jcraf Posted September 18, 2014 Share #41 Posted September 18, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) You'll live to regret it. I still have my MM. My M240 has gone. Do not pin false hopes on the EVF. It is a relatively crude device, and IMHO ugly carbuncle on the M. I'm willing to bet your photography and hit rate will not really improve. The MM is a unique and wonderful tool; keep it! Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 Hi jcraf, Take a look here Bye bye Monochrom..... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
NikonJeff Posted September 18, 2014 Share #42 Posted September 18, 2014 Don't let me be misunderstood... Focussing is not so much the problem (anymore). The issue is that I can't check and when doing portrait shoots with models or clients I just need to be absolutely sure that I nailed it. If you need to check focus in critical situations like this, why not shoot tethered and view the images right away on a laptop? I've never shot my M9 or MM tethered but I seem to recall a thread about it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hossegor Posted September 18, 2014 Share #43 Posted September 18, 2014 seriously, if you like evf get a sony a7, its evf is way better than the one on the m240. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 18, 2014 Share #44 Posted September 18, 2014 If the OP loves the MM, the A7 won't last week in his hands. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted September 18, 2014 Share #45 Posted September 18, 2014 I do not recognize this screen problem with my MM or M9 at all. This is not meant rude or critical but just an advice to rethink your options: if the screen of an MM is not good enough for you to judge your focus then it is a serious question whether rangefinder-focusing is suitable for you(r eyes) at all. At maximum zooming-in it should normally speaking be good enough to judge your focus. I wonder also if this problem stems from having many bad focuses with your MM. In that case I would let it check with your lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted September 18, 2014 Share #46 Posted September 18, 2014 I agree with the advice not to sell the monochrom yet. You are clearly very attached to the Monochrom. If you are only looking at the M240 to improve focus accuracy with the M240 OVF/EVF and screen I think that would be the wrong decision. As I and others have posted here just do a quick focus bracketing. And even the screen of the M240 is not good enough to pick critical focus at minimum DOF. The quality of the files and photographs from the Monochrom in terms of resolution, tonal range, high-ISO capability, file maleability, and maybe dynamic range, is still not matched by the M240. You mention that it is mainly for 2.0/75 Summicron portraits (I assume B&W only). It wold really be worth having the Summicrons calibration tested. Again, as mentioned before, they are often not properly calibrated when they leav the factory. There are numerous coments on this throughout the forum Mine went back to Germany within a short time after I received it as I couldn't get a single photo in focus at f2-2.8 on my M9 and it came back perfectly. Others have mentioned that a diopter corrector or 1.4x eyepiece may do the job, especially If you're mainly using longer lenses. These options are all worth looking into before parting with the Monochrom. If you need colour then that is a different issue. Can you test an M240, or can better still can you afford to own both cameras? If I had to give up the M240 or Monochrom, and I really like both of them, I think I would still flick the M240. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flanoizele Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share #47 Posted September 18, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi All, I have been reading your comments on my original post and decided to buy the M-P. So that's what I did today. However, I will follow your advice and keep the MM, at least for another couple of months, just to make sure I won't regret it. I admit that I never tried focus bracketing before. I will make sure to do learn all about it and see if the might be a solution. However, at the end of the day I will still not be able to check if the focus is spot on before leaving the scene Shooting directly to the laptop is indeed a possibility when I am doing studio work. However not a solution I really fancy. On weddings however it's a different story. I think I already mentioned it and I am sure you all understood that the issue is not really the screen but the real issue is that i am not yet confident enough about my RF focussing skills. Anyway, thanks a lot for all your good advice and I really hope I find a solution so I can keep my dear MM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted September 18, 2014 Share #48 Posted September 18, 2014 I think that's a really good decision. Please keep us posted your thoughts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flanoizele Posted September 19, 2014 Author Share #49 Posted September 19, 2014 I think that's a really good decision.Please keep us posted your thoughts. I sure will... But first things first... now that my batteries are charged I am all ready to go and give my brand new shining M-P a test ride Wish you all a very nice day and a great weekend Frédéric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 19, 2014 Share #50 Posted September 19, 2014 The scanner discussion has been moved into a separate thread http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-post-processing-forum/347065-scanners-software.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikonJeff Posted September 19, 2014 Share #51 Posted September 19, 2014 Hi All, I have been reading your comments on my original post and decided to buy the M-P. So that's what I did today. However, I will follow your advice and keep the MM, at least for another couple of months, just to make sure I won't regret it. I admit that I never tried focus bracketing before. I will make sure to do learn all about it and see if the might be a solution. However, at the end of the day I will still not be able to check if the focus is spot on before leaving the scene Shooting directly to the laptop is indeed a possibility when I am doing studio work. However not a solution I really fancy. On weddings however it's a different story. I think I already mentioned it and I am sure you all understood that the issue is not really the screen but the real issue is that i am not yet confident enough about my RF focussing skills. Anyway, thanks a lot for all your good advice and I really hope I find a solution so I can keep my dear MM I hear you on the RF focus skills. When I shoot weddings with my Nikon gear I have no fear shooting wide open @ 1.4 because I "know" the focus is nailed by my D3. The D3 has a clear advantage not only with the autofocus system but with the built in diopter correction. I wear glasses for distance and can't stand to have them on while shooting. With Leica's solution coming down to single diopter correction lenses it's a pain and it doesn't work well for me. I purchased one of the Japan Exposure 1.35x mag with diopter adjustment, but even that is problematic because it doesn't lock in place and moves around when adding/removing from my camera bag. Because of these issues, I rarely shoot wide open on my 35 or 50Lux lenses... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted September 19, 2014 Share #52 Posted September 19, 2014 You can add a o-ring to it and it will stop the thing turning but even with that in place they are still crap IMO Just persevere with glasses......I did and it was like someone turning the lights on Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
349A Posted September 19, 2014 Share #53 Posted September 19, 2014 You can add a o-ring to it and it will stop the thing turning but even with that in place they are still crap IMO Just persevere with glasses......I did and it was like someone turning the lights on Even worse, the lens falls off easily since when adjusted, its not locked down tight. Lost mine once, found it in the street days later! And then lost it again. Now I use a Leica 1.4x for my Nocti F1 and 75/1.4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_S Posted September 19, 2014 Share #54 Posted September 19, 2014 I do not recognize this screen problem with my MM or M9 at all. This is not meant rude or critical but just an advice to rethink your options: if the screen of an MM is not good enough for you to judge your focus then it is a serious question whether rangefinder-focusing is suitable for you(r eyes) at all. At maximum zooming-in it should normally speaking be good enough to judge your focus.I wonder also if this problem stems from having many bad focuses with your MM. In that case I would let it check with your lenses. Maximal zoom is not a 1:1 pixel magnification, but rather a rather vague interpolation from the next magnification down which is why it is poor for checking sharpness. As others have suggested previously one can perhaps get a better idea by viewing with the second from highest magnification, but it is no real substitute. Rather than the low resolutions screen, as is often suggested, it seems that the image processing hardware was the limitation on the M9 family of cameras. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreyg Posted September 20, 2014 Share #55 Posted September 20, 2014 I find it quite difficult to get focus right at anything less than f2 on a high res digital camera. So the MM is an opportunity to enjoy Summicrons for their smaller size and easier on the budget. There's plenty of bokeh and OOF at f2, no need for the 'lux! Just one person's .02$ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted September 20, 2014 Share #56 Posted September 20, 2014 +1 I agree its quite hard to focus f1.4 lens reliable without a pro AF as long as its not a still subject. Many slightly "missfocused" portraits on the internet which show this. But f2.0 isnt bad at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted September 20, 2014 Share #57 Posted September 20, 2014 +1 I agree its quite hard to focus f1.4 lens reliable without a pro AF as long as its not a still subject.Many slightly "missfocused" portraits on the internet which show this. But f2.0 isnt bad at all. Accurate "pro" AF (specifically with Canon's 50mm 1.2L) is the exact reason I ended up using Leica. My shooting partners still has his and at our last wedding my hit rate wide open was at least double his (he uses a 1Ds3). The reason my focusing is more accurate is actually simple. I have insisted that Leica calibrate and recalibrate until they actually get it right. Some bodies and lenses went in three or four times. A couple of lenses I didn't see for nearly a year. At one stage I had to escalate things up the chain because their good enough wasn't good enough. Not to mention that both my M9s and three brand new lenses were all slightly out straight from the box. My type 240s and later lenses have been much better. I feel Leica was rushing a bit during the M8-9 era. Yes. It was very frustrating to have to send new gear away. Yes I was very annoyed when the local service centre didn't fix the problem or put criptic notes on the repair forms. But it was worth it in the long run. Now I have a set of gear that works perfectly with each other (with the exception of the 135mm at close distances which will always back focus - so I use live view). The screen on the M9 may be low res but I have no issues seeing when a shot is perfectly focused. If your MM and lenses are calibrated accurately and you use correct focusing techniques you'll find that you will know when you have focus without chimping most of the time. I find that if my focus confidence is low then something is off with either camera or lens. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted September 21, 2014 Share #58 Posted September 21, 2014 Two suggestions The 1.25 magnifier makes a bigger image for 50 & 75 lenses Preset the focus to say 5 feet and move in until the catchlights in the eye merge. Do not under or over expose. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted September 21, 2014 Share #59 Posted September 21, 2014 Wear Glasses Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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