Canon EOS M with Leica Summicron 50mm f2 Test Sample Images (1979-1994 Version)

It goes without saying that the Leica Summicron 50mm f2 is widely accepted as one of the best 50mm lens out there and this is the lens that I have been waiting to try out on the A7r (grhhh when will mine arrive). In the meantime while waiting I thought I might as well test it out on the Canon EOS M. I got to admit, I love the look of this lens and camera combo together. The size and weight is also great, it is just such a small and light system to carry around.

The quality you will be getting though is far beyond what you will be expecting from a system of this size, which is not that much bigger than a compact camera.

It is not just its sharpness that I love about this lens but even more so how it renders the out of focus areas (bokeh), it just seems so smooth and dreamy and the transition from the parts that are in focus to the parts that are not is just so gradual.

100% crop Click on the image and right click then select "view image" for full size

Using this lens on the Canon EOS M it becomes a 75mm, which is a bit narrow but still perfectly usable.

100% crop Click on the image and right click then select "view image" for full size

Floating Market Bangkok Thailand - Canon EOS M with Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 Biogon

When to a floating market near my house the other day and of course I took along the Canon EOS M with the Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 Biogon attached.

There seems to be a number of floating markets popping up around Bangkok these days. These are not "authentic" markets that have been around for a long time though, rather they are "recreations" designed as attractions for local Thai tourists and visitors.

Nevertheless this particular market was really well created and really does feel "right" and I am sure most people who visit will have a good time enjoying the atmosphere and plenty of delicious foods on offer.

Arrr...such a relaxed life.

100% crop click on the photo then right click and select "view image" for full sized

I have said before that manual focusing accurately with the Canon EOS M is not the easiest task in the world and often when you look at the images in the computer afterwards at 100% you will find that your focus was slightly off. When you do get focus right though, the result can be quite amazing with the Carl Zeiss Biogon lens, dare I say as well as on a Leica M9?

The same pig a few minutes later (just kidding).

Canon EOS M High ISO Test Sample (6400) with Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 Biogon

Canon EOS M ISO 6400 35mm f2

Just had the Canon EOS M out with me the other night with the Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 Biogon lens on it and decided to take a quick photo to test its high ISO performance in low light conditions. Well I thought I might as well share the result.

Below is the 100% crop

100% Crop click on the image then right click and select "view image" to view full size

I don't know what other people think but for me I think it is very good for ISO 6400.

Calypso Cabaret Ladyboy Show at Asiatique Bangkok Ultimate Manual Focus Test for Canon EOS M

ISO 100 f2

A lot of people have been complaining about the lackluster auto-focus performance of the Canon EOS M as probably one of its biggest weakness. Since I am mostly using manual focusing lens like Leica and Carl Zeiss M-Mount on it that is not really an issue. HOWEVER trying to manual focus using this camera is not that easy either.

ISO 100 f2

Having been using this camera for a while I feel that doing manual focus with it is not too bad IF your subject is completely still and you have an infinite amount of time to take the shot. First of all there is no Peaking function :(. To focus you have to press a little button on the touch screen, press it once and it will magnify the picture x5 press it again and it will magnify it x10. You then try to get the picture in focus by looking at the back of the screen.

ISO 200 f2

The thing I hate most is once you get the picture in focus, you then have to press the button on the touch screen again to unzoom, then you have compose the shot and move your hand back to press the shutter. When you are using a wide aperture this process very often can cause the focus to be off. With no peaking it is also very difficult to keep track of a moving object to focus on at x10 zoom.

ISO 6400 f2

Having said all that I still took the camera with me to the Calypso (Ladyboy) Cabaret Show at Asiatique in Bangkok, just to see if despite the difficulties it was still possible to get some shots with this camera of fast moving subjects under difficult lighting conditions using manual-focus.

ISO 800 f2

As expected it was quite a challenge and a lot of time zooming in to get accurate focus was just not fast enough and I had to just judge the focus without zooming in, so a very high percentage of shots were just no usable at all. But those that were I am actually quite happy with, in fact considering the size of the system I am very impressed with the photos I got.

ISO 1600 f2

Considering this is probably the weakest shooting situation for the camera I am very impressed and I must admit I am finding less and less reasons to bring along my heavy DSLR kit with me.

ISO 100 f2

ISO 320 f2

ISO 2000 f2

ISO 100 f2

ISO 250 f2

Asiatique The Riverfront Bangkok with Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 M-Mount with Canon EOS M

ISO 2000 f2

Took a nice trip to the riverfront at Asiatique in Bangkok the other day to test out how well the combo of the Carl Zeiss f35mm f2 Biogon and Canon EOS M will perform at night, which is the time I always seem to find myself shooting.

ISO 400 f2

Since it was so dark I shot everything at f2 and I am actually really happy with the results.

ISO 3200 f2

I just love how small and light the camera and lens was to carry around, if it has an EVF I think I would love it even more though.

ISO 4000 f2

The ISO performance of this camera is pretty good I must say even though it is using the same sensor as for the 7D, combine that with this lens and it is great for taking it out for a casual stroll at night for some street photography.

ISO 5000 f2

Carl Zeiss M Mount 35mm f2 Biogon with Canon EOS M Test

I know the Canon EOS M has been out for quite a while, but recently the camera has been selling for as little as 50% of its original price and that makes it one of the cheapest as well as smallest mirrorless camera body out there. Having several M Mount lens lying around I have always thought about getting a mirrorless system with an adapter to use with them, and this just presented an irresistible opportunity. Reading several reviews it seem that the main gripe with the Canon EOS M is its slow focus speed, since I will be using manual focusing lens anyways this does not present a problem. So having bought it I will not be slowly using it and testing it with several M Mount lens over the next period to see what kind of results it produce.

The first lens I will be using is the Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 Biogon. First of I got to say that manual focusing with this camera is not that easy especially for moving subjects, which to be honest is almost impossible. Unlike the Sony NEX there is no focus peaking, all you can do is look at the image on the LED screen at the back of the camera and try to get it in focus, you can zoom in 5 or 10 times and focus to make sure that you really nailed it but trying to do that for a moving subject is really difficult because you then have to zoom back out and compose the frame before taking the shot. Not only that but in bright sunlight the LED screen becomes really hard to see which makes thing even more difficult that they already are.

Manual focusing issues aside I am quite pleased with the results I am getting with the Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 so far. It is still early days however since I have only had the chance to use it a few times so I will be posting more photos as I get to use it more. I will also be posting photos from other M Mount lens that I have when I get a chance to use them.