M9, M9M, justifications and other such stuff

[SpiritShooter]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

To begin, I have an M9M on order. Why you may ask? Truthfully, I am not 100% sure. My intention was to have it available and maybe, just maybe be crazy enough to buy it.

 

So last night at dinner, my wife (who is a pro photographer) and I got to talking about all sorts of things including the upcoming birth of our first grand child (Whoo Hoo), which in my mind is justification enough for a new camera.

 

Anyway, here's the thing. In years gone by, including studying photography in college, I have owned a number of cameras. Each of my cameras has the ability of shoot both color and B/W, albeit with film of varying types. My estimate after a glass of wine and a nice piece of grilled salmon is that in the past 20 or 30 years the majority of my photography has been B/W. Maybe I shot 100-200 rolls of color film, if that and thousands of rolls of B/W film.

 

The majority of the color was used for family snapshots of birthdays, dinners, holidays, and some vacation trips. Some may have been associated with professional needs. Obviously, my wife shot more professional color than I did. But this is about a camera for me.

 

So now we have digital wonders like my current M9 that shoot color and allow us to process to monochrome using various filter combinations to obtain the visionary results that we seek. Along comes Leica with the M9M. We can now shoot B/W without having to do color to B/W conversions, which really is not such a big deal. However, when shooting with B/W film in the past, there was a special feeling knowing that you were seeing and shooting in BW. I guess for me, loading a roll of B/W film was a ceremonial and magical experience. Knowing how to expose, process and print to obtain that interpretation of vision was truly special.

 

Now, shooting color digital is ok. But I find 90% of the time I grab a small compact for family snapshots and holidays. The M9 is the "special" camera used for making "real" images. Goofy, I know, but we all have our truth I suppose.

 

So after a second glass of exceptional vino, the rose colored glasses were starting to obscure reality and I began to see the romance and mojo of a monochrome only camera. Call me fickle, call me a fanboy, call me a dentista (no, I'm not a dentist but you get the idea), but somehow I just can't get the idea of once again shooting true B/W out of my mind. Some of my best and most successful images were shot completely in monochrome as I just don't see in color when it comes to photography.

 

Life is so short, and there is just so much to do.

Thoughts

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[giordano]

our first grand child (Whoo Hoo)

 

I hope you can persuade the parents to give the poor creature a less embarrasing name.

 

which in my mind is justification enough for a new camera.

 

Indubitably.

[IWC Doppel]

I am with you with your preference for B&W. Most of my M8 images and M9-P images have ended up that way. I have 'snapped' with the MM and also the 50 APO, the lens surprised me with its depth 'bite' and rightness. The MM images looked 'etched' a little flat and low contrast, I have yet to develop them, somehow I wasn't compelled to.

 

For me the M9-P is simply sublime and if I maintain 70-80% of shots in B&W I am still happy

 

I did covet the MM but that dissapeared after trying it. I am now exploring different looks in colour recognising that accurate colours do little for me, hence the attraction to B&W

[bocaburger]

To begin, I have an M9M on order. Why you may ask?

 

I would not ask. I seriously could care less how other people choose to spend their money, and feel no obligation whatsoever to justify how I spend mine.

 

Life is so short, and there is just so much to do.

 

Absolutely agree. Says it all.

[esquire53]

To begin, I have an M9M on order. Why you may ask? Truthfully, I am not 100% sure. My intention was to have it available and maybe, just maybe be crazy enough to buy it.

 

I have one on order as well same unsure feeling, in particular with the results from b&w SEF2 conversion, but would rather try the MM today than later ...

 

So after a second glass of exceptional vino

 

try a bottle tonight and things get into the right perspective

[swamiji]

For me it's kind of the reason I sold my M8. I like to pre-visualize my photos. I want the entire process to present it's final form. I am notorious for carrying two bodies, a M9 and a M7 with Tri-X. For me Shooting in color and converting to B&W later, is a waste as the original inspiration for B&W is gone. If I want an image in B&W I will shoot in B&W, however I am also notorious for forgetting to develop my film... I have a nice pile ready to go... The MM would resolve all these issues. A B&W process from beginning to end, no loss of quality by either scans or working with JPEGS, and I don't have to deal with the difficulty of finding B&W film.

[SpiritShooter]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I would not ask. I seriously could care less how other people choose to spend their money, and feel no obligation whatsoever to justify how I spend mine.

 

 

 

Absolutely agree. Says it all.

 

It was a rhetorical question.

[SpiritShooter]

The MM images looked 'etched' a little flat and low contrast, I have yet to develop them, somehow I wasn't compelled to.

 

So tell me more about not being compelled to process the MM images?

[Jeff S]

I agree with others that one doesn't need to justify purchase decisions; to each their own.

 

But if one has an M8 or M9, and wants a b/w film type (psychologically) experience, then one can choose to never look at the screen (just as you can never peek at the loaded film), use an incident meter and not a histogram if needed, then immediately convert all imported photos (easy LR or other software action) to b/w. The only time one would ever see color is for a few seconds when the previews initially load. No big deal.

 

But if the camera must be incapable of taking color, and it's not enough to just use it as if it can't, then be happy and buy the MM.

 

It's all good.

 

Jeff

[swamiji]

But if one has an M8 or M9, and wants a b/w film type (psychologically) experience, then one can choose to never look at the screen (just as you can never peek at the loaded film), use an incident meter and not a histogram if needed, then immediately convert all imported photos (easy LR or other software action) to b/w. The only time one would ever see color is for a few seconds when the previews initially load. No big deal.

 

But if the camera must be incapable of taking color, and it's not enough to just use it as if it can't, then be happy and buy the MM.

 

It's all good.

 

Jeff

 

I tried that, I even went to the extreme of creating a B&W jpeg, and discarding it at import. But the M9 just does not react to my orange filter, as Tri-X does. And to tweak it in post is, to me, counter productive to what I was trying to achieve. So there is an issue, and a lack of understanding about the B&W process.

[esquire53]

But if one has an M8 or M9, and wants a b/w film type (psychologically) experience...

 

Jeff, I don't think any potential MM buyer is after the b/w film experience or result.

It is my true believe that the MM will not produce he same as film style images. I hope it will produce good b/w images.

 

Looking at SEF2 film type, I never found it to be close to the results I got from film processed and prints.

 

best regards

[esquire53]

I tried that, I even went to the extreme of creating a B&W jpeg, and discarding it at import. But the M9 just does not react to my orange filter, as Tri-X does. And to tweak it in post is, to me, counter productive to what I was trying to achieve. So there is an issue, and a lack of understanding about the B&W process.

 

swamiji,

 

if you do the white balance measurement without the orange filter, then put the filter on and shoot, you will see the difference, either in de saturated pictures or int SEF2.

But you're right, it's not the same and I think will never be the same and that's good. Different thing = different results

 

best regards ...

back to Spain-Italy game ...

[Jeff S]

So there is an issue, and a lack of understanding about the B&W process.

 

Guess I wasted 35 years and 4 darkrooms exclusively shooting b/w in 6 film formats.

 

I didn't judge you or anyone else; please have the courtesy to do likewise. My point is that there are options...choose the one that works for you.

 

There are lots of reasons to buy an MM besides allowing one to more exclusively think in b/w (creative use of filters being but one); I wasn't trying to address any of these.

 

Jeff

[Jeff S]

Jeff, I don't think any potential MM buyer is after the b/w film experience or result.

 

That's why I wrote "psychologically," not in actual process, and certainly not in result, which I never said. I was referring to thinking in b/w from beginning to end; that's all.

 

Jeff

[lct]

...the M9 just does not react to my orange filter, as Tri-X does. And to tweak it in post is, to me, counter productive to what I was trying to achieve...

Do you know how the MM behaves with orange filter on? Just curious.

[Paul J]

Call the baby Henry

[SpiritShooter]

Do you know how the MM behaves with orange filter on? Just curious.

 

Unfortunately, not as well as it does with film. From what I have read, the spectral sensitivity is different.

[SpiritShooter]

Call the baby Henry

 

Henri?

Wonder if the father and mother would object?

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Rolo]

"the upcoming birth of our first grand child (Whoo Hoo), which in my mind is justification enough for a new camera"

 

Wouldn't an S2 have been more respectful ? Or better still, an a la carte MP with the child's name on it Perhaps an Imacon ?

 

Which particular gap is this camera going to fill for you ? If its best in class B&W you want, this isn't going to give it to you. You might also find the Summicron Asph is mandatory.

[bpalme]

"the upcoming birth of our first grand child (Whoo Hoo), which in my mind is justification enough for a new camera"

 

Wouldn't an S2 have been more respectful ? Or better still, an a la carte MP with the child's name on it Perhaps an Imacon ?

 

Which particular gap is this camera going to fill for you ? If its best in class B&W you want, this isn't going to give it to you. You might also find the Summicron Asph is mandatory.

Which one? Tell us why please.