The 35mm focal size is quick changing into my go-to for style and portraiture. It’s nice for storytelling and produces unbelievable pictures. Leica could be my most well-liked digicam system if cash weren’t a difficulty. Photographing with a Leica M is a luxurious that lets you decelerate and take all of it in. And the brand new Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux M is not any exception.
The most recent Summilux builds on the success of its predecessor and provides a couple of upgrades. Some of the notable of these is the improved minimal focusing distance. Photographers can now get about two ft nearer to their topic for lovely macro frames. Leica’s 35mm Summilux creates editorial-quality pictures without having to edit.
Is it well worth the $5,395 price ticket? Sure, in case you can afford it, there’s no query about it. The lowered enhancing time can pay for itself in a world the place time is cash. It’s greater than a standing image. Maintain studying to seek out out extra.
The Massive Image
The brand new Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux M takes what we beloved in regards to the earlier era and makes it higher. It now contains a built-in lens hood, which is extra in keeping with the latest lenses. Most notably, photographers can now get even nearer to their topic. However don’t fear, it’s nonetheless quintessential for road images and a very good all-around lens. It’s a pleasure to make use of.
The lens is weather-resistant. Nonetheless, there isn’t an precise rubber gasket like what different producers use. We examined it on a snowy -20 diploma day, and the guide focus lens carried out effortlessly. Photos had been vibrant, sharp, and required minimal enhancing.
The 35mm f1.4 Summilux M is a perfect focal size that’s meant to be your go-to workhorse. It is a superb alternative for road images, portraits, landscapes, urbanscapes, style, industrial, and photojournalism. And now, photographers can get nearer and seize some enjoyable macro pictures too.
We’re giving the Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux M 5 stars. Need one? You possibly can decide it up for $5,395 or hire it from Lensrentals.
Professionals
- Stunning pictures
- Beautiful colours
- Unbelievable sharpness
- Nice all-around lens
- Light-weight and compact
Cons
Gear Used
We examined the Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux lens with a Leica M11 on mortgage from the producer.
Improvements
The 35mm Summilux options Leica’s new built-in lens hood. Extra importantly, photographers can now concentrate on their topic from a bit greater than a foot away. This marvel could not look like a giant deal, however it’s fairly a feat for the engineers at Leica. Earlier fashions had a minimal focusing distance of about three ft.
Ergonomics
Leica’s latest 35mm f1.4 Summilux M lens contains a minimal blueprint. It’s light-weight and compact. The lens compliments any M-series physique and is comfy to {photograph} with all day.
Boasting Leica’s basic design, the main target ring is closest to the mount and contains a depth-of-field and distance scale. Subsequent is the click-style aperture ring. On the finish, Leica has included the newer, refreshed built-in lens hood.
Construct High quality
The Leica 35mm Summilux boasts a premium all-metal design. It seems to be and feels strong. The main focus ring glides effortlessly, and the lens hood twists easily. It’s a attractive lens.
Leica doesn’t present any rubber gaskets in any of its lenses. Nonetheless, it performs flawlessly in reasonable moisture and subzero temperatures. That stated, I wouldn’t suggest getting within the behavior of utilizing it in inclement climate.
Focusing
Focusing is finished manually with this lens. It’s enjoyable to observe the picture glide into focus inside the viewfinder. Photographers may also admire the magnification and focus peaking when paired with an M11. They’re a superb comfort for close-up pictures and harassed eyes.
Ease Of Use
Photographers accustomed to guide focus will really feel very comfy utilizing this lens. The Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux M isn’t a newbie lens. However, it may be realized, and as soon as acquainted, it shortly turns into a pure extension of your self.
It took me a couple of missed frames to get used to seeing close-up focal factors slide into focus. Shiny mild and backlit pictures could be tougher to navigate efficiently. Nonetheless, focus peaking and magnification make it simple to perform.
Newer photographers ought to make the most of these options till they develop into well-versed with the lens. It doesn’t take lengthy to develop into acquainted with this lens and really feel comfy capturing candid road images.
Picture High quality
The brand new Leica 35mm Summilux M produces sharp and superbly vibrant pictures with an editorial flare. Imperfections are minimal and corrected in publish. You might even skip enhancing altogether if you’d like.
Bokeh
Leica’s 35mm f1.4 Summilux M lens produces buttery bokeh that melts away from the topic. When stopped down, it additionally creates fascinating background separation for memorable environmental portraits.
Colour Rendition
Considered one of my favourite issues about Leica is its editorial coloration palette. The colourful colours are true to life, but higher. Winter’s pastel golden hour hues are precisely offered. Pores and skin tones are correct and don’t require enhancing. And neon lights pop and add life to an in any other case odd scene.
Sharpness
Photos created with the Leica 35mm Summilux are sharp all through a lot of the body when targeted at infinity. Solely the outermost edges and corners are gentle at f1.4. Cease down if you wish to prolong the sharpness nearer to the sting of the body.
Lens Character
I admire that Leica didn’t go for scientific sterility whereas minimizing distortions with this latest lens. The 35mm Summilux M presents loads of character. It precisely depicts all lighting situations. Lens flares and lightweight flares are potential with this lens. Fringing does sometimes occur, nevertheless it’s not an issue. Any imperfections are minimal and simply adjusted in publish.
Additional Picture Samples
From day one, The Phoblographer has been big on transparency with our viewers. Nothing from this overview is sponsored. Additional, numerous people will publish critiques and present numerous enhancing within the pictures. The issue then turns into that anybody and everybody can do the identical factor. They’re not exhibiting what the lens can do. So we’ve got a piece in our Additional Picture Samples space to point out edited and unedited pictures. From this, you may make a call for your self.
Unedited
Edited
Who Ought to Purchase The Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux M Lens?
Anybody who appreciates the Leica M-system and may afford it can purchase this lens. If I had the means, I might purchase the Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux as my main lens. It will keep on my digicam more often than not.
I appreciated the newer model built-in lens hood and had quite a lot of enjoyable with a more in-depth minimal focusing distance. It’s good to {photograph} your supposed crop.
As wonderful as this lens is, it’s not good. The lens isn’t absolutely weatherproof. Whereas it handles magnificently properly in subzero temperatures and reasonable moisture, I wouldn’t really feel comfy taking it out in a downpour. Nevertheless it does every part else terribly properly.
The 35mm Summilux M produces exemplary pictures with an editorial flare. Its vibrant colours add influence to an in any other case mundane scene. It additionally creates spectacular black and white frames. The perfect half is you’ll be able to skip enhancing altogether if you’d like. Leica’s 35mm focal size is a superb alternative for a wide range of functions. It is a superb alternative for portraits, road images, urbanscapes, landscapes, photojournalism, industrial, journey, and style images.
Tech Specs
Tech specs are from the Lensrentals listing.
- Angle of View: 63°
- Aperture Blades: 11
- Aspherical Components: 1
- Autofocus: Handbook Focus Solely
- Model: Leica
- Filter Measurement: 46.0mm
- Focal Size: 35.0-35.0
- Teams/Components: 5/9
- Hood Included: Constructed-in
- Picture Stabilization: No
- Merchandise Sort: Lens
- Lens Sort: Huge Angle
- Max Aperture: 1.4
- Mfr. Mannequin Quantity: 11726
- Minimal Aperture: 16.0
- Minimal Focusing Distance: 1.3feet
- Mount: Leica M
- Weight: 0.7 lb.
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