination.
I rented the S1R for a week and absolutely loved it. The L-mount consortium is very appealing, and I likely will buy into it at some point, Lord willing and if the creek don't rise. And, when I had a Leica 240 the 90mm Summarit was my favorite lens.
4:49 Henri Cartier Bresson never cropped his pictures. He said it in many interviews. Nevertheless there’s nothing wrong with cropping and your image is beautiful.
First: thank you! Second, he cropped St. Lazare - perhaps his most famous image of all - and has been captured on film explaining why he did: he had to stick the camera up to a fence and cropped from the left side.
fair enough ;)
Just wonderful. Thank you🙏
🙏🏻
Hi Hugh how would you compare the SL90 to the Sigma 85 1.4 DG DN?
Pls review the 90mm Summilux-M 1.5 when you have the opportunity. Would love to hear what you have to say. Thanks!
I have the same feeling with my Pany Leica 42.5 f1.2
Great glass!
Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions - yep my 42.5mm is like clapping my hands - to quote John Lennon “For those of you in the cheap seats I'd like ya to clap your hands to this one; the rest of you can just rattle your jewelry!” ie proper Leica
Best lens you'll NEVER buy, because you cannot afford it!
love the video, My last lens would be Sony 16-35 2.8 GM this is just my opinion😎
When it comes to your photography, yours should be the only one that matters! Great optic!
The amount of micro contrast/3D pop on this lens is amazing. Too bad it's pricey
Travis I hear you.
It is worth every penny. That lens is used about 75% of the time when I'm working.
Steve Gabrail I bet it's a great lens. Maybe one day once I'm fully committed to the L system. I only have the S1
@@Atemoya26 And the S1 is great. I have the 90mm on that full time. very nice combo. the L system is going to get better and better from no on, with sigma releasing lenses and Leica coming out with a bunch of primes for it. can't wait.
No wonder I get a call from my bank every day.
Frank Feng hah!
Kit Awesomeness!
I would to ask you question,, I take still wildlife pictures should I purchase a Sony a6400 or a7 ll.
Don mitchell a6400: better AF, and the crop factor will give you greater reach for a given focal length (the new 200-600, for example, becomes a 300-900 on the a6400).
Thank you for this! APO Summicron SL has become my aspirational benchmark series for FF MILC landscape and non-action nature shooting. Which raises the question... do I need to invest in the SL2 to get the most of that APO ‘Cron SL IQ greatness or does the S1R deliver equal IQ?
Similar IQ, but look for differences in AF performance. With the latest firmware updates, I’m not sure what the answer is.
@@3BMEP thank you for the fast reply! I always enjoy your content and thoughtful delivery.
Man, that was a well done intro.
Shinra K 🙏🏻
I haven't felt like this about a lens yet. I thought the Fuji 23 1.4 would do it or the 56 1.2. Then on my quest for the 35 1.4 I ended up selling Fuji to move to the S1. Here's to hoping the stupidly expensive Panasonic 50 1.4 will he THE lens
What do you shoot?
Let me hold that thought while i sell a kidney :)
Just carry two SL2 bodies and a 35mm and a 90mm....Perfect kit. Can't say you'll be able to afford to travel anywhere for a few years after you purchase said kit...but hey.....it's all candy anyway.....
Perhaps you are right, but what are the odds I'll hit the lottery?
datapro007 much worse than entering our Zeiss Batis lens giveaway - see show notes and enter!
If you like this style of photography, check out Andreas Feininger's classic 1940's New York images. Warning: Can cause an expensive lens buying habit.
How much difference are you seeing between the 90 prime and the 24-90? And you gotten your 35mm yet?
Gary Meek my SL2 is currently sitting with our Summicron-TL 23 while we wait for the 35 (though I’m beginning to think about 50 instead). I want to try both of the SL primes first, side by side. For me, it comes down to which focal length I’d use more often. Vs 24-90: not side by side. However: I don’t want the weight and size of the 24-90 on the camera all the time (though it IS a stellar lens); and I’d like the extra TWO stops of the 90 ‘cron’s f/2 vs the 24-90’s f/4 at 90mm. When you look at Leica’a own MTF charts, they tell you what my memory tells me: the 24-90 is excellent for a zoom, the 90 outstanding for a prime. If I could ONLY have one lens for my SL2, it would be the 35 or 50 ‘cron. If I could have two, it might be the 35 or 50 and 90. But at that point, price is no longer the key factor, is it? 😉
@@3BMEP I have 35mm and 75mm apo crons on my SL2 but now thinking of selling 75 for 90.Do you think it will improve image quality so much at f5.6-8 at landscape distance?
Ok Mr Blind Elephant, on Sunday morning you are getting into Alan Watts territory "9K is really nothing because is not there...............ahh but the tao of summicron on a NY foggy day.....
Funny you should mention him. I was just listening to him assert that life is NOT a journey...
Please compare the SL 75 to the 90 mm lenses. If you could only get one???
90, but that’s only because I have the SL 35 and M50. All of the SL Summicrons are outstanding. If I’d started with a 24 and didn’t have the 50, I’d go with the 75.
Hi! You have a terrific voice and it has a texture that makes you want to listen more. But I find it quite strange that for a visual product, you only rely on audio to describe its qualities. A couple of pictures and longer clips of the product might help the viewer make a decision. Sometimes I feel that I'm listening to a podcast rather than watching a video. Please don't treat this as a negative criticism, rather a suggestion from an admirer.
Siddhartha Ghosh did you not watch it all the way through?
Lovely wonderful video.
Chris!
I don’t understand why not pay the same money or even less!!! for Hasselblad X1D II and it’s lenses vs SL ...
Bobby Aghili better viewfinder
Did you ever purchase the Sony 6400?
Sure did - check a couple of videos ago!
Been thinking, serious face on :-/ True general digital photo fidelity was achieved in 2008 with the advent of the Nikon D3 12MP sensor. The D3 and D700 are no frills digital cameras before the industry learned to mess about with processing which is why I own a D700. I get as pure an image in my RAW file as it is possible to get, yes it has some noise but that is good, it means no precious data has been damaged. The image is made on the senosr by a lens of your choice. THis will provide Gallery quality prints second to none. No camera made today will produce a bad image from a good lens. The year 2019 does not have a monopoly in great glass, in fact I would say it has some of the worst glass I have ever seen. Why? Because it panders to the whims of enthusiast camera celebrities. The range of photographic uses that much of this glass is "optimised" for make it relatively poor for many other possibilities such as hyperfocal realism. Yes I did say optimise, these lenses are made to perform in the fashionable performance range that most reviewers think important and hence which enthusiasts will slavishly buy. You get the glass you deserve. People have noticed this change in image quality out of the corner of their eye and have reacted against it. They turn to film because they think film has magical artistic properties, some of which is true but, mostly it is because the image quality of the lenses is far better. Bolt a good Leica Summilux-M on a digital body and it is the business. Why? It is low glass probably no more than 7 elements, the optics are hand finished and they use simple designs optimised for general photography. So I hunt out great glass. The good news is that little of it is fast so it isnt the most expensive, its light and compact so it doesnt annoy you and demand the services of an osteopath and mostly it looks and performs great. Most people know these lenses and dont consider them when buying unless strapped for cash; Olympus premium primes (definately not the Pro), Panasonic f1.7 primes, Fuji standard primes, Nikon AF-D (dare say Canon has its equivalents), Voightlander and Zeiss simple classics. All of these give images dripping in microtones which you wont get from a fast high glass flat field Pro lens. You dont need shallow depth of field to isolate a subject from the background, painters have known since the dawn of time that the best way to separate picture elements is using tone and for that you need a high quality low glass prime. Not the sort of thing being promoted by Nikon and Canon and panasonic full frame mirrorless. I can already see the signs that the fashion is coming to an end, just look at this years sales figures and the cancellation of Photokina 2019;a new age of lens design is going to rise from the rubble, points at the Sony 35mm f1.8, the new Sigma 40mm f2.8, the signs are there you just have to look at what people are buying. Look at this Leica 90mm it has 11 glass elements and image quality to die for contrast that with a ghastly Olympus Pro lens with 20lens elements; get my drift, small high quality is expensive, you have to pay for it or you get junk like you always did. Dont mistake high tech modern design for quality improvement, it is nearly always driven by cost cutting - winks
Yes but is there an E-Mount version? I can't afford a Leica camera and I will not buy a Panasonic with contrast detection AF.
Soso Melodies nope.
Sigma fp hands on, please!
As soon as I possibly can!
Gestalt , Mm I have heard these words long ago. I use vintage lenses 0.95 M mount , Super Takumar 85mm 1.8 the lovely Voigtlander 35mm 1.7 in brass , I know this glass.
Yes the 90mm F2 is interesting. My city is the Islands... and SE Asia.
The images I have seen of the lens being discussed by Mr.Leica the 90mm F2 Summicron Pre Aspherical.
Being a Deplorable simple man ..... I know a little good glass. My lenses are to find spirit and depth.
Spirit and depth. Just a simple man.
Lenses sing. You must learn them , to compose then follow your own Legacy your own vision. I am just a simple deplorable man. Cheers.
Find your eye your ability to see your LOGOS then pursue it.
Thanks for sharing! But why would you ever label yourself deplorable?
Everyone knows the truism about how it’s the photographer that makes the picture, not the camera. We get it: great photography can be made by an advanced photographer with a rudimentary camera, but not the other way round. But like all truisms, it’s too simplistic; real life is more complicated than that. Somehow it’s so brutally reductionist, it’s not even true any more.
Photography tends to be thought of as a kind of art. Perhaps it is, but I believe that photography is primarily a craft, learned over a long time, from which beautiful, memorable or truthful work can be made. There are parallels with other crafts such as fine cabinetry or furniture-making, insofar as a craftsman or woman makes beautiful or functional objects with the solid foundation of his or her experience and skill, but there is also a fundamental, indivisible role played by their tools. Just as in photography, joiners are in a genuine relationship with their tools, their gear. It’s a real, tangible and important relationship, and it has a strong bearing on their final created work. They may have an old, pre-owned Stanley bench plane they paid twenty bucks for, which they spent hours improving by flattening the sole and grinding a new bevel or honing a new edge on the blade; chances are, it never produced anything close to the perfect shaving they achieved from their new Lie-Nielsen No 4, straight from the box.
We are in a relationship with our cameras and our lenses, and we have to be, because they aren’t incidental to our work. They define how we feel about the type of work we do and influence it, probably far more than even we are prepared to acknowledge. We may love how the gear looks or feels, and that’s OK too, because it helps give us a positive mindset about the task ahead. But the most important quality in any relationship is trust. If we trust our camera and our lens, we know that the only constraining factor is our own ability or our personal motivation. That can be worth spending money on - maybe a lot of money. Leica lenses cost a lot of money, for sure. But what you are buying into is not just metal and glass, but trust.
I trust my Canon 1DX II system when I need to grab a picture-taking opportunity, metaphorically, by the throat; I trust my 6D II on undemanding days when all I need is something capable, worthy and reliable; I trust my Fuji system when I have time to think and reflect and work slow; and I trust my Rolleiflexes when I want to go back to first principles. There is no lens I trust more than a 75mm 1:3.5 Zeiss Planar on the front of my Flex. These are relationships I have built up over a long time. They are indispensable to my work.
Hugh, in your films I have found that you are right on the money nearly all of the time, and never more so than with your latest hypothesis about how a single piece of kit can be so transformational. But what is more important is your thread, your theme, reiterated time and again: that a lens or a camera may be beautiful or functionally superb, and that is interesting, important, ground breaking, fun - but that, for photographers, cameras, lenses, photography, trust, aspiration, love, life are all interconnected, all of the time.
What a beautifully woven tapestry of heartfelt and earned wisdom. Thank you, Simon - again!
My Summilux 35 f1.4 for my Leica M10 is the last 35mm wide angle that I will ever need to buy.
Regards,
Bud James
Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at instagram.com/budjamesphoto.