The M240 as a professional tool

[geesbert]

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I know most people here use their cameras as their leisure tools, which is one of the best spare time activities one can do. But some use them to earn a living, like me.

 

For work I am relying nearly 100% on Canons, both in the studio and in the field. They are boring, but they just work. They provide all the resolution and color fidelity that is needed for commercial use. They are not really expensive and earn their price in a couple of days shooting. Usually if you know what you are doing, the raws need rather little post-work, which means more money for me and more time spent with my kids.

 

Off tripod I always shoot with two cameras, usually two 5dmk3 with both a 35L and a 50L. That covers 90%.

 

For a while I used two M9, one with a 35lux and one with a 50lux. But I stopped doing that, as the amount of post-production becme ridiculious. Color out-of-the box were always off, WB never hit the target. It is not a problem when younhave to edit a dozen Photos or so, but it gets huge when you shot all day, took 1500-2000 pictures and are expected to go out the next day with all the pictures rough-edited and uploaded to the agency.

With the Canons I cull 1000 pictures and start an upload cue within 1h, with the Leicas it took me 5 times as long, as every single picture needed some work. Pulling Jpg previews from the Leica DNGs need rendering for a long time, with the Canons using photomechanics it takes seconds for hundreds of images.

 

Another problem was the sluggishness when you work fast. every now and then the camera would freeze, so battery pop-in-and-out would have to be done at every shooting. I had black frames around every 100 to 200 pictures or so. It's not a problem, but very annoying.

 

The Buffer was too slow, which is why I used two cameras

 

High Iso above 640 was hardly usable for commercial use.

 

Picture review with the recent firmwares was so slow, that it was unsusable for me, so I kept my M9 on the 1.002 Firmware.

 

So I stopped using the Leicas for work, and kept them for my own personal joy.

 

Now steps in the M(240)

 

What a difference!

 

Out of Camera DNGs are much better, WB is mostly there, of course warm as we know, but usually pleasing. Image review is instant, it feels much faster and snappier then the M9, DR is greatly improved, ISO 1600 is usable, after the buffer is full one can keep on shooting, which wasn't really possible with the M9.

 

 

All this talk of the M not being a strong enough upgrade and the the bullshit about CCD/CMOS are no real arguments for me. It is not perfect, still the embedded previews in the DNGs are too small, the WB is not there yet and it is too heavy for its size, but it now is a proper tool for professional work.

 

I only wish Leica would finally provide me with spare batteries, I am paranoid about running out with the single one I have.

 

I really hope they get tethering to work....

[NZDavid]

A fascinating insight not just into the new M but into how today's pros work.

 

That the new M should be better comes as no surprise. Digital technology is evolving.

 

It also reveals the high expectations we have for today's cameras. Compare with the film era: Top shutter speed? 1/1000 or 1/2000. Maximum ISO? 400 or 800. "White balance" with color film? Use CC filters or use tungsten film. Post-processing? None or very little. Hand it to the lab, select best color trannies on the light table, send to client.

 

Now, the pro has to do it all. Technology is a boon but also means more work. Robustness still matters, and for me at least, ease of use -- but I only need to shoot pictures occasionally to illustrate an article, not 1,500-2,000 a day!

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[Photoskeptic]

Stefan, you've pin-pointed some thoughtful items to ponder. But, ya know, I still miss the availability of the 1/8000th shutter speed of the M8. All this advancement of technology and still...

[MarkP]

Thank you, it's a very interesting insight into professional demands and workflow.

 

Very reassuring to me as an amateur waiting to trade my M9 for a M240 (whenever it arrives).

[Eastgreenlander]

You can set up color profiles in Lightroom to fix sensor colors into your liking.

 

http://www.xrite.com/

[geesbert]

I always shoot a color chart at set lighting, but it doesn't help too much with mixed and changing light. I have about 8 preset profiles, but still it needs fiddeling before I can get presentable previews.

 

No doubt about it: If you have time and muse, the M9 is able to produce fantastic imagery, but it needs more work than the canons.

 

With the M240 I am getting better files, both for preview and for final processing, with less work than with the M9. I much prefer shooting a M body and lens than using the Canons, but only with the M240 I feel it suits my needs in my commercial work.

[chris_tribble]

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Interestingly, the preview is often mentioned disparagingly as if it's simply a chimping device. However, the reality in a lot of shoots is that you're usually not shooting tethered BUT you need to be able to show the client or the model how work is progressing. With the M9 this was embarrassing - and it did undermine your credibility with paying customers. With the M, having high-quality preview on the bigger screen is really important. You can now give clients an instant insight into how the shoot is developing and be sure that your work is matching their needs. This is important.

[Hariseldon]

Interesting thread, I shoot professionally with a Nikon D800 and an M9 with a 28 Summicron, 50 Lux, 90 Summarit and others.

 

The Nikon is great, easy, a professional workhorse ( it focusses just fine too!) but whilst I take far fewer shots on a shoot with the Leica (fulfil the contractual needs with the Nikon) the Leica often provides the outstanding images of a shoot and of course it feels right, less intimidating to clients, so it earns its keep and allows me to what I do.

[geesbert]

the quality of the M9 screen wasn't a big problem for me, as with time I learned to interpret what I was seeing. The speed of 'instant' was though. When you have only a very few minutes to photograph someone or something, I have to have instant feedback whether I nailed the focus or whether I blew the highlights.

 

It makes a big difference in the flow of a shooting, whether you look at your camera for a few seconds or only for a glimpse.

[zlatkob]

Pulling Jpg previews from the Leica DNGs need rendering for a long time, with the Canons using photomechanics it takes seconds for hundreds of images.

 

This was a problem with the M8 and M9, and now with the M. One would think that the small previews would have been abandoned after feedback from pro photographers who do the high-volume, short-deadline work. Fortunately, Photo Mechanic can be set to render high quality previews in the background, but it is still slower than working with Canon, Nikon, etc.

[Jeffry Abt]

This was a problem with the M8 and M9, and now with the M. One would think that the small previews would have been abandoned after feedback from pro photographers who do the high-volume, short-deadline work. Fortunately, Photo Mechanic can be set to render high quality previews in the background, but it is still slower than working with Canon, Nikon, etc.

 

PhotoMechanic is truly professional software. It makes working large volumes of images a breeze..... could not live without it. Photo Mechanic 5 is even better than the previous versions, which were very good! I use it with Nikon and Leica images constantly.

[LeicaMSeattle]

I've had shots published using my D-Lux5 point and shoot as well as from my M8, M9-P, as well as from my array of Nikon DSLRs with primes from 300mm to 600mm and in the end, it doesn't matter what tool you selected to use to the client only that you have provided the peak moment shot(s) in the appropriate format for their intended end use. If the M240 works for you and your clients, more power to you.

[geesbert]

I've had shots published using my D-Lux5 point and shoot as well as from my M8, M9-P, as well as from my array of Nikon DSLRs with primes from 300mm to 600mm and in the end, it doesn't matter what tool you selected to use to the client only that you have provided the peak moment shot(s) in the appropriate format for their intended end use. If the M240 works for you and your clients, more power to you.

 

Then try to suggest to an ad agency to shoot a commercial assignment with a D-Lux. Even if its use is web only, they always want larger files than they need. They never know what they are making out of these shots.

 

But that's ok, in commercial photography cameras are cheap (even Leicas) compared to the cost of studio, staff, IT, insurance, transportation, representation and the many things you need to do your work.

 

I paid around 5500 for one M9 sold it for 3500 and did maybe 20 jobs with it. That's 100€ per job, where I could charge 300 per day digital fee.

 

I have a 2x3 meter print in my studio, made from a negative i developed in a hotel room's bathroom, shot on a pentax point and shoot, scanned on a mediocre flatbed. it looks great and won many prices. I usually show that to clients when they ask me 'how many pixels' my camera has to prove how unimportant that is, but commercial reality asks for big files shot with decent glass, whatever the make.

[geesbert]

And guess what? Even the M button has a brilliant use for me, not to shoot movies, they suck, but rather to make a small memo clip. I have it set to the smallest movie size, and whenever I want to make a note or try to remember clients comments to a picture, I hit it and talk to my camera. No more assistants handling pieces of paper and a pen. love it!

[Guest tanks]

And guess what? Even the M button has a brilliant use for me, not to shoot movies, they suck, but rather to make a small memo clip. I have it set to the smallest movie size, and whenever I want to make a note or try to remember clients comments to a picture, I hit it and talk to my camera. No more assistants handling pieces of paper and a pen. love it!

 

You know that is a great idea, did not think of it in regards to M. I usually use my iPhone for that.

[jack-tucker]

PhotoMechanic is truly professional software. It makes working large volumes of images a breeze..... could not live without it. Photo Mechanic 5 is even better than the previous versions, which were very good! I use it with Nikon and Leica images constantly.

Hi all, 

It had been a long while ago, since this was posted but i just found it through google research. I am using Lightroom exclusively for all organising and post processing of Canon and M-P (240) files. Now I try to change my workflow and involving Photomechanic (5) as LR just takes too much time in many situations. 

First I could not see my images clearly at all. Now I figured out that I had to change the quality as well as to rendering RAW files. Now I get a good preview but it takes even longer thank LR. Have i missed something or does PM just not work for Leica DNGs? 

Regards, Florian

[CheshireCat]

Have i missed something or does PM just not work for Leica DNGs? 

 

Use LR and buy a faster machine.

[Jeffry Abt]

I'm not for sure why your having trouble. My Photo Mechanic 5.0 works with the DNGs right out of my M (240). 

It's speed very much depends on the speed of the card in your camera.  I do drag the cameras file to my desk top temporarily then edit. After editing I trash the temporary file. My Mac's RAM can cope with all the images faster than the card out of the M. 

[Mornnb]

the quality of the M9 screen wasn't a big problem for me, as with time I learned to interpret what I was seeing. The speed of 'instant' was though. When you have only a very few minutes to photograph someone or something, I have to have instant feedback whether I nailed the focus or whether I blew the highlights.

 

It makes a big difference in the flow of a shooting, whether you look at your camera for a few seconds or only for a glimpse.

 

 

I find the screen quite essential to check focus, composition and exposure, the screen is a means of insurance that you got the shot right. It is not good enough to simply 'trust', if one wants to get a shot perfect everything needs to be checked. On the M240 the screen is massively improved.

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Hallo,

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[Ai_Print]

It is not good enough to simply 'trust', if one wants to get a shot perfect everything needs to be checked.

 

Oh, that depends on how you were trained, I have shot film for about 40 of my 48 years and digital for nearly 22.

 

Quite often now I will use a handheld meter with a digital camera I am using and fully nail it because I simply can not stand being distracted by constantly looking at a photo I just took when I should be continually seeing the next shot.

 

To add to that, I shoot Tmax 400 pushed to 800 in both my film M's and my Mamiya 6. In most cases, I don't have to consult my meter anymore, I just know light that well.

 

Not everyone has to constantly depend on looking at the back of the camera, some of us have developed a deeper skill set than that.