It might sound daring, however I do imagine Leica M-mount lenses are making a quiet resurgence, not simply amongst loyal Leica shooters, however throughout the broader mirrorless world. An announcement like that most likely wants some clarification, so hear me out.
Being a pictures fanatic for traditional lenses, I’ve been a longtime fan of Rollei HFT lenses since I got here throughout them years again, which has led me to gather a couple of of them in my package. Whereas I really like the colours and the photographs they produce, the handbook focusing expertise has all the time felt honest. In follow, it’s effective for informal use, however not one thing I’d depend on throughout a paid shoot.
Then got here a current rediscovery: the traditional Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 ZF. That lens sort of reignited my ardour for tactile gear—a sort reminder of how satisfying a well-designed handbook focus lens can really feel, since I offered most of them away through the years. The Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZF is much from excellent. Actually, I’d even go so far as saying it’s garbage when shot broad open: it’s smooth, lacks distinction, and suffers from extreme spherical aberration, particularly at distance. Stopping down is a should if you happen to want the decision. However regardless of its quirks, it’s compact, solidly constructed, and there is a sure allure in the best way it renders—carefully just like the Rollei 50mm f/1.4 HFT. The tactile expertise it supplied introduced again the enjoyment of crafting a picture for me.
That pleasure has led me spiraling down a well-known path: a hunt for good handbook lenses. Earlier than you ask—sure, autofocus is handy, and monitoring is good. Nevertheless, if I’m being sincere, I’m not even utilizing my Canon R5 the best way it’s designed for use. Single-point AF and, more often than not, in handbook focus. Not as a result of I’m resisting know-how, however as a result of the topics I shoot don’t require face detection or any superior object monitoring. Actually, utilizing the continual AF usually simply makes the method of crafting slightly bit extra annoying. As shifting the framing additionally resets focus—worse if it misses in low-light conditions—it should cycle by way of all the focusing vary simply to refocus. Not useful when my topic is just not shifting in any respect. Except I’m shifting quick and have to catch fast moments, I’ll select handbook focus over autofocus each single time and construct the picture from scratch.
Now, again to the lens hunt story. I seen a shift in my very own shopping for conduct. I discovered myself casually avoiding DSLR lenses in my search record. I don’t assume it is as a result of they’re unhealthy or not related, however just because it not makes a lot sense to put money into one thing that’s continually depreciating. Much more true for one thing that I’m solely utilizing for enjoyable, solely to dump later. It virtually looks as if the business has moved on, regardless of among the greatest lenses out there as we speak being designed for DSLRs—e.g., the first-generation Zeiss Otus collection and DSLR tilt-shift lenses. And that has considerably affected my decision-making course of.
As I scanned by way of my current lens searches, there have been a couple of frequent traits. I stored going again to search for lenses which are able to producing technically nice picture high quality, tactile to make use of, compact, and, most significantly, adaptable—one thing I may use throughout my Canon, Leica, and Fujifilm mirrorless our bodies with out committing to a single system. That naturally led me into the rabbit gap of Leica M-mount lenses and finally to the conclusion of the title.
As I identified earlier, the best way I method pictures has modified as my artistic course of shifted throughout the years. On the present stage, any lens will work for me, and it’s not simply in regards to the focal size or large aperture that I want. I used to be searching for well-built lenses which are particularly designed to decelerate the method of crafting whereas pushing the picture high quality. Perhaps a part of it’s simply one other excuse to scratch the gear acquisition syndrome (GAS) itch—I’ll admit that. However there’s one thing deeply satisfying about being extra concerned within the act of photographing that feels romantic within the head.
Now that is the place I feel Leica M lenses quietly shine for a number of causes, aside from the truth that they supply the tactile expertise past their legacy. The mount’s flange distance makes it engaging as one of many frequent denominators for cross-mirrorless system adaptability. With the correct adapter, you may mount any M lenses on Sony, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Leica L, Fujifilm X, and even GFX medium format programs. Whereas that doesn’t sound like a lot, just about any traditional lens that exists in the marketplace with an extended flange distance than mirrorless cameras may also be tailored. This brings me to my subsequent level.
Wanting past simply the mount, the scale of M lenses themselves simply is sensible. They’re small, strong, and purely mechanical. No motors, no focus-by-wire, no digital overlays that threat being outdated. It’s simply precision-machined steel and glass, designed for use to seize photographs. Apart from that, the costs for some used Leica M lenses have come down barely—although not bargain-bin low cost, they’ve grow to be extra accessible than they’ve been in years. And with unbiased and Chinese language producers now actively constructing and rebuilding M-mount lenses with character, if something, the ecosystem is extra alive than ever. And I feel the M-mount is about to have its second—and this time, it gained’t simply be for Leica customers, so long as you’ve gotten the cash to splurge.
And simply as I used to be wrapping up this piece, I stumbled upon the newly introduced Thypoch M Constructive Lock Adapter, which appears like a direct affirmation of my suspicion and what I’ve been discussing. These adapters are available a number of variations (M‑E for Sony E, M‑L for L‑mount, M‑Z for Nikon Z, M‑RF for Canon RF, and even M‑Arri for cinema)—all providing a twin‑lock system that drastically improves mechanical stability between the M lens and the digital camera. It’s not about focusing enhancements or shut‑focus tips. It’s about eliminating micro‑motion, avoiding lens wobble, and guaranteeing a agency, cine‑degree connection. This transfer most likely alerts that the Leica M gear is evolving into a real cross-platform ecosystem, with equipment purpose-built for tactile, intentional taking pictures. Whether or not this adapter turns into important or area of interest, it affirms the course that I’m betting on.
