M Monochrom - Scarily Good....

[Dirk Mandeville]

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I'm not saying, do not buy an M Monochrom! I'm just saying, don't buy it because it has more resolution and less noise than the M9, or because you saw someone else using it successfully. Instead, buy it because black-and-white is where your photographer's heart is.

 

That's like saying you should only buy a wide angle lens if your "photographer's heart" is stuck on landscape. Or only buy a 90mm if portraiture is where your heart is. Different tools for different purposes, and to blithely assume that someone must be wedded solely to one purpose in order to have need or desire for the tool is, as I said earlier, ridiculous. If the poster enjoys shooting b&w, and would consider such a camera as a useful tool in his repertoire, then of course he should allow himself to be swayed by the performance of this camera, both theoretical and actual as displayed in real results posted online. And it is rather silly and pretentious of you to assume the camera isn't for him simply because he wasn't drooling over it from the very first announcement.

 

Personally, I didn't think much about the camera when it was announced, as I didn't expect it would produce much better files than I can get with my M9 and conversion to b&w. However, after seeing the results from these cameras from multiple sources, particularly at higher iso, and then doing a little more technical research on the camera, I am personally very interested in obtaining one for my b&w work (which isn't my main focus, but I do enjoy shooting it). I expect I will wait patiently for the new M to arrive, and then eventually sell my M9 and replace it with an MM. Best of both worlds!

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[Paul J]

Paul, it's not how many black-and-white prints you made in the past. It's how many you plan to do in the future. From your remark I understand you weren't really interested in purchasing an M Monochrom originally but now you are. However being interested in a particular piece of equipment (camera, lens, whatever) after having seen someone else doing great work with it is a poor basis for a purchase decision. That's all I'm saying.

 

I'm not saying, do not buy an M Monochrom! I'm just saying, don't buy it because it has more resolution and less noise than the M9, or because you saw someone else using it successfully. Instead, buy it because black-and-white is where your photographer's heart is.

 

Your half baked, stab in the dark assumptions tell me your either have something to prove or are simply after an argument. Sorry. I don't share either sentiment.

 

I decided not to order a Monochrom at the time of announcement until I had seen some samples I was happy with. That is all, I'm afraid. If you are happy to buy something regardless of it's quality or suitability then that is your choice.

 

But go ahead and pull another reason to sling mud and argue out of the sky. It's really quite entertaining.

[jaapv]

I do not think 01AF meant his remark to be taken quite so negatively. It is simply a different approach. Does one make a purchase decision because the Gestalt of the camera appeals, or does on make a purchase decision because the results of the camera appeal? Both are equally valid.

[IkarusJohn]

I'm not saying, do not buy an M Monochrom! I'm just saying, don't buy it because it has more resolution and less noise than the M9, or because you saw someone else using it successfully. Instead, buy it because black-and-white is where your photographer's heart is.

 

The last bit is a reasonable statement. There's no point in buying the Monochrom if you're not into B&W photography.

 

When the rumour of a B&W only camera was swirling around the net in April, I thought it was a daft idea, promoted by elitist, B&W snobbery, much like the comments about digital never matching film (why would you want to do that?). At the announcement, I was hoping for the mirrorless solution, and was a bit underwhelmed by the whole thing.

 

Then I did just what you say not to do, Olaf - I looked at the images, and started playing with the DNG files, and I found it all very appealing. So, yes you do need to be interested in B&W photography, but seeing what others can do with the camera can give you a very good idea of its output, and its potential. With film cameras, it was easier - I'd go to a trusted name (I had Nikon lenses), feel the camera in my hands, look through the viewfinder, check shutter speed range, metering information, and that was about it. In the digital world, I can't imagine buying a camera without closely examining the images others have taken with it, and looking at resolution, dynamic range, tonality and noise.

 

Your main point Olaf, is only very marginally true, and largely irrelevant. It's a lot of money to spend without checking the output. I'd be very surprised if anyone bought the camera thinking that they will then take pictures like Jacob Aue Sobol or Jono Slack or anyone else - I seriously doubt anyone is that stupid. But if they are, I see little point in pouring scorn on them, or trying to humiliate them on this forum.

 

Cheers

John

[Paul J]

I do not think 01AF meant his remark to be taken quite so negatively. It is simply a different approach. Does one make a purchase decision because the Gestalt of the camera appeals, or does on make a purchase decision because the results of the camera appeal? Both are equally valid.

 

If you want one because you're seeing nice results from others then you want it for the wrong reasons.

 

Yes, you are missing something: The M Monochrom shoots black-and-white only.

 

If this camera was for you then you'd wanted one right from the beginning, regardless of what the image quality was (umm, okay—assuming it won't be worse than B/W-converted pictures out of the M9).

 

I am relaxed. Are you?

 

 

 

Sigh. Is it really so hard to understand?

 

 

 

Paul, it's not how many black-and-white prints you made in the past. It's how many you plan to do in the future. From your remark I understand you weren't really interested in purchasing an M Monochrom originally but now you are. However being interested in a particular piece of equipment (camera, lens, whatever) after having seen someone else doing great work with it is a poor basis for a purchase decision. That's all I'm saying.

 

I'm not saying, do not buy an M Monochrom! I'm just saying, don't buy it because it has more resolution and less noise than the M9, or because you saw someone else using it successfully. Instead, buy it because black-and-white is where your photographer's heart is.

 

Sorry Jaap, but personally the remarks and tone is a matter of posturing that I find of a negative and elitist nature. Anyone judging anyone particularly when false and made via assumption is highly questionable and worthy of some debate. Is anyone really not worthy of a camera they want solely because someone thinks they didn't want it to begin with? Do you really think anyone wants to be judged that the reasons they want a camera are wrong? Particularly when the so called reasons couldn't be furtherest from the truth? Good grief. I don't know what's funnier that or the fact I even feel the need to justify myself.

[jaapv]

No need for self-justification and certainly not to me. I still see a misunderstanding through a difference in perception.

Whatever else, I do think your reasoning is valid.

[gjames9142]

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I was not blown away by the first MM images I saw. Jacob Sobol seemed a curious choice in that he shoots in the high-contrast, self-dramatizing style of William Klein and Daido Moriyama, which I very much associate with the 70s'. But the moment I got my hands on one when Leica leant me one for a couple of weeks, I was hooked. (Think crack cocaine.) I am hoping to be able to have my own in January. I love the M9 -- the first digital camera that made any sense to me, but the MM is like going home to B/W. I am showing a few prints from my test period in Vancouver in Jan, and it would deeply satisfying if they were to pay for the new camera.