Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon Aperture Series: Spotlight on Dark Side of Eureka Dunes Summit (Leica M10 Monochrom)
Extensive field shooting over years strongly supports the idea that the Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon is the finest lens available for Leica M, in terms of total performance. Just as in color, it makes an outstanding choice on the Leica M10 Monochrom.
This series from f/1.4 through f/11 examines total imaging performance of the Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon. Sharpness near-to-far and across-the-field is examined, as well as optical aberrations and field curvature.
Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon Aperture Series: Spotlight on Dark Side of Dunes Summit
Includes images up to full camera resolution from f/1.4 to f/11, plus crops.
Leica M10 Monochrom + Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon + filter B+W 090 Red
ENV: Eureka Dunes, altitude 3550 ft / 1082 m, 60°F / 15°C
RAW: pull 0.3 stops, +50 Shadows, -100 Highlights, +30 Whites, -30 Blacks, +50 Dehaze, USM {8,50,0}
[low-res image for bot]
Eeraj Q writes:
I feel compelled to drop you a note about your recent images with M10M + Zeiss ZM 35 F1.4 / 24 Elmar-M: Some of the most STUNNING B&W photography I have seen from any format. Aesthetics, composition, tones - all jaw dropping and world class. And I am not a "B&W person" and prefer to shoot in colors....but your images are extremely compelling.
In particular, Spotlight on Dark Side of Eureka Dunes Summit and Black Pumice on Sand Moonscape are standouts. This is the kind of artwork where I would personally ignore any technical imperfections, but of course it is good to know what issues are there. Nothing against other reviewers and sites that have covered the M10M, but your images make them look like amateurs. Well done!≠
DIGLLOYD: wow, thank you. :) I did feel like I as in the groove on this climb and that black and white was perfect for the situation. Sometimes things just come together; most of the time I am under pressure to evaluate gear, and that makes for rote work rathe than a creative eye. But nobody is buying my images for $10K a print so...
