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The Magic of the Leica Pop
How to achieve a similar effect with mere mortal cameras
Urban legend has it that an experienced photographer can decipher on the spot which camera a photo was taken with. The “Leica glow” dominates Reddit commentaries. Leica aficionados are passionate about this look and willing to pay three times the price of a similar spec’d lens from another, “lesser” manufacturer. I am one of them — within reason, but how much truth is there to this lore?
Make no mistake: higher-quality glass makes for better optics.
Better glass here refers to glass that has been stored for a decade or longer. Colloquially speaking, glass is a semi-solid liquid. Storing glass for decades allows it to relax internal stresses introduced through manufacturing. It stabilizes its amorphous structure, which results in superior optimal optical quality. For high-precision lenses, even the slightest imperfection can be a problem, so long-term storage before grinding ensures superior performance.
At some level, storing optical glass is similar to curing wood. It takes a while for both materials to achieve a stable state. Uncured wood warps, cracks, or shrinks unpredictably. Cheaply built houses “move” if wood above a specific moisture level is used. Optical glass does not flow like…
