New Leica M digital Monochrome camera announced

[Jamie Pillers]

Exactly! 🙂

 

[luibargi]

I sincerely hope that it will be priced well over 10k$ and no Japanese brand will follow this idea. Otherwise M9-M will kill B&W film.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Those wild and crazy guys at Solms actually did it. Gonna have to eat crow, never did I think it was a viable idea sales wise. I wish them luck.

Bob

 

[jbot]

I sincerely hope that it will be priced well over 10k$ and no Japanese brand will follow this idea. Otherwise M9-M will kill B&W film.

No way. A 9k system simply isn't affordable to most people. Even if we spend that much on film in 2 or 3 years, most people don't have that kind of cash available all at once to drop on a camera. I think film shooters will continue to shoot film.

 

[roboflick]

You lie... 😱

Really! :angel: I am on the list for one at Dale Photo, I spoke to Josh Lehrer and I am now on their preorder list. Call me crazy but i think it will be a pretty sweet camera.

Nik

 

[sojournerphoto]

Wouldn't buy it for the price but still nice to have a choice. Currently I have to say I'd rather buy 1000 rolls of tri-X than the Leica. I hope for Leica's sake that other photographers might think different.

I wish them the best of luck.

Dominik

I'm wondering if I'd rather not process 1000 rolls of anything. It's a tough call really - except that I would have to sell my 35mm and MF film gear to make it work. Not got my head around that yet, as it's a one way ticket really.

Edited to add: I really hope it serves Leica well though. I know it's a luxury brand, but it does work.

 

[N.delaRua]

Cool video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNzYdWqjWh0

 

[KoNickon]

I already have a Leica M Monochrom - it's an M6 loaded with Tri-X.

Roger that -- this seems like a gimmick. Let's see how many they sell. Will the sensor be tweakable to provide "the glow"?

 

[jbot]

Really! :angel: I am on the list for one at Dale Photo, I spoke to Josh Lehrer and I am now on their preorder list. Call me crazy but i think it will be a pretty sweet camera.

Nik

Awesome. I am super jealous.

 

[RFluhver]

I already have a Leica M Monochrom - it's an M6 loaded with Tri-X.

Is it like my M6 that can shoot colour film, too?

 

[ribbon]

more site to surf !

http://www.leicamonochrom.com

 

[jbot]

more site to surf !

http://www.leicamonochrom.com

I'm wondering if those sample images are edited...

 

[MCTuomey]

If the camera underperforms, or is a blatant rip-off, then it won't sell.

But why do people get so offended by what Leica do?

they're one of the few companies still making things in Europe, without exploiting their workforce... I can't afford the monochrome M, but I hope it does well for them.

Their stuff is no more a rip-off than, say, an old Mint Plus Summicron for $2,200! For, let's face it, everyone despises capitalism until it's their own chance to turn a buck.

well-put ... the indignation puzzles me too

regarding the M9-mono, i'm thinking to what degree removal of the color filter array from the M9 sensor will do for sharpness, moire elimination, noise reduction (luminance only). this could turn out to be a stroke of brilliance ...

 

[mervynyan]

I already have a Leica M Monochrom - it's an M6 loaded with Tri-X.

yes, but but but can't do iso 10k-🙂

 

[1joel1]

I'd like to see a comparison between the Monochrom and an M9 with color removed.

 

[Araakii]

Their stuff is no more a rip-off than, say, an old Mint Plus Summicron for $2,200! For, let's face it, everyone despises capitalism until it's their own chance to turn a buck.

The whole country is built on capitalism. If you are an American, it should be in your blood.

 

[whitecat]

I think I'll go and buy another brick of Tri X.

 

[ncc1701]

I'd like to see a comparison between the Monochrom and an M9 with color removed.

Did it! Can not post for copyright issues but grab screen shots of Reid Reviews (if a member) samples, M9 color & MM of same subject, Bring in Photoshop and change mode to grayscale.

Marginal difference to my eyes!

 

[Paddy C]

Very cool that they did it.

I won't be buying of course but I'm rather curious to find out how it really does.

 

[notraces]

Is it April 1st? Really. This has to be the stupidest thing I've seen from Leica. 7K for a dumbed-down b&w digital camera? What? Are they serious? Are digital shooters so lazy they can't learn how to do a proper b&w conversion? Why oh why would anyone buy this camera?