The Leica Summicron SL 50mm F2 ASPH Can Be Yours for $4,495

The new Leica APO Summicron SL 50MM F2 promises the Leica look on any L Mount camera.

We have good news for fans of Leica and those who have purchased any L Mount Alliance cameras recently. Leica announced they have released a new Leica Summicron SL 50mm f2 ASPH lens that will apparently set a new benchmark for SL lenses. Nifty fifties are often considered to be the standard focal length in photography, and they are loved by many photographers for their versatility. Join us after the break to find out more about the new Leica Summicron SL 50mm lens, and what it might be able to do for you. Continue reading…

FACTS: Why Leica M is the Best System for a Film Photographer

Film photographers: besides a few point and shoots, you’re best off using a Leica camera for many reasons.

If you’re a Leica film photographer already, then you most likely agree with this statement. Though the Canon, Nikon, and Pentax users are probably going to be salty here, there is very little use for a film SLR in the 35mm format. All of the viewfinders are dark at night–which is a problem unless you’re really just shooting during the day. But with a rangefinder, it’s typically much easier to get your subject in focus and to get a lightweight package. The Leica M series of cameras (and to a certain point Voigtlander cameras and Zeiss Ikons) are great tools for the modern film photographer. We’re going to tell you why.

Continue reading…

This Dope, Refurbished Blue Leica M4-P Can Be Yours for $956

Still looking for a cool vintage Leica to your camera collection? A refurbished Leica M4-P we spotted could fit the bill. 

Once in a while, we come across some unusual but cool vintage cameras than grab the attention of photographers and camera collectors. A good example is a refurbished Leica M4-P body dressed in a “Blue Lizard” grain leather cover that comes with a Leica Winder M. If you don’t mind some bright color on your vintage Leica, our latest find could be worthy of your attention and a space on your camera shelves.

Continue reading…

Canon Needs This If They Want a Successful Mirrorless Camera System

Pretty much everyone starts out with the Nifty 50, and Canon really needs to bring one to the EOS RF system.

If you’ve been shooting photos seriously for a lengthy period of time, you’ll remember some of the first lenses you used. If you’re like me, one of your first serious lenses was a Nifty 50. If you’re a former or current Canon user, then you probably started with their Nifty 50–the fantastic 50mm f1.8. (It is fantastic relative to the price and performance for its price point.) Currently, the mirrorless camera world has nothing that high-quality that is affordable to the point of near disposability. But think about all the images you created with that lens, and how it made you fall in love with photography. Yongnuo has tried to create lenses like this, but it’s rational to ask for something a bit higher grade at a cheaper price point. In all seriousness, this is what is missing right now in the mirrorless camera world.

Continue reading…

DXOMark: The Top 10 Camera Sensors Change Yet Again for June 2019

The top 10 performing camera sensors list at DXOMark is taking shape.

It’s that time of the month again where we take a quick look at the top 10 performing camera sensors according to the guys and gals over at DXOMark. For the second month in a row, there is a newcomer to the top 10 list, and we’re sure as DXOMark continues to put newer cameras through their assault course, there will be more camera sensors shaking things up in the coming months. May saw the arrival of the Panasonic S1R which scored a massive 100 points overall, but which cameras sensor join the elite grouping this month? Join us after the break to find out.

Continue reading…

The Leica M-E is the Most Affordable Brand New Digital M Yet

Leica M-E (Typ 240)

The New Leica M-E (Typ 240) is the perfect starting place for those new to the Leica platform.

Leica fans, and those who want to become Leica users listen up, we have some exciting news for you. Leica Camera has just announced that a new M series camera will be joining the ranks this July; The Leica M-E (Typ 240). This new camera is being billed as the perfect entry point into the Leica system, and it will offer some great specs. The new Leica M-E (Typ 240) is a Full Frame Mirrorless camera that will feature a 24 Megapixel CMOS sensor, a Leica Maestro image processor, and of course, the gorgeous Rangefinder design that we have all come to know and love. There have also been some improvements made over the Leica M, like a brand new anthracite-gray lacquered finish, which has been developed just for the new camera, and there is genuine leather covering the body which will provide users with excellent grip and premium styling.

Continue reading…

You’re Jealous of the Leica Gear This Photographer Got from Grandpa

We’re sure this is the stuff Leica fans and users’ dreams are made of.

Regardless of whether you shoot film, digital, or both, we’re betting that it’s every photographer’s dream to unearth a Leica camera from their parents or grandparents’ attic. So when content creator and vlogger Sara Dietschy got LOADS of Leica cameras and accessories from her grandfather, she absolutely had to do an unboxing video. So yes, brace yourself and grab something to wipe your drool with. We think you’ll need it.

Continue reading…

Compact Camera Showdown: The Fujifilm X100F Versus The Leica Q

The Fujifilm X100F and the Leica Q go mano-a-mano in this compact camera showdown.

Both Fujifilm and Leica make quality compact cameras, but does the gulf in price between the two featured here mean that one is truly better than the other? Some would argue that Leica’s are the pinnacle, the creme de la creme, the best of the best, simply because, well, they’re Leica’s, but does it automatically mean that you’re going to get results from their cameras that simply cannot be replicated by models that cost significantly less? After the break we will share a Fujifilm X100F versus a Leica Q compact camera comparison video with you that Evan Ranft has put together. Continue reading…

The Leica Q2 Takes 10th Spot in the DXOMark Sensor League Table

DXOMark has been busy putting the Leica Q2 through its boot camp.

The Leica Q2 came out earlier this year and it won many over due to its good looks, massive 47.3 Megapixel sensor, and of course the gorgeous Leica glass attached to the front of it. The guys and gals at DXOMark have now had time to put the camera through its paces, and have given it their final grade. Join us after the break to find out more about what DXOMark had to say about this compact Mirrorless camera. Continue reading…

Street Photography: Our Favorite Gear and Accessories for 2019

If you’re looking to add to your collection of street photography gear – or just getting started – this guide is for you.

Great street photography can be some of the most compelling forms of art that the human eye can see. And while a photographer is only as good as his or her creative capabilities, having solid gear will certainly help them along their way. Quality accessories are essential too. There are many tools the enthusiastic street photographer can use to get better, more consistent shots. So here is a piece that includes our favorite gear and accessories for street photography. We loved putting it together and no doubt, you’re going to love it too.

Continue reading…

Review: Vi Vante Matador Noir (The Only Strap You’ll Ever Need)

The Vi Vante Matador Noir isn’t really a luxury camera strap; but more of a well built, nearly unbreakable option.

I didn’t really understand the Vi Vante Matador Noir camera strap until I held it. Then my dad, who was visiting my while I was sick, really understood it too. The former UN diplomat in him is almost as discerning as I am, but he completely understood why someone would spend $250 on a strap like this. The thing about leather straps is that they’re already pricey–and often the sailing rope and canvas straps can serve just as well. But what the Vi Vante Matador Noir is combines the best of both worlds. Is it expensive? Yes. But this is genuinely the only strap you’ll ever need.

Continue reading…

Eolo Perfido’s Clownville Goes Deeper Than His Subjects’ Masks (NSFW)

All images by Eolo Perfido. Used with permission.

“The first instrument of the portraitist is not the light, or the lens, or the camera,” explains Eolo Perfido. “It’s the subject.” The French-born, Italian photographer is a deeply thoughtful creator. His series, Clownville, offers a dose of innovation, a slice of controversy, and a generous handful of compelling concepts. Whether you’re amused or afraid of clowns, he has brought art to life that you won’t be able to look away from. For him, the series is not just an example of the creative mind; it’s a metaphor of life. The work shows a person prepared to push boundaries. It may shock or it may delight. What is for certain, however, is that it will grab your attention.

Continue reading…

I Don’t Understand Why Photography Is Such an Expensive Hobby

Before I got into photography, I was completely smitten with making music for over 10 years of my life.

There was a time when I decided that I needed to take up another hobby besides photography, video games, food, reading, and meditation–and so I went back to music. Before I was a photographer, I wanted to tour in a punk rock band. I had two different bass guitars, two different amps, spent lots of time training my brain how to sing and play at the same time, slaved for hours writing music and songs while channeling emotions into words, etc. With a bit of extra cash on hand after taxes, I realized something really insane.

Continue reading…

Extremely Rare Leica M3 Prototype Awaits at Leitz Photographica Auction

If you’re looking for an extremely rare Leica like the M3 Prototype, you don’t want to miss the upcoming Leitz Photographica Auction!

Not so long ago, we excitedly reported the sweet lineup of the greatest and rarest Leica cameras that await us at the 34th run of the Leitz Photographica Auction (formerly WestLicht Photographica Auction). If you’ve set your eyes on the precious Leica M3 No.700005, you might also want to keep your eye out for the Leica M3 Prototype!

Continue reading…

Are Fast Aperture Lenses Really Worth the Money? Probably Not!

Fast aperture lenses are all the rage for photographers who care about getting every little bit of light and bokeh. 

When you start out as a photographer, you probably go straight for the kit lens or small, fast aperture lenses like a 50mm f1.8 or so. There are reasons why some lenses are called Nifty 50–and it’s because at 50mms they can let in a lot of light and can help a photographer grow and improve for many years. In some cases they’re very affordable, but in other cases manufacturers will demand a premium for the lens. It all varies on a number of factors, so we’re going to take a look at a number of options out there.

Continue reading…

Leica Banned in Chinese Social Media for This Controversial Ad

The iconic “Tank Man” from the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests was one of the conflicts depicted in the controversial Leica promo video.

Leica has been making the rounds again as of late, not for a specific camera but for a promotional video that got it banned in China. Titled The Hunt, the video features a cinematic depiction of conflict scenes around the world, including the iconic “Tank Man” from the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. The video has since put the German camera company under fire from online commenters and was banned on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

Continue reading…

Sweet Lineup of Rare Leicas Up for Grabs in Leitz Photographica Auction

If your need is strong and your wallet is ready, there’s a bunch of rare Leica goodies waiting for you in the upcoming Leitz Photographica Auction.

We’ve been keeping an eye on rare Leica cameras on our vintage finds features, but the upcoming 34th auction of the Leitz Photographica Auction (formerly WestLicht Photographica Auction) is most likely your best bet for scoring some of the rarest. Chances are, you’re still missing one or two (or even all) of the items in the collection, so mark your calendars and make plans for Wetzlar, Germany on June 8th if you’re keen on checking them out.

Continue reading…

Just How Does the Weather Sealing on Higher End Cameras Stack Up?

We asked manufacturers to show us what they’re got when it comes to weather sealing their cameras.

Weather sealing is far more important than you’d think when comes to your camera’s operability. It’s one of the biggest variables that we test with cameras that boast this. With our 10 years of testing cameras and lenses, we asked each manufacturer to show us some of their best. With that said, we asked for weather sealing diagrams on some of their best cameras–and they provided, for the most part. We incorporated this with our real world testing to see just how each system is stacking up to one another.

Continue reading…

Review: Leica Q2 (Almost a Perfect Camera, But Still Not There)

The Leica Q2 on paper showed a whole lot of promise; but in real life practice it didn’t surprise as much as its predecessor.

When I first got the Leica Q2 in my hands, I really wondered if Leica had created a perfect full frame point and shoot. And in some ways, I think that they did; but in other ways I believe that it wasn’t thought out fully despite the big deal of it being given some of the best weather sealing on the market. Targeted as a backup camera for professional photographers and as a camera for photographers who want to travel a lot, the Leica Q2 offers a lot. In addition to the tank-like exterior, it boasts a 47.3MP full frame sensor in addition to a high resolution EVF. The focal length is still a 28mm f1.7 lens but this time it is not only weather sealed but offers optical image stabilization. The camera can also shoot at 10fps to help you capture the decisive moment. And while the Leica Q2 delivers beautiful images, I’m still not sure that I can give it a full stamp of approval.

Continue reading…

5 of Our Favorite Film Rangefinder Cameras (One for Everyone)

If you’re really looking for a solid film rangefinder camera, you should know that you don’t need to spend a whole lot.

When I went on my journey to grow as a photographer, some of the best tools that I had were film rangefinder cameras. I’m still very much of the belief that any and every photographer should shoot film and use cameras that don’t have metering built in to become better. They’ll move slower, they’ll have a lot more intent with their images, and they’ll create something much more unique to them. So we went into our reviews index to find some of our favorites film rangefinder cameras. And here they are!

Continue reading…

Someone Needs to Make a Full Frame, Rangefinder Style Camera with Autofocus

There are too many SLR style full frame Mirrorless cameras out there and not enough rangefinder style.

My biggest hope for years now were that Sony would take the form factor of their a6xxx series cameras and make it full frame with a few extra upgrades; but we never got it. Then I was looking to both Canon and Nikon to do it. And they never did it. Surely I thought that Panasonic, with their history involving Leica, would be the ones. But alas, I was again disappointed. Like some of you, I fall into the camera of photographers who like the Olympus Pen F, the Fujifilm X Pro 2, and the Fujifilm GFX 50R more so than the SLR style camera bodies. To me, they’re more familiar. Perhaps like you, I was trained on Leicas. The feeling of a Hexar AF, a Contax G2, and a Mamiya 6 appealed to me more than some of the most prolific film cameras of all time.

Continue reading…