Camera Reviews

The Black Beauty – Hands-On with the Leica M Monochrom Typ 246

30/04/2015 By Mathieu 9 Comments

Update: our full review of the Leica Monochrom 246 is now online!

As rumours predicted, today Leica announced the new M Monochrom (Typ 246) which replaces the first digital Monochrom released back in 2012. The camera is essentially a Leica M Typ 240 with the difference that it only delivers black and white images. This is because it houses a special sensor that lacks the colour filter array. It is a very specific camera for a very specific niche, but coming from Leica, this is certainly not a surprise.

The indecisive moment – A personal review of the Leica M 240

22/04/2015 By Mathieu 14 Comments

When it comes to Leica cameras in the digital age, people are usually divided into two groups. The first group is composed of those who are against it because the cameras are too expensive and aren’t as advanced as cheaper alternatives. The second group is made up of those who still appreciate and embrace the philosophy behind the brand and care less about specifications. There is probably also a third group that is interested but can’t afford the investment and a fourth group that simply doesn’t care.

What the original A7 should have been – The Sony A7 Mark II Review

07/04/2015 By Mathieu 10 Comments

It is hard to believe that two weeks have passed since I was walking around Photography Show in Birmingham. One of the most interesting aspects of this show in comparison to others like Photokina is that product sales are allowed. All the deals were amazing but the ones that surprised me the most were at Camera World for the Sony A7 series. The original A7 was £699, the A7r was £999 and there was also a £350 discount on the new A7 Mark II. The A7 was less than 50% of its original price, and the camera was released just over a mere year ago. This got me thinking about how quickly the series has depreciated despite being labelled as “revolutionary” when it first hit the shelves. In the case of the A7, one of the triggers behind this massive price drop was the arrival of its direct successor, the A7 Mark II, which was launched exactly one year later with various improvements.

Two weeks with the Leica T system – A Leica T Review

26/03/2015 By Mathieu 6 Comments

When we hear the name Leica, it usually conjures up the image of one camera: the “M”. It is an important photographic icon not only due to its rich history but also because of the famous photographers who have used it. Despite the transition to digital sensors, M cameras continue to embody the manual approach to photography that their users love so much.

The new “T” camera is in a way Leica’s first 100% digital system not just from a “specs” point of view but also from a philosophical perspective. Announced one year ago, the camera was indeed an unexpected surprise, packed with modern technology and a new approach to usability. It was also a system that was prepared to go up against a competitive mirrorless market that was, and still is, flourishing and vibrant.

The Samsung NX1 Full Review – Potentially the best mirrorless camera on the market

28/02/2015 By Mathieu 6 Comments

We often read and hear the sentence “we live in very interesting times when it comes to photography equipment”. And it is nothing short of true. With the rise of mirrorless systems in the last two years, the number of quality cameras and brands on the market has multiplied. Four years ago I would never have imagined that I would be placing Samsung among them. Their line of cameras wasn’t bad but I was more troubled by the philosophy (or lack thereof) behind them. The many “Buy a camera and get a tablet free” deals were evidence that the Korean brand placed cameras on the same level as the many other electronic devices they design.