Leica M Monochrom: best pics

[cam]

Just purchased one.. On Tuesday will be mine.. pffff CAN'T WAIT!

Love your work but I'm wondering.. is better to use old lens? Because the contrast... I decided to buy the Cron 28 (which I believe is one of the top 3), and I Don't know if sell the lux asph 50 and buy again a Sonnar.. or what!

Cheers!

congratulations!

old lenses do look gorgeous on this camera, but so do newer ones -- like the 28 Summicron you just got. i would wait and see what you think with the lenses you have before you do anything foolish like selling that 50 Summilux Asph.

eta: i've found that this camera is really good at bringing out the character of all sorts of lenses. you'll really know pretty soon whether you like it or not on the camera.

 

[Bruno Gracia]

mmm.. thanks!

I also have a Sumarit 50 1.5 .... can't say another words than gorgeus!

 

[Calzone]

Just purchased one.. On Tuesday will be mine.. pffff CAN'T WAIT!

Love your work but I'm wondering.. is better to use old lens? Because the contrast... I decided to buy the Cron 28 (which I believe is one of the top 3), and I Don't know if sell the lux asph 50 and buy again a Sonnar.. or what!

Cheers!

Don't sell the 50 Lux ASPH: you'll regret it. It matches wonderfully with a 28 Cron. I own both. This is an ideal lens pair. You are a lucky guy.

For old glass I use a 35/2.8 Summaron and a 35/1.8 Nikkor.

BTW I find using a 2X yellow filter compresses the contrast to hit the sweet spot of the sensor for nice rich mid-range. This compression also does away with a lot of the clipping either minimizing or eliminating the signal that either is too dark or too light.

Congrates on your Monochrom.

Cal

 

[xdayv]

Don't sell the 50 Lux ASPH: you'll regret it. It matches wonderfully with a 28 Cron. I own both. This is an ideal lens pair. You are a lucky guy.

For old glass I use a 35/2.8 Summaron and a 35/1.8 Nikkor.

BTW I find using a 2X yellow filter compresses the contrast to hit the sweet spot of the sensor for nice rich mid-range. This compression also does away with a lot of the clipping either minimizing or eliminating the signal that either is too dark or too light.

Congrates on your Monochrom.

Cal

Cal, I have to agree with the Lux!

re: yellow filter - you mentioned 2X, how would this equate to say like b+w filters? (ie. B+W yellow 22)

 

[MichaelToye]

Reflected [Explored May 3, 2013 #178] by michael_toye, on Flickr

 

[airfrogusmc]

One from early today. Graduation...

 

[xdayv]

Allen, you captured it so well!

 

[Calzone]

Dave,

You are correct. I like B&W MRC versions because not only are they easier to clean, but the also seem to stay cleaner. I use B&W 22, 40 and 41.

Set up your clipping indicators at 1% and take two shots: one with a 2X yellow; and one without. The histogram says it all when you look at the clipping, especially on a brightly lit scene/subject.

Cal

Cal, I have to agree with the Lux!

re: yellow filter - you mentioned 2X, how would this equate to say like b+w filters? (ie. B+W yellow 22)

 

[ashwinrao1]

W Nikkor 3.5 cm f/1.8 LTM and MM

W Nikkor 3.5 cm f/1.8 LTM and MM

 

[ashwinrao1]

MM and 5 cm f/3.5 Elmar LTM (red dial)

MM and 5 cm f/3.5 Elmar LTM (red dial)

 

[xdayv]

Dave,

You are correct. I like B&W MRC versions because not only are they easier to clean, but the also seem to stay cleaner. I use B&W 22, 40 and 41.

Set up your clipping indicators at 1% and take two shots: one with a 2X yellow; and one without. The histogram says it all when you look at the clipping, especially on a brightly lit scene/subject.

Cal

Cheers Cal!

 

[MichaelToye]

Working Lunch by michael_toye, on Flickr

 

[Calzone]

Ashwin,

You and I are very lucky guys to own a 35/1.8 Nikkor in LTM. Only about 1.5K were evermade. I find the rendering of this lens to be great on the Monochrom, and it is so small with no VF'er blockage.

BTW I use a Heliopan brass 43mm to 49mm as a hood with a 43mm 2X yellow filter.

Cal

 

[icebear]

Dave,

You are correct. I like B&W MRC versions because not only are they easier to clean, but the also seem to stay cleaner. I use B&W 22, 40 and 41.

Set up your clipping indicators at 1% and take two shots: one with a 2X yellow; and one without. The histogram says it all when you look at the clipping, especially on a brightly lit scene/subject.

Cal

I ordered a B+W 22 MRC for my Planar as I sometimes have blown highlights and just dialing in -2/3 exposure corrections causes to much loss in the shadows. I'm curious about the yellow filter on the MM. I'll bring it to the June "LIC Death March".

And one more recent MM example (no highlight issues😉) :
2/35 cron asph in "just after sunset" light

 

[segedi]

Some shots from Calgary

35mm FLE


21mm ZM Biogon-C






28mm Elmarit

 

[Calzone]

I ordered a B+W 22 MRC for my Planar as I sometimes have blown highlights and just dialing in -2/3 exposure corrections causes to much loss in the shadows. I'm curious about the yellow filter on the MM. I'll bring it to the June "LIC Death March".

And one more recent MM example (no highlight issues😉) :
2/35 cron asph in "just after sunset" light

Klaus,

In any kind of brightness a B&W 22 (2X yellow) either eliminates any clipping or greatly diminshes the clipping. I found that setting the clipping indicators to 1% along with viewing the histogram to clearly display the benefits of using filters on the Monochrom. Also know that the sensor reponds well giving a mid-range tonal scale that resembles medium format.

I'll let the cat outa the bag. I'm in the process of securing a 21/3.4 Super Elmar. I want a small format ultra-wide that has the same FOV as my Plaubel 69W. I intend on shooting the Super Elmar for verticals as the width of a 21 shot in portrait mode matches the width of a 28mm which is my favorite focal length. The idea is to use the Monochrom with a 21mm shot vertically to shoot the square. The cropping, something I generally never do, allows for perspective control. Basically I will be using my Monochrom for shooting the square like as if it were a Rollie-wide, except I will have the benefit of perspective contol through the cropping.

I'm thinking that the resolution of the Monochrome sensor, plus the use of filters for rich detailed mid-range will be very close to medium format, except I might not be able to print as large as film. Perhaps a 14 or 16 inch square in digital. I'm thinking that the quality is there or very close.

Cal

 

[Vince Lupo]

One shot from a Sunday wine tasting....


WineTasting by Vince.Lupo, on Flickr

 

[airfrogusmc]

 

[menos]

Long time no see in this thread ;-)

A few quick ones (didn't use the Mono much, as I got a few medium format monsters to lug around recently):


taxi driver by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


taxi driver by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


miu miu by teknopunk.com, on Flickr


3 wheels by teknopunk.com, on Flickr

 

[ashwinrao1]

Cal, thanks! Your images and reports were part of why I decided to go for the W Nikkor. It's a stunning lens worthy of it's high regard.

Great work to all above (Dirk, Vince, David, Allen, et al)

A couple more from me:

W-Nikkor 35 mm f/1.8 LTM

Red scale Elmar (crop)