Zeiss Biogon 2/35 Leica M9 - Montecchio Emilia

[Orio]

Some photos around the exhibition area.
The more use, the more I love the combination of the Leica M9 with the Zeiss Biogon 2/35. I obtain incredibly detailed images with a lot of character.
I think this Leica-Zeiss combination recipe works perfectly: The incredible details of Leica cameras plus the microcontrast and plasticity of the Zeiss optics.
There is talk about the new Z lenses not being on the same quality level as the older Zeiss lenses;
well, my experience with Z lenses is very limited, but I can say, this is surely not the case of the Biogon 2/35!




100% crop of the above, might actually decide to use this crop as the final printing version, I am undecided:




Whenever I use the Biogon 2/35, I am tempted to take pictures that display his zero distortion feature.
I photographed this very wall 3 years ago (the first time I visited this fair) with the Biogon 2.8/28 and the Contax G2,
and the result was perfect, but this time is... more than perfect! Is that possible?




a 100% crop of the above, showing the amazing quality of detail:




the same subject in vertical framing. Perfect again!:




Same gymnasium statue as above, but in front light:




Now two 100% crops of the above, to show the detail:

The micro-contrast of the Biogon brings out the subtle texture of the bronze very nicely, although the face is slightly out of focus (the photo is slightly front-focused)



the bokeh of the Biogon 2/35 is top class in my opinion, I rarely saw a 35mm lens with such a gentle bokeh in the daylight:




The parking lot near the gymnasium where the exhibition was held:




Two 100% crops of the above, to show the amazing detail.
I think I could easily deceive people into believing that this is a whole image picture taken with a tele lens!







A tentative of representation of depth:




One last snapshot, not interesting except for showing the ability of this camera-lens combo in capturing detail with high resolvance.
Here's the whole image:




And now the 100% crop. Note that you can read with ease the decoration writing pattern (and the other details as well) on the right girl's handbag.
Now get back up to the whole image and notice how small the portion of the image is!

[IAZA]

amazing details, dream combination

[greg]

+1

[poilu]

+2 impressive demonstration!

[tobbsman]

Amazing oof area!

Cheers
Tobias

[Olivier]

[LucisPictor]

Orio, you don't honestly want to take more pictures with that combo, do you?

Everybody will say that the great picture is only a result of fantastic gear and not of your ability as a photographer.
So, you better send the M9 and the Biogon to me. I can cope with such a prejudice.

All joking aside: That's absolutely amazing!

[Orio]

Thanks guys! I am absolutely delighted by this combo as you can see.
As soon as I have some more financial availability, I want to take another ZM lens.
Candidates are the Biogon 25mm (which needs however the separate viewfinder) or the Planar 50mm.
Both should be in the 500-700 Euros range.

The extremes of the lens range (Distagon 15mm and Sonnar 90mm) are very desireable but waaaay too expensive.

[LucisPictor]

There is also a Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM.
I have seen it on a Zeiss Ikon in 2008 - very nice lens.

[patrickh]

A "blow away" combination to make a grown man cry.


patrickh

[Katastrofo]

[kds315*]

very, very nice indeed!!

[djmike]

perfect camera and lens combo!!

[rrkradio]

Ciao Orio,
i didn't see this post before.

The combo is really stunning...... the new biogon seems super sharp and perfectly corrected from a geometrical point of view.

Hope to see something more made with your lens.

Roby

[Keysersoze27]

Henri Cartier Bresson used this kind of combo for 30 years (Leica+Sonnar 1.5/50) so there must be something in it

I've read rave reviews about the Sonnar 85 ZM even from Erwin Puts !?!?