Leica

There's no doubt that the Leica X-Vario has something of a cult following. But can the new CL with a very similar zoom lens assuage the craving for a new XV?

If you want the most up-to-date Leica film camera, incorporating the same auto exposure you will find on the M10, then the choice is clear — it's the current Leica M7. But the pre-auto cameras with light metering, including the superseded M6 and the current MP, that seem to attract most followers. Why is this?

Last year Fuji brought out a bit of an oddity, a body cap lens. The XM-FL is only available in Japan as at time of writing. In order to get hold of mine I had to resort to eBay and part with seventy-five quid and get it shipped halfway around the world. Two weeks after pressing the button it arrived; possibly the lightest lens-containing parcel I have ever received.

Mike was asked for help in connection with an article to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Leica M4. He has put together a brief history of one of the world's favourite non-metered rangefinders.....

Mike had the chance to use the new 35mm Zeiss Distagon f/1.4 for a week and believes it offers strong competition for the equivalent Leica Summilux at a far more attractive price.