Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4

Moon and Rainbow over Barbados.

2013, Barbados, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Life's Little Moments, Print

Moon and Rainbow over Barbados

↑Leica M9 and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/4.

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This was taken in the early morning, at first light.

The scene was beautiful enough, with the moon over the palm trees, but as I was setting up to photograph, a rainbow appeared and stayed long enough for me to fire off a few shots… and then it disappeared as quickly as it had emerged.  It never came back.

Definitely one of Life’s Little Moments.

—Peter.

Leica Monochrom – test shot surprise(s).

Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Q&A, Teaching point

M1

↑Leica Monochrom and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4, ISO 2000.

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I finally had an opportunity to evaluate a Monochrom.  I can’t say I was surprised with the output, as it delivered what I expected:  the goodness of the CCD sensor found in the M9 (with more “bite”) and the ability to shoot at high ISO.  Of course, all of this goodness comes in only one flavour:  B&W.

The other thing I expected and observed was that the output is not like B&W film.  It really is different — not better or worse, just different.

Having said that, there was one surprise with this particular camera:

M2

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Don’t see it?

Let’s look a little more closely:

(click on the image to view at MAXIMUM size and sharpness)

Defective Monochrom sensor (dead pixel 1)

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That’s a dead pixel on the sensor with an associated column defect.  It won’t show up in web-size images but will show up on large prints.

Ouch.

Did I say there was one surprise?

Actually, there was a second:

(please click on the image to view at MAXIMUM size and sharpness)

Defective Monochrom 2nd dead pixel

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Yes, that’s a second dead pixel.

The camera is currently in transit, back to Leica.

—Peter.