Reviewing the 40-megapixel Leica M10-R
re: Leica M10-R and Leica M10 Monochrom: 40-Megapixel Sensor, but Nil New Design Thinking — with essay by Roy P
re: Leica M10 Monochrome: Filters and Focus Error / Sharpness.
It’s been a while since I covered Leica, but on the way is the Leica M10-R, thanks to a loaner camera from B&H Photo (please photo gear via any link or ad on this site, thank you).
I was hoping to review the Leica M10M simultaneously (same sensor in monochrome), but two cameras together exceeds my equipment loaner budget (for the same reason it is infeasible for me to review the about $14095 Leica 75mm f/1.25 Noctilux-M ASPH as a loaner).
Update Dec 13: a friend is loaning me the Leica M10 Monochrome and the Leica 28mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH and Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH, so I will be able to compare cameras and those two lenses as well. I’ll be shooting in the 2nd half of December, but most published results will have to wait until early January due to a compressed time frame for my trip.
Accordingly, my review will be focused on the camera using lenses I own:
- Leica 18mm f/3.8 Super-Elmar-M ASPH
- Leica 21mm f/3.4 Super-Elmar-M ASPH
- Leica 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH
- Leica 28mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH and Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmar-M ASPH
- Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon
- Zeiss ZM 50mm f/2 Planar
- possibly the Leica 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-R via the Leica R-Adapter-M.
My top lens pick above all others for the Leica M system is the Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon, based on beautiful bokeh, extremely high micro contrast and the best performance of all the wide angle lenses available for Leica M. The ZM 35/1.4 is a standout, a real gem. But as yet I am unsure if the 40MP sensor on the M10-R can really capitalize on full lens resolution from any of these lenses.