Popular Post OleAndre Posted December 1, 2017 Popular Post Share #1 Posted December 1, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Its now nearly a year since I purchased the M246, and I was thinking to take a quick look back at how my experience has been with this camera. It was during a relative cold and dark period of the winter last year here in Norway that I was evaluating what I could do to enhance my photographic interests and capabilities. At the time I was using the Sony system, which to be fair I was very happy with. The sensors were impressive, and the lens setup had become very good, especially when taking into account all the amazing lenses from Leica and other producers that could be used with a simple adapter. Still, there was something intriguing about owning and using an M. I had always looked at Leica cameras as somewhat mystique. One the one hand I found them simple and elegant - which is stark contrast to Sony cameras. On the other hand I wondered why people would actually pay to not have features that I found so important for a modern camera. A simple thing like not having to do a black screen after a long exposure or the ability to move around the focus point in an electronic view finder was to me almost a must at the time. But I wanted to try a Leica - to find out what the fuzz was all about. I had a few choices of course. I could opt for an old M9, but knew that I would despise its low ISO capabilities. The M240 was nice, but I didn’t really see how it would change my photos from what I achieved with my Sony. So I opted for a special camera instead, a camera that only saw things in black and white and had its speciality in distinguishing between light and dark. As soon as I tried the camera I was in love. Never before had I pressed such a smooth shutter. The body was sturdy, with no plastics. Everything was manual, and apart from ISO i could always see the settings before pressing the shutter. The camera felt good to hold, and more importantly the rangefinder was a joy to use. I quickly learned that I was just as right-eyed as left-eyed, while I have always used my left eye for photography. And somewhat surprisingly, I seldom saw the need for an electronic viewfinder, and all other quirks, techs and specs from the Sony camera soon became obsolete. It didn’t take long before I discovered that the M246 was a very special camera, not only because it was only in black and white, but also because it thrived in whether conditions that most cameras despised. Not long after I purchased the M246 I travelled to Lofoten for a week with photography. Originally I hadn’t planned to use the Leica that much, but in the end 85 percent of the photos I took that week was with the M246. The key was the weather. Every day was stormy, and the weather conditions were the worst I have ever experienced. The wind was so strong that a tripod became unusable for large periods at the time, and snowstorm after snowstorm came in from the north, forcing me to run for shelter every 10 minutes. Pockets of sun were just that, pockets that lasted for minutes before they were overrun by a new snowstorm. It was in this weather I discovered why the M246 was so special. The camera loved bad weather. The darkness, the storms and the wind was captured in a beautiful way that no other camera could capture. That I only had black and white made the images more pure and raw, thereby amplifying the mood created from the lack of light. It is this that is special for the M Monochrom. It shines when light is scarce, whereas most cameras shine when light is abundant. This has opened up a whole new world of photographic perspectives for me. Since then I have never looked back. I now see shapes and light in a completely different way, and its all thanks to the M246. ISO capabilities are incredible, and it is fantastic to be able to take photos with ISO up to 10 000 without really sacrificing contrast or details. I truly believe that I have become a better photographer after acquiring it. At least I find it much more inspiring to plan new trips and projects. Are there things about the camera that bothers me? Of course. Like several others have mentioned on this forum, its easy to burn highlights with the M246. This has not been a major problem for me, because I just avoid overexposing in the way I have done with other digital cameras. Besides, the level of details in the shadows is very impressive, and its easy to adjust for under exposure in post-processing. I still miss being able to move around the focus point when using the EVF, but thats also only a minor issue as I most often use the rangefinder. Thanks for reading, and now some photos. 43 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 1, 2017 Posted December 1, 2017 Hi OleAndre, Take a look here Nearly a year with the M246. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
PaulJohn Posted December 1, 2017 Share #2 Posted December 1, 2017 Wow! Love your photos. They really illustrate the points you made in the mini review. Thank you Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffry Abt Posted December 1, 2017 Share #3 Posted December 1, 2017 Stunning images! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fjeld Posted December 2, 2017 Share #4 Posted December 2, 2017 I recognize your experience - only my photos aren't nearly as good as yours. They are very good indeed! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colint544 Posted December 2, 2017 Share #5 Posted December 2, 2017 Outstanding images. Makes me want to reach into them and touch those mountains. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OleAndre Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted December 2, 2017 Wow! Love your photos. They really illustrate the points you made in the mini review. Thank you Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Thank you so much Paul:) Stunning images! Thank you Jeffry! I recognize your experience - only my photos aren't nearly as good as yours. They are very good indeed! I think you are being too humble now Mr Fjeld:) But thank you for your kind words:) Outstanding images. Makes me want to reach into them and touch those mountains. So nice to hear Colin! All I did was pressing the shutter. It was the mountains and the weather that created the magic:) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcdano Posted December 2, 2017 Share #7 Posted December 2, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) These are really nice images - thanks for sharing. I got a deal on a used 246 last May and I agree with most everything you have said... with the 75mm Summicron and 21mm SEM, the 246 is certainly an impressive optical instrument. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted December 4, 2017 Share #8 Posted December 4, 2017 Lovely words, lovely images, Andre! Your wisdom and talent brings to mind the old saying... many are called, few are chosen... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted December 4, 2017 Share #9 Posted December 4, 2017 Stunning images Andre,beautiful endorsement for dedicated monochrome camera. Difficult to single out single image or single subject, maybe #3 as my particular favourite. Both arctic landscapes and urban scenary are equally captivating. If i didn't have M246 already i would be seriously tempted. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OleAndre Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted December 7, 2017 Thank you so much for your kind words, all of you! I feel humble and honoured for all your kind words! And sorry for my late reply, but my new-born little daughter needs some attention from me once in a while:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted December 7, 2017 Share #11 Posted December 7, 2017 Great story Ole, and some superb B&W's. Stunning subjects & tones. all best... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankA Posted December 8, 2017 Share #12 Posted December 8, 2017 Amazing photos! Hard to decide which I like best. They are all good. May I ask which lenses you used? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OleAndre Posted December 10, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted December 10, 2017 Great story Ole, and some superb B&W's. Stunning subjects & tones. all best... Thank you so much David! Amazing photos! Hard to decide which I like best. They are all good. May I ask which lenses you used? Thank you Frank! So many different lenses! 1. Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 2. Leica Summicron 75 3. Zeiss C-Biogon 21/4.5 4. Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 5. Leica Elmarit 28 ashp v2 6. Leica SEM 21/3.4 7. Leica Elmarit 28 ashp v2 8. Leica Summicron 50/2 v4 As you see I have tried quite a few different lenses on this camera (there are others as well). The Distagon 35/1.4 was fantastic - perhaps the best I have tried - but in the end I sold it because of its size. I replaced it with the Elmarit 28 Asph v2, which in my opinion is equally good for landscapes. My favourite lens though, is the Leica Summicron 75 AA. I am always amazed to see how this lens draws, for portraits and for landscapes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Hurtig Posted December 19, 2017 Share #14 Posted December 19, 2017 Beautiful images! Thanks for sharing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mich Posted December 20, 2017 Share #15 Posted December 20, 2017 Great stuff! Must be a real treat to enjoy such gorgeous landscapes on a daily basis. Terrific images! mich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanetomlane Posted December 21, 2017 Share #16 Posted December 21, 2017 Great read and beautiful images, thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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