Some shooters swear by the “Leica look“, that the German manufacturer’s cameras produce distinctive color and contrast. The attribute is applied to rangefinders, but I’ve seen supporting claims for others—like the fixed-lens mirrorless compacts. I would argue that many digicam makers produce their own look. Nikons shoot what my eyes see, sharply. Canons deliver saturated, softer-looking images. Sigma’s Foveon sensors also capture what the eyes see but richer, realistic color and contrast.
Of all the cameras I have used over the years, Leica X1 had highest IQ (e.g. image quality). (Some of those others: Canon Digital Rebel, 20D, 40D; PowerShot S20; Fuji X-E1, X10, X100, X100T, X-T1; Leica D-LUX 4; Nikon D70; D90, D200; Olympus PEN E-P1, E-P2; Sigma DP1, DP2.) For the next three days, for no other reason than my mood, we feature photos taken with Leica X2. You tell me about that so-called look.
First up, Fred Leitz and an untitled image demonstrating color, from June 21, 2012. Vitals: f/4.5, ISO 100, 1/125 sec. Leica X2 packs a fixed 16MP Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 lens and straightforward controls on the camera body for adjusting settings. In 2015, he uses the pricier, interchangeable lens Leica S2. He joined Flickr in Octoner 2007.
Photo Credit: Fred Leitz