Zhao Zhenguo, Author at i35mm

Leica Super-Angulon 21mm f/3.4 Review: The Wide-Angle Wizard

Prologue: A Cinematic Dream in Brass

In 1963, Leica and Schneider joined forces like Lennon and McCartney, birthing the Super-Angulon 21mm f/3.4—a lens that redefined wide-angle photography. Priced today between 800–800–1,600 (2025 USD), this 280g chrome-and-brass marvel weighs less than a vintage typewriter yet packs the visual punch of an IMAX screen. Forget modern aspherical beasts—this lens is a 1967 Ford Mustang in a world of Teslas: raw, charismatic, and utterly irreplaceable.

Design: Bauhaus Meets Hollywood

Miniature Titan
- Body: Machined brass—dense as a Tolstoy novel, compact as a Zippo lighter. Smaller than Leica’s 35mm “8-Element,” yet wider than your imagination.
- Focus Throw: 180° sweep from 0.4m to ∞—a street photographer’s tango.
Schneider’s Secret Sauce
- Born from Schneider’s cine lens DNA (think Cinegon series), it’s the Marlon Brando of optics—unconventional, intense, and dripping with character.

Optical Alchemy: Painting with Light

Aspect	Super-Angulon 21mm f/3.4	Modern 21mm f/1.4 ASPH
Sharpness	Hemingway’s prose—direct yet soulful	GPT-4 precision
Contrast	Film noir shadows	Instagram filter
Bokeh	Butter churned by monks	Margarine from a factory
Magic	🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥	📱

f/3.4 Wide Open: Center sharpness cuts like a samurai sword; edges dissolve into Monet’s brushstrokes.
Color Rendering: Blues deeper than the Mediterranean, greens richer than Bavarian forests—Kodachrome reborn.
Black & White: Tri-X film + this lens = Ansel Adams meets Fritz Lang. Microcontrast so rich, you’ll taste the grain.

The “Four Miracles”

0.4m Focus: Get closer than a paparazzo—backgrounds melt into buttery swirls, turning streets into Scorsese scenes.
Flare as Flavor: Uncoated glow paints halos like Renaissance angels. Backlight? Call it free Kubrick lighting.
Vignetting: Embrace the dark corners—they’re not flaws, but cinematic vignettes.

Film vs Digital: Two Lovers

Film Romance
- On Kodak Ektachrome, it’s 1960s National Geographic meets Wes Anderson—saturated yet subtle.
Digital Sorcery
- On a Leica M11, disable corrections—let its quirks sing. Purple fringing? Call it “free psychedelic filter.”

Who Needs This Lens?

✓ Cinephiles with Cameras: Chasing Godfather-era gravitas
✓ Street Shamans: Who see alleys as movie sets
✓ Contrarians: Preferring vinyl crackle over Spotify HD

Avoid If: You pixel-peep, hate vignettes, or think “autofocus” isn’t cheating.

Final Verdict: The Unkillable Icon

The Super-Angulon 21mm f/3.4 is photography’s gateway drug—once you taste its cinematic brew, modern glass feels sterile. For the price of a Rolex Oyster, you gain:

A time machine to photography’s golden age
Proof that “flaws” can outshine clinical perfection
Bragging rights at camera clubs (“Mine glows under UV light”)

Rating:
🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️ (film poets) | 📸📸📸🤍🤍 (zoombies)

“A lens that whispers: ‘The world is wider than you think—let me show you.’”

Pro Tips:

Flare Hack: Remove the hood—let its blue halos channel Blade Runner vibes.
Film Pairing: Ilford HP5+ @1600—grain dances with its glow.
Focus Zen: Zone-focus at 1m—street scenes snap into focus like fate.

Epilogue: The Wide-Eyed Rebel
Leica’s modern ASPH lenses may rule the charts, but the Super-Angulon remains stubbornly 1963—a brass-knuckled rebel whispering: “True artistry thrives in imperfection.” As Hitchcock proved, drama lives in the edges. Now go frame your world wider.

Filter: 48mm UV, VII.
Hood: 12501
Front cover: 14102
Rear cover: 14042
Stock: less than 6000.
Focus lever: metal crescent focus lever.
Minimum focusing distance: 0.4m

Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 9-Element Review: The Time-Traveling Poet

The Archaeologist’s Delight

In an era obsessed with megapixels, the 1965–1972 Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 9-Element (v1) feels like unearthing a Stradivarius at a garage sale. Crafted when Apollo missions still dazzled the world, this 280g brass relic—priced at 1,800–1,800–2,500 (2025 USD)—offers something modern glass cannot: optical soul. Forget specs; this lens is a jazz improvisation in a world of autotune.

LEICA 28MM ELMARIT-M F/2.8 V1 9-ELEMENTS

Leica 28mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH Review: The Modern Maestro—Where Precision Meets Poetic Depth

The ASPH Revolution

In Leica’s pantheon of 28mm lenses—from the Depression-era Hektor f/6.3 to the cult-classic Elmarit v4—the Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH (2016–present) stands as Olympus among mortals. This 254g aluminum oracle merges Walter Mandler’s optical philosophy with 21st-century aspherical sorcery, delivering f/2 brilliance at $4,500. Forget “versatile”; this lens is photographic divinity incarnate.

Leica Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 “Thin Nine” Review: The Compact Contradiction

Prologue: The Featherweight Maverick

In a world where “bigger is better” reigns, the 1974–1989 Leica Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 (aka Thin Nine) swoops in like a hummingbird at a hawk convention. Weighing just 330g and priced between 250–250–500 (2025 USD), this aluminum-and-glass paradox is the Mini Cooper of telephoto lenses—nimble, quirky, and unapologetically flawed. Born to defy Leica’s “heft equals quality” dogma, it’s a cult classic for wanderers and rebels.

Design: Minimalist Sorcery

Pocket Rocket
- Body: Anodized aluminum (black) or chrome (silver)—slimmer than a James Bond paperback, lighter than a barista’s cappuccino. Collapses into M bodies like a pocketknife.
- Generational Wars: The original “Fat Nine” (1964–1974) was a brass-clad bruiser; the Thin Nine traded muscle for marathon-runner agility.
The Foggy Quirk
- Prone to internal haze (think vintage spectacles in a sauna), its “breathing issues” divide collectors. Some call it cursed; others, character.

Optical Poetry: Sharpness Over Spectacle

Aspect	Thin Nine	Summicron-M 90mm f/2
Sharpness	Scalpel slicing moonlight	Chainsaw through oak
Bokeh	Soft-focus watercolor	Velvet sledgehammer
Weight	Featherweight boxer	UFC heavyweight
Drama	🎭🎭🎭🤍🤍	🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭

f/2.8 Wide Open: Center sharpness rivals modern APO glass; edges fade like a jazz saxophonist’s final note.
Flare Note: Unhooded, it paints golden halos like a Renaissance angel—perfect for accidental Kubrick moments.

The “Three Charms”

Traveler’s Muse: Fits in a coat pocket—ideal for hikes, street jaunts, or pretending you’re Cartier-Bresson on a caffeine bender.
Film Noir Vibes: On Tri-X @800, it renders shadows like Chinatown stills—gritty, moody, and full of secrets.
Chinese Proverb Footnote:“瑕不掩瑜”
(“Flaws cannot obscure the jade’s brilliance”)
A nod to how its haze and quirks add mystique, not misery.

Who Needs This Lens?

✓ Nomadic Shooters: Who measure life in miles, not megapixels
✓ Flaw Collectors: Believing “character” > clinical perfection
✓ Leica Hipsters: Craving underdog bragging rights (“Mine’s rarer than your APO!”)

Avoid If: You shoot weddings, fear haze, or think “vintage” means “eBay resale value.”

Final Verdict: The Beautiful Misfit

The Thin Nine is photography’s cult vinyl—a flawed gem for those who savor the hunt. For the price of a weekend in Lisbon, you gain:

A lightweight passport to 1970s optical rebellion
Proof that “imperfect” often means “unforgettable”
Permission to laugh at lens charts

Rating:
🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🤍 (film romantics) | 📱📱🤍🤍🤍 (pixel peepers)

“A lens that whispers: ‘Lightness comes at a price—but what a delightful one.’”

Pro Tips:

Haze Hack: Store with silica gel—it’s fussier than a Parisian sommelier.
Film Pairing: Kodak Double-X @800—grain dances with its glow.
Zen Mantra: Embrace the haze—call it “free Orton effect.”

Epilogue: The Wanderer’s Lens
Leica’s Thin Nine whispers: “Adventure isn’t found in perfection—it’s hiding in the flaws.” Like a well-loved passport stamped with questionable decisions, this lens rewards those who dare to wander. Now go chase light, haze and all. 🌄

Leica Elmar 90mm f/4 Review: The Unsung Poet of Vintage Glass

Prologue: The Bargain Balladeer

In a world obsessed with f/1.4 giants and ASPH wizardry, the 1954–1968 Leica Elmar 90mm f/4 sits like a forgotten first-edition Hemingway—timeless, undervalued, and quietly brilliant. Priced between 300–300–800 (2025 USD), this 180g aluminum-and-glass relic proves Leica magic doesn’t require a second mortgage. Think of it as the Volkswagen Beetle of lenses: humble, reliable, and endlessly charming.

Design: Minimalist Haiku

Pocket-Sized Titan
- Body: Anodized aluminum (black) or chrome (silver)—slimmer than a paperback, lighter than a barista’s latte. Collapses into Barnack bodies like a pocketknife.
- A36 Filters: Tiny as a thimble, retro as a rotary phone.
Generational Charm
- Early “gourd-shaped” models (quirky collectors’ items) vs sleek later versions—like comparing a vintage typewriter to an iPad.

Optical Zen: Sharpness with Soul

Aspect	Elmar 90mm f/4	Modern APO-Summicron 90mm
Sharpness	Hemingway’s prose—lean, mean	AI-generated perfection
Bokeh	Van Gogh’s wheat fields	CAD-rendered gradients
Weight	Featherweight boxer	UFC heavyweight
Joy Factor	🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞	🌞🌞

f/4 Wide Open: Razor-sharp at the center, edges softened like a 1970s Polaroid—flaws turned features.
Stopped Down: At f/8, it out-resolves modern zooms, rendering eyelashes like piano wires.

Street Photography: The Slow Waltz

Forces you to pause, observe, and frame—anti-Instagram therapy for the shutter-happy.
On film (Tri-X @400), it’s Cartier-Bresson’s ghost nodding approval.

The “Three Delights”

Stealth Mode: Tiny enough to vanish in your palm—street photography’s ultimate ninja tool.
Bokeh Surprise: At 1.5m, f/4 mimics 50mm f/2’s depth—backgrounds melt into watercolor washes.
Film Love: On Kodak Portra, skin tones glow like honey under Tuscan sun.

Who Needs This Lens?

✓ Analog Purists: Who think autofocus is cheating
✓ Budget Alchemists: Turning leaden prices into golden imagery
✓ Contrarians: Who’d choose a typewriter over ChatGPT

Avoid If: You shoot sports, crave bokeh orgies, or fear manual focus.

Final Verdict: The Joyful Rebel

The Elmar 90mm f/4 is photography’s slow food movement—a brass-knuckled rebuttal to megapixel gluttony. For the price of a weekend in Prague, you gain:

A masterclass in Leica’s optical heritage
Proof that “slow photography” beats spray-and-pray
Bragging rights over gear snobs (“Mine cost less than your filter!”)

Rating:
🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️ (film poets) | 📱📱🤍🤍🤍 (zoombies)

“A lens that whispers: ‘Greatness often hides in quiet corners.’”

Pro Tips:

Focus Hack: Pre-set to 5m—zone focus like a 1950s press photographer.
Film Pairing: Ilford FP4+ @125—film noir gravitas on a budget.
Digital Love: On a Leica M11, add +10 grain—flaws become art.

Epilogue: The Poet’s Lens
In an age of f/1.2 monsters and computational hype, the Elmar 90mm f/4 stands like a bamboo grove—bending but unbroken. It whispers: “Photography isn’t about capturing light—it’s about catching your breath.” Now go shoot something slow.

The Leica M8 With Elmarit 21mm f/2.8 Pre-ASPH E60

The Leica M8’s Love Affair with the CCD Camera.

When you decide to give up the ccd camera, perhaps unexpectedly, the ccd camera will also quietly leave you. I, on the other hand, am deeply grateful to be able to use the Leica M8 with the Elmarit 21mm f2.8 E60 to take tons of wonderful ccd photos. I can’t wait to tell you that this lens is without a doubt the perfect partner for the Leica M8.

The excellence of the Leica m8.

I firmly believe that the Leica m8 is an exceptional camera. In these challenging times of full-frame ccd technology, Leica’s aps-h format for the m8 shows significant advantages over the aps-c format of common DSLRs. Admittedly, not being full-frame, the camera loses some of the lens’s field of view in use, but the APS-H’s 1.33 equivalent conversion makes a 21 mm lens equivalent to 28 mm and manages to capture the best image quality areas of a 21 mm lens. As a result, film shot with the Leica M8 has a very high degree of sharpness.

The lens is a wonderful match for the m8.

When this lens is combined with the m8, the results are extremely impressive. Not only are the colors vibrant, but the sharpness is excellent. I am in love with its colors, which in my opinion are even more captivating than the Leica Elmarit 21mm asph version .

How the lens performs on the M8 vs. M9.

Half of the time this lens was mounted and used on the m9, the other half of the time it was mounted on the m8. I was actually more impressed with the color performance on the M8. Although it’s hard for me to say exactly why, it always seemed to me that the m8’s ccd was able to show its color appeal more fully.

Street photography is like a solo trip, in this field some people recognize the 35mm lens, while others prefer the 28mm lens. I, on the other hand, don’t get hung up on which lens to use. I have always believed that photographers should be willing to experiment. In fact, this 21mm lens with the Leica M8 is my favorite combination. I love it even more than the 28mm lens on the m9, even though they have the same field of view.

What is the angle of view of the Leica M8 with the Voigtlander 15mm

The Voigtlander 15mm lens has an angle of view of approximately 110° on a full frame camera, but the Leica M8 is an APS-H format (sensor size approximately 27.0 x 18.0mm), in which case the angle of view of the 15mm lens will be slightly less than the full frame 110°.

The Leica M8 sensor has a diagonal length of approx. 32.5 mm, which corresponds to an angle of view of approx. 83°.

Formula for calculating the angle of view.

The formula for calculating the angle of view is: θ = 2 arctan(d / (2f))
In this formula:
θ represents the angle of view.
d stands for the diagonal length of the sensor.
f is the focal length of the lens.

A Beautiful Day With Voigtlander 15mm

Nowadays, it seems that what people lack is not photographic equipment but the comfort of walking alone. I want nothing more than to carry my camera under the sun and enjoy the mere sound of the shutter. With the Leica M8 in my hands and the Voigtlander 15mm F4.5 Super Wide – Heliar lens, it was a beautiful day.

Sony A7 Review: The Alchemist’s Canvas—Where Leica’s Optical Soul Meets Mirrorless Ambition

The Universal Translator

In the realm of digital imaging, the Sony A7 (2013) emerges not as mere camera, but as a Rosetta Stone for optical heritage. This 474g full-frame chameleon—armed with a 24.3MP sensor and revolutionary E-mount—transcends its era by becoming the ultimate lens adapter platform. For those who speak the sacred tongue of Leica M glass, it’s a passport to optical nirvana.

sony a7 with leica noctilux 50mm f/1.2 asph

Technical Precision

Adaptation Anatomy
- Flange Distance: 18mm—shorter than a Leica M’s 27.8mm, enabling infinite optical permutations
- Focus Peaking: RGB color-coded witchcraft for manual focus disciples
- IBIS: None (original sin later redeemed in A7 II)
Sensor Sorcery
- Dynamic Range: 14.2 stops—Bresson’s ghost nods approvingly
- Low Light: ISO 6400 usable, ISO 25600…existential crisis
Lens Alchemy
- Native E-Mount: Competent but soulless
- Adapted M-Mount: Where magic happens

Leica Lens Symbiosis

Lens	A7 Performance	Soul Quotient
Noctilux 50mm f/1.2	f/1.2 coma? Who cares—bokeh melts reality	★★★★★ (Bokeh Shaman)
Summicron 35mm f/2	Edge smearing? Call it “character”	★★★★ (Street Poet)
Elmarit 28mm f/2.8	Corner vignette? Lightroom fixes all	★★★ (Precision Monk)

The Adapter’s Bible

Metabones M→E: The gold standard (literally—$399 gold-plated contacts)
Voigtländer VM-E: Budget-friendly heretic ($149)
Novoflex LEM/NEX: Teutonic overengineering ($289)

Pro Tip: Shim kits from $25 fix M-mount infinity focus—worth the existential crisis

VI. Optical Paradoxes

Vignetting: Not a flaw—it’s “Leica’s signature embrace”
Color Shift: Magenta edges? Convert to B&W, call it “artistic choice”
Resolution: 24MP resolves more than 1950s lens designers ever imagined

VII. Who Should Walk This Path?

✓ Optical Archivists: Breathing new life into legacy glass
✓ Bokeh Hedonists: Chasing the Noctilux dragon
✓ Manual Focus Zen Masters: Who measure life in focus throws

Avoid If: You need eye-AF or think IBIS is non-negotiable.