Monochrom users a few questions

[dolina]

I am eying to get my first M and narrowed it down to the Monochrom.

May I know what quirks I should be aware of that are Monochrom-specific. No need for a briefing on RangeFinder cameras. I am willing to learn with the camera.

I define quirks as memory card compatibilities, firmware upgrades and other things.

 

[airfrogusmc]

I am eying to get my first M and narrowed it down to the Monochrom.

May I know what quirks I should be aware of that are Monochrom-specific. No need for a briefing on RangeFinder cameras. I am willing to learn with the camera.

I define quirks as memory card compatibilities, firmware upgrades and other things.

DO NOT over expose if the highlights are IMPORTANT to the image. Noise is very low even at high ISO and there is a lot of room in the toe so shoot like you would transparency film 1/3 or so under and do not expose to the right and you will be fine.

 

[dolina]

DO NOT over expose if the highlights are IMPORTANT to the image. Noise is very low even at high ISO and there is a lot of room in the toe so shoot like you would transparency film 1/3 or so under and do not expose to the right and you will be fine.

Sent you a PM on POTN. 😉

So do you expose to the left?

 

[airfrogusmc]

Sent you a PM on POTN. 😉

So do you expose to the left?

I just try not to over expose. Still trying to get grip on it all. I haven't shot with a Leica M in a couple decades so its not only learning the exposure its also learning to see again with the rangefinder.

 

[dolina]

- slow write speed
- small buffer
- memory card incompatibility
- banding at high ISOs
- attracts sensor dust easily
- It also has a really poor LCD screen

... what else? EyeFi, Transcend or Sandisk work with the Mono?

 

[furcafe]

None of those are specific to the Monochrom, as they're carry-overs from the M9 (except that the banding occurs at higher ISOs on the Monchrom?). In that vein, EyeFi & other Wifi cards won't work because of the solid metal baseplate.

- slow write speed
- small buffer
- memory card incompatibility
- banding at high ISOs
- attracts sensor dust easily
- It also has a really poor LCD screen

... what else? EyeFi, Transcend or Sandisk work with the Mono?

 

[airfrogusmc]

Banding is a non issue but the LCD screen is not great but thats not something that determines the quality of a camera for me. My 35 lux is stuck on it LoL so sensor dust is a non issue for me because I'm not changing lenses. I have sandisc extreme 32 gb cards and have had no problems.

 

[cam]

the buffer is small, but is significantly sped up if you only shoot RAW. i did it last night for the first time (i usually shoot JPEG as well so i can do a quick look on the mac which still doesn't support the files). if you are a typical rangefinder photographer, sticking with RAW should be fast enough.

banding IS an issue if you shoot at a high enough ISO and severely under-expose... there is far more latitude than the M8 or M9, but still... to say it doesn't happen is untrue. it just hasn't happened to you (talking to airfrogusmc).

i had an eyelash or something right out of the box that shook itself away in a day or two, but no dust yet... i honestly don't think it is any worse than any other camera i've owned. an over-blown issue unless you shoot frequently stopped down in bright light.

the screen sucks, but i don't chimp much so it doesn't fuss me... it is what it is. if a decent screen is important, the OP should wait for the M.

i would stay away from 32GB cards and invest in a couple of 16GB instead. 32 can stutter at times.

another issue is that the Discreet mode does not work on the Monochrom yet -- and, unfortunately, it may never. (getting the new M won't help as they have done away with it altogether.) some still use this mode, but you're in for missed shots, etc.

all that said, the Monochrom is a singularly stunning camera that continues to amaze me every day.

 

[airfrogusmc]

the buffer is small, but is significantly sped up if you only shoot RAW. i did it last night for the first time (i usually shoot JPEG as well so i can do a quick look on the mac which still doesn't support the files). if you are a typical rangefinder photographer, sticking with RAW should be fast enough.

banding IS an issue if you shoot at a high enough ISO and severely under-expose... there is far more latitude than the M8 or M9, but still... to say it doesn't happen is untrue. it just hasn't happened to you (talking to airfrogusmc).

i had an eyelash or something right out of the box that shook itself away in a day or two, but no dust yet... i honestly don't think it is any worse than any other camera i've owned. an over-blown issue unless you shoot frequently stopped down in bright light.

the screen sucks, but i don't chimp much so it doesn't fuss me... it is what it is. if a decent screen is important, the OP should wait for the M.

i would stay away from 32GB cards and invest in a couple of 16GB instead. 32 can stutter at times.

another issue is that the Discreet mode does not work on the Monochrom yet -- and, unfortunately, it may never. (getting the new M won't help as they have done away with it altogether.) some still use this mode, but you're in for missed shots, etc.

all that said, the Monochrom is a singularly stunning camera that continues to amaze me every day.

Huh, it did? I don't see much if any banding anyway not near the banding you see in color digital files. You're right about the discrete mode but I have yet to have any problems with 32gb cards almost 5K through the MM . I don't process in LR. I do everything in CS4 and I find the files easier to get the way I like them than converting.

 

[dolina]

airfrogusmc: if it isn't a bother could you post the model # of your 32GB card? And thank you for your forthright feedback.

cam: if it isn't a bother could you post the model # of your 16GB card? And thank you for your forthright feedback.

furcafe: thank you for insights.

 

[Lss]

another issue is that the Discreet mode does not work on the Monochrom yet -- and, unfortunately, it may never.

I didn't know that. Does it have the same discreet/continuous problem the M8 apparently had ages ago, or does it not work at all?

 

[jaapv]

As a matter of fact it does work, it just has a bug that causes the camera to freeze sporadically if you use discreet in conjunction with the "continuous" setting. Now why anybody would want to use those two settings in combination is quite beyond me.
If you are the type that wears braces and a belt you may want to switch discreet off to avoid making this mistake.

 

[jaapv]

- attracts sensor dust easily

I see a commonality - the name Leica attracts bashers...🙄

 

[Lss]

As a matter of fact it does work, it just has a bug that causes the camera to freeze sporadically if you use discreet in conjunction with the "continuous" setting. Now why anybody would want to use those two settings in combination is quite beyond me.

Thanks, so it is basically the same bug that M8 used to have and which has been fixed for it. It is therefore not worrying. (But it is sloppy engineering to reintroduce the bug.)

To address your point about the combination of the settings, it indeed makes no sense to use them together. However, while it is sometimes necessary to quickly switch from single shot to continuous, it is not as quick to switch from discreet to normal as you need to use the menu to do it. The discreet mode is simply nicer/better, so I have it always activated. If the software was a bit more elegant, it would automatically switch the discreet mode off when you select continuous and only utilize it when single shot is selected. As this was fixed for the M8 in a firmware update, a software solution seems to be sufficient. It is regardless a design flaw/bug, not something to play down as user error.

 

[cam]

Huh, it did? I don't see much if any banding anyway not near the banding you see in color digital files. You're right about the discrete mode but I have yet to have any problems with 32gb cards almost 5K through the MM . I don't process in LR. I do everything in CS4 and I find the files easier to get the way I like them than converting.

to clarify, you have to under-expose pretty badly (read: user error) at high ISO to get it, but it is possible! i had it happen the other night -- for the first and hopefully last time when i set the shutter speed and, mea culpa, i think i stopped down the Noctilux in very low light 😱

the camera has been so amazing at shooting in conditions that where never possible before that i think i got too cocky. (i also may have fed one of my old M8/M9 batteries into it and that can be at fault since i didn't have issues earlier in the evening on a few weird exposures.)

i honestly think you have to work really, really hard to make it band!

cam: if it isn't a bother could you post the model # of your 16GB card? And thank you for your forthright feedback.

SanDisk Extreme SDHC 30MB/s

I didn't know that. Does it have the same discreet/continuous problem the M8 apparently had ages ago, or does it not work at all?

Discreet always worked for me on the M8 unless i put it mistakenly on Continuous. this is a different issue.

in Discreet, Single, it behaves as Jaap has stated below:

As a matter of fact it does work, it just has a bug that causes the camera to freeze sporadically if you use discreet in conjunction with the "continuous" setting. Now why anybody would want to use those two settings in combination is quite beyond me.
If you are the type that wears braces and a belt you may want to switch discreet off to avoid making this mistake.

i agree with him, btw, and see no reason for anyone to use the two together. however, this is an issue in single shot mode -- not just continuous (which i never ever use).

i am normally a Discreet shooter so, even in noisy conditions, i much prefer to use it... it is glitchy enough on the Monochrom, though, that i have switched it off as getting the "moment" is more important. i'm not enjoying shooting it as much this way and truly hope they'll make it work properly in the next firmware. (i believe Dirk is shooting it in this mode and willing to put up with the occasional freezes.)

I see a commonality - the name Leica attracts bashers...🙄

true.

 

[Lss]

however, this is an issue in single shot mode -- not just continuous (which i never ever use).

So, it is then a different problem than what M8 had after all. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

(My chances of getting a Monochrom are slim, but I would definitely prefer using discreet like on M8.)

 

[cam]

So, it is then a different problem than what M8 had after all. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

(My chances of getting a Monochrom are slim, but I would definitely prefer using discreet like on M8.)

yes, that is my experience.

(rather than the M8, you should think of it more like the M9 and it's current firmware. Discreet shooters had to go back to 1.176 if they prefer to use it as such.)

and, as i said, i am a Discreet shooter but i knew going in that this was an issue on the Monochrom. i had to make a decision if i could live without it, and the pros on this camera far outweighed not having Discreet.

i would, however, be overjoyed if they can fix this issue! this camera is such a joy to use and that would be the cherry on top 😀

 

[airfrogusmc]

to clarify, you have to under-expose pretty badly (read: user error) at high ISO to get it, but it is possible! i had it happen the other night -- for the first and hopefully last time when i set the shutter speed and, mea culpa, i think i stopped down the Noctilux in very low light 😱

the camera has been so amazing at shooting in conditions that where never possible before that i think i got too cocky. (i also may have fed one of my old M8/M9 batteries into it and that can be at fault since i didn't have issues earlier in the evening on a few weird exposures.)

i honestly think you have to work really, really hard to make it band!

Sorry ok now I see what you're saying and yes I have yet to see any significant banding. The more I shoot with this camera the more I want to shoot and to have a lot more flexibility in regards to the level of light you can shoot in just makes me love it more and I have DSLRs that are good in low light but this camera is a real jewel in that regard.

 

[cam]

Sorry ok now I see what you're saying and yes I have yet to see any significant banding. The more I shoot with this camera the more I want to shoot and to have a lot more flexibility in regards to the level of light you can shoot in just makes me love it more and I have DSLRs that are good in low light but this camera is a real jewel in that regard.

i'm definitely leaning towards the perfect storm -- shooting at 10000, -1 EV, card error (i will keep an eye on this one), using a battery i should retire, and stopping down in low light with a fixed shutter (user over-enthusiasm).

(as an aside, the light of the evening was bad enough that if i'd had the M9 i would have cried, put it away, and just gotten drunk... my boyfriend was shooting on an OMD and had metering and auto-focus issues, as well as banding at lower ISO. on the plus side, though, his camera succeeded at the point mine failed. it was the end of evening hoots and applause and i'm a bit gutted mine didn't turn out.)

still, i've not seen it before but this block of nine or so pics are really truly bad (hence my wondering about the card): banding and with noise only a mother could love -- that or a b/w pointillist 😛

 

[lukitas]

did you shoot those banded shots very fast, or in continuous mode?