Leica Event May 10th – Live Coverage

[likalar]

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Relief! I thought the value of my M9 would be dirt after today. I almost gave it away. Monochrom (sp?) is the big news? I already have that: an all-black M9 with black lenses. You guys with black/gray or black/silver have some catching up to do.

 

 

Larry

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[Rick]

There are no big changes from the M9; the electronics is basically the same, the raw files have the same bit depth etc.. The difference is in the sensor. Due to its increased base sensitivity of ISO 320, dynamic range increases by one stop at the same ISO setting. There is also a difference in the way the histogram is calculated: it is based on raw data rather than the JPEG preview.

 

Sigh.

[jonoslack]

They eating "sausages" and drinking beer, no joking.

 

 

Actually, it was steak and mashed potato with white wine - most palatable

 

Oh yes, and if you haven't seen the other post (sorry Andy) - here are some more pictures:

 

M Monochrom in China

[Jeff S]

Oh yes, and if you haven't seen the other post (sorry Andy) - here are some more pictures:

 

M Monochrom in China

 

You mention the "unprocessed" look of the images, which may mean more film-like in your view, even though as you say, film and digital are different beasts. But, wouldn't smooth tonalities with the absence of noise, while often desirable aspects, render prints more like medium format or fine grained 35 mm film, and less like the grainier Tri-X look more generally associated with the film Ms?

 

Jeff

[menos I M6]

‘Felix’ was the code name for the X2 project. The M Monochrom was code-named ‘Henri’.

 

I am preparing to add a M9-M, as this camera is almost, what I have been asking for a long time.

 

But: seriously, how lame is it, to call the internal project "Henri"

[robert_parker]

I am preparing to add a M9-M, as this camera is almost, what I have been asking for a long time.

 

But: seriously, how lame is it, to call the internal project "Henri"

 

Maybe a reference to Cartier Bresson isn't that inappropriate, given the nature of the camera

[menos I M6]

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Why a 230,000 dot LCD on an $8,000 camera produced in 2012?

 

 

Because one doesn't need a high resolution LCD, to shoot still photography. It really is simple as that. I would have preferred though, Leica would have added a simple, very compact built, non graphic monochrome LCD, to ride functions and inform about SD card, battery and histogram over retaining the bulky LCD on the back.

[menos I M6]

I don't. I do need one to check focus, which is important when working with a rangefinder that can't be used with 100% accuracy with many lenses.

 

It's also a value of ownership thing. Why am I paying 8K for a premium camera (handcrafted german blah blah) that has an LCD inferior to a 80$ subcompact?

 

You don't need to check focus, when your gear is properly adjusted.

You can actually feel, when taking a shot, if you have it or not.

 

I don't know, when it started, that people always have to confirm and reconfirm, stumbling around in insecurities about the things, they do.

 

Honestly, do the experiment and just shoot film for a while with very fast lenses - it is very, very liberating, to find out after this, that the LCD is actually … a crutch.

[menos I M6]

Maybe a reference to Cartier Bresson isn't that inappropriate, given the nature of the camera

 

Of course, which is, why I find it lame.

 

I really, really like, that Leica made this bold decision, to come to market with a monochrome sensor M9 - of course for some, it isn't quite radical enough in certain details, but it is a beautiful offering.

[k-hawinkler]

Actually, it was steak and mashed potato with white wine - most palatable

 

Oh yes, and if you haven't seen the other post (sorry Andy) - here are some more pictures:

 

M Monochrom in China

 

 

Jono,

 

Yup, that you were testing a new Leica camera was my first thought when you let the getdpi forum know you were visiting China.

 

Congrats.

[njleach]

It is very, very liberating, to find out after this, that the LCD is actually … a crutch.

Because one doesn't need a high resolution LCD, to shoot still photography. It really is simple as that.

 

You may be happy with 2006 technology now available in a $100 point and shoot, but when you are paying $8000, body only, for a 'premium' product then you expect, and should be given, 'premium' components. What's the point of expensive sapphire crystal protection on a crap LCD?

 

Using the same LCD six years later because you have an over-supply, or want to save $50 or $100 per unit to boost your margins really is poor form.

 

I agree you don't need a high-res LCD to shoot still photography, but on an $8000 body it should be standard, and when you have a 5D or a D700/800 as a second body you appreciate reviewing your images on such a screen and also as I mentioned previously for occasionally confirming focus easily at wide open apertures. If you can confirm focus at 2 or 3m at f/1.4 good for you, but sometimes you don't want to leave it to chance and a high-res screen easily allows this.

[Sp12]

You don't need to check focus, when your gear is properly adjusted.

You can actually feel, when taking a shot, if you have it or not.

 

1. You've completely ignored my points about value of ownership and an 8K camera not having a quality LCD. You certainly don't have to use an LCD screen if you feel that it constrains your expression.

 

2. No. The rangefinder and human eye have functional limits of accuracy. You cannot shoot fast lenses with 100% crop accuracy with one, especially if you're like most of the world and have less than perfect vision.

[ho_co]

Regarding the 50 Apo Summicron:

 

• One poster above somehow came up with the idea that there will be a limited run of the new lens.
  
• Michael Hußmann said above that the current non-aspherical 50/2 is expected to remain in production.
  

 

Both those predictions seem to me to fit hand in glove: Keep the current 50 Summicron in production, knowing that the "be-all-end-all" aspheric apo version will have a limited production run.

 

Any comments? Am I misreading something?

[Raul]

hi guys. went through all the posts!

 

am looking forward to the m9-m.

 

if anything here is what i have observed... what i read on the net about the digital M's, well, they never really approximate the actual experience when i squeezed a few for the first time and saw the pics come to life on what people think is a very crappy lcd.

 

i suspect it would be the same for the m9m... imvho.

 

now... i wish they bundled the m9m with a dedicated bw printer from epson... not that it exists. leica should look at developing the overall digital M experience from camera to print (if they're not already).

 

not at all disappointed except for the 50cron price. but, hey, that's what i said about the price of the M9 when it came out ... until i got used to it being ridiculously expensive

[Jamie Roberts]

{snipped} 6 years and realistically zero product improvement, just 'rebadging' of the same basic package. {snipped}

 

You clearly didn't own an M8 in 2006; or you don't own an M9 now

 

But I have to admit, I would have liked to hear more about the M10 on May 10th!

[albygentle]

but that's not why you buy a rolex, is it?

 

no, that's why you buy a patek phillip.

[StephenPatterson]

I can't believe we have to go through this again in only four months. Andreas will need a bigger forum...

[menos I M6]

1. You've completely ignored my points about value of ownership and an 8K camera not having a quality LCD. You certainly don't have to use an LCD screen if you feel that it constrains your expression.

 

2. No. The rangefinder and human eye have functional limits of accuracy. You cannot shoot fast lenses with 100% crop accuracy with one, especially if you're like most of the world and have less than perfect vision.

 

There is absolutely no importance of such a thing as value of ownership for some users of Leica cameras - the group of these users possibly is dwindling in size, but in fact it is the group of users, ho buy an M, because of it's extraordinary simplicity, speed of use and refined design, making quick working easy.

 

This group of users simply don't care, if this camera has a higher resolution screen or not, they might even simply don't care, if it has a bracketing function,different JPG profiles or programable user banks.

 

You might have guessed, I am within this group of users. I don't use Leica cameras, putting up with paying a lot more money for a digital body, than I would do with other manufacturers and having less features, because it is branded as a Leica and people might look at me, but I do, as I learned to love the philosophy of how a Leica M makes you shoot.

 

Regarding shooting fast lenses on a rangefinder.

It is impossibly and unnecessary, to describe or even proof to an unknown person, just how perfect the Leica rangefinder works with super fast lenses - just how much better even, when comparing it to any ground glass based system around - be it manual focus or auto focus.

 

Ask friends of mine, shooting regularly with me. Focussing a Noctilux wide open and nail a satisfying number of shots is easy.

It's not 100%, but it's certainly also not just 70 %.

 

It's about yourself learning and feeling, what you have to do, to nail a shot, you want and know your and your gears limits to focus.

For the fun of it, I have pretty bad eye sight, even had to teach myself, to become a left eye shooter, as the right eye didn't permit the needed accuracy of shooting fast lenses comfortably anymore.

 

Your facts are wrong it seems. To easy things off a little - you are not the first person, to tell me, that what I do is actually scientifically proven simply impossible. I and many others have heard that way too often - heck, there are even endless threads here on LUF, going on about to prove, that using fast lenses on the outdated Leica RF design isn't feasible

 

I love the idea of the M9-M, have already inquired, to pick one up at the earliest convenience and would indeed even be more interested, if it would have no LCD and a manual shutter cocking mechanism with advance lever.

to tie me over until I get my hands on a M9-M, I just received a package with a long awaited black paint Leica M2, which I will shoot with my favorite films - TX400 and Neopan400, both @ ISO3200.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[giordano]

But: seriously, how lame is it, to call the internal project "Henri"

 

I assumed it was a reference to Jacques-Henri Lartigue, a rich photographer.

[andybarton]

There's been a lot of teeth gnashing overnight

 

I'm sure that the real 2012 news is a mere 4 months away. I'm tempted to pay a first visit to Photokina.