My only experience with Leica is my recent purchase of what is already considered obsolete by the Leica crowd and it's the original Q. While I have a myriad of other cameras at my disposal, I take the Q with me everywhere and it's an absolute joy to shoot. I think you nailed it when you said it's the experience because while you can get the same or better elsewhere, these cameras just have character built into them and are just fun to shoot with.
This camera has been haunting me for years. Just can’t justify the admission price at my skill level. One of the reasons I think it’d be perfect for me is the lens choices, would be great to see various LTM lenses shot on the M8 like Jupiter, Avenon wide, Canon and of course Zeiss lenses. There are good vintage glass finds out there, and in my mind would really make a M8 kit super interesting.
I’m rocking a 40 and 90 m-rokkor set with my Minolta CLE, and it’s great to have such a tiny, capable setup. I also got a Konica 28/2.8, but it’s much denser, so one day I’d love to find a Minolta 28mm without the white spots…
Local California photographer here, I'm not entirely sure the comparison for SF is true for "any metro". I walked around NYC for 3 days with a large camera setup hanging around my hip until late into the night and never felt unsafe. Same for other large cities I've been; Boston, New Orleans, Fort Worth. Can't say I would feel comfortable doing the same in SF. If I go back to SF specifically for photography I'll probably follow your advice and bring a non photo bag and a smaller point and shoot style camera. Personally I feel like SF does need an extra bit of caution than most metros.
Here's how I see it. Let's say there are 20 awful people per every 1000 in any given place. Now let's consider a place like NYC, which the metro has 470sq miles (quick google search). Compare that to SF, which is 47sq miles, or 1/10 of NYC. Point I'm making here is that I do not believe SF is any better or worse than any other metro - but you could theoretically run into those 20 people a bit easier if you're visiting SF because they won't be as spread out. That said, I feel 100% safe in many parts of SF...and 100% stay out of other parts.
Being honest. It’s gotten to that point where I don’t care what your video is about…. I’m watching it!!! Great little video and well done for sticking to the two a week :) J
Interesting comparison, I’m surprised the LLL is as noticeable of a difference as it is. It would be intresting to see a vintage Leica lens compared to the new LLL equivalent.
Thank you so much for this very detailed video. My first Leica Lens that I still own for my M6, is a 35mm Summaron f2.8. I absolutely love this lens and the vintage rendering and glow. There’s something very organic and magical. Now I need to find a similar rendering for a 28mm. ❤
I have both LLLs and love them. Having said this they are lenses which I use to create a special vintage look. The 35 flares beautifully and the 50SP2 has this special glow in certain light situations. Otherwise the Leica Summicron or Summilux lenses are sharper and have better micro contrast. So the LLLs , as much as I lover them are not the perfect allrounder like the current Leica lenses. But their build quality and special look at a more affordable price ( still not cheap) make them a nice addition to my kit.
Sorry, non related question, did you experience camera shake with m10-r vs m10 vs m11 with same shutter speed? Trying to figure if this an actual issue or a fixable one to adjust shutter speed. Thank you. Watched your other videos but not sure.
I’ve never experienced camera shake as an issue, but I rarely shoot slower than 1x-2x the focal length. I just crank ISO. Sharp and grainy > blurry and clean.
I met Gordon years ago when living in Tokyo at one of his exhibitions. Needless to say I was very intimidated as he was and will forever be a legend but being from Kansas (as he was) my curiosity won out. I only wish (after all these years) I had spent more time talking with him. His work is timeless.
I don't care for the LLL as depicted here I think your presets lend more desirable character than the lenses. The shot of the tractor had a blue cast in the middle. The bokeh is also a bit different it feels like the edges of the photo are spinning more instead of a straight spherical bokeh as well as vignetting in the corners and less pleasing skin tones. The lenses are also just less sharp in general and to me that's a pass like you said play with them and sell them on.
A lot of these new M lens manufactures are doing this vintage "infinity lock." I think that was a terrible design and they need to stop doing it. Both light lens lab and thypoch are doing it. All reviewers love the lens and most of their complaints are the infinity lock.
Great video. I have all of these lenses except the LLL 35. I’ve used the 35 1.4 for over 10 years. It is a versatile lens that is perfect for street photography. in 2022 I used it extensively in Paris on a M10 Monochrom. Exceptional images. I’ve found that the 50 LLL is great for getting portrait shots with the M11P. I usually shoot in an intimate setting such as a bar or restaurant. The 50LLL gives a classic film rendering. I’m waiting for the LLL 50 1.2 for the same reason. If I want sharpness and great color, my default is the 50 APO. Love your work. Would like to join you on a shoot some day.
I do like the look of the 50, but I don’t like it at f/2. I like it at f/4 or higher. I’ll try it indoors and see what happens! Thanks for sharing, and for the kind words. Come to the bay and we’ll photo walk!
One needs to recognize that LLL recreates the originals as closely as possible. Even recreating the original glass compositions. So no they will not be as sharp as a modern lux. But you get the character of classical very expensive collectors glass.
I would say companies like LLL/Voigtlander really fills the void in the current Leica line-up, meaning small/light lenses like the old summicrons and summiluxes before the introduction of aspherical elements. The lenses Leica make these days are optically superior, but a bit big/chunky for a light weight rangefinder experience. But actually it's really not what we rangefinder shooters want some times. As we have perfect alternatives like Sony G lenses (which are better than the current Leica offerings when it comes to optical quality). Leica should really expand their vintage line and start to re-introducing those small old-design lenses with modern coating/technology.
Can’t say I agree whatsoever. I’d assume based on your comments you don’t actually use any Leica glass. Sony GM glass has nothing on Leica SL lenses. Used GM for years, bokeh can be okay but otherwise colour is very poor and sharpness isn’t comparable. Voigtlander and LLL make some great gear, but it’s not filling a void that Leica doesn’t have, Leica simply doesn’t play in that environment and nor do they pretend to.
If you’re talking ‘M’ apo 50, sure, but it’s also tiny in comparison. But I’m talking ‘SL’ glass, not ‘M’. Do you use Leica bodies or is everything adapted to Sony?
@@davidherring I have it and the original 8e and theris no blue cast at all. What people wondering is the coating color which is blue. That has nothing to with the image it produces. The original 8e had blue reflecting coating but a few later models had amber colored coating.
Hi Dave. Excellent. My favorite is the close focus 35mm 1f.4 Summilux. The rendering at f1.4 is so exceptional with the quick falloff of focus. Thanks again.
I've always appreciated the clinical sharpness of Leica lenses, similar to my GM lenses. However, I often find myself reducing the sharpness when editing my photos. Given this, is the additional $3K investment really worth it for me?
@@davidherring Just got it recently and I love how it renders very much as the original relegated to bank vaults due to the 50-70k price tag.Not a lux replacement of course - but much more character.
They’re pretty fun, I’ll agree with the random infinity lock on the 35. That lens has been living on my M6 for awhile now. Figure that’s the best spot for it. Sings on film. Just need to get the hood for it.
Well, price differential wasn’t discussed and is obviously huge. Also, comparing a Cooke to any other 50mm is fraught with difficulty, no? Fun review. Thx!
@@davidherring ...and yet, by putting these images up, side by side. It becomes a comparison by default. I really confused as to what your intention was? It appears to be an exercise in confirmation bias.
@@davidherring you did, but clearly by showing images vis a vis each other and closing with “I won’t be keeping these lenses,” there was an inherent comparison and judgement. Appreciate your time and DID enjoy it, but perhaps would like to see you shoot the Cooke in a portrait/cinematic way, as it is intended. JMHO…
I own an M11-P and the Voigtlander 28/2 35/1.5 & 50/1.5 It seems like Leica finds a way to make lenses that have both modern sharpness and pleasing character. Where as other companies make lenses that are clinically perfect (Sony G Master) or full of character at the expense of sharpness.
It was a bit difficult to actually see the differences in lenses just because of the format of this video. In the future it might be more helpful to show two photos side by side instead? Appreciate you!
Thank you for your honest thoughts on this and this video. Personally not a fan of LLL Lenses. If someone wants cheap and cost is a factor, it's worth looking at but even then there's voigtlander, ding, thypoch as good options. I bought two separate lenses and both of them had back focusing issues and flare which I wasn't a fan of and sit well with me. Instead I bought some vintage Leica / Leitz glass and even though it's more money, I'm much happier with it. The SPII is known to have that blue cast in it and I've seen on reddit and on forums people raise it and that they're not happy with it.
I own the new close focus 35 and 50 Summilux for my M11 and Q3 with 28 Summilux. For me, this is the perfect Setup for Everyday-carry, weddings, other events or travel. I recently bought a color skopar 35 f2.5 for my M6 - it is super cheap and small. I think for film it will do a great job. I owned some Summicron or older Summilux versions before upgrading to the new ones. And you make nothing wrong to save money and go with 1990's versions or 2010's. I like to have the close focus for my style, but it is not necessary for all. Thank you for great videos.
Thanks for sharing. I haven’t had issues focusing with the M11 and 90 or 135 lenses. It’s more muscle memory and experience I think. You work at it, you’ll get it.
I love the pompous involuntary Red Dot 🔴 talk lol I have the SL2 and happens all the time. The notion “it’s a Leica” is true. And this is me loving a lot of other camera brands that I also own. Nikon, Pentax, micro 4/3rds like LUMIX and Olympus. Owning a Hassy I bet it’s the same as red dot
Very nice video Dave. I’ve been doing the same thing for many years. Incognito and tone down approach is the best way to go. Can you please provide links to fjellreven kånken fannypack and strap ? Regarding the brand name is FJÄLL (as in mountain) and REVEN (as in fox) from Sweden. 😉
