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Diglloyd Guide to LEICA contains in-depth coverage of Leica M system cameras and lenses, with additional coverage of Leica M Monochrom, Leica Q.

Special emphasis is placed on Leica M lenses and certain Zeiss ZM lenses.

  • Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
  • Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly the Summilux/Summicron/Elmarit choice and/or Zeiss ZM.
  • Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning. Processing parameters are discussed and shown.
  • Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
  • Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
  • Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
  • Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.

Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Leica.

Leica M Cameras

Leica M Wide Angle Lenses

Leica 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH

Leica’s best-performing 24mm, and with a flat field.

  1. Notes: 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH
  2. MTF: 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH
  3. Distortion: 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH
  4. Vignetting: 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH
  5. Veiling Flare 24/3.8: Shaded and Unshaded
  6. Examples: Leica 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH (Yosemite)
  7. Field Curvature: Leica 24/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH vs 24/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH
  8. Examples: Eureka Dunes on the Winter Solstice
  9. Examples: Alabama Hills (Leica M10M)
  10. Examples: Mt Whitney Trail (Leica M10M)
  11. Aperture Series: Lone Pine Peak and Mt Whitney Sunrise from Alabama Hills
  12. Aperture Series: Ancient Tree Trunk at Lone Pine Lake
  13. Aperture Series: Leica 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH — Cottonwood
  14. Aperture Series: Glacial Erratics (M240, M9)
  15. Aperture Series: Propane Tank (M240, M9)
  16. Aperture Series: Cabin #9 Exterior
  17. 24/3.8 Elmar vs 24/1.4 Summilux (M240, Frontlit Bristlecones)
  18. 24/3.8 vs 24/1.4 and Zeiss 25/2 Distagon (M240, Barcroft Green Machine)
  19. 24/3.8 vs 24/1.4 and Zeiss 25/2 Distagon (M240, Barcroft Green Machine)
  20. Aperture Series: Glistening Rocks Waterfall (M240)
  21. Aperture Series: Yellow Wagon at DeChambeau Ranch (M240)
  22. Aperture Series: DeChambeau Ranch House (M240)
  23. Aperture Series: Colorful Leaves on Still Pool (M240)
  24. Aperture Series: Wyman Cabin Exterior (M240)
  25. Aperture Series: Pescadero Creek (Sony A7R)
  26. Sensor Cover Glass: Stock vs Kolarivision Modified Sony A7R (Mosaic)
  27. Aperture Series: Black Pumice on Sand Moonscape (Leica M10 Monochrom)
  28. Aperture Series: View Over Alabama Hills Boulders to Mt Whitney Range (Leica M10 Monochrom)
  29. Aperture Series: Sunstar Over as yet Unfrozen Beaver Pond (Leica M10 Monochrom)
  30. Aperture Series: Tenaya Canyon Creekbed (Leica SL2)
  31. Aperture Series: Big Laurel by Alpine Creek (M11)
  32. Aperture Series: Deck and Roof (M11 Monochrom)

Voigtlander M-Mount Lenses

Leica M 50mm Lenses

Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH

High performance but flawed 50mm normal lens.

Leica M Telephoto Lenses

Leica 75mm f/1.25 Noctilux-M ASPH

Leica’s ultra high grade and ultra fast modern short telephoto.

Zeiss ZM Lenses

Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon

Fast and ultra high performance moderate wide angle rangefinder lens.

  1. Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Zeiss Distagon
  2. Lens Coding for Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Zeiss Distagon
  3. Press Release for Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Zeiss Distagon
  4. MTF for Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon
  5. MTF on Mirrorless Cameras, Sensor Cover Glass
  6. Field Curvature for Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon, Mirrorless Cameras vs M-Cameras
  7. Depth of Field Table for Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon
  8. Vignetting for Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon
  9. Vignetting vs Effective Aperture at Periphery
  10. Distortion for Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon
  11. Examples at ƒ/1.4 in Eastern Sierra and White Mountains (M240)
  12. Examples at ƒ/1.4 in Eastern Sierra and White Mountains continued (M240)
  13. Examples: Quaking Aspen Variety (M240)
  14. Examples: Portraits (Panasonic S1R)
  15. Aperture Series: Walkway through Grass at Night (Panasonic S1R)
  16. Aperture Series: Moots MTB by Creek in Forest (Panasonic S1R)
  17. Examples: Night Shooting (Panasonic S1R)
  18. Examples: Eureka Dunes on the Winter Solstice
  19. Aperture Series: Mosaic (Panasonic S1R)
  20. Aperture Series: Locomotive at Laws Railroad Museum (Nikon Z7)
  21. Aperture Series: Old Mining Engine (Nikon Z7)
  22. Aperture Series: Big Leaf Maple (M240)
  23. Aperture Series: Maple Leaf Underwater, Floating Leaves (M240)
  24. Aperture Series: Redwoods and Ferns (M240)
  25. Aperture Series: Fading Maple Leaves In Backlit Creek (M240)
  26. Aperture Series: Backlit Redwood Grove (M240)
  27. Aperture Series: Rotten Chair (M240)
  28. Aperture Series: Rocky Hillside (M240)
  29. Aperture Series: Exfoliating Granite and High Cloud Sun Drama (M240)
  30. Aperture Series: Granite Glacial Polish to Cloud’s Rest (M240)
  31. Aperture Series: Rusty Barn (M240)
  32. Aperture Series: Plants Eking Out Light Inside Barn (M240)
  33. Aperture Series: Green Lichen on North Side of Barn (M240)
  34. 6-way Shootout: ZM 35/1.4 vs 35/2 and 35/2.8, Leica 35/1.4 and 35/2, Voigtlander 35/1.2 (Wyman Cabin, M240)
  35. 6-way Shootout: ZM 35/1.4 vs 35/2 and 35/2.8, Leica 35/1.4 and 35/2, Voigtlander 35/1.2 (Aspen Trunk, M240)
  36. 6-way Shootout: ZM 35/1.4 vs 35/2 and 35/2.8, Leica 35/1.4 and 35/2, Voigtlander 35/1.2 (Pine Creek Morning, M240)
  37. Aperture Series: Spotlight on Dark Side of Dunes Summit (Leica M10 Monochrom)
  38. Aperture Series: View to Southern Dunes Spur from Eureka Dunes Summit (Leica M10 Monochrom)
  39. Aperture Series: Frosty Creek to Snowy Mountainside, Lundy Canyon (Leica M10-R)
  40. Aperture Series: Animal Tracks near Snowy Creek, Lundy Canyon (Leica M10-R)
  41. Aperture Series: View Over Alabama Hills to Lone Pine Peak and Mt Whitney (Leica M10-R)
  42. Aperture Series: Tenaya Canyon Creekbed Pool (SL2)
  43. Examples: Alpine Creek, High ISO (M11)
  44. Aperture Series: Big Laurel by Alpine Creek (M11)

Leica R Lenses on Leica M

ALLVIEW Cameras

ALLVIEW Cameras

ARCHIVAL MATERIAL. Terrific backup bodies or even primary body for M-mount lenses.

ALLVIEW— Any Lens Live View Camera

ARCHIVAL MATERIAL. Eliminating the camera body barrier— any kind of lens with Live View EVF and LCD, and especially Leica M-mount.
HISTORICAL, please see Guide to Mirrorless.

Post Processing



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