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MM -EATING MY WORDS


jaapv

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I was one of the B&W sensor skeptics. Now I have shot the camera and seen Jono Slack’s images. I can only say, Leica has killed of film tonight. I have never seen such results in my life. Also in print. Unfortunately Leica presented the camera with - albeit very good from an artistic point of view- rather over processed prints that could not show of the technical capabilities of the camera.

The resolution is at least equivalent to 36 MP, Iso is clean up to 5000 and very good to the max of 10000.

The test case was for me zooming in onto skin to 100% At that ridiculous magnification the camera rendered skin that one felt one could touch. Incredible.

I am sure any photographer who does most of his work in monochrome - and quite a few others- will start looking for the nearest skimask shop to visit his local bank... 6800 Euro. I wish I could fit it into my planning.:(. Unfortunately there is the small matter of the M10 coming up sometime in the future.:roll eyes:

But my first inclinationwas to corner Martin Meister and get my order in for coming July....

I thought it was a dead end, but I think this is indeed a coup for Leica.

 

I only could get a few shots in as the camera was not even presented yet, but it was enough to see its potential.

 

 

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Andreas @ ISO 5000

 

 

A clumsy grab shot, but ISO 10000 is really good.

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I agree. I didn't really think this is what they would come up with, and I'm not a buyer; but it is a very interesting concept.

 

There was talk of a further release on 11 May, or did I misunderstand ...

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agree. jono slack's photos with the monochrom are wonderful. there's an unstrained clarity that really shows why leica thought this camera was worthy of a separate event. and that's after looking at the photos on my old and clunky white macbook.

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Sounds like impressive performance to me. My neighbor has the Pentax 645D and the prints he makes are incredible. I've only seem him do B&W so I could see him being the target buyer for something like this.

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Yes that is Jono, I’ll post a better shot in another thread :)

 

I hate to admit it, but If I did not have a very good reason to get an M10 when it comes I would have written my check on the spot, despite all the misgivings I had before.

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Excellent. What lens did you use?

 

Hi used a 50 'lux . . . I know, it was mine!

Incidentally - did anyone notice that Jaap has been using the new Hermes Leica for at least the last 6 months! (look at his avatar!).

. . . . . . now he's going to have to change the leather :)

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The M9M is way more interesting than the M9 was when it was introduced (to me, anyway).

 

Based on the initial information that is available, it would appear that new monochrome sensor which was created for it solves some of the shortcomings of the M9 sensor.

 

As for the megadollar 50/2 - Leica must have a plan (they always do) but I can't see the wisdom of buying the new 50/2 instead of the 50/1.4 ASPH.

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As for the megadollar 50/2—[...] I can't see the wisdom of buying the new 50/2 Asph instead of the 50/1.4 Asph.

The Summilux-M 50 mm Asph's performance takes a noticable drop near the corners, even when stopped down to medium apertures. The new Apo-Summicron-M 50 mm Asph does not. And it's even better in the frame's center than the Summilux, according to the MTF curves in the product flyer.

 

Too bad the focusing pitch is too steep again, and there is no useful hood available.

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Jaapv,

Thanks for your fine reports from Berlin. Can you tell me if it's not Kodak, who is making the new sensor for the Monochrome?

Thanks,

Mark

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Can you tell me if it's not Kodak, who is making the new sensor for the Monochrome?

It’s from Truesense Imaging, Inc., i.e. the same source the sensors for the regular M9 and the S2 come from.

 

The monochrome sensor isn’t that much different from the sensor of the M9, only the RGB filters are replaced by transparent ones. It’s a rather small change making a huge difference.

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In terms of resolution and clean detail, the M-Monochrom looks like it is capable of breathtaking results. What concerns me, and Jaap's photos (especially the portrait of Andreas) illustrate this concern, is that it looks like it will prove very difficult to tame the highlights with this camera.

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So, apart from the slightly modified sensor from Truesense the M9-M is for all practical purposes just an M9-P with different firmware loaded. I suppose this does leave open the possibility that in the future Leica might offer monochrome upgrades to M9s and M9-Ps. In this particular case it appears that the process would be exceedingly simple (i.e. no more difficult than replacing a faulty sensor).

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I'm not sure it 'killed off film,' as you suggest, because there are many reasons people still shoot film, and the B&W image is only one of them. This is, however, the first digital M of interest to me. Whether that interest turns into something more tangible remains to be seen.

 

And yes, the sample pictures on the website of this camera are grossly adjusted. Gross themselves. I'm glad to see your snaps.

 

Is the lowest iso 320? Does the camera come with ND filters?

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