Camera
Leica announces APO-Summicron-M 35mm F2 ASPH
Leica has announced the release of the APO-Summicron-M 35mm F2 ASPH. The compact 35mm F2 is the closest-focusing M-mount lens, with a minimum focus distance of just 30cm (11.8″).
The optical formula of the 35mm F2 includes 10 elements in 5 groups, with 4 aspherical surfaces. Six elements use anomalous partial dispersion glass to help reduce chromatic aberration. The lens has 11 aperture blades. A screw-on metal hood is included, and the lens is threaded for 39mm filters.
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The APO-Summicron-M 35mm F2 ASPH is now available for $8195.
Press release
The New Leica APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. Sets New Benchmarks with Maximum Performance in a Remarkably Compact Size
March 4th 2021 – Leica Camera once again pushes forward to new heights of imaging excellence with the launch of the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. Like its legendary sibling, the APO-Summicron-M 50 f/2 ASPH., this new 35 mm achieves maximum imaging performance without compromise in one of the most popular focal lengths for photographers throughout history. The result is a lens whose detail rendition will maximize the fullest potential of today’s imaging sensors while poised, futureproof and ready for the technology and resolving power of future sensors. The APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. is the only M-lens with a close-focus distance of just 30 centimeters, unlocking new possibilities.
The 35 mm focal length has always been a staple of the Leica M-System, and now this longstanding lineage of Summicron-M lenses has its new flagship offering the highest possible image performance, an extremely close focus and diminutively compact housing.
The exceptional performance of this lens is made possible by its elaborate optical design combined with its high-precision manufacturing at the Leica factory in Wetzlar. This state-of-the-art engineering earns the Made in Germany quality stamp of approval it bears, yielding an optical instrument that can stand the test of time to deliver decades of use and infinite possibilities. The ten lens elements are divided into five groups. Three elements feature aspherical surfaces (one of them on both sides) for minimizing distortion, while six elements are made of glasses with anomalous partial dispersion, which not only reduce distracting chromatic aberrations to almost zero, but also provide apochromatic correction – a quality rarely found in lenses of this focal length. The resulting images exhibit crisp corner-to-corner sharpness and accurate color fidelity at all apertures and focus distances, both near and far.
The APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. also delivers outstanding results close up, closer than any 35 mm M lens of the past and present, thanks to a floating lens element that ensures consistency at all distances; all the way down to its newly achieved minimum focus of 30 cm. The focus ring turns a full 300°, for precisely accurate and smooth focusing throughout the entire range from its close-focus distance all the way out to infinity. Via the rangefinder, the lens can be focused as close as 70 cm – at which point a slight haptic resistance can be felt in the focus ring, clearly communicating its position to the user. This touch of engineering is key to maintaining a similar feel and usage like all other modern M lenses, so users can still be familiar and comfortable with longstanding street photography techniques such as hyperfocal distance and “shooting from the hip.” At distances between 70 and 30 cm, when the focus ring is rotated beyond that noticeable detent, the photographer can choose to focus via the camera’s rear LCD in Live View mode, the Visoflex electronic viewfinder, or the Leica FOTOS app.
The construction of the lens hood in combination with highly effective anti-reflective glass coatings makes the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. extremely resistant to any type of stray light – allowing the photographer to shoot into the sun or other sources of light without fear of flare or ghosting. Common optical flaws such as chromatic aberration and distortion are corrected to the point of barely being noticeable. This imaging prowess and edge-to-edge contrast rendition creates an especially pronounced and lovely bokeh at open aperture. Seeing as the aperture is almost perfectly circular, owing to its eleven blades, this effect is also retained when the lens is stopped down for maximum depth-of-field.
Even more than any other M-lens, the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. only has to be stopped down for creative purposes. The rendition quality at the center and edges of the image is of such fidelity that there is no scope for further improvement by stopping down. Though many lenses of the world today augment their performance by being larger and heavier by design, the top-performing APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. is both compact and lightweight. With its classic reportage focal length, this is a lens for every photographic situation that can be used on any current and future model of the M series, as well as the Leica SL2 and SL2-S. The APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH. is available to order today at Leica Stores, Boutiques and Dealers for $8,195.00.
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Out-of-camera JPEG. 50mm equiv. crop.
F4 | 1/450 | ISO 80 |
This week, Fujifilm announced the GFX100RF, a 102MP medium format camera with a fixed 28mm equiv. F4 lens. The sensor will be familiar to those who’ve seen samples from the GFX100 S II or GFX100 II, but the lens is an interesting factor – the company says it put a lot of engineering work into it in order to make it as compact as it is.
You can get a feel for what kind of results it produces from the samples we took with our pre-production unit. We were lucky enough to get to test the camera out in a variety of locals; many of the pictures are from Prague, as Fujifilm flew us out for its X Summit and Fujikina event, but there are also images from London, Paris and, of course, Washington.
We’ve added some new photos taken since our initial review went up, including ones taken using a tripod to remove hand shake as a limiting factor on resolution.
Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing; we do so in good faith, so please don’t abuse it.
| Images: Godox, Tilta and Think Tank |
Happy weekend, everyone! This week was fairly busy in terms of announcements. The most notable, of course, was the Fujifilm GFX100RF fixed-lens medium format camera. There were also plenty of accessories, too. But before diving into those, here are the deals we spotted this week.
Pro-grade goodness
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
The Canon EOS R3 was released in 2021, so it is getting a bit long in the tooth for modern camera standards. However, it’s an impressive device that’s well-positioned for sports and wildlife photography thanks, in part, to its advanced Eye Control AF. Making it even better right now is the fact that it’s currently $1000 off, bringing it to the lowest price I’ve ever seen.
A classic focal length
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| Image: Sony |
A 50mm prime is a great lens to have in any kit. Sony’s FE 50mm F1.4 GM is a lighter, more affordable alternative to the F1.2 GM version. It still offers plenty of quality, though, and hits the sweet spot for most photographers. In fact, it earned Honorable Mention in the 2023 DPReview Annual Awards. This capable lens is $100 off right now at multiple retailers.
Godox goodies
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| Image: Godox |
Lights seem to be a constant trend here in the accessory roundup lately, and that continues this week. Godox has recently released two different lights. First up is the Godox ML100R, the successor of the ML100Bi. It is a compact, lightweight, full-color LED video light meant for content creators and vloggers. It offers temperature ranges from 1800K to 10,000K and is equipped with the Godox Mount, making it compatible with a wide range of compact modifiers.
Godox also announced the M1000R full-color LED light, a more powerful light for film, broadcast and video production. It delivers 1000W in a lightweight package and offers a color temperature range from 1800K to 10,000K. The light is IP54-rated as well, providing more protection when shooting outside.
Get a grip
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| Image: Tilta |
The new Tilta Fujifilm X-M5 Cage is a lightweight option for X-M5 cameras that adds an L-bracket with a built-in walnut handgrip, an Arca-Swiss quick-release plate and a vintage-looking hot shoe thumb grip. It also comes with two leather strap attachments (not a strap), adding to the vintage appeal. Plus, the kit comes in a unique and vintage-looking metal gift box complete with a postage-style wrap.
Carry your gear
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| Photo: Karen Lane featuring Nicole Chan |
Think Tank Photo has announced a new lineup of backpacks. The Walker Pro Backpacks come in 16L, 24L and 30L capacities, providing plenty of room for gear. Each features a dedicated laptop sleeve, trolley handle pass-through, multiple attachment points for tripods and plenty of pockets for water, snacks and accessories.
A free resource
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| Image: Blackmagic Design |
Here’s an accessory of sorts that’s totally free. Blackmagic Design has released a free, 684-page step-by-step training guide for DaVinci Resolve 19. The Beginner’s Guide to DaVinci Resolve 19 is aimed at new and experienced users of the powerful video editing software. It walks users through all of the tools available in DaVinci Resolve, including video editing, color grading, audio enhancement and visual effects. The guide uses a project-based approach, giving you hands-on experience while working through the lessons. You can download the PDF from the Blackmagic Design website.
A new analog format
Finally, this week’s video is all about innovation. Ethan Moses, also known as Cameradactyl, has crafted numerous unique cameras and remixes of famous formats. He has built a 20×24-inch instant camera, a 3D-printed 4×5 field camera and so much more. Most recently, he’s created a new format called the Cameradactyl Master System, which uses color photo paper that is exposed in-camera in a roll format. The video walks through the new process along with some of Ethan’s other ambitious projects. It’s a fascinating look at some truly wild cameras and processes.
Magnum Photos, a cooperative agency since 1947, boasts an extensive photographic archive covering a vast range of global events. Naturally, much of that collection is film, with images that haven’t seen the light of day in some time. The agency aims to address this with its newly launched “A World in Color” project, aiming to digitize its Paris color library archive.
The French color library, housed in the historic Saint-Cyr Fort in Paris’s suburbs, contains over 43,000 slide sheets—approximately 650,000 color slides—from the 1950s to the early 2000s. Organized by country, theme, and personality, these images provide a valuable historical record of the second half of the 20th century.
| Photo: Magnum Photos |
Some of the slide cabinets have remained untouched for 20 years, potentially holding surprises. The French color library represents the lesser-seen works of Magnum’s members, including images from the foundational years of photography, making digitization and preservation particularly meaningful. “Our commitment to preserving this unique photographic heritage ensures it remains an invaluable resource, honoring the past while inspiring future generations to learn from and build upon this vibrant visual history,” notes Marine Merindol, Chief Operating Officer at Magnum Photos.
The project is supported by Magnum’s long-term partner, Fujifilm, and the Médiathèque du Patrimoine et de la photographie (MPP). With that support, the Magnum Archive and Production teams will digitize each sheet of color slides to identify and index every image. Given that Fujifilm is a partner for the project, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the digitization process will happen with the Fujifilm GFX 100 II medium format camera.
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| Photo: Magnum Photos |
The Magnum teams will work through the collection country by country, starting with a focus on Europe. Each month, they will share a new selection of images from a different country. The first batch highlights Czechia, featuring images from the 1960s to the 1990s, including the Soviet Union invasion in 1968 and the Velvet Revolution in 1989. “As a counterpart to Josef Koudelka and Ian Berry’s iconic black-and-white images from the Prague Uprising in 1968, the archive now reveals a new perspective in color from Marilyn Silverstone, a year after she became one of the first five women to join Magnum as a Member,” explains Magnum. There are also images by Elliott Erwitt, Thomas Hoepker, Marc Riboud and more.
You can follow along on the Magnum website or its social media platforms. In addition to the online content, Magnum will be hosting six in-person events across Europe as part of Fujifilm’s Fujikina events, starting with Prague, where Fujifilm just hosted an event to announce the GFX100RF. The Prague event is on display from March 22–23, with images curated by Magnum photographer Rafał Milach.
MAGNUM PRESENTS: A WORLD IN COLOR
Magnum Photos embarks on a historic project to digitize the agency’s Paris color library archive, which has remained dormant for decades.
Stored away at the historical Saint-Cyr Fort in the suburbs of Paris lies Magnum’s colossal French color library archive. Over 43,000 slide sheets, totaling approximately 650,000 color slides dating from the 1950s to the early 2000s, are estimated to be held there. Classified by Country, Theme and Personality, many of these images have remained, until now, unseen to the public eye. Revisiting the unexplored cabinets today is a step back into the workings of Magnum Photos as an agency in the pre-digital age, as well as a historical visual record of the second half of the 20th century.
Preserving the Magnum Archive
In January 2025, Magnum Photos began the monumental project of digitizing the color library archive, both as a step to preserve Magnum’s legacy for future generations and to unearth the unseen color images that have been hidden away for decades. With the support of long-term partners Fujifilm and the Médiathèque du Patrimoine et de la photographie (MPP), the Magnum Archive and Production teams will revisit the full archive and digitize each sheet of color slides, before identifying and indexing the unseen images, ensuring that they are preserved correctly for future generations.
An Invitation Behind the Scenes
Working country by country, the teams will begin by focusing on Europe, home of the color archive. Throughout the year, Magnum invites the public to join them behind the scenes in the digitization process, using the Fujifilm GFX 100 II medium-format digital camera. Every month, a new selection of unseen images will be unveiled, each reveal focusing on a different country. Six unique in-person activations will also take place across Europe as part of Fujifilm’s FUJIKINA events, giving the public the opportunity to discover a further selection of curated unseen images, as well as the physical slide sheets themselves, with the original photographer and editor annotations preserved. Beginning in March with Czechia, this year will also see exclusive reveals of unseen images from Italy, Belgium, the UK, France, Germany, and more, with aspirations to move beyond Europe and to the United States in 2026.
A Visual Time Capsule
The color archive has aged to represent a time capsule — a portal back to the second half of the 20th century, with many of the cabinets remaining untouched for over 20 years. The images revealed through this project represent the power of photography to bring the past to life, but they also revisit the lesser-seen archives of Magnum’s photographer Members, and the foundational years in the history of photography itself.
“With A World in Color, we celebrate a visual treasure trove too often overlooked: the color slides from Magnum’s vast archives. Developed in collaboration with Fujifilm and MPP, this project transforms the archive into a wellspring of opportunity — enhancing its value across press, editorial publications, and cultural partnerships. By uncovering unseen material, we open new doors for storytelling, collaboration, and creative exploration. Our commitment to preserving this unique photographic heritage ensures it remains an invaluable resource, honoring the past while inspiring future generations to learn from and build upon this vibrant visual history.” writes Marine Merindol, Chief Operating Officer at Magnum Photos.
“We are very excited to know that some of the 650,000 images will now be brought to light and available to the public. This opens up an incredible window into the world and into our past — helping us understand our present. We would like to thank our partners for their interest and support, well as their solid contribution to our visual archive, which belongs to all of us.” writes Emin Özmen, vice president of Magnum’s longstanding Paris office.
A New Chapter for Magnum and Fujifilm
A World in Color marks a new chapter for the long-term collaboration between Magnum and Fujifilm, offering the photographic community a rare glimpse into the unseen images of Magnum’s color archive, as well as a newly commissioned, exclusive series by Magnum photographers for each country, made in response to the archive, and shot using the Fujifilm GFX camera.
A series of exhibitions and talks will take place in six European countries throughout the year with Fujifilm’s traveling FUJIKINA global events, starting in Prague in March. Each exhibition, unique to that country, features unseen images from the same geography, tracing its history and culture during the 20th century, alongside the new series made in response to the archive. The Magnum photographer commissioned for each country will be present throughout the weekend, and will give a talk around their practice.
“This new collaborative series with Magnum Photos is key to our mission of contributing to the production and history of photography as it develops over the decades. No camera can shoot the past, and our inability to turn back time is central to the human desire to capture moments and memories through photography today. We are excited to be part of this project, which by using our GFX technology to digitize Magnum’s color library archive, we feel that we are helping to record a moment of history before it is lost — both the history of the countries we will be visiting with our FUJIKINA global events, and the history of photography,” writes Kunio Aoyama, General Manager of Fujifilm Europe.
Chapter One: Czechia
The first drop of unseen images will be published on the Magnum website (magnumphotos.com) and social media platforms on March 17. The selection zooms in on Czechia from the 1960s to the 1990s, featuring two pivotal post-war events: the Soviet Union invasion in 1968 and the Velvet Revolution in 1989. As a counterpart to Josef Koudelka and Ian Berry’s iconic black-and-white images from the Prague Uprising in 1968, the archive now reveals a new perspective in color from Marilyn Silverstone, a year after she became one of the first five women to join Magnum as a Member. Images by Elliott Erwitt, Thomas Hoepker, Marc Riboud, and more follow suit, documenting the dawn of a new era following the Velvet Revolution — a visual journey from the deep reds of communism to the vivid blue, red and white of the independent Czech flag, now seen in striking color.
To launch the series of in-person events across Europe, the first FUJIKINA will take place in Prague from March 22–23, with Czechia as the focus. Curated by Magnum photographer Rafał Milach, the exhibition will present 10 unseen images and a number of slide sheets from the Magnum color library archive. Milach, in response to his findings in the color library archive, has also made a new series of 10 images in Czechia using a Fujifilm GFX camera, and will be hosting a talk during the weekend. Further FUJIKINA events will take place throughout the year in Milan, Brussels, London, Arles, and Germany.
Visit https://store.magnumphotos.com/pages/a-world-in-color or connect with Magnum Photos on Instagram to follow the digitization project in real-time and be among the first to discover the drop of unseen images each month.
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