240/262 Shadow Recovery versus M9?

[gtownby]

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I shoot a lot of daylight color with my M9 and don't much need high-ISO performance, per se. I typically underexpose 1/3 to avoid highlight blowouts and pull up the shadows in post. So I would  definitely enjoy some improved shadow recovery and dodge/lighten capabilities. My question: Does the improved ISO capacity of the 240/262 translate into improved manipulation of deep shadows  (at, say ISO 400) over the M9?

[sdk]

My M-P's better than my M9-P for pulling up shadows, but it's still not at the level of my Nikon D800E. The M-P can show an annoying tartan pattern in the noise of low light areas if it's pushed too far, while the Nikon has more random looking noise.

[jaapv]

Not so much the ISO performance as the better dynamic range will give the M240 the edge.

I would advise against a blanket underexposure. It all depends on the subject. With very high contrast -1/3rd may not be enough, with a low contrast subject an one-EV overexposure may well be best. When in doubt, switch to manual spot-metering.

[lct]

I don't use spot metering generally. I never overexpose and often underexpose by one stop on contrasty subjects. Shadow recovery is not a probem with the M240 provided i don't need more than +2 or +3 EV recovery. I only use Capture One though. YMMV.

[jmahto]

I shoot a lot of daylight color with my M9 and don't much need high-ISO performance, per se. I typically underexpose 1/3 to avoid highlight blowouts and pull up the shadows in post. So I would definitely enjoy some improved shadow recovery and dodge/lighten capabilities. My question: Does the improved ISO capacity of the 240/262 translate into improved manipulation of deep shadows (at, say ISO 400) over the M9?

Yes, compared to M9. Although banding is a concern and there is no substitute for proper exposure (true with M9 as well). I upgraded to M240 from M9 and find it better in terms of highlight recovery.

 

Although I should add that highlight recovery is fun in the beginning but soon I realized that full black areas are an essential parts of the picture and should not be avoided. Translation: I don't do shadow recovery as much now a days.

 

Edit: I noticed that you said you shoot mostly in daylight. In daylight M9 is as good as M240. Even for shadow recovery.

[jaapv]

I don't use spot metering generally. I never overexpose and often underexpose by one stop on contrasty subjects. Shadow recovery is not a probem with the M240 provided i don't need more than +2 or +3 EV recovery. I only use Capture One though. YMMV.

This method works OK, however you will be wasting dynamic range in many high-contrast situations. Measuring the scene by spot and exposing exactly will gain DR. It is even more important on a Monochrom.

[Gregm61]

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I shoot a lot of daylight color with my M9 and don't much need high-ISO performance, per se. I typically underexpose 1/3 to avoid highlight blowouts and pull up the shadows in post. So I would  definitely enjoy some improved shadow recovery and dodge/lighten capabilities. My question: Does the improved ISO capacity of the 240/262 translate into improved manipulation of deep shadows  (at, say ISO 400) over the M9?

 

It's not day and night at ISO 200-400, but what the M262 does SEEM to me to do better than the M9 is, the metering is more conservative. Areas that show a modest amount of clipping on the back LCD often open up in Adobe Camera raw as not being clipped at all. I don't even think about tiny clipped amounts anymore when reviewing a file as I know it's not going to be a problem working around later.

[azuled]

I feel like I have more issues with the meter on the 240 (it seems to consistently slightly overexpose), but the offenses of the meter are more easily corrected.

[elmars]

I am a bit new to the M262, that has the same lightmeter as the M240. But it is my impression too, that it tends to overexposure in situations, where I would not expect ist. Perhaps it is caused by the slightly different metering field on the shutter curtain comparing to the M9, which I have been used to about six years.

 

Elmar