Owning both M9 and M Monochrom

[Guest )-(]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Anyone out there have both the M9 and the M Monochrom? Happy with the decision to own both? 

I find a high percentage of my M9 shots end up as B+W conversions and am interested in the higher ISO capabilities of the Monochrom.

I do still want to keep the M9 (and colour) whatever happens, I just wondered what the feedback was like from those that have invested in both cameras. 

Thanks.

[DandA]

I use both cameras and they compliment each other perfectly. I've been actively involved in professional digital processing since the very earliest days of sensor technology and simply prefer the output of the M9 for color. The MM is wonderful for B&W imagery and I need to print extremely large for clients and its with prints that I judge file quality and output.

 

Dave (D&A)

[erl]

I know this is not answering your real question, but I am very happy with the M9 as an all round performer, that suffers a bit at the high iso end, depending on the lighting quality as much as anything. To that end I have opted for the Sony A7s (still waiting on delivery in a day or two ) to do two things for me, hopefully.

1. Give me better high iso performance, allow me to use both M & R lenses with live view and macro.

2. Also, maybe, may save me investing in M240 which I can't really afford, but may do if 'push comes to shove'.

3. I have a grandson who will take the Sony off my hands in that event.

[norm_snyder]

I also am using an M9 and MM(1) concurrently.  The B&W conversions of the M9 files continue to look great, and work well with the MM files, but this is mainly in good light, as ISO over 800-1250, the M9 can't produce files anywhere as clean as the MM.  It's become the backup, but they're easy to use together (e.g., 35mm and 75 or 90, or 21 and 35mm-one lens on each body.  I have Thumbs-up grips on both, but have kept my older one on he M9, as it has a slightly different thumb offset/profile, and I can tell which camera is at my eye without looking (the newer one is slightly sloped on the thumb grip, the old one straight).

[derleicaman]

I own both and I agree that the two cameras complement each other very well. I have owned the M9-P for about two years and it was a revelation. I wrote an article about it for the LHSA Viewfinder. I was a beta tester of the M8, but did not take the digital M plunge until the M9-P. 

I recently acquired the MM and it is also another revelation. I have done a number of b&w conversions from the M9-P, but the film like qualities of the MM makes for some real magic. It is amazing to be able to shoot in any light and get such fantastic results.

Even though I knew the new M246 was coming, I still went with the original MM to keep compatibility with the M9 and batteries, etc.

for CMOS, I still have my NEX 6 and now the Fuji XE-2 with the Fujinon 10-24 and 23/1.4 which are great lenses. I also have the M adapters for both cameras, so my bases are well covered.

Since acquiring my M9, I have not used my D700 at all and really should just sell it off as the XE-2 does a great job with macro with the 60 Macro Elmarit. Sports shooting is about the only thing I would use the Nikon for these days.

[sm23221]

I have both and I'm embarrassed to say that since I got my monochrom, my M9 has been sitting in a drawer (but I refuse to part with it for some odd psychological reason that I can't figure out).  I just love the BW files that the monochrom produces and I love making and printing BW photos.  Now that I've combined it with the APO 50, it's a killer combo that's hard to relinquish.  From your post it sounds like you need a monochrom.

[Guest )-(]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Thanks all, I appreciate such quick feedback. I guess it is something of a leading question - would still like to hear from anyone who regretted their decision (if such a person exists!)

 

All answers are good answers erl - thanks. I already have a7r as my tripod only landscape option and intend to get that modifed that to better suit my M lenses. I just find the RF experience so far superior and enjoyable (for me) in getting out there and actually taking handheld pictures but I see lots of M users who also swear by a7x solutions too. Choice is a good thing.

I'll definitely keep the a7r whatever happens, it is too convenient for my (tripod) purpose. The a7s sounds like a great choice for getting an EVF and a huge variety of choice with lenses with the killer ISO capability. The a7r keeps me from even considering M240/246, so the omens for your future bank balance (and your grandson!) are good!

 

The MM is just a seed of an idea at the moment (onto which this thread is pouring water.) I definitely wondered how many m9 users keep and use both. You should dig out the m9 too Mike, bet that APO can do some wonderful things with it.

[asiafish]

I own both and I agree that the two cameras complement each other very well. I have owned the M9-P for about two years and it was a revelation. I wrote an article about it for the LHSA Viewfinder. I was a beta tester of the M8, but did not take the digital M plunge until the M9-P. 

I recently acquired the MM and it is also another revelation. I have done a number of b&w conversions from the M9-P, but the film like qualities of the MM makes for some real magic. It is amazing to be able to shoot in any light and get such fantastic results.

Even though I knew the new M246 was coming, I still went with the original MM to keep compatibility with the M9 and batteries, etc.

for CMOS, I still have my NEX 6 and now the Fuji XE-2 with the Fujinon 10-24 and 23/1.4 which are great lenses. I also have the M adapters for both cameras, so my bases are well covered.

Since acquiring my M9, I have not used my D700 at all and really should just sell it off as the XE-2 does a great job with macro with the 60 Macro Elmarit. Sports shooting is about the only thing I would use the Nikon for these days.

 

I went in the exact opposite direction.  I've owned the MM for two years, and knowing the M246 was coming (and soon after an M240 replacement) I rushed out and got what is likely one of the last brand-new M-Es.

 

I remain a huge fan of the original M Monochrom, and since getting my M-E three-weeks-ago have really come to appreciate its beautiful color files.  I could easily have bought a clean used M240 for the same price or cheaper, but like you I wanted compatibility with batteries and common controls.  I couldn't be happier with either camera, and will be quite content to skip the entire M24x generation and perhaps the generation that follows it as most of my low-light work is in black and white anyway (I'm a roughly 80% black and white photographer) and in moderate to good light the M-E's color is simply incredible.  I also own and enjoy the X-Vario and X (typ 113) for more casual photography, and the latter is also an excellent high-ISO color camera.

[Jay B]

I have both - and probably should not.

The Monochrom can first, then a year later I got the M9.

Still averaging 90% of my images with the Monochrom.

Should have bought another lens and a point & shoot instead of the M9... but I do love the M9 colors when I use it.

[BerndReini]

I own both and I think the advantages of the MM when shooting black and white are significant. The higher ISO, better tonality, and precise detail rendering make the MM a pleasure to use. It is also nice to get my brain into black and white mode. Black and white photographs are completely different from color photographs, and I am not talking about the obvious, so when I am using my MM, I can just walk past a colorful scene and think about it in terms of tonal values. In many instances I don't even "see" these color compositions because they don't exist for my MM. Instead I look for texture and contrast. When I'm out with my M9, it is the opposite.

[NikonJeff]

I love the color out of my M9 especially with the rendering from my 50 Summilux E43.  The photos IMHO do have a special look and glow to them but you do have the ISO limitation of the M9.  I've owned the M9 for almost 3 years, never had any issues with it and have been happy with files it provides.  

 

Last August I had the opportunity to purchase a demo MM and jumped at it.  The image files are amazing and compliment my color work just perfectly.  I love B&W photography but there are times that color is needed so the M9/MM combination will likely remain for quite some time.  If I do make the decision to move into the M240/246 it's an all or nothing proposition which equates to a whole lot of money...

 

Oh and on a side note, my 35 Summilux 35 ASPH is almost permanently attached to my MM.

 

Enjoy! 

[Mijo]

Earlier this year I replaced my M-E with an MM and while I really like the MM, I miss the M-E a lot more than I thought I would.  I shoot a lot of B&W film, but no color as I can't process or print color negatives on my own, so thought I would go all in and only shoot B&W when I bought the MM.  When I compare B&W files from my M-E and my MM, there's no question which files came from which body and I generally prefer the files from the MM so in that regard I feel comfortable in the decision I made to replace the M-E with the MM. 

 

I really believe that the M9 and MM compliment each other and give you the best of both worlds (color and B&W).  At some point I plan to pick up a used M9P, as I don't think I can only shoot B&W.

[algrove]

Anyone out there have both the M9 and the M Monochrom? Happy with the decision to own both? 

I find a high percentage of my M9 shots end up as B+W conversions and am interested in the higher ISO capabilities of the Monochrom.

I do still want to keep the M9 (and colour) whatever happens, I just wondered what the feedback was like from those that have invested in both cameras. 

Thanks.

First of all, there is no "investment" since digital camera prices drop sometimes faster than used car prices.  That said I have owned both and found each suitable for my photographic needs. I now have moved on and have an M-P and wil soon have the M246 to compliment that color M model just before with the M9 and M9M.

[DirkR440]

I have both too and most of the time I have them both with me and even shoot the them picture with both cameras. Like for example here in Frankfurt:

 

Frankfurt by Dirk Raffel, auf Flickr

 

Frankfurt by Dirk Raffel, auf Flickr

[Lenshacker]

Another Have Both, No Regrets. The best of the CCD cameras, color and monochrome.

 

Aside from using common batteries, chargers, cases- the operation of the two is very similar. I'm at home with them. For CMOS- i have the Nikon Df. The performance of the Df at high ISO and the M Monochrom are very close at ISO 5000. I have no problems with the M9 at ISO2500 and M Monochrom at ISO10000. I am very careful with regard to SD cards and shooting style at high ISO. 8GByte 4x cards, no burst mode shooting. 

[Geoffrey James]

I have both, and they are now my main professional tools. Last year I published a book -- Inside Kingston Penitentiary in which I used both

cameras. I started with the M9 and was never fully satisfied with b/w conversions. For me a winning combination, and it will take some time

before I am tempted to trade up to another pair of the next generation.

 

http://blackdogonline.com/photography/inside-kingston-penitentiary-1835---2013.html

[platypus]

DirkR440....images of fabulous quality, both of them!

[Guest )-(]

Thanks again all, seems a resounding yes to happy owners of both. Great examples Dirk and Geoffrey, thank you.

@algrove - by 'invested', I mean to devote time and effort to - to invest one's self - not a financial investment, which is at the bottom of the list of reasons I own things with Leica (or Leitz) written on them!

[Printmaker]

My M9 = Kodachrome 64 while my MM = Tri X (with the grain of Panatomic X). Both live happily in my bag with a 35 mm lens on the M9 and a 50 mm lens on the MM. A 21 and a 90 ride along for when needed. I couldn't be happier with my choice.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Guest jvansmit]

I use both, love them still, each of them generally set at ISO 1250 for good depth of field, and with a 24mm Summilux on one, and a Konica Hexanon 21-35 mm dual range on the other.

 

I did have an interlude with an M240 when it first came out, didn't like it much, and then tried a Sony A7S & Fuji XT1 a while back but sold them all.

 

Looking back at my output over the years, my favorite photos have been taken with the CCD Leicas....there's just something about those files for B&W work. I don't mean the outright technical quality of the files but the ability to draw out something that has emotional meaning for me even if the photo is out of focus or blurred.