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Leica Monochrom or Leica MP


urbanshoot

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Hello Folks,

I have a difficult choices to make myself and I would like your thought…

I have the opportunity to buy a Leica Monochrome or an Leica MP.

And I can't make the decision L

I’m in love with “Black&White” photography, I like the renditions of films….and I’m a bit afraid that with the “Monochrome” I could lose this little thing that I feel when I look a “Film print”.

But on the other way my workflow will not be optimal neither with the “MP”, I mean I will never do the “end to end” myself meaning that I will send my films to be develop then I could scan myself (need to find a good scanner but don’t want to spend 1000 euros for a Coolscan that can failed tomorrow and can’t be repaired….and the other scanner brand like plustek are not really famous….) or ask the shop to do the scanning for me then finalize the scan in Lightroom….

With the “Monochrome” this workflow could be simplify to “Take the picture and finalize it in Ligtroom…” But what about the final result of the “Monochrome”….?

Does some of you have both “cam’s” and can tell me which one they prefer ?

Also in 10 years the “MP” will continue to take picture as today (depending if the films will still exist in 10 years…) but what about the “Monochrome” in 10 years……?

Any thought from you guys will be really appreciate.

Urban.

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I have an MP next the M6. It doesn't take better photos, but it was an itch I needed to scratch badly and it's my main camera.

I'd love an MM but I went for the M240 as I also like to shoot color once in a while.

Very satisfied with the M240, but I still prefer the MP over it.

About the choice between an MP and MM, it really comes down too personal taste. The output is completely different.

You could consider an M4P for film next to the MM?

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Does some of you have both “cam’s” and can tell me which one they prefer ?

 

.

 

I have both and I can't tell you which I prefer.

 

If in doubt buy the Monochrom because you have control over the entire process, but just as the MP would mean you need some skills in scanning etc. the Monochrom requires some post processing skills. I don't think you can get the best control over film, or have as much fun, by planning to have your film processed in a lab. Most people process their B&W at the kitchen sink, but if you can't do that all the subtleties of different developers and different film types are lost to you. And scanning is also an art that you would need to learn. On the other hand a couple of software programmes would see you getting on top of processing Monochrom files pretty quickly, and you can still use film emulations or add grain to the digital file.

 

Steve

Edited by 250swb
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I have to confess I don't miss my MP at all. You can get a negative made from MM files and silver gel prints done for the real keepers you want to exhibit. Michael Dyers in London do this and I am sure any metropolis around the world will have a similar outfit.

 

If you are going the MP route you would need to process, and print on an enlarger to really get the creative buzz from film.

Edited by Adrian Lord
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I have to confess I don't miss my MP at all. You can get a negative made from MM files and silver gel prints done for the real keepers you want to exhibit. Michael Dyers in London do this and I am sure any metropolis around the world will have a similar outfit.

 

If you are going the MP route you would need to process, and print on an enlarger to really get the creative buzz from film.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on Michael Dyers, Adrian. I have MP and M240: I love using the MP (not too much experience of the M240 yet) but the fact that I can get a negative from a digital file is making me feel more comfortable about trusting my photography to ones and zeros.

 

For me, the fact that I don't have a darkroom to allow the end-to-end experience of shooting, developing and finally printing my photographs is a stumbling block to using film. I've done it in the past and making a fine b&w silver halide print is hard to beat. Having to scan negatives takes away much of the enjoyment, besides; why scan film to make a digital file - why not just start with a digital file? I know that film has a unique look, even when scanned, but that look can probably be reproduced in digital post processing.

 

As to the original question: I've not used the MM (had an M9p though) but everyone seems to rate the results highly.

 

Mike.

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Mike,

 

The negative they create is med format size. It isn't cheap but you get to keep it and it is there forever. Still by far the best way to store images long term imho.

 

I have all the darkroom stuff including a leica focamat v35 enlarger, but sadly it is gathering dust. I'd need to retire to have the time and patience to get it all up and running. But there is no thrill greater than seeing your own print emerge from a tray of 'water'....

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I don't know whether anyone else has used this system but the B&W digital files from my Monochrom, M9 and M240 that I frame and display are printed onto silver gelatin paper using the DeVere system through Blanco Negro in Sydney.

 

Digital Enlarger Silver Gelatin Printing | Blanco Negro

http://blanconegro.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Digital-Enlarger-Ad2.pdf

 

So this is done by projecting the original image onto silver gelatin paper and then standard chemical development. No internegative is required.

 

The results are spectacular.

 

This process must be available elsewhere.

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Hi,

 

First of all thank you all for your answer it confirm what I had in my head...

 

Meaning that ok for films but for an "end to end" workflow ...

 

And as it has being said...why scanning a negative (that will reduce the quality of the file) when I can have a better file with digital...at least with the "MM" in my case.

 

The only point that I have to accept myself is buying something 6.8K today and that in 5 years this "High Tech" camera will be for the bin....compare to a film camera that in 20 years will still work.....

 

But I know that nowadays it is for everything...(Cars, PC, Tablet, Iphone etc...)..what's you buy today will be worth nothing tomorrow...but that's another point :)

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You can get a beater M5/ M4-P/ M6 for 10- 15% of the price of an MM. Compared to the cost of

current digital M-cameras this is VERY reasonable, even if you add a proper CLA to your investment.

 

You might go the MM-route first and expand to a film-M at a later stage, when need occurs.

But don´t forget to consider the cost of films, cost of developing films, scanning, printing if you

decide for film ...

 

 

Best

GEORG

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I have been using the the MM for the past year and a half and I must say that I really love the images from it. There is only one area where I feel that film has an advantage and that is in the transition to overblown highlights. Just expose to preserve highlight detail and then it's not a problem but sometimes it's not possible.

Some of my MM images Brendan Williams Photography

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Thanks...Thanks...for all your advised !

 

@BWA

 

If I'm thinking about Cuba...I'm thinking "Color"...but your Cuba B&W pictures touch me :o

 

I'm blow up....thank you for those pictures....

 

Now back to my original question....I think that today you conviced me to take the "Monochrome" journey...

 

..........We only live once, but once is enough if we do it right (Gary Ryan Blair)............

 

Edited by urbanshoot
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Some of my MM images Brendan Williams Photography

 

Wonderful work throughout, irrespective of gear.

 

But as long as we're gear focused here, are the landscapes also from the MM? And I am curious, too, about the camera and processing used for the India color pics.

 

Did you design the website using any particular template?

 

Thanks,

 

Jeff

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Thank you AB007, Jeff S and urban shoot - much appreciated.

 

Jeff, the Landscape images were all made using the Monochrom with the exception of two images , I think, which were made with the M9.

 

The India pics were all taken with my M9 and actually very little post processing was required - that is the beauty of the M9 files - just import them to LR and you are almost ready to go! :-)

 

The MM files take a bit more work to get the best out of the files, as did producing B&W white prints in the darkroom :-) Mostly just contrast adjustment and some local dodging and burning.

 

The website is one of Photoshelter " Beam" templates .

 

Brendan

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The MM files take a bit more work to get the best out of the files, as did producing B&W white prints in the darkroom :-) Mostly just contrast adjustment and some local dodging and burning.

 

Thanks for follow-up, Brendan.

 

Do you stick to LR, or use PS and/or Silver Efex your MM-based prints?

 

I can relate to the darkroom comment, after transitioning to the 'lightroom' after 30+ years myself. The print is still my end point, but the website development has lagged.

 

Jeff

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