ISSUE 126
48 / GEAR
Verdict The Leica M11 Monochrom camera is a specialist instrument, not a rational purchase. It is expensive, manual focus only, relatively slow and limited in ways mainstream cameras solved years ago. But if you genuinely think in monochrome, it delivers a level of black & white detail, tonality and low-light flexibility that’s hard to match with converted colour files – and it does so with a uniquely focused shooting experience. Buy it because you love black & white work, want the discipline of a single visual language and enjoy the craft of rangefinder photography. Don’t buy it because you want the best all-round camera for the money. It isn’t trying to be that. Features 18/25 No image stabilisation, autofocus, video, EVF or colour images! Handling 19/25 It’s a manual focus rangefinder so is quirky, especially with no EVF Performance 24/25 Beautiful monochrome tonality and micro- detail from a dedicated sensor Value for money 19/25 It’s premium priced but is a truly unique, top- quality camera you might love Overall rating 80/100 That’s not a great overall score but if you live for mono, you will want one Pros Legendary brand and the best black & white results Cons No autofocus, IBIS, EVF or video, high price device because it doesn’t offer a mass storage file transfer mode. You have to use something like a file transfer program that comes in your Mac’s Photo app instead. When it comes to real use, getting this camera means you’re buying into rangefinder shooting. Manual focus can be wonderfully direct and fast once you’re well practised but it does have a learning curve, and it’s not always the best tool for close-up work, long lenses, fast-moving subjects or wide-open shooting at very close distances. The Monochrom’s output, though, is addictive if black & white is how you see. The files have a clarity and tonal richness that makes you want to shoot more simply. And once light levels drop and ISO creeps up, it excels. Using a black-&-white-only camera removes the constant question of whether you should be shooting in colour or mono, and pushes you to compose through light and shape. That purity of photography is central to why the Monochrom line exists. In a world where it seems like so many people are chasing authenticity and retro essence in pretty much everything, the Leica M Monochrom and a superfast 35mm prime lens really delivers.
A new chapter in Noctilux folklore It may have taken Leica 100 years to make a 35mm lens in its Noctilux range, but now it’s here it is very special. The Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH is compact – measuring about 50mm in length and weighing 416g – but still carries the presence of
Superfast solution On Leica’s M-System cameras, focusing is intuitive, precise and rewarding. The lens balances well on M bodies, and the compact form keeps everything light. Wide open and up close, it requires precise focusing so the Leica M EV1 camera would make an ideal home for it. The 35mm field of view feels natural for almost any subject, from environmental portraiture to street reportage, travel work and documentary shooting. The barrel is well damped, and the focus throw long enough for controlled adjustments without being sluggish. Its close focus performance, enhanced by the floating element, expands creative possibilities beyond what many fast 35mm lenses can achieve. The lens thrives on creative ambition. It’s not about winning a sharpness contest against modern apochromatic lenses at tiny apertures, but achieving a distinct visual voice that’s rich in texture, warm in tonality and striking in separation. It’s a lens that invites photographers to slow down and embrace the tactile joy of shallow-depth imagery. If you shoot with Leica M cameras and crave a fast and characterful 35mm optic that stands apart from the crowd, the Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH rewards with a personality and presence that goes well beyond its spec sheet. It’s a lens for those who want more than resolution. It’s for those who want soul.
any Leica M body. Build quality is textbook Leica: precise, solid and beautifully finished, with an integrated lens hood that reduces flare and colour wash in challenging light. Mechanically it feels smooth, with a focus ring that is firm yet tactile and so ideal for sensitive, deliberate adjustments. Unique Noctilux nuance What sets this £7700 lens apart is not just cost or speed, but the look it produces. At its wide-open f/1.2 aperture, the Noctilux-M 35mm ASPH creates a shallow depth-of- field with a creamy, velvety smooth bokeh that transitions gently from subject to background. Unlike many modern, clinical lenses, this one has character. Highlight edges take on a soft glow while midtones retain depth and tonal richness. The rendering is evocative rather than neutral, with a subtle warmth suiting portraiture, environmental portraits, reportage and street work alike – when used on a colour Leica M of course. We tried it on an M240 and it excels. Sharpness is strong for a wide- fast design, with centre resolution impressive even wide open. Stopping down tightens acuity without destroying character, and by f/4-5.6 you get beautifully
detailed imagery across the frame. A floating optical element helps maintain consistent performance from close focus – down to 50cm via Live View or EVF – to infinity. That’s an unusually useful trait in a 35mm lens. There’s real magic in how this lens isolates subjects. At f/1.2, the shallow plane is unmistakable, as backgrounds melt away without looking mushy and busier street scenes fall into a cinematic, layered texture. The smooth blur of out-of-focus elements is restrained rather than exaggerated, delivering dramatic separation but with a natural feel. As the lens is so new, there were no profiles set up for it in Adobe Lightroom Classic so we made manual adjustments in order to correct as best we could. Once the profile becomes available, the performance is likely to be even better.
NOCTURNAL ANIMAL The lens may be relatively small but can have a big impact on your images – and bank account
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