Leica Monochrom M246

[Calzone]

I think I'm in the same boat as calzone, in that Leica made a digital camera just for me in the monochrom! Unfortunately, I don't have the funds to get the new one too, but I'm not worried about that.

M,

I don't have the funds either. I'm not selling my MM, but I feel the M-246 is another dream come true. I feel like Leica is really targeting me. In another thread I state that "The new M-246 is a camera I can't live without."

Seems like another camera especially made for me.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

Are my comments bothering you?

No, but I guess I'm bothering you. I meant no disrespect. I'll leave you alone now.

 

[jsrockit]

In my opinion viewing distance in a gallery is a myth. If patrons can get up to the print, they will get up to the print. The usual caveats about billboard images is correct, because no one sees them up close or even within hundreds of feet usually, but something in a gallery is a different animal.

I agree... but do you expect perfection in a 5x6 foot print up close? I don't. However, to see the whole image, you have no choice but to stand back somewhat. I do know that my non-photography friends do not go up to an image and look for artifacts... they would only go up to look at a fine detail in the content.

 

[_lou_]

http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/leica-monochrome-officially-announced

and at Leica: http://uk.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/LEICA-M-MONOCHROM2/Details

Will its sensor rot, too ?

 

[JeffNYC]

John,

Looks like Leica made another camera especially built for me. I want to know the price pronto so perhaps I can pre order one. I was wise when the M-240 came out to secure a chrome 90 Macro Elmar to exploit possible live view to use this camera also as a scanner.

I still love my CCD look on my Monochrom. How cool to have another M-body with another sensor. I'm in heaven. Another dream comes true, and I'm a lucky guy.

Thank you Leica.

Cal

This is like the price is right...
Cal, I'm going $7995

 

[Godfrey]

Will its sensor rot, too ?

Jono Slack is a beta tester that worked with the new Monochrom2, code named "Elliot" (the original Monochrom is code named "Henri"). The question came up on another forum:

V: Is Elliot's cover(glass), less prone to pitting than Henri's? That is the US $7450 question.

JS: It's completely different - so I'm almost certain that it's not prone at all - Certainly, nobody at Leica is worried about it!

My understanding is that the CMOSIS sensors in typ 240 and 246 cameras are not prone to any of the sensor issues that were seen in the Kodak designed sensors in the M8-M9-MMonochrom series of cameras. They're of a completely different genera.

G

 

[robbeiflex]

Will its sensor rot, too ?

No, this is rather a way to update the product line to eliminate new sensors problems from going to market.

The remaining question is: When will the M-E Typ 24x arrive?

 

[Vince Lupo]

They're supposed to be shipping mid-May. I already spoke to my Leica 'pusher', and I'll maybe look into one later on in the year. Gotta save the pennies first!

 

[Corran]

Also know that I shoot a lot of B&W in 120 in 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9. The Monochrom gets really close to 120 film in tonality, and I definately get the mids of medium format.

I don't doubt it - I find the D800E with a good lens/technique can just about match a typical 4x5 image scanned on a consumer flatbed like most people do, at least in terms of digital resolution. A wet print vs. wet print scenario wouldn't be the same deal. Tonality is a different story either way.

I agree... but do you expect perfection in a 5x6 foot print up close?

Personally, yes, in some instances.

I do know that my non-photography friends do not go up to an image and look for artifacts... they would only go up to look at a fine detail in the content.

Right, and at 70 DPI native it isn't going to be there, is my point. At least not comparatively to a print at a higher DPI.

 

[Daniel Teoli Jr.]

Really cool! In part because this means the first Monochrom will now be 'outdated' (not really, of course), which will hopefully drive down the prices. Maybe in a year or two-three I'll actually be able to afford one!

Dunno. it would seem the old MM is more like the no screen $20,000 Leica. this one has live view, that is a downgrade for the no screen crowd.

 

[Daniel Teoli Jr.]

If you are printing a 5x6 foot print, it won't have to hold-up up close. Large images in Museums have been made with way worse files.

Giant prints many times are made from hi res scans of 8 x 10 prints.

 

[airfrogusmc]

My last exhibit were all 18 X 12 prints in 20 X 24 mats and frames and some friends of mine (silver gelatin heads one was one of my college professors) were amazed at the print quality of the ink jet prints from the MM. I shot with Blads for decades and I agree that the files are a lot like medium format B&W as far as sharpness and tonality. The range in the MM files are spectacular.

And wanted to say the the 18 MP original mono has been compared to the D800 in regards to sharpness and DR because it is native B&W. No RGB to deal with. I know my files from my MM beat the files from 5DII and IIIs

 

[Jan Pedersen]

This new M 246 got me dreaming. I never thought i would buy a new Leica since i bought my M6 in 86
It is a lot of money for a camera body so it will take some sacrifices to buy one but the itch have started now.
I look forward to see some images and reviews both here and on other forums.

 

[asiafish]

I scrimped, saved and even sold my Harley-Davidson to buy the original M Monochrom and a pair of Leica lenses two-years-ago. The new one looks like an improvement in almost every way, and I hope Leica sells a boatload of them.

Me though, I plan on continuing to explore my current Monochrom for years to come. It has been, and will remain my prized possession, a true source of inspiration and an absolute pleasure to own and use. Oh, and the image quality is INCREDIBLE!

 

[MIkhail]

No, but I guess I'm bothering you. I meant no disrespect. I'll leave you alone now.

Sorry for being somewhat brush.

 

[Harry S.]

Some pictures from Iceland shot with the new M Monochrom (Typ 246) are up on the Leica blog:

http://blog.leica-camera.com/photography/m-system/ragnar-axelsson-around-iceland-in-80-hours/

I struggle to believe that a competent photographer couldn't achieve those images with an M240 or any other modern digital color camera.

To this day I still don't see the hype of the MM, and B&W was all I did for the first few years of this hobby.

 

[airfrogusmc]

It's not hype. Once you work with the files you know it's not hype but even more than that it's about not using B&W as a second choice or a fallback. It's like putting a roll of B&W film in your camera and fully committing to that vision. That way of seeing.

 

[jsrockit]

Right, and at 70 DPI native it isn't going to be there, is my point. At least not comparatively to a print at a higher DPI.

True, but I think there's not a one size fits all answer for me. It just depends on what the image is.

 

[jsrockit]

Sorry for being somewhat brush.

Hey, no problem. Sorry for the confusion. 🙂

 

[Calzone]

This is like the price is right...
Cal, I'm going $7995

Jeff,

I like the $7495.00 price better.

Cal