Here are the latest photos I captured with my Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 Classic lens. These samples showcase how effectively this lens performs across diverse settings, conditions, and subjects, thus providing a comprehensive look at its real-world performance. These should help you decide if the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 Classic lens could be the perfect addition to your kit.
There’s something oddly hypnotic about a Japanese railway crossing at dusk. The warning bells — that unmistakable ding ding ding — echo through the quiet streets, a sound so familiar across Japan that it feels like part of the country’s heartbeat. The red lights flash in perfect rhythm, reflecting off the yellow-and-black striped barriers as they lower…
All over Japan, the same rhythm plays out. At noon sharp, pavements flood with salarymen, dark suits moving in sync towards noodle shops, curry counters, and cafés. Ten minutes before or after it’s calm, but on the hour every seat vanishes, queues curling onto the street. If you want to eat in peace, slip in…
The south exit of Yoyogi Station feels modest compared to its giant neighbour Shinjuku, but it comes alive after dark. A few narrow streets spill out from the ticket gates, lined with low-key izakayas that glow with paper lanterns once the evening sets in. Office workers often drift over after work, packing into these small…
Driving on elevated highways in Tokyo during the rainy season is a distinct experience—part cyberpunk film, part urban meditation. The rain doesn’t fall gently; it sheets down the windscreen, a constant barrage that the wipers fight in a rhythmic frenzy. These roads often run surprisingly narrow for what you’d expect of a major city. Many…
If you ever find yourself near one of Japan’s major railway stations — be it the humming metropolis of Tokyo, the cultural maze of Osaka, or even smaller, off-the-tourist-map towns — do yourself a favor: skip the main streets for a moment and slip into the nearest narrow alleyway that looks like it belongs in…
Some Japanese cafés are interesting. You walk in expecting solid coffee and a croissant, and boom—you’re staring at spaghetti topped with seaweed and a soft-boiled egg. Somehow, it’s really good. They’ve basically hacked Italian food and patched it with soy sauce and anime vibes. Then there’s the coffee. Look, it’s usually… fine. Not great. If you actually…
A Chinowa (茅の輪) is a sacred grass ring, part of an ancient Shinto purification ritual known as Chinowa Kuguri (茅の輪くぐり), performed to cleanse spiritual impurities, ward off misfortune, and invite good health. Walking through it might not transport you to another planet, but in the eyes of Shinto belief, it’s a powerful step into a cleaner, luckier version of your life….
Shot with a Leica M11 and the renowned 50mm Summilux lens, this BBQ scene feels almost tactile. The lens’s signature shallow depth of field isolates the sizzling meats and vegetables with precision, while the background dissolves into a soft, creamy blur. That classic Summilux bokeh lends a dreamy, almost cinematic quality to an otherwise simple…
Curved railway stations are relatively rare around the world because they come with a set of challenges. Building a platform on a curve makes it harder to align train doors with the platform edge, increases the gap between the train and platform, and can complicate accessibility and safety. For these reasons, most rail systems avoid…
Tight aisles, stacked crates, hand-written price signs in bold red and blue. The strawberries are front and center—198 yen, 298 yen—cheap, fresh, local. Behind them, glossy peppers, bundles of green onions, daikon, lemons… Plastic baskets overflow. Cardboard boxes turned into display trays. No frills, just function. The shelves in the back are packed with snacks,…
