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Leica M Lenses on Sony A7R: The Reality of Performance
The Sony A7R is a 36-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera which generated tremendous excitement in late 2013 (ditto for its 24-megapixel A7 sibling). It was held out as an exciting platform that would really make Leica M lenses sing, and be a “Leica M240 killer”.
But how do Leica M lenses really fare on the Sony A7R?
Other than size and weight or equivocations involving “central 2/3 or 3/4 performance” or well stopped-down performance, in general, Leica M lenses are poor to modest performers at wider apertures on the Sony A7R, speaking in terms of coverage for the entire frame. Until f/5.6 if not f/8 or even f/11 (depending on lens). Please see the A7R studies for most of the M lens line, which show that fact. The problem is related to the effects of ray angle and its interaction with a thick sensor cover glass (the Leica M digital cameras use very thin glass to avoid off-center degradation as well a a special sensor design).
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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.
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- 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.
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