Is razorlike sharpness a really desired virtue for B&W

[lars_bergquist]

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Sharpness is a bourgeois concept (HCB).

 

Pace Monsieur Cartier-Bresson, but I cannot refrain (unfortunately) from pointing out that his family was a solid part of the French bourgeoisie. And not exactly pétit, either.

 

And while I understand the sentiment, and raise my eyebrows at the attempt by the Gnomes of Solms to hijack Henri's name and reputation for a certain new product, the statement is too sweeping. 'Sharpness' is there – in the eye of the beholder, for sure – but it is bad to make a fetish of it. Or of anything else.

 

The old man from the Bresson Age

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[Ellie]

Do we need to lug around a tripod for the eventual higher resolution cameras coming soon? I've read they have to use tripod when reviewing resolution of the S2/D800E.

[luigi bertolotti]

Do we need to lug around a tripod for the eventual higher resolution cameras coming soon? I've read they have to use tripod when reviewing resolution of the S2/D800E.

 

This is quite probable... btw, my humble opinion about the M Monochrom is that its best role is as a studio camera...

[luigi bertolotti]

On a slight tangent, I wonder if anybody recalls Agfa B+W slide film? I am curious how it would compare to images from the MM.

 

For landscapes, both B+W and color, yes, I believe the more resolution and razor sharp resolution the better!

 

I just recall that Agfa made it... but do remember well the Agfapan 25 ....and the prints one could make with it... (I keep a small collection of Agfapan 25 stripes in 6x6, taken with my Rolleiflex..)

[philipus]

and raise my eyebrows at the attempt by the Gnomes of Solms to hijack Henri's name and reputation for a certain new product

 

Where does it say that Leica Camera A.G. officially called the camera Henri? I've only found reference on Jon Slack's site to the effect that the prototype MM was called Henri, a name which other sites also seem to perpetuate and take for granted.

 

I just recall that Agfa made it... but do remember well the Agfapan 25 ....and the prints one could make with it... (I keep a small collection of Agfapan 25 stripes in 6x6, taken with my Rolleiflex..)

 

Agfa Scala, if I recall correctly the name, was a nice b/w slide film. I might have some strips lying around here. Sadly, I don't have an MM to compare with.

[pgk]

On a slight tangent, I wonder if anybody recalls Agfa B+W slide film? I am curious how it would compare to images from the MM.

I have used it - a very long time ago. From what I remember it didn't have a very good maximum black. I seem to remember that there was a technical explanation but this escapes me now. I didn't care for it to be honest.

[jonoslack]

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And while I understand the sentiment, and raise my eyebrows at the attempt by the Gnomes of Solms to hijack Henri's name and reputation for a certain new product,

 

Where does it say that Leica Camera A.G. officially called the camera Henri? I've only found reference on Jon Slack's site to the effect that the prototype MM was called Henri, a name which other sites also seem to perpetuate and take for granted.

 

 

HI There

the project name was Henri - and why not; he did use a Leica, and he did shoot black and white, it doesn't seem too presumptuous to me. Perhaps it would be more questionable if it was actually the official name of the camera. I did get agreement to use the prototype name in my piece. As you say, it isn't the camera's official name.

Personally it seems much more human than the project name for the M9 which was numbers and letters (I can't even remember which).

Important? No.

 

all the best

[philipus]

HI There

the project name was Henri - and why not; he did use a Leica, and he did shoot black and white, it doesn't seem too presumptuous to me. Perhaps it would be more questionable if it was actually the official name of the camera. I did get agreement to use the prototype name in my piece. As you say, it isn't the camera's official name.

Personally it seems much more human than the project name for the M9 which was numbers and letters (I can't even remember which).

Important? No.

 

all the best

 

Thanks Jono, I was hoping you'd reply I appreciate it.

 

I agree, it would have been strange to use Henri as some form of official moniker for a camera. As a codename for a prototype it's as good as any, I guess (though Dr Kaufmann would, perhaps, have preferred "Film Killer" or something like that )

 

Cheers

philip

[mjh]

Where does it say that Leica Camera A.G. officially called the camera Henri?

‘Henri’ was the code name for the M Monochrom; it’s how Leica referred to the camera prior to its official introduction. Like ‘Felix’ was the code name for the X2, and some may remember that the S2 project was code-named ‘AFRica‘. But a code name isn’t an official product designation.

[Double Negative]

"Sharpness" is often overrated, irregardless of medium.