Leica M Monochrom: best pics

Guys I've said it before on Leica's blog and I'll say it again. The MM is not worth buying over the M9 for 'better' black and white tones. It's different yes, but better, no.

Where it kills the M9 dead is in pixel sharpness and high ISO performance - not even worth wasting 10 minutes to compare, IMHO. Hope that puts an end to it so we can all enjoy the 'best pics' from the M Monochrom. Cheers
 
One of the temptations is to look at say Jazrm's marvellous theatre work with the M9 and tell yourself you can manage with just the M9. And for the moment I will stick with the M9 alone. But the Monochrom is really something else and Jazrm has one now too and for certain work it blows the M9 out of the water comprehensively such that no side by side comparison is necessary.
 
leicashot said:
Guys I've said it before on Leica's blog and I'll say it again. The MM is not worth buying over the M9 for 'better' black and white tones. It's different yes, but better, no
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empirically I think you are wrong.
After comparing my M9 and MM extensively, the MM has a far richer range of tones, especially in the mid-range.
The colour filters of the beyer array seem to arrange pure tone, after conversion, into steps.
 
colonel said:
empirically I think you are wrong.
After comparing my M9 and MM extensively, the MM has a far richer range of tones, especially in the mid-range.
The colour filters of the beyer array seem to arrange pure tone, after conversion, into steps.
Click to expand...

More tones may not be what people are looking for. To be honest I'm happy to forgo the extra tones for the ability to move color sliders in post. Having to use filters is not something I missed since going digital.

I have seen many amazing black and white pictures from color digital including my D800E that is no where near coming close to second to the MM.

....oops....yes now back to the darn picture posting please!!! lol
 
leicashot said:
To be honest I'm happy to forgo the extra tones for the ability to move color sliders in post. Having to use filters is not something I missed since going digital.
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Since going back to B&W film from digital B&W, I miss the ability to adjust color filters in post. :)
 
ISO 5000 fun

ISO 5000 fun



ISO 5000 is amazing, because it seems to maintain the dynamic range. The only reason why there is any visible noise in this picture is because I pushed the shadows
 
If you enhance the blacks and make a black point the image will improve and the noise get less I think :).
 
The MM seems to be an even more polarizing camera than the Fuji X series cameras. Didn't think it was possible.
 
jsrockit said:
The MM seems to be an even more polarizing camera than the Fuji X series cameras. Didn't think it was possible.
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there is no polarization on the MM
you either have it or you don't ;)

We should keep this thread to pictures
I am happy to explain in detail the improvements of the MM over the M9, and in fact any other camera available at the moment, but only on another thread
 
jcrutcher said:
Some Harsh light conditions.

MM with Noctilux .095 F8
Processed my normal way LR4 + photoshop curves

Same final shot from above plus Silver Efex 2 preset Dynamic Range Harsh

I prefer the top one, what do you guys think?
Jim
Click to expand...

Can't see it too well on my work monitor, but I prefer the top one
I haven't bothered installing Silver Efex 2 yet.
My impression was that this software was good for getting good conversions from colour, rather then a picture already in monochomre, e.g. the MM.
What is your experience of SE2, is it any good ?
 
colonel said:
Can't see it too well on my work monitor, but I prefer the top one
I haven't bothered installing Silver Efex 2 yet.
My impression was that this software was good for getting good conversions from colour, rather then a picture already in monochomre, e.g. the MM.
What is your experience of SE2, is it any good ?
Click to expand...


I've used SE2 for a while now. About 2/3 of my digital B&W are converted with SE2 the balance in LR4. I also use SE2 for scanned B&W film mainly to use the control point option. I rarely use one of the presets, usually use a one of the film type pull downs. My first guess on the mono is to try the film selection and see how that works. So long answer I'm not sure how SE2 will be used with the mono but I'm willing to try it and learn.
 
I do not like SE. It is too easy to get overprocessed results. The Monochrom does best with either LR4 or CS 6 without using plugins in my hands.
 
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