Leica Monochrom M246

Just got off the phone with Leica NJ, and the answer to the upgrade program is 'not at the moment'. They're waiting to hear from Germany what the plan is, how much trade-in allowance there will be, etc. And if they do go ahead with it, they probably won't fulfill those trade-ins for a couple of months, as the initial M246 supply will be limited.

This is according to Jim in customer service at Leica NJ.

I am feeling a bit torn between 'upgrading' to this new camera and keeping what I have. When the 'old' Monochrom can do this, I'm debating about the need to 'update':


Untitled by Vince.Lupo, on Flickr


Bob from Claunch by Vince.Lupo, on Flickr
 
Calzone said:
Willie,

...
How can IR signal help in B&W?

Cal
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The effect is similar to lens filters'. That is, light at red and green frequencies has more amplitude as IR contributions increase. These effects can not be simulated during post production for the same reason the early M8 IR contamination issue could not be remedied after the shutter closed.

The tonality (rendering is probably a better word) of skin (blood = heat and foliage will be affected by the IR levels. Perhaps the reports of superior B&W rendering in the early days of the M8 era were a function both lack of IR filtering and having a CFA layer.

CFA or not, on the downside some lenses transmit IR with spatial inhomogeneity (IR hot spots). Sometimes skin tonality appears odd or splotchy (athletes or anyone with increased blood flow to the face). Then there's the fact that IR frequencies focus on a different plane which could affect perceived clarity in subjects lit by strong IR sources.

Sincerely - I do not doubt your report of "cutting IR signal on my MM9 greatly helped with my signal to noise ratio, curbed or eliminated clipping, and helped promote broad histograms that were exposed to the right.". Yet I am at a complete loss for any physical explanation of these benefits.
 
I sold my MM last year to buy another toy (motorcycle :p) and I terribly miss it. My M4-P is here to stay, but I must say I was very happy with MM and Epson fiber paper/R3000 combo, and with increased air travels in the recent months, having a digital option for travel is always nice.

I don't need higher ISO capability as I'm quite fine with original MM's noise level at any given ISO. MM's benefit to me is really the convenience of digital, faster shutter speed and flexible ISO (so I can use wider range of apertures on my lenses without dealing with ND filter and such).

I'm sure I can probably get even better price if I wait a few more months, but the price is already coming down on the original MM. I'm seeing a silver edition with Leica warranty (certified pre-owned) for $4650 shipped... Damn. I might fall for this...
 
Harry S. said:
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.
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Sean Reid's site has exactly the comparisons you need. The rendering of the both Monochroms is simply different from a converted image. For two reasons:
The image is not interpolated from groups of pixels
There are no optical aberrations induced by the Bayer filter.
 
Sean's review was certainly worth reading. I have decided to stay with my MM v1 until the bugs are shaken out of the new MM246.

Of course, if I start having some sensor corrosion problems (absolutely no indications of that yet) then all bets are off.

So far my M9 and MM have been everything I had hoped for so no need to upgrade. However, it is certainly nice that Leica continues to push the envelope.
 
Well, that didn't take long. I fell for it. Silver edition MM1, below 200 shutter actuations, certified pre-owned with Leica warranty, coming from a Leica authorized dealer (I bought an M9-P from them in the past) for $4650 shipped.

I'm sure the new MM2 is superior product in many ways, and maybe one day I'll "upgrade" to it when MM3 comes out, but for now I'll enjoy the reunion with my favorite B/W cam.
 
Sug, congrats on your quick thinking! :D The MM is a fascinating camera and I admire Leica for producing it. When I first got my M8 I intended it for B&W use, learning an important lesson that I'm a color photographer, and the flexibility and control conveniently achieved with digital imaging made it the path I wanted to follow. But that's just me... I hope and expect you'll have a ball with your MM! :)
 
Pioneer said:
Sean's review was certainly worth reading. I have decided to stay with my MM v1 until the bugs are shaken out of the new MM246.
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Are there some particular bugs that even those of us who don't pay for reviews should be aware of - or is this just a notion applying to any new product?

I have seen several reports on lockups with the M (Typ 240), but not all users have faced them. I guess this may happen with the new Monochrom as well.
 
UK dealers are listing the new model as limited to 500 so all the fence sitters waiting for corrosion could be left high and dry ( just trying to get the metaphors in :D)
 
coelacanth said:
Well, that didn't take long. I fell for it. Silver edition MM1, below 200 shutter actuations, certified pre-owned with Leica warranty, coming from a Leica authorized dealer (I bought an M9-P from them in the past) for $4650 shipped.

I'm sure the new MM2 is superior product in many ways, and maybe one day I'll "upgrade" to it when MM3 comes out, but for now I'll enjoy the reunion with my favorite B/W cam.
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That's a hell of a deal ... I think if I stumbled over something like that in Oz I'd have some trouble resisting. I'm not of a mind that the extra whistles and bells of the new model are needed for me. I don't use video on my 240 and I seldom go over 400 ISO ... live view is about all I use that the M9 didn't offer.

Like you I think the MM1 would do me fine. :)
 
ChrisLivsey said:
UK dealers are listing the new model as limited to 500 so all the fence sitters waiting for corrosion could be left high and dry ( just trying to get the metaphors in :D)
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Left high and dry? How do you mean?

In case you haven't been paying attention: http://en.leica-camera.com/World-of...ortant-Information-Concerning-the-CCD-Sensors

So no matter the age of the camera, whether you are the original or subsequent owner, Leica will replace the sensor at no charge if it's discovered to have the corrosion issue. I don't see how that's leaving a customer 'high and dry' if they choose to stick with the original Monochrom.
 
Thanks for clarifying your post -- I understand now where you're coming from. Sorry if I came across as 'uncivil' -- definitely not my intent.
 
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