Shooting the MM along the M240

[dent]

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Some few weeks ago I had the opportunity to shoot my recently acquired M240 along my old and trusted MM. The light was an unforgiving harsh midday sun.

After some lengthy Lightrooming I almost trashed all m240 files. They were just no match for the MM files in terms of shadow recovery and overall punch and charm. Used simultaneously I find it hard to bring the files of these two sensors to a visually matching consistency within one series.

 

Does this match Your experiences?

 

This time I aimed for a rough and dirty look matching the powerful scenery. Perhaps I still have to get used to the M240-Files (it took me one year to master the MM-files). I hope I’ll get better with them. To this point I am far from satisfied with M240 bw-conversions compared to the MM.

 

Enjoy: http://mindfulphotography.smugmug.com/RecentWorkfile/

 

Cheers

 

Jochen

[Lenshacker]

Are you comparing M240 images converted to monochrome with those from the M Monochrom? What filter are you using with the M Monochrom?

 

I've been comparing M9 and M8  images converted to monochrome with those from the M Monochrom, using a Yellow filter with all three.

 

M Monochrom with the 35/1.7 Ultron and Yellow Filter,

 

L1005073 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

"Shadow recovery Extreme", image resized by 2/3rds to look closer to the M9 shot. Maybe next outing I'll swap lenses between the two. But this is "pretty close"

 

L1005073 Extreme Shadow Recovery by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

M9 with the 28/2.8 Elmarit V3, also with Yellow filter.

 

M1012668 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

"Shadow recovery extreme",

 

M1012668 Extreme Shadow recovery by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

Custom software- you can see some of the odd interpolation artifacts. Kind of like "half-tone" pixels.

Edited April 14, 2015 by Lenshacker

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[250swb]

 

Does this match Your experiences?

 

 

 

As primarily a B&W sort of photographer I sold my M240 and kept my Monochrome. I had thought that just like my old M9 the M240 would be good for both B&W and the occasional colour, and the M9 was good, or as good as we knew before the Monochrome came along. You can get nice B&W conversions from the M240, but you can't get spectacular B&W.

 

Steve

[dent]

As primarily a B&W sort of photographer I sold my M240 and kept my Monochrome. I had thought that just like my old M9 the M240 would be good for both B&W and the occasional colour, and the M9 was good, or as good as we knew before the Monochrome came along. You can get nice B&W conversions from the M240, but you can't get spectacular B&W.

 

Steve

 

Hi Steve.

 

Your thoughts summarise my situation and impression. I expected that the converted M240 files were somehow closer to the MM. 

The M240 is a wonderfully tight and responsive camera. Weight is still OK and a very fair price for the superb battery life. The slight increase in complexity of the menus sucks IMHO as does the longer start up time. Both get in the way of my shooting style.

 

Jochen

mindfulphotography.smugmug.com

 

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Edited April 15, 2015 by dent

[MXpro1]

I experienced no real differences between the files of my M240 and a MM I borrowed from a friend for a few weeks. It all came down to the processing in LR. A litle play with the sliders made the M240 files look MM alike and the M240 files had even more resolution reserves (for a crop e.g.). So I found no reason (that I was searching for) to buy a MM along with my M240 and my Fuji equipment. Might be that there is a lack of experience with the MM that would bring me to a "higher level" than I have with the M240 but I for myself could never justify a MM giving me no better results than the M240 and incorporating the sensor problems of the M9/MM.

[MarkP]

Hi Steve.

 

Your thoughts summarise my situation and impression. I expected that the converted M240 files were somehow closer to the MM. 

The M240 is a wonderfully tight and responsive camera. Weight is still OK and a very fair price for the superb battery life. The slight increase in complexity of the menus sucks IMHO as does the longer start up time. Both get in the way of my shooting style.

 

Jochen

mindfulphotography.smugmug.com

 

MMM-101.jpg

 

MMM-102.jpg

Jochen,

 

I've just been to your website -  a most impressive body of work.

 

Thanks,

Mark

 

 

Oh, I also have both the M240 and Monochrom. I completely agree with you and Steve. The M240 files just don't compare to those from the Monochrom.

Edited April 15, 2015 by MarkP

[thighslapper]

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The difference is WHAT YOU CAN DO with the files ....... not the actual original images.

 

B&W conversions from the M of normal well exposed subjects are fairly similar ......

 

It's what you can do in SEFX pro or similar that sets them apart ....... the MM files are almost bomb proof and any manipulation ..... no matter how extreme, produces super quality images and just adds to their character 

Edited April 15, 2015 by thighslapper

[Jeff S]

I had thought that just like my old M9 the M240 would be good for both B&W and the occasional colour, and the M9 was good, or as good as we knew before the Monochrome came along. 

 

I found the M8.2 better for my b/w print workflow and results than the M9 I tested.  And having used the M240 for some time, the M8.2 mostly sits in storage…the M is just better for me.  Can't speak for the MM, but some of my b/w prints from the M are superb, with wonderful tonality, even compared to some of my silver prints.  Different strokes….but can't speak to the MM…yet.  I'll test the next version.

 

Jeff

Edited April 15, 2015 by Jeff S

[250swb]

The difference is WHAT YOU CAN DO with the files ....... not the actual original images.

 

 

 

No matter how skilful a photographer is with post processing it isn't possible to conjure up the extra resolution that the Monochrom has over the M240 in SFEX.

 

Steve

[Jeff S]

Probably not, but that level of resolution (or large print) isn't necessarily required to produce a still spectacular print.  For me, it's often about tonality, luminosity and texture…and obviously a wonderful image.  Sometimes it just 'sings'….sometimes not.

 

Jeff

[dante]

Is there any annoyance factor in working with both cameras at the same time? Does the MM seem unresponsive or crash more? I'm pretty sure I am going to buy an MM based on the fantastic potential Jochen has shown (the pictures themselves are even more impressive!)  But the question right now is whether to buy a current version (for less money - and it seems like it may be a better idea to risk less on something that might not successfully replace my medium format film b/w work) -- or to hold out for the new one. The overall level of operational polish on my M240 is impressive; I am a little concerned about reverting to the short battery life and crashes that drove me crazy with the M8. I don't need a huge feature set; I do most of my work with a meter-less Fuji 6x9 anyway... 

 

And is the default sensor response indeed like using a light green filter on b/w film?

 

The post-processing isn't an issue, thankfully. I do plenty of that with scanned negatives already. The limitation I have seen on the M 240 is that you can't really contrast filter as well as you can on a b/w film camera. You can only get to about -30 on any channel in Lightroom before things start to fall apart imagewise.

 

Thanks!

Edited April 15, 2015 by dante

[250swb]

The Monochrom doesn't crash (or shouldn't crash) but the buffer is smaller, and as regards the green bias of the sensor this is good because you get a similar effect to a mild yellow filter, meaning you don't get featureless skies, but skin tones are still natural. If I were you though I would wait for the new Monochrom. It may be different in its response to light, but I can't see how overall it wouldn't be a real jump forward.

 

Steve

Edited April 15, 2015 by 250swb

[Lenshacker]

The worst firmware "glitch" in the Monochrom is using discrete mode on the Shutter release. There must be a "Disable Interrupt" somewhere in the SD card write operation, depending on when you let up on the release, the camera can take it's time before cocking the shutter. You get used to it, and learn to time yourself around it. Or- don't use discrete mode.

 

The uniformity of the sensor, no signs of banding at high ISO- are amazing. I use a slower 4x SD card in mine, did some tests early on after reading some threads here regarding banding with higher-speed memory cards.

Edited April 15, 2015 by Lenshacker

[dent]

The difference is WHAT YOU CAN DO with the files ....... not the actual original images.

 

B&W conversions from the M of normal well exposed subjects are fairly similar .....

 

It's what you can do in SEFX pro or similar that sets them apart ....... the MM files are almost bomb proof and any manipulation ..... no matter how extreme, produces super quality images and just adds to their character 

 

 

 

Yes, I think this might be a key factor. Even under strong torture the MM files do not fall apart.

I like the MM-files best around ISO 3000-6000. For my taste the files are to clean at base ISO and I tend to add noise, grain, blur to make them the way I like.

 

@Mark and dante: Thanks for Your Kind comments

 

Cheers Jochen

[jaapv]

The Monochrom doesn't crash (or shouldn't crash) but the buffer is smaller, and as regards the green bias of the sensor this is good because you get a similar effect to a mild yellow filter, meaning you don't get featureless skies, but skin tones are still natural. If I were you though I would wait for the new Monochrom. It may be different in its response to light, but I can't see how overall it wouldn't be a real jump forward.

 

Steve

I hope - for now I cannot think beyond the MM...

[250swb]

I hope - for now I cannot think beyond the MM...

So what do you know?

 

 

Steve

[thighslapper]

but I can't see how overall it wouldn't be a real jump forward.

 

Steve

 

I agree .....

 

the MM was a real surprise when it appeared and the image quality raised a fair few eyebrows  ...

 

I suspect the MM replacement will be a much more monochrome dedicated camera with an appropriate feature set and menu options...... rather than an M or an M9 with a B&W sensor shoehorned in. 

 

personally I think the MM was only a taster of what may be to come .......

[asiafish]

I agree .....

 

the MM was a real surprise when it appeared and the image quality raised a fair few eyebrows  ...

 

I suspect the MM replacement will be a much more monochrome dedicated camera with an appropriate feature set and menu options...... rather than an M or an M9 with a B&W sensor shoehorned in. 

 

personally I think the MM was only a taster of what may be to come .......

It was (and is) a delicious taste.  I've enjoyed mine greatly these past two years, and highly doubt that I will upgrade when a new is released.

[jaapv]

So what do you know?

 

 

Steve

Certainly not enough to outperform my Monochrom.

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Hallo,

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