Leica Look

[Anthony MD]

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17 minutes ago, erl said:

The Leica look defined:

This is really a long story, but I will compress it, considerably.

For a very long time I had been shooting 35mm film with Nikon gear. One day my local dealer put an M6 with 50mm cron in my car and told me to 'go use it'.

The following week, my wife looked at a set of images I had made and observed, are you using a new film or a different developer, or something?

I replied, yes, something. What? was the next question. So, . . . . she had seen the 'Leica Look'. 

I said, its a new camera, called a Leica. How much did that cost? When I told her,  . . . .  that was when I saw the Leica Look!! 🤑😱

EDit: I still retain the direct comparison images I made between the Nikon and Leica. Very definitive.

Yep, the Leica Look is very contagious…!

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[Anthony MD]

19 minutes ago, erl said:

The Leica look defined:

This is really a long story, but I will compress it, considerably.

For a very long time I had been shooting 35mm film with Nikon gear. One day my local dealer put an M6 with 50mm cron in my car and told me to 'go use it'.

The following week, my wife looked at a set of images I had made and observed, are you using a new film or a different developer, or something?

I replied, yes, something. What? was the next question. So, . . . . she had seen the 'Leica Look'. 

I said, its a new camera, called a Leica. How much did that cost? When I told her,  . . . .  that was when I saw the Leica Look!! 🤑😱

EDit: I still retain the direct comparison images I made between the Nikon and Leica. Very definitive.

It would be great to share those comparisons…!

Edited July 7 by Anthony MD

[Anthony MD]

When I was looking for a digital camera after film costs skyrocketed, the only one I wanted was one without a screen.  I’m too compulsive to have one and it ruins the experience for me after 30 + years of shooting film.  So calling KEH to see if they had a M-D 262 for sale jokingly, my wife next to me, they said we just got one in!  But I thought I was off the hook when telling me it was a red Al la carte model. My wife loves red and bought it for me when I wanted it in black!

You should have seen the Leica Look on my face…🥸

Edited July 7 by Anthony MD

[Erato]

11 hours ago, Dazzajl said:

Are you going to put that statement into the context of this chat? Curious to hear your thoughts expanded.

I just wanted to clarify that the previous comment was meant to be neutral. It’s important to remember that our thoughts can sometimes transcript differently. So, please stay open-minded while you following my threads, thanks you.

11 hours ago, Alberti said:

Once . . . the trade-offs in design allowed soft corners, but with an explicit very nice central rendering. Magic sometimes. KoB is [to me] not about the bokeh/rings, but about the magic that happens in the center. In 5k0mm there are also some gems like that.
Now Leica has the capability to design with stiffer corners, as they say, “you only use the aperture to get more DoF”. That to me is quite a shift. Do they now let go of a tad of magic???

Some members like Raymond of this forum excel in a Leica look with vintage Japanese lenses. Imho, they have found the same or equal colour magic and sharpness as designed by Mandler - such as with Tokyo Simlar lenses, just a grab, of what can be similar.

My experience with manual Canon non-RF lenses, also those with internal focussing, were excellent too. It is not flange distance. It is philosophy. 
[As such facts=outcome, philosophy = input 😘.]

- But an experience of many is that Leitz and Leica lenses often have something special. The question is, can that subjective be conveyed in some simple graphs? Or. Some metrics? Or just flange distance?

Thank you so much for your kind words.

In my experience, I have used a variety of Leica M/LTM lenses and have found some that produce a pleasing outcome, as you mentioned. I typically use the default Leica System setup on the system firmware level and keep the output unchanged during post-processing to observe the differences between the lenses.

While I am not certain about the definition of a typical Leica Look, I have noticed that the subtle differences in optical design and elements can significantly impact the character of the outcome.

One aspect that is similar to your observation is the appreciation for subtle contrast and elegant rendering in black and white. This style is typically considered pleasant and exquisite, and it is something that both myself and my friends enjoy. It is uncertain whether this style can be considered a Leica Look, but this lens is currently my favorite.

Remark: the Tokyo Opt, Co. Simlar 1:1.5 F=5cm was patent in November 5th, 1938 and published on June 15th, 1940.

On the other side, the Dallmeyer introduced Septac 2" F1.5 to the market in the late 1942 by using the same optical design(the lens cut is almost the same, both were compatible with Leica Thread Mount as Cine Lens). I'm not sure how Dallmeyer sharing same design but I'm pretty sure that Tokyo Optical registered the patent in 1938.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Footnote:

Patent by Tōkyō Kōgaku for a wide aperture lens, created by Tomita Ryōji. The patent was applied for on Nov. 5, 1938, and published on Jun. 15, 1940. It describes the Simlar f/1.5.
Document downloaded from the IPDL, for display in Camera-wiki. Its reproduction is allowed by the IPDL policies.
See also the Camera-wiki page about Simlar lenses. 1940).

Edited July 8 by Erato

[Anthony MD]

13 hours ago, Anthony MD said:

As I see it, 👀, Leica designs their lenses differently from other companies.  Also they produce rangefinder type cameras which other companies don’t.  So with this technology one can safely say Leica has a unique look…!

What’s so funny about that…🥸

Edited July 8 by Anthony MD

[Anthony MD]

52 minutes ago, Erato said:

I just wanted to clarify that the previous comment was meant to be neutral. It’s important to remember that our thoughts can sometimes transcript differently. So, please stay open-minded while you following my threads, thanks you.

Thank you so much for your kind words.

In my experience, I have used a variety of Leica M/LTM lenses and have found some that produce a pleasing outcome, as you mentioned. I typically use the default Leica System setup on the system firmware level and keep the output unchanged during post-processing to observe the differences between the lenses.

While I am not certain about the definition of a typical Leica Look, I have noticed that the subtle differences in optical design and elements can significantly impact the character of the outcome.

One aspect that is similar to your observation is the appreciation for subtle contrast and elegant rendering in black and white. This style is typically considered pleasant and exquisite, and it is something that both myself and my friends enjoy. It is uncertain whether this style can be considered a Leica Look, but this lens is currently my favorite.

Remark: the Tokyo Opt, Co. Simlar 1:1.5 F=5cm was patent in November 5th, 1938 and published on June 15th, 1940.

On the other side, the Dallmeyer introduced Septac 2" F1.5 to the market in the late 1942 by using the same optical design(the lens cut is almost the same, both were compatible with Leica Thread Mount as Cine Lens). I'm not sure how Dallmeyer sharing same design but I'm pretty sure that Tokyo Optical registered the patent in 1938.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Footnote:

Patent by Tōkyō Kōgaku for a wide aperture lens, created by Tomita Ryōji. The patent was applied for on Nov. 5, 1938, and published on Jun. 15, 1940. It describes the Simlar f/1.5.
Document downloaded from the IPDL, for display in Camera-wiki. Its reproduction is allowed by the IPDL policies.
See also the Camera-wiki page about Simlar lenses. 1940).

You’ve mentioned the Leica Look without realizing it…👀

[Anthony MD]

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3 minutes ago, Anthony MD said:

You’ve mentioned the Leica Look without realizing it…👀

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Great detail without the aggressive sharpness by a Leica designed lens made for the rangefinder system…!

Edited July 8 by Anthony MD

[jdlaing]

11 hours ago, Anthony MD said:

What’s so funny about that…🥸

Leica is not the only rangefinder company.

[Anthony MD]

49 minutes ago, jdlaing said:

Leica is not the only rangefinder company.

True, but they have the lenses that make the Leica Look…!

[jdlaing]

On 7/8/2025 at 8:28 AM, Anthony MD said:

True, but they have the lenses that make the Leica Look…!

Show me one of your photos with the Leica look?

[evikne]

I am a big Leica fan, but I don't believe in any particular Leica look. There are too many variables for that. For me, the joy of Leica is the way I use it, and that only applies to the M. The other models are just like any other camera to me.

[costa43]

6 minutes ago, evikne said:

I am a big Leica fan, but I don't believe in any particular Leica look. There are too many variables for that. For me, the joy of Leica is the way I use it, and that only applies to the M. The other models are just like any other camera to me.

Exactly the same E. 

[Markey]

I never understand threads like these.

Why do you have to justify what you buy ?

I `ve used a variety of cameras since the `60`s but always come back to Leica.

Does it matter ?

[FrozenInTime]

There is more of a Leica look when using film than digital: With film not only can you record the glow from the lens on the image, but with fast lenses, you can also  experience light bleeding beyond the 24x36mm gate.

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Edited July 10 by FrozenInTime

[Anthony MD]

6 hours ago, jdlaing said:

Show me one of your photos with the Leica look?

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Anthony MD]

3 minutes ago, Anthony MD said:

 

Edited July 11 by Anthony MD
Double post…👀

[Anthony MD]

6 hours ago, costa43 said:

Exactly the same E. 

Leica designs lenses very differently for their rangefinder cameras and every other manufacturer for that matter.  This process makes what we call the Leica Look…👀

Edited July 11 by Anthony MD

[costa43]

3 hours ago, Anthony MD said:

Leica designs lenses very differently for their rangefinder cameras and every other manufacturer for that matter.  This process makes what we call the Leica Look…👀

I don’t think so. They are at the top of their game for M mount lens design but Voigtlander and co are pretty much on par nowadays when it comes to performance if we look at things objectively. 

I definitely don’t see a Leica look when using Leica vs other manufacturers. I do see a look with certain lenses though, mainly due to their aberrations/flaws but that is not restricted to just Leica.

If you could evidence this urban legend with images then it would be very much appreciated!

Edited July 11 by costa43

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[Anthony MD]

1 hour ago, costa43 said:

I don’t think so. They are at the top of their game for M mount lens design but Voigtlander and co are pretty much on par nowadays when it comes to performance if we look at things objectively. 

I definitely don’t see a Leica look when using Leica vs other manufacturers. I do see a look with certain lenses though, mainly due to their aberrations/flaws but that is not restricted to just Leica.

If you could evidence this urban legend with images then it would be very much appreciated!

The Leica Look is just the outcome of the design of manufacturing a lens by Leica that is made with less glass thanks to the flange distance of a rangefinder.  This lens has the characteristics of more micro dynamics without the aggressive sharpness, the Leica Look!

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[costa43]

Nice photos but I'm sorry, I do not see what you see. There are rangefinder lenses made by many other manufacturers with very similar if not identical optical designs to Leica lenses so the Leica Look you state is not really specific to Leica but more to the system itself? Am I understanding you correctly?

Edited July 11 by costa43