M Typ 240 vs M Monochrom

[MCTuomey]

The MM is inevitably controversial because it confuses the line between subjective and objective criteria. It's kind of symptomatic of the globalized interconnected world in which we live that people feel very uneasy in the presence of others with their own subjective judgment, and seek to rely on quantified data. There is something about images in general that ought to give pause to thought about the follies of this approach, but few seem to heed it.

so very well said

 

[airfrogusmc]

I chose the MM because I have been seeing and working in B&W for some time now. I studied the zone system and have shot a lot with large format but that was years ago. The past few years I have been seeing B&W and when Leica announced the MM since I hadn't picked a Leica M up in a couple decades I borrowed a good friends M9 for a while and feel in love with it but really thought if the MM had good high ISO response I would definitely get one. I can photograph, because of the high ISO capabilities, and capture images that I couldn't capture with the M9. Being able to shoot action and trying to find the moment at 3200 and 6400 ISO opens up the possibilities of consistently shooting at high shutter speeds to freeze action and large DoF to keep the things I my need in focus to be in focus. For fast moving environments that I do like work in for my personal work this made the MM a no brainer for me. I think if Leica comes out in the future with an M-E with the new sensor I will seriously think about getting one. A stripped sown version of the new M would be exactly what the Dr ordered and I will dump all of my Canon gear and move completely to Leica which is the plan now. I still need color for most of my professional work.

 

[semilog]

I chose the MM because I have been seeing and working in B&W for some time now…

Clearly articulated.

 

[cer_ou_nao_cer]

I think Steve Huff in his recent review of the 240 answers the question pretty well. Here again, I think one area in which the Monochrom excels is in the higher ISO's / lower light. Even with the 240's new sensor, Steve still feels that the Monochrom has it beat in higher ISO's. But it's possible that we're splitting hairs!

BTW, here is a set of photos that I did last year with my M9 -- all shot RAW, but I used the JPEG to help me 'see' the scene in black and white:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/direction-one-inc/8070349810/in/set-72157631728477365/lightbox/

And here is one that I did over Christmas with the Monochrom. Now, I had just gotten the camera, so I was still getting used to it.....heck, I think I am STILL getting used to it!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/direction-one-inc/8332954073/in/set-72157632399810869/lightbox/

The tonality of Monochrome is far better to my eyes and much better dynamic range too (again, to me) with that subtle graduation that pleases me most.

 

[L Collins]

I chose the MM because I have been seeing and working in B&W for some time now.

Good enough reason to use the MM.

same reason I continue to shoot b&w film (is there anything else?).

Without opening up the proverbial can of worms, it seems to me that the MM is a digital attempt to replicate the look and tonality of film. I found it instructive to see that Leica markets the MM with SEP2.

I've been busy lately scanning 45 years of personal work I was lucky enough to sandwich in between professional obligations. All of it B&W. Makes me realize, once more, that that b&w film look simply can't be replicated digitally. Of course, this is distinct from claiming one is "better" than another.

 

[sojournerphoto]

Keep M9, buy ZI

Sell M9, buy 240 and ZI

wonder why you kept a digital body
run out of time and wonder why you bother with film
repeat

 

[jaapv]

Without opening up the proverbial can of worms, it seems to me that the MM is a digital attempt to replicate the look and tonality of film. I found it instructive to see that Leica markets the MM with SEP2.
.

i think you are mistaken. The Monochrome images don't look like B&W film images at all. SEP is great software, but replicating film in digital is kitsch imo.

 

[Koni Kowa]

I did that for the first 25 years of my adult life- its time to try something different ! 😉

I did not know there were choice between film and digital 25 years ago... 😉

 

[Tom Niblick]

I did that for the first 25 years of my adult life- its time to try something different ! 😉

I would be hard pressed to run my business on film today. I did for nearly 30 years. I needed an E6 line for the 4x5 and 8x10 copy trannies, two lith film processors for the film my scanners generated and half a dozen trash cans for the waste. Today I'm chemical and film free and loving it! I'll never go back - not even to use a camera as great as a MP.

 

[jsrockit]

I did not know there were choice between film and digital 25 years ago... 😉

Well, 23 years ago...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak_DCS_100

 

[Tom Niblick]

Well, 23 years ago...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak_DCS_100

Yeah, I was counting on my fingers too.

I was shooting with a loaner Kodak DCS (460?) in 1996-1997. $28,000, 1.33 crop, hot mirror filter, thick as a brick... I passed. Five years later, when the cameras were in the $7k range and PhaseOne had a scanback for $12,995, I became a digital convert.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Just noticed these. Once you get your M (240), you might consider adding this beauty to it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-Arte-di...5?pt=US_Camera_Cases_Bags&hash=item3381033757

 

[luuca]

"arte di mano"?!?

ok, I notice now he is not italian... I forgive him 😛

 

[srtiwari]

Just noticed these. Once you get your M (240), you might consider adding this beauty to it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-Arte-di...5?pt=US_Camera_Cases_Bags&hash=item3381033757

Pricey !! But, then again, so is the Typ 240.
But the 'fit and finish' seem nicer than Luigi's...

 

[Vince Lupo]

I have the 'Arte di Mano' case for my Monochrom, and the quality and fit are outstanding (just watch the little video embedded in the eBay listing, and you'll see the attention to detail). If a half-case is your thing, these are highly recommended!

 

[Borge H]

Why not also have an option:

6) Buy a new M and keep the M9?

Is not the the sensor in MM the same as in M9 (and M9-P), but without color filter? Is not the results from a M9 good enough? I can´t complain! I used to think that Mono M was a market niche for people who usually buy titanium cameras and have pockets full of cash?

If I had the money I would buy a new M instead of a mono M and keep my M9.

With a new M you can use many new lenses (like the K-mount) with adapters and the electronic Visoflex. I think this will be interesting....

 

[MichaelToye]

The Monochrom is my preferred machine, so

6) Keep Monochrom, don't bother with M240.

 

[icebear]

Here some optical analysis results (resolution) from Mr. Puts :
http://www.imx.nl/photo/leica/leica-m-part-2-comparison.html

These numbers seem to be in line what has been commented before by the few reviewers who compared the M and MM.

 

[eleskin]

M or MM? Maybe MM for B&W and X-Pro for color?

M or MM? Maybe MM for B&W and X-Pro for color?

Well, 80% of my work is black and white so I guess the monochrom is probably the best for me. I too would like an M and MM but my bank account can only handle one camera so my thoughts are a M mono with the color going to the X-Pro1 and maybe my M8 as well.

How logical does this sound?

 

[icebear]

Sounds perfectly logical, you'll love the MM.