Pentax Monochrome

agentlossing said:
How do you like street shoot with the Monochrome? And which lens(es) do you prefer?
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It’s ok. The shutter release is nice and responsive, moreso than the Leica M10 Monochrom I normally use. The viewfinder is great for a dSLR and tremendous for an APS-C dSLR, but still only so-so for critical focusing with shallow depth of field. The autofocus is ok but nowhere near modern mirrorless focusing systems (Sony A-1 seems otherworldly fast, for example) and can hunt a bit. The tonal representation is the best I’ve seen from a monochrome digital camera, and is better than Leica’s implementation in my view. I have the 15, 21, 35 and 70mm HD Limited lenses. I mostly use the 35 or 21 on the street. The photos above are from the 35mm Macro.

I’ll be switching back to my Leicas when they are back from service.
 
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Shab said:
Great pictures!

A question: Do you use the K-3 III Monochrome? Or a "monochromized" K-1?
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It is a K-3 iii Monochrome. I don’t like the artefacts that come with removing the microlenses to make a colour camera into a monochrome camera. I would prefer a full frame Monochrome camera, but I can only get what I can get.

Edit - I have a Leica Monochrom, but it’s being serviced.
 
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K3MP0027.jpg


2025:01:30 15:14:15 : PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome : 27mm : 200 ISO : F7.1 : 1/125 sec : 0 EV
 
halvmesyr said:
Keep coming back to this set! Really good stuff.

GASing over the monochrome over here. I am trying to get a similar look from my DP2 Merrill monochrome photos but I find it tricky.
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Thank you!

The reason I found Monochrome GAS to eventually be irresistible is for that reason: it's not a tricky post processing hope to get great monochrome files, it happens the moment you click the shutter. There's still some tricky technique to get to the most out of it, since exposure level controls so much of the image characteristics, but it's in-camera for the most part. You make decisions in the field instead of at the computer. I really prefer that.
 
agentlossing said:
Thank you!

The reason I found Monochrome GAS to eventually be irresistible is for that reason: it's not a tricky post processing hope to get great monochrome files, it happens the moment you click the shutter. There's still some tricky technique to get to the most out of it, since exposure level controls so much of the image characteristics, but it's in-camera for the most part. You make decisions in the field instead of at the computer. I really prefer that.
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Well said! Perfect!

All the best,
Mike
 
agentlossing said:
Thank you!

The reason I found Monochrome GAS to eventually be irresistible is for that reason: it's not a tricky post processing hope to get great monochrome files, it happens the moment you click the shutter. There's still some tricky technique to get to the most out of it, since exposure level controls so much of the image characteristics, but it's in-camera for the most part. You make decisions in the field instead of at the computer. I really prefer that.
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Very tempting!

I am totally on board with it being a DSLR too btw. Recently got a D700 and been having a blast with that with both af and mf-lenses.

Held back by the price as you might imagine. And also the fact that I got too many cameras haha..
 
halvmesyr said:
Very tempting!

I am totally on board with it being a DSLR too btw. Recently got a D700 and been having a blast with that with both af and mf-lenses.

Held back by the price as you might imagine. And also the fact that I got too many cameras haha..
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You do not own too many cameras. The number of cameras one needs is always n + 1, with n being the number of cameras one currently owns, so it is mathematically impossible to own too many cameras.
 
halvmesyr said:
Very tempting!

I am totally on board with it being a DSLR too btw. Recently got a D700 and been having a blast with that with both af and mf-lenses.

Held back by the price as you might imagine. And also the fact that I got too many cameras haha..
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Same for me - I have never spent anywhere near this much on a camera. Closest would be the K-1 mark II, which I spent approximately $1400 on new, after selling the kit lens.

I gave up a couple of cameras, most notably my GRIIIx, to get the Monochrome used. I've shot with a GR for a long time, so I felt and continue to feel the absence. I'm sure I'll get another one eventually. But I don't regret the Monochrome.
 
agentlossing said:
Same for me - I have never spent anywhere near this much on a camera. Closest would be the K-1 mark II, which I spent approximately $1400 on new, after selling the kit lens.

I gave up a couple of cameras, most notably my GRIIIx, to get the Monochrome used. I've shot with a GR for a long time, so I felt and continue to feel the absence. I'm sure I'll get another one eventually. But I don't regret the Monochrome.
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Just wait until they bring out the GR in monochrome. That's what we're all waiting for.
 
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