I was casually photographing my daughter unwrapping her birthday gifts this evening in our (very) dark living room, in front of the Christmas tree.  I wasn’t expecting much (photographically speaking).

However, every single frame turned out to be wonderful.

I previously purchased and used the Sony A7S, Leica M240, Nikon Df, Sony RX1R, and Nikon D800E because I thought I would need them in situations like this.  However, my Leica M-E consistently produces images that surpass any CMOS camera — even in low light.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:  CCD sensors produce superior mage quality.

Thank goodness Leica has committed to supporting the M9/M-E sensor.

Please, Leica, please… consider placing an updated CCD sensor in a future M camera.

—Peter.

As many of you know, I’ve been experimenting with — and immensely enjoying — the Sony A7S.

The images from the CMOS sensor in the A7S come closest to the look I get with the CCD sensor(s) found in the Leica M8 and M9/M-E vs any other CMOS sensor camera I’ve tried to date (that list includes the Nikon D800E, the Leica M240, the Sony RX1R, the Nikon Df, and — whatever else I left out).

The CMOS-on-steroids A7S also allows me to photograph at amazingly high ISO levels.  And does video too.

Frankly, the A7S is a fun camera to use.

On the other hand, the M8/M9/M-E cameras produce superior images at base ISO.

But Leica doesn’t appear to want to make any more CCD-based M cameras in the future, unless of course a million of you sign My Open Letter to Leica (by the way, only 999,660 signatures to go…).  And the CCD Leica cameras are clunky and dated with respect to technology (they were dated, in fact, at the time of their introduction!).

Then again, Michael Jordan was considered over-the-hill when he returned to the NBA for the second half of his career, and look what he accomplished.

The point of all of this?

I’m a minimalist.  Keeping things simple helps me produce better images.

I mentioned previously that I don’t function well juggling different camera platforms, as added variables (like differences in ergonomics, the way of “seeing” (through the viewfinder), menus, etc.) just get in the way.

Variables are the enemy.  They are to avoided.  They create convoluted paths between you and your images.

So of course, one of these camera platforms is destined to go.

But you already knew that.

—Peter.

It comes in black and silver, of course.

A very intriguing lens.

If the Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon T* ZM truly surpasses the performance of the Leica 35mm Summilux FLE, it will be impressive.  Even if the published Zeiss MTF graphs are misleading and this lens “only” comes close to the FLE, it will still be impressive, given it’s 50% the price of the Leica equivalent.

However, it’s larger than the FLE (but has less distortion).

Looking at the few sample images on the ‘net, it renders very similarly to my 50 Summilux ASPH and the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 ZM (two lenses I love), at least with respect to the way it draws the (in-focus) subject.  Bokeh is not the same.

Did I mention I’m intrigued?

—Peter.

Chris Niccolls and the rest of the crew from The Camera Store in Calgary (Canada, eh?) always do a great job previewing new cameras, and I often look forward to their video segments.

For those of you who haven’t seen their Pentax 645Z “hands-on field test”, have a look here.

—Peter.