GEAR TALK | November '21 Wrap Up

Leica M10-P • Leica 28mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH • F1.4 • 8 Seconds • ISO 160

NOVEMBER '21 WRAP UP

Published December 11, 2021

Leica M10 Monochrom • Leica 280mm F2.8 Telyt-R APO Modular • F2.8 • 1/1000 • ISO 320 • Red Filter

Leica M10-R • Leica 50mm F1.2 Noctilux-M • F2 • 1/250 • ISO 100

Leica M10 Monochrom • Leica 280mm F2.8 Telyt-R APO Modular • F2.8 • 1/250 • ISO 320 • Red Filter

Leica M10-R • Leica 75mm F1.25 Noctiliux-M ASPH • F1.25 • 1/90 • ISO 100 • ND Filter

Leica M10 Monochrom • Leica 75mm F1.25 Noctilux-M ASPH • F1.25 • 1/500 • ISO 160 • Dark Red Filter • Polarizer

Leica M10-R • Leica 75mm F1.25 Noctilux-M ASPH • F1.25 • 1/4 • ISO 100

Leica M10 Monochrom • Leica 75mm F1.25 Noctilux-M ASPH • F1.25 • 1/8 • ISO 160 • Dark Red Filter

Leica M10-R • Leica 50mm F1.2 Noctilux-M • F2 • 1/3000 • ISO 100

Leica M10 Monochrom • Leica 50mm F1.2 Noctilux-M • F5.6 • 1/30 • ISO 160 • Dark Red Filter • Polarizer

CONSOLIDATION

Much like my waistline, my collection of camera stuffs has "expanded" during COVID. Knowing a new toy was going to be delivered added some excitement each week. As Covid drug on, the volume of gear has reached all time highs. The gear closet overflowed into "closets". And most of it has been sitting idle. Picture taking was paused for the last month while I tried to downsize a bit, some of the notable exits include -

Leica 75mm F1.25 Noctilux-M ASPH - As Leica Noctilux's go, the 75mm Noctilux is by far the sharpest wide open Noctilux I have used. I bought 75mm Noctilux to use at some family get-togethers. Those did not happen. Using the 75mm Noctilux for landscapes is silly (it is a big, big lens to carry around), so it was time to say goodbye.
Leica 280mm F2.8 Telyt-R APO Modular - The Leica Modular system was a bucket-list purchase. I wanted the 400mm head with the 2X focus module, but those are stupid expensive. The 280mm F2.8 set-up was a compromise, but good enough to sample the Modular "experience". My Leica 280mm F4 Telyt-R APO proved as sharp or sharper, much better suited for filters and orders of magnitude easier to carry into the field.
Leica 50mm F1.2 Noctilux-M ASPH - Somebody backed out on their pre-order, the Leica Store called and asked if I would be interested. This was not a lens I had planned to purchase, but since the opportunity presented itself, I decided to buy it. It was a fun lens to try out, but it did not fit my style. So as some would say, "catch and release".
Sony A1 - The sparkle of a 9.44M dot EVF was too much to resist. I had the Sony for 3-4 months, but it just sat on the desk, so no point in keeping it.
Leica M10-P - Simply put, I am burned-out with comparing the M10-R and M10-P. I think the discontinued Leica M10-P has better color and its high ISO is better after applying DXO's Pure Raw. But... the Leica M10-R has more megapixels and for large prints, that matters. Of all the items listed here, selling the M10-P "bothers" me the most, so if it does not sell, that might be for the best.

Most of the other items left to sell are little $50-100 types of things - and the list seems endless. It is amazing how the small items multiply. Sometimes I think they are mating and having little babies. Some of the stuff I don't even remember buying...

EXPANSION

With the cash rolling in and other people doing their own closet cleaning, there has been some backsliding... Some recent adds to the gear closet -

Leica 21mm F3.4 Super Elmar M ASPH - The Leica 21mm F3.4 Super Elmar M ASPH is an insanely good lens, arguably one of the best 21mm lenses ever made. A friend was selling his at the right price and at the right time.
Leica 28mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH - The 28mm focal length is another low-use focal length (for me), but I really like the Leica 28mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH. I have been watching for a Leica 28-35-50mm F4 Tri-Elmar-M ASPH to cover the 28mm space, but I have not found the "right" MATE. The 28mm 'Lux came up for sale in the right condition at the right price. Someday I will write a 28mm 'Lux review.
Leica 50mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH - This was another case of the right price and time. The Leica 50mm F2 Summicron-M APO is brilliant for landscapes, but I prefer the Leica 50mm F1.4 Summilux-M ASPH for portraits. Also, the 50mm 'Lux is a Noctilux-killer for me. I love "idea" of Noctilux's, but their size, and frankly, lackluster wide open performance spoil the dream.

There will surely be more equipment rolling through the doors in 2022, especially if the Leica M11 rumors prove true.

REPLACEMENT

The big time-suck for November was migrating from a Late '19 MacBook Pro to a new 2021 16" MacBook Pro M1 Max. The 2019 16" MacBook Pro was used with a Blackmagic Design eGPU Pro connected to a NEC 30" PA302W. That set-up worked brilliantly, but the allure of a new M1 Max burned too bright to resist.

The 2021 16" MacBook Pro M1 Max is indeed quite speedy, even besting some of the benchmark speeds posted in some reviews I read. That said, in normal day to day use I can not tell much difference. I am among those experiencing some minor glitches with MagSafe charging and DisplayPort. Hopefully the upcoming MacOS 12.1 Monterey update will squash those bugs.