Hausen17 Posted November 15, 2012 Share #21 Posted November 15, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Superb as usual Jason. Photo Warehouse called to say they have a spare and did I want it? These don't help me resisting temptation, but think I will wait for M-240. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 15, 2012 Posted November 15, 2012 Hi Hausen17, Take a look here M Monochrom - Scarily Good..... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
janrzm Posted November 15, 2012 Author Share #22 Posted November 15, 2012 Superb as usual Jason. Photo Warehouse called to say they have a spare and did I want it? These don't help me resisting temptation, but think I will wait for M-240. Thanks Dave I'd love you to get the MM but I know you really want the new M..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimmel Posted November 15, 2012 Share #23 Posted November 15, 2012 Jason, just read your blog. You mentioned that you now have your post strategy worked out pretty well. How do you get the look that you do on your images in LR? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted November 16, 2012 Share #24 Posted November 16, 2012 Jason, just read your blog. You mentioned that you now have your post strategy worked out pretty well. How do you get the look that you do on your images in LR? Thanks. Proper lighting in my opinion. The camera only captures what it sees. We forget that photography is all about light, not cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Allsopp Posted November 16, 2012 Share #25 Posted November 16, 2012 absolutely stunning Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted November 16, 2012 Share #26 Posted November 16, 2012 Proper lighting in my opinion. The camera only captures what it sees. We forget that photography is all about light, not cameras. Hogwash. Certainly proper lighting is important, just as subject matter, composition, and proper use of depth of field are all important. But if your statement had any validity, these images would look just as stunning coming from an iphone camera or a holga. Obviously, that is false. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted November 16, 2012 Share #27 Posted November 16, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Obviously, that is false. I disagree. It is not "obviously" false at all IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mctuomey Posted November 16, 2012 Share #28 Posted November 16, 2012 Proper lighting in my opinion. The camera only captures what it sees. We forget that photography is all about light, not cameras. Of course, you're right generally. But specifically re the MM files, anyone who's worked with them realizes quickly they need to be processed, roughly analogous to a well-made digital scan of a negative with full range of tones but little else. So, the OP's post-processing is of interest given the excellence of the images he's shared. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted November 16, 2012 Share #29 Posted November 16, 2012 I disagree. It is not "obviously" false at all IMO. Are you saying you believe that the images presented would look just as stunning had they been taken with an iphone camera or a holga? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted November 16, 2012 Share #30 Posted November 16, 2012 Nice images...well done. I can see imagine that the MM is a lovely camera. These shots though don't show any real positive characteristics of the MM. Your images show great timing and framing, terriffic post processing (although some JPEG artifacts and over sharpening) and excellent lighting combined with the hard contrast setting. Am sure the MM is wonderful but these images impress because of your photographic eye and processing skills..not necessarily the MM. Best andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted November 16, 2012 Share #31 Posted November 16, 2012 Am sure the MM is wonderful but these images impress because of your photographic eye and processing skills..not necessarily the MM. Andy, do you notice the details in the shadows? Do you notice the utter lack of grain and noise? Do you realize these were shot at an ISO at or above 1600? I think you are right that the OP has a great eye and wonderful post processing skills. But, I think these images are much more impressive than they would have been had the OP used an M9 and converted to monochrome. I have myself questioned whether the M monochrom could be that much better than just shooting an M9 and converting to B&W. These images make me rethink that issue in a whole new light, so to speak. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 16, 2012 Share #32 Posted November 16, 2012 Do you notice the utter lack of grain and noise? One of the reasons I'm not a fan (of the look, not the camera per se). Just personal preference, but I like night shots (especially street or club scenes) to have a certain grit to them. These look too smooth, almost plastic to me. If I owned the MM, I'd probably shoot even higher ISO and/or add some 'grain' in PP, which kind of defeats the point for many others. Different strokes. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted November 16, 2012 Share #33 Posted November 16, 2012 Are you saying you believe that the images presented would look just as stunning had they been taken with an iphone camera or a holga? Yes, pretty much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted November 16, 2012 Share #34 Posted November 16, 2012 But, I think these images are much more impressive than they would have been had the OP used an M9 and converted to monochrome. I have a different opinion...I think they would be pretty much indistinguishable.The images stand however for what they are...great images taken by a good photographer. The clean files at high ISO are a trait of todays high tech digital cameras, Leica included. A matter of taste, technically perfect if thats what you like. good shooting andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted November 16, 2012 Share #35 Posted November 16, 2012 Yes, pretty much. Why would you ever buy a Leica camera then? Why would anyone? For that matter, why didn't Ansel Adams just shoot everything with a Kodak Brownie? Since the camera really doesn't matter. Having shot with an iphone in low light, I know for a fact that your conclusion is false. If shot with an iphone, these pictures would not have near the sharpness, dynamic range, smooth gradation of tone, shadow detail, and lack of grain and noise that they have. They would pretty much look like crap, no matter how good the composition and post processing. Yes, good light is important. But only if it can be captured properly. To do that, in the digital age, you need a camera with a capable sensor. These pictures had to be shot at high ISO due to the low light. Had they been shot even with an M9, they would not look as good. They would have been much noisier and had less detail in the shadows. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LikeMyLeica Posted November 16, 2012 Share #36 Posted November 16, 2012 I've put up a post on the M Monochrom and my thoughts having owned it for 3 weeks now. Full post here - Monochrom – Scarily Good…. Hi, Your shots do look stunning - but I'm getting a '403 Forbidden' error, whether I try http://aperturepriority.co.nz/2012/11/14/monochrom-scarily-good/ or http://aperturepriority.co.nz/2012/11/14/monochrom-scarily-good.html (which is what this post initially seems to redirect to). I know my crap UK ISP sometimes gets blacklisted - anyone else getting this? Thanks, Nick PS Walking the Hollyford Track in January - wondering which camera to take... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted November 16, 2012 Share #37 Posted November 16, 2012 I have a different opinion...I think they would be pretty much indistinguishable.The images stand however for what they are...great images taken by a good photographer.The clean files at high ISO are a trait of todays high tech digital cameras, Leica included. A matter of taste, technically perfect if thats what you like. good shooting andy My M9 certainly doesn't produce clean files at high ISO. I find anything over ISO 800 fairly unusable in dim light, unless I am going for a super grainy look or don't much care about clarity of details, particularly in the shadow areas. I am expecting / hoping the new M will be much better at this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janrzm Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share #38 Posted November 16, 2012 Nice images...well done. I can see imagine that the MM is a lovely camera. These shots though don't show any real positive characteristics of the MM. Your images show great timing and framing, terriffic post processing (although some JPEG artifacts and over sharpening) and excellent lighting combined with the hard contrast setting. Am sure the MM is wonderful but these images impress because of your photographic eye and processing skills..not necessarily the MM. Best andy Hi Andy I think by the mere fact that your viewing them is in itself a positive characteristic of the MM, I just do not feel I could have taken them with the M9 and the end result be anything like the quality of these files. Therefore I wouldn't have posted them. The whole series was shot between ISO 1250 & 2000, even at ISO 2000 the images are markedly better than ISO 640 out of the M9 and with more detail than one can imagine. My PP is 2-3 mins per image, I have got a look that I've mentioned previously but my workflow with these images is so simple I would not describe the processing as skillful, merely that I think I have worked out how best to treat the MM files. I have not applied any sharpening but have made other adjustments. JPG artifacts maybe. Thanks for the kind words. Cheers, Jason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janrzm Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share #39 Posted November 16, 2012 Andy, do you notice the details in the shadows? Do you notice the utter lack of grain and noise? Do you realize these were shot at an ISO at or above 1600? I think you are right that the OP has a great eye and wonderful post processing skills. But, I think these images are much more impressive than they would have been had the OP used an M9 and converted to monochrome. I have myself questioned whether the M monochrom could be that much better than just shooting an M9 and converting to B&W. These images make me rethink that issue in a whole new light, so to speak. Hi Dirk Absolutely correct, I have the M9 and the MM, I adore the M9 but it can't touch the MM in a shooting scenario like this one. I know this because I have tried it. I had my doubts about buying the MM because I was already delighted with the B&W conversions I was getting from the M9 and for many people it will be more than adequate. I have to say I am so thankful that I proceeded with the purchase of the MM because the end results are infinitely better and the system allows me to shoot action in levels of light that from experience the M9 is not capable of. Cheers Jason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janrzm Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share #40 Posted November 16, 2012 One of the reasons I'm not a fan (of the look, not the camera per se). Just personal preference, but I like night shots (especially street or club scenes) to have a certain grit to them. These look too smooth, almost plastic to me. If I owned the MM, I'd probably shoot even higher ISO and/or add some 'grain' in PP, which kind of defeats the point for many others. Different strokes. Jeff Hi Jeff Them camera would certainly allow you to shoot in any low light conditions you could imagine. I have only shot up to ISO 2000 and grain is minimal especially when the images are viewed at these sizes. From what you say you'd almost find yourself adding grain in PP even at the higher ISO's from the MM. Cheers Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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