Aprils Creak from the Chair

Welcome to Aprils Creak from the Chair. It was only recently that I realised this is the 20th anniversary of The Leica Society.  Quite a landmark. The past 12 months has included significant streamlining, all aimed at ensuring a viable future for such a worthwhile community.

Our website is a fine example of our modernisation, as is the online downloadable magazine:  We also plan to produce a printed annual review too, if we receive enough imagery from our membership.  Should you wish to participate, please contact me, or editor Phil by email:  chair@leicasociety.uk or editor@leicasociety.uk

I am also a big devotee of the various TLS WhatsApp groups, which are super-simple to join via the members area of TLS’ website.  A friendly community of amusing and helpful experts who are very happy to help fellow members of TLS….a truly valuable resource.

A second edition of the online magazine should be released in the next few weeks.  I am confident that it will be as good as the first.  We hope you enjoy it.

So you ‘fortunate’ people….no creak would be complete without one of my inexpert rambles on a bit of Leica kit.  With a handful of accompanying images, which probably undermine my narrative….

The ‘lucky’ lens for this month is the Medium-Angle-Tri-Elmar.  (MATE). A 28-35-50mm step ‘zoom’: Launched in 1998 and discontinued in 2007 when the WATE was released to support the first digital M and its smaller sensor.  The high manufacturing cost was also a factor too.

Two versions were made, the second is neater with a 49mm filter as opposed to a 55mm.  Optically they are identical.  For this test, I used both versions, a silver V1 and a black V2. 

I love my MATEs actually but I am not blind to the limitations:  Primarily that f4 maximum aperture.  This does of course limit viability in low-light, even with the remarkable high ISO capabilities of current M digital models.  And the MATE has a very different signature to faster M glass; focus separation and bokeh way more limited, understandably.  Bye-bye Leica glow….

However, in good light, the MATE remains a wonderful performer.  Beautifully sharp, and being able to switch through 3 focal lengths does minimise the need to crop.  Whilst cropping on a 60MP sensor is never a problem for most applications, it’s nice to keep it full frame too.

In dreamland – now that there is an EV1 available – could Leica have an M zoom up it’s sleeve?  F2 aperture please.  (I can only imagine the RRP there, so perhaps best to keep it as a fantasy…..)

Secondhand, a decent V1 MATE can be found for under £3,000 (silver ones are over double that) and V2 lenses around £3,500.  Given that they are a niche, perhaps an ‘enthusiast’ choice not a pragmatic one.  But I am not selling mine anytime soon.  Sometimes, it’s fun just travelling light.  And the MATE is a perfect companion for that.  I hope my snaps demonstrate the delight of using the MATE at least.

Thoughts?  All emails answered:  Chair@leicasociety.uk

Click any image below to open in a gallery.