Leica M Monochrom: best pics

jamato8 said:
I used to shoot a lot of MF and lrge format and some of this stuff has the tonal and image quality of good MF. The one thing that bothers me about digital is the out of focus stuff sometimes has a strange halo that I don't like. Otherwise I am quite surprised at the quality!

Some also reminds me of when I used to shoot H&W BW film with my M2 and M3.
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Hi jamato,

I am not sure but my best guess is, that this is just a processing issue with standard sharpening algorithms applied.
And of course the software is trying to "improve" the OFF parts of the image that are supposed to be not in focus.

Most settings have some level of sharpening applied anyway and you have to find the right tab to turn it off completely
so your original image file doesn't get "improved" i.e. artificially messed up 😉.
 
C_R said:
MM and Nocti 1.0, with B+W 060 Yellow-Green filter (three shots stitched)
CV Heliar 15/4.5
Apo Summicron 90 Asph,(ISO 5000)
Super Elmar 21/3.4 Asph.

Carsten
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38068178@N08/
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Nice work there Carsten, even if the file size you can post is ridiculous in comparison to the orig. files but anyone can see that this tool does have some great potential.
Have fun, congratulations to your MM.
 
Finally getting my Monochrome back from service, in just under 2 weeks. Probably not bad for Leica but they need to match Canon/Nikon's 3-5 days Pro turn around or how can Pro's take them seriously?!
 
leicashot said:
Finally getting my Monochrome back from service, in just under 2 weeks. Probably not bad for Leica but they need to match Canon/Nikon's 3-5 days Pro turn around or how can Pro's take them seriously?!
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Hello Kristian,

glad to hear that you have you tool back. Do they have local service in Australia or did they have to ship it to Germany? I am lucky to be less than half an hour drive away from Leica USA, just in case anything needs a repair.
Show more photos !
 
Thanks Kristian and Jeff ;-)

The MM is a nice upgrade from any other digital M.
Just from handling the first files and shooting for a day, the advantages are very clear.

For me, the biggest change from the M8.2 and M9 is clearly, that the MM gives you A LOT more freedom in lens choices and shooting in conditions, where you really needed a Summilux or Noctilux before.

I can now go out and the only lens, I need to bring is a pre war 3.5 cm Elmar or alike.
I can now go with ƒ2 and slower lenses and shoot in the night outside.
I can now ramp up ISO without issues and freeze movement with acceptable DOF, where before, I was stuck @ ISO1250 and 1/30 with the M9.

This MM is quite a revolution for M shooters.
Everybody is talking only no colors this and more acuity that - for me, the biggest strength of the MM are in ISO sensitivity.

If after testing, I will even find, that the MM brings back the acuity from the M8 sensor, the M9 completely lacks, I might have thoughts of retiring my M8.2 from shooting motor sports and just bring the MM.

I see, that it will take a long time, to learn, how to handle the files - they are quite different, especially the response in contrast and curve, compared to the M8.2 and the M9 (which by themselves are two entirely different cameras).

… early Shanghai traffic hours:

L1052653-M%20Monochrom-M%20Monochrom%20-%20first%20shots%20-%20man%20on%20bicycle.jpg


… bringing the kid to school, while having breakfast, riding the e-bike:

L1052658-M%20Monochrom-M%20Monochrom%20-%20first%20shots%20-%20mother%20and%20child%20on%20e-bike.jpg


… breakfast pancakes (did I mention, that I really like that 75/2.5 Heliar on the MM - here @ ƒ4):

L1052663-M%20Monochrom-M%20Monochrom%20-%20first%20shots%20-%20pancake.jpg


… Yesterdays dog owner:

L1052664-M%20Monochrom-M%20Monochrom%20-%20first%20shots%20-%20man%20walking%20dog.jpg
 
Nice images so far Dirk, the two bike ones are quite interesting being next to each other as well.

You're very right about the ISO levels, its fantastic to be able to shoot really late at night.

Never stop learning
I find it sad when people stop learning. They give up doing anything new and just let life pass them by. Learning is what life is about. What have you learnt recently?
 
Thanks Kevin, Kristian and Peter!
Too bad, there is not much time for shooting just right now !@#$%

Great fun, to follow, what others do with this camera, but I suppose, it all comes down to normal after a while - it's the same Leica M after all, we know and use for a while already, just with different specs, helpful to people, who shoot B&W and benefit from better low light behavior and acuity, back into the direction, the M8 was.
 
ramosa said:
i really need to stop visiting this thread, as my MM lust is becoming problematic ...
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I keep returning to see the beautiful pictures and to hope that someone will post saying "Look, with one of the new modules for Hipstamatic you can get the same thing with your iPhone." I don't really hope that, but maybe the M9.....? No, I don't really hope that either.
 
Richard G said:
... I don't really hope that, but maybe the M9.....? No, I don't really hop that either.
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Hi Richard,

the M9 is truly great but the MM, apart from only recording in grey scale, does have an even higher acutance. It is pretty obvious that the Bayer array color filter does degrade the IQ that gets through the lens. The MM is a full step closer to what your lenses can deliver. If that is really necessary, everybody has to decide for himself.
For me the MM delivers a B&W picture, any conversion of a color file into B&W, for me at least, is just that: a color picture w/o color. Some might work out ok but it is not the real thing.

If you have chance for test ride of an MM, go for it and take a look at those files - just in case you are not convinced already 😀
 
I can manage without the increased resolution over the M9 and I am even content to derive black and white from colour, digital: it's the tones that are the real siren call from the pictures I see here. Amazing that Leica's own promoters of the camera don't get from it what it really can deliver, as shown here on RFF.
 
Johnmcd said:
Hi Matt,

Just looking at all the wonderful M-M images which also brought me to your zenfolio site. The 70's images are absolutely wonderful and exactly the type of photography I enjoy. It is a fascinating look back in time that you have documented for all generations to see. Photography like this is what makes me want to go out and take more images which will be a moment in 'this' time for the future to view. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers - John
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Johnmcd: Thanks for looking! I keep going back to my old film scans, every so often, and adding them to that set. Sounds cliched, but, it does bring back memories.

Cheers, Matt

BTW: Looked briefly at your Zenfolio site. I'll have to spend more time there, but, your Theodore Roosevelt quote was a great introduction. I'll be back.
 
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