memories are made of these:
the fan died
nature reclaims
the hot plate
with a firm hug
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Leica M, 50 mm Summilux Asph & 100 mm Apo Macro Elmarit —R
Category: Natural World
A day with the Leitz Apo—Macro—Elmarit—R 1:2.8 / 100 on the M (240)
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Dust to dust. Wabi (a quality of austere and serene beauty expressing a mood of spiritual solitude recognized in Zen Buddhist philosophy.) Sabi (“The concept sabi carries not only the meaning ‘aged’—in the sense of ‘ripe with experience and insight’ as well as ‘infused with the patina that lends old things their beauty’—but also that of tranquility, aloneness, deep solitude” (Hammitzsch, 46).)
Sophia and Tanya enjoying our new old hot tub for the first time.
Frog
Two Frogs
Garage visitor
Sunset on the pond
Leica M, 100 mm Apo Macro Elmarit R
Friday’s Flora with Leitz Wetzlar Summilux—R 1:1.4 / 80 on Leica M (240)
The 80 mm ‘lux mounted on the M makes for a relatively large and heavy package (by M standards). The 80 mm Summilux—R weighs in at 694 gr compared to the 560 gr of the 75 Summilux—M. The 80 R will let you focus down to a tad under 32″. The 75 M will actually get you a little closer at 29″ – though when you consider the focal length difference it really becomes six of one and half a dozen of the other. At some point I need to do a side by side comparison of these two ‘lux lenses to discover if there’s any significant difference between their signatures; ease of focus; or any other distinctions to take note of — or are they nearly identical twins?
Of course the smooth transition from in-focus to out-of-focus areas, at virtually any f:stop, defines these classic Leitz Summilux lenses.
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I always carried the Apo 2X Extender with my R cameras because it’s a small, light accessory which gives significant reach to whatever lenses I may be carrying. So, since using the M with R lenses, I’ve done the same. You’ve seen some examples of using the extender with the 60 mm Macro Elmarit. Below are a couple examples using the 2X with the 80 ‘lux — essentially turning it into a 160 mm f:2.8 (wide open). The first with lens set around f:2.8 (effectively 5.6 with 2X). The second with lens set at f:5.6 (effectively 11 with 2X).
Leica M, 80 mm Summilux—R
The Leitz Wetzlar Macro-Elmarit-R 1:2.8 / 60 on the Leica M (240)
Locking the 60 Macro-Elmarit-R on to the Leica M, with M to R adapter, Multifunction Grip and EVF results in yet another relatively light, relatively small, very well balanced and extremely versatile kit. The ability to focus from 1:2 to infinity without additional hardware is very reassuring for a lover of close views of the world’s details.
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The 60 works as a fine short distance portrait lens.
Oops. Forgot to reset the Manual Lens Detection. So the EXIF shows the 50 cron rather than the 60 Elmarit in the first three samples above. Rest assured every image in this post was shot with the 60 Elmarit—R; irrespective of the EXIF data.
Throwing the Macro-Elmarit-R 60 Extension Tube in the bag extends the range to include 1:1 through 1:2 with little extra weight… though may mean taking the 28 Summicron out of my fairly tiny “everywhere every day bag.” No. I can fit the tube and the 28 too!
Popping the Apo-Extender-R 2X makes a remarkable 120mm 5.6 Macro which adds working distance and different depth of field to both macro or other medium long focal length possibilities — all while taking up very little space or weight in the bag.
Now why in the world would the above photograph be tac sharp and the one below be unsharp?
Both were shot handheld at a 1/1000th of a second. Hard to imagine that the bottom one involves movement.
Both used focus assist with the “red” lighting up appropriately on the intended subject. What the hell’s going on here?
Infinity focus issues? Hard to imagine that at around f:8 with a 60 mm. Any ideas?
Leica M, 60 mm Macro—Elmarit—R
Next up: Leitz Wetzlar Summilux—R 1:1.4 / 80
Friday’s flowers (with Leitz Canada Summicron-R 1:2 / 50 on Leica M)
Continuing to enjoy this relatively small, relatively light kit as it simply delivers extremely fine digital photographic files. All of the visual qualities I’ve come to expect from Leica range finder and SLR cameras and lenses appear on the computer screen with virtually no post processing. With each use of the R lenses I become more comfortable with the EVF and focus assist; even as I continue to enjoy the mostly manual operation of focus, diaphragm and shutter controls. The full 24×36 mm frame of the M allows the entire M and R lens lines to perform to their full design potential. For the most part — The M (240) provides photographic joy with every use — whether as a range finder camera — or as a mirror-less EVF camera.
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Leica M, 50 mm Summicron-R
Next up on the Leica M (240): the Leitz Wetzlar Macro-Elmarit-R 1:2.8 / 60
Leitz Wetzlar Summilux-R 1:1.4 / 50 on Leica M: including a Friday Flower
Just like the 35 mm Summicron-R the Leitz Wetzlar Summilux-R 1:1.4 / 50 makes a beautiful, relatively small, well balanced kit, with a great feel, fit and finish, when mated to the Leica M(240). The 50 mm Summilux also provides a respectable 20″ close focus possibility along with its classic, creamy Summilux bokeh.
The first few of these examples display the wrong exif data because I forgot to reset the Manual R Lens Detection to the 50 Summilux. Rest assured all the images in this post were made with the 50 mm Summilux_R on the M(240).
This may be the most remarkable walk around lens/camera kit I’ve had the pleasure to use. This relatively small and light combination handled every situation while delivering superb results; including a commercial studio product shoot.
Next up: Leitz Canada Summicron-R 1:2 / 50. A lighter lens than the Summilux, though about the same size.
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We can see this is a lovely lens for working in close at that 20″ mark.
Again focused at the 20″ mark; though this is a very small section of the Full Frame (seen below);
and certainly demonstrating the quality of both the 50 mm Summilux-R and the M(240) sensor.
In this last example I put the 50 Summilux-R on the R Bellows.
Leica M, Leitz Wetzlar Summilux-R 1:1.4 / 50
Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 1:2 / 35 on Leica M: So, so sweet.
The Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 1:2 / 35 hanging on the Leica M (240) with Multifunction Grip and EVF truly feels like a terrific walk around kit. Extremely well balanced. Able to focus down to less than 10″; while offering a slightly wide field of view; yet maintaining terrifically natural sense of perspective and scale. And of course the Summicron signature has always flattered its subjects.
Shooting with this kit reminded me how much I’ve missed using these wonderful lenses on a 24 x 36 frame. Post processing brought back memories of my favorite “old Agfachrome.” Of course I could have also post processed them as “ekta… fuji… koda… or whatever other …chrome.” Though I always found Agfachrome to most closely synch with how I perceived “natural” color in the world; just as I always found a 35 mm focal length to most closely synch with my “natural field of view and sense of scale and perspective.” Of course I also enjoyed the drama of wider focal lengths; as well as the compression achieved with longer focal lengths.
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Pull the cap and check that close focus… wide open… not “macro”
though certainly a wonderful “are you ready for your closeup?” lens.
Great field of view
Fueling up while waiting for the rain to pass… before the Virmond Park Kite Fesball can begin.
the 54″ wingspan kite took off like a rocket… especially after Ann opened up those wing tails.
Jace’s little kite never quite made it… in spite of Dad and Nana’s tenacious efforts.
Leica M, Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 1:2 / 35
Leica Summilux – R 1:1.4 / 35 on M. Friday’s Flowers on Saturday.
The first impression after mounting my 1991 E-67, Leica 35 mm Summilux-R on the Leica M body, “Wow. This is really big and heavy. Why would I want to do this if I also have the beautiful little Summilux-M 1:1.4 / 35 ASPH?” Well first off they do have different signatures. The R version also focuses to a bit less than 20″. The M version a bit less than 30″. Will that 10″ ever make a difference? In the studio possibly. On the street probably not. But then there’s the back focus issues with the M version when using the M rangefinder vs. the EVF potentially nailing the focus wide open. So it really comes down to – well – just trying it out because I have it and we can compare the signatures between the earlier lux and the later ASPH lux. Though we’re not making that comparison with this post.
I DO love these Summilux lenses, with their creamy bokeh, in all their varieties and focal lengths. And the 35 mm focal length on a 24 x 36 sensor or film frame really does seem my natural field of view.
Next up: The much smaller and lighter Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 1:2 / 35 – WHICH FOCUSES TO LESS THAN 12″ – and that rather close focus capability gets exciting to carry around as a “normal” lens.
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Leica M, Summilux – R 1:1.4 / 35 mm
Leitz Wetzlar – Super Angulon – R 1 : 4 / 21 on Leica M: Memories are made of these
Yet again I find I cannot choose my 21/4/SA in the M>R Manual Lens Menu. That’s 3 for 3 (the 350, 15, 21) I can choose the 19/2.8 or the 28/2.8. So I choose the 19 – another lens that I continue to lust after.
I grew up with Schneider designed Super Angulons always in my bag. During my photo journalist days (back in the 60s and 70s) the 21/3.4 Super Angulon lived on my M2 24/7. I still own a 58/5.6 SA XL, 121 mm SA, and 165 mm SA – though I really should sell them as I haven’t shot 4×5, 5×7 or 8×10 film in decades. I’ve also owned a 75 and 90 SA; and I think I’ve got a 65 Angulon in a box somewhere. Nostalgia keeps me hanging on to the point of silly – especially while packing to move – again. The point is they’re great, classic lenses. Sharp to the corners. Distortion free. Wonderful bokeh. Decent contrast for their vintage — the XL even more so on all counts.
Memories are made of these – nostalgic lenses documenting moments around the house I designed and built (with the help of family and friends) 30 years ago – and which will soon be demolished to become a parking lot. Again I’m reminded of why I love this R lenses – it, like must R lenses, focuses exceptionally — less than 8″ — close!
And I’m delighted to see that my vintage 21/4/SA-R performs as I’d expect — wonderfully — on the Full Frame M sensor. It does show a tiny, easily manageable bit of barely perceptible magenta color shift out on the very extreme edges. It also shows a minuscule amount of chromatic aberration – also easily eliminated with a tiny correction in Lightroom.
Next up: Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 1 : 2.8 / 24
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Leitz Wetzlar 15 mm Super Elmar R on Leica M
The 15 mm Leitz Wetzlar 15 mm Super Elmar is another one of those lenses which performed admirably on film with all its “forgiving” qualities. Though when mounted on the R8/DMR we saw the inherent “issues” of the lens amplified — specifically chromatic aberration and smearing of corners and edges — even on the DMR’s smaller cropped sensor the corners looked awful well into the frame.
I was anxious to see how the M’s micro lenses and possible corrections would handle these issues when chosen in the M>R Manual Lens Choice menu. Again I felt disappointed that the Super-Elmar did not appear in the M>R lens menu – so chose the newer Super-Elmarit from the list — stepped out into the yard and enjoyed the amazing close focus of these R lenses. I checked a couple files on screen and proceeded to bike into Thiensville to check out the Suburban Motors mini Harley Fest with the 15.
The results certainly show potential for the lens. The chromatic aberration is still present of course — though seems a bit easier to correct in Lightroom then the DMR files. On the Full Frame sensor of the M the corners still appear a touch smeared — though not nearly as obviously so as on the DMR sensor. The lens remains a bit of a beast to tame. Finding the hyperfocal distance at any given aperture seems a bit of a crap shoot as the lens behaves so weirdly on the edges and corners. Twas a time when I really had a good feel for using this lens on film. It now feels like I need to practice and experiment to figure out best working methods with the M’s EVR and all.
When shooting using a set hyperfocal distance it seems to require taping the focus ring down – as my handling the lens on the M seems to constantly shift the focus into the close focus range. The focus isn’t particularly loose either. I don’t recall this issue when I used this lens on the much larger and heavier R8 body with film.
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Leica M, Leitz Wetzlar 15 mm Super Elmar