BerndReini Posted January 15, 2016 Share #61 Posted January 15, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Pushing around individual color channels in post will never give you an image as clean as the MM with a possible color filter. I understand that it is restrictive and maybe inconvenient, but the MM is sharper and has more subtle tonality than the M9 or M240. Subtle, maybe, worth it absolutely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Hi BerndReini, Take a look here Are You a Better Photographer b/c You Use a leica Monochrom?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted January 15, 2016 Share #62 Posted January 15, 2016 I'm baffled by the comment that 'now there is no film'. Of course there is film! I think you misunderstood the intent of the comment you are referencing. My reading of Printmaker's comment is that, even though "there is no film" [in his Monochrom], the experience reminds him of using his M2 and Tri-X back in the 1960s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAK Posted January 15, 2016 Share #63 Posted January 15, 2016 I think you misunderstood the intent of the comment you are referencing. My reading of Printmaker's comment is that, even though "there is no film" [in his Monochrom], the experience reminds him of using his M2 and Tri-X back in the 1960s. Ah...that would make sense. I took the "now" to mean "at this time". My misunderstanding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanetomlane Posted January 21, 2016 Share #64 Posted January 21, 2016 Maybe not a better photographer in the true sense of the word but the large prints I get from my Monochrom, in my opinion and often in the opinion of judges, are better than those I get from using other cameras, like the Nikon D800. Maybe I have to think more when using the Leica, which may make the end result better, or maybe it's something to do with the quality of the lenses. Whatever. I do know for a fact that I enjoying using the Leicas' a lot more than the Nikons, which really only come into their own as far as I'm concerned, when connected with a 600mm f4 lens on safari. regards, Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 21, 2016 Share #65 Posted January 21, 2016 And I can't use gimmicks like manipulating color channels in LR to alter monochrome tones. So you would consider a color filter over the lens, which alters tones, a gimmick? You may prefer one to the other, but I wouldn't call either gimmicks.....anymore than I'd consider myriad darkroom techniques as mere gimmicks. Photographers and printers have been using creative devices to get desired print results since the 19th century. Of course there will always be some who shoot with intent, while others fool around and hope to get lucky....but that's been true for film and digital users. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akaki Posted January 21, 2016 Share #66 Posted January 21, 2016 not and yes not - because to make your self better, only you who can do it. yes - because if you are interesting develop your self and understand photography, B&W IMAGE helps more that colour image and monochrome is this one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsedov Posted January 22, 2016 Share #67 Posted January 22, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I found that MM246 did make me a better photographer but for the following reason. I started to enjoy photography a lot more once I got the camera. That, by itself, made me photograph more and made the experience more pleasurable. I actually had a long path to this camera. Fuji X-T1 -> Mamiya RZ67 -> M4-2 -> M6TLL -> MM246. The film is expensive nowadays. You restrict yourself from shooting too much film. Then, at the end of the day, if you did shoot a lot you need to develop. And don't get me started on scanning. I could spend the whole evening just with 3-4 rolls of film. Now I carry my MM with me all the time (even when I go for groceries) and the process from shooting to the final picture got more simple and streamlined. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted February 8, 2016 Share #68 Posted February 8, 2016 Some of the responses in this thread make me wonder why those who posted them ever bought a Leica M camera to begin with... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted February 8, 2016 Share #69 Posted February 8, 2016 Simple: NO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted February 9, 2016 Share #70 Posted February 9, 2016 Simple: NO Would you care to elaborate otherwise your NO is just me too contribution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hipposgt Posted February 12, 2016 Share #71 Posted February 12, 2016 No. Or maybe yes. I am a better photographer for having once bought a Leica (though never an MM). After the first few shots I realised I had a camera that was far more capable than my then skills could justify. It gave me the incentive to work hard at it to become a better photographer. It was like spending years driving Fords and then getting into a Ferrari. It doesn't automatically make you a better driver but it sure makes you want to BE a better one. I also believe that the common view is nearly always wrong. I believe in a flat earth, Father Christmas and free lunches. I would say "driving Toyotas and then getting in a Porsche 911GTRS." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted February 12, 2016 Share #72 Posted February 12, 2016 ......................... yes - because if you are interesting develop your self and understand photography, B&W IMAGE helps more that colour image and monochrome is this one. I strongly disagree with this. B&W will help you to understand some aspects of photography better than colour, but colour will help other aspects better than B&W. Neither is "better" than the other: that is just a matter of taste and where your personal photographic priorities lie. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 12, 2016 Share #73 Posted February 12, 2016 I don't believe that a camera itself makes anybody a better photographer in general - it might just fit better and allow you to take shots which you couldn't have taken otherwise (Talking about inconspicuous camera size, small lens size). Regarding the Leica M, I used it in a camera store for an hour, and it is a beautiful camera delivering excellent B&W digital photos - no question about it. But would I buy it - so far may answer is no for the following reasons. (a) To really take good B&W photos, I decided to buy a used Leica M6 camera to use it with my set of M lenses and shoot B&W film. I don't mind developing my own film - the results are excellent. I can shoot a lot of B&W film to make up for the difference in price between the price I paid for the M6 and a (used) digital M. ( If I really want to take quick good looking B&W photos, I am amazed how well the monochrome mode works in my Sony A7R mirrorless camera - not designated or marked as B&W camera of course, but the monochrome JPG files are outstanding in quality. I hit two birds with one stone because I get an excellent Exmor sensor with this camera, too. And I use most of my M lenses on my A7R. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted February 12, 2016 Share #74 Posted February 12, 2016 Shooting in color has made me a better B&W photographer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted February 13, 2016 Share #75 Posted February 13, 2016 I don't believe that a camera itself makes anybody a better photographer in general - it might just fit better and allow you to take shots which you couldn't have taken otherwise (Talking about inconspicuous camera size, small lens size). Regarding the Leica M, I used it in a camera store for an hour, and it is a beautiful camera delivering excellent B&W digital photos - no question about it. But would I buy it - so far may answer is no for the following reasons. (a) To really take good B&W photos, I decided to buy a used Leica M6 camera to use it with my set of M lenses and shoot B&W film. I don't mind developing my own film - the results are excellent. I can shoot a lot of B&W film to make up for the difference in price between the price I paid for the M6 and a (used) digital M. ( If I really want to take quick good looking B&W photos, I am amazed how well the monochrome mode works in my Sony A7R mirrorless camera - not designated or marked as B&W camera of course, but the monochrome JPG files are outstanding in quality. I hit two birds with one stone because I get an excellent Exmor sensor with this camera, too. And I use most of my M lenses on my A7R. Can a particular camera inspire a person to be a better photographer? I think the answer to that question is yes... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted February 13, 2016 Share #76 Posted February 13, 2016 My earlier comment regarding converting from RGB to monochrome was off-target. If a person chooses to use a Monochrom, then he accepts a significant limitation, and limitations can be important in developing a skill or a particular vision. A well published artist I knew used a cereal box with a lot of duct tape and a pinhole over paper negatives. She did this for most of her long career. Now that's limiting! The characteristics, limits she imposed informed her towards very good work. In my photographic education,we had to make our own pin hole cereal box and shoot ( or rather wait until it was time to close the hole ) for about three months. I was so glad, going back to an advanced camera, for making good pictures with it is a craft. I have the deepest respect for people who can make photos in this way all of their life and have a career in it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted February 13, 2016 Share #77 Posted February 13, 2016 Shooting in color has made me a better B&W photographer. If you want to explane this, I might have learned something this morning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted February 13, 2016 Share #78 Posted February 13, 2016 http://leicaphilia.com/youll-be-a-better-photographer-if-you-use-a-leica/ You statet: "Insofar as a digital camera is capable of recreating the minimalist design and function of a traditional analogue camera, its the best current option for carrying forward the practice of mindfulness in the photographic process," I don't know if the Monochrom has the same minimalistic design as an MP. One should maybe say even less, because an MP can shoot colour. I don't know if it is the best current option. Maybe the best digital option, I just don't know, because I only made 10 frames with the Camera of Jaap a few years back. The MP also is still a current camera IMHO. I still havn't chosen for the Monochrom because it is digital and, in my opinion, not the best option for carrying forward the practice of mindfullness in the photographic process. The best option for me is still the film MP camera. The visualisation of the picture before the moment you start making it. Then "click" with the MP and forget what you have done, untill it comes back, sometimes months later in the darkroom, while printing the picture. I think that's real mindfullnes. You cannot IMHO mimic the proces behind the computer and printer. Of course the final result of the photo can be the same. I would like to know if it's really possible to use the Monochrom in the same way I use my MP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markforce Posted February 13, 2016 Share #79 Posted February 13, 2016 Can a particular camera inspire a person to be a better photographer? I think the answer to that question is yes... It would certainly be my answer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hepcat Posted February 13, 2016 Share #80 Posted February 13, 2016 Can a particular camera inspire a person to be a better photographer? I think the answer to that question is yes... Unless you're a total neophyte who needs an automatic camera and who would otherwise be unable to make usable images with a camera, the answer is: "Absolutely not." To say that it is would be saying that the technology is making the image. And were that the case, you could set the camera down and watch it while it takes stunning images all by itself. You might be excited to go out and use a particular camera, but the inspiration to be a better photographer, and the inspiration to make images come from inside you, and you determine whether your images are "better" or not. The camera is just a box, and they are all capable of making the same quality images. Oh, they may have a little different color rendition, or difference in resolution, but those things are largely moot in making images. Some of the strongest historical images were made with cameras we consider antique and that few would think of using today; yet those images are amazing... and it wasn't because of the equipment. Whether or not you become a better photographer lies solely in your ability to improve your skill set in making the images you want to make. Those skills are independent of the make and model of camera you use. Some of the responses in this thread make me wonder why those who posted them ever bought a Leica M camera to begin with... I bought Leicas because they suit the way I shoot, and they weighed about a third of a comparable Nikon F2 kit in those days. Pretty simple. And it sure as h*ll wasn't because I thought it made me a better photographer. It was a tool suited to some tasks better than others just like the studio 4x5 view camera, and the Mamiya C330s I had also. It remains but one tool in my toolbox along with my medium format film gear and my ancient Norman corded studio lighting set. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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