M240 to M246

[Nshah]

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Hi,

Apologies in advance if this question has been asked before and answered.

I am not a professional photographer, more of an advanced amateur, started my photography 35 years ago. I am using M240 for 3 years now . I find that I convert 90 percent of my images to black and white.

Is it them worth selling M240 and buying a monochrom M246 ? Or there is not much difference between the two ( converted/ original monochrom image).

I thought the simplicity of monochrom may give me that peace of mind  from the stress of too much gear and too many options . 😊
 

Your thoughts will help me to take a decision!

N. Shah

[Ken Abrahams]

Yes and NO -  1. Definitely get the Monochrom (246) camera,  you will so glad you did.

                          2. I would keep the M240 for colour unless you have other camera systems to use? 

I picked up my first digital camera 35 years after working with film commercially in 70's/80's. I bought the M Monochrom in 2013 and never looked back. Once you see the files it produces, I am sure you will agree.     

[LeicaR10]

Nshah,  IMO, if you are creating 90% or more to B&W and would like your photographs to download B&W DNGs versus doing conversions I would recommend you get the M246.  Like you, I use to do conversions but I found that I liked the B&W DNG files much better straight from the camera.  I started with the first Monochrom then went to the M246.  When doing B&W photographs this was the right solution for me.  It saved me considerable time as well.  The only thing you might consider when buying the M246, the new model M10-M will be coming very soon.  It will the body of the M10-P and its near silent shutter.  The sensor has people speculating to contain more MPs as well.  So you have options between the M246 and soon to arrive M10-M.  There is another option of a Monochrom 1 (MM) with the CCD sensor, but the corrosion issue can cause you headaches if you get stuck with that camera needing a new sensor. If you decide to go that route, I most highly recommend you buy only through a reputable dealer who is willing to give you the Leica paperwork proving the CCD sensor was replaced and also a warranty.  For me, I am waiting for the M10-M.  I hope this helps.  r/ Mark 

[otto.f]

90% is a whole lot, but it remains a quantity. If that one color photo you shoot once in a while and they all stand out, what then if you lost your 240? My experience is  that I cannot at one moment imagine all the different sorts of photography I like and the camera’s that I need for them, in the past and in the future.

On the other hand, if you sell the 240 now, you may end up in buying something for color again in the future and that may well be a better color camera, if we talk about digital of course. It depends whether you care about spending money I guess, if you’re an easy spender why not get rid of something that stands in your way.

Btw, I would go for the MM1 too in your case, it is just more special and different. I did not own a 246 but from what I have seen, the MM1 images are much more unique than b&w conversions from any other camera including M10.

I agree with LeicaR10 that buying a 246 at this moment is a bit risky.

Edited October 10, 2019 by otto.f

[a.noctilux]

As happy user of the two Leica Monochrom, I recommend you the M246.

- with Monochrom, we have that "b&w mindset" that any color M (or other system) can't give

- if the vision is in shades of gray, decision to use physical colored filter in the field (for me) is by far better than trying to "create the shades of gray"

later in post-processing, I've done that and so many choices in converting from color files can distract (me) from the essential b&w I had in my plan

- M246 with LV helps me to "know better" how the "shades of gray" can become with the colored subject in front of me, when I use colored filter

to enhance some "colors" (we know that yellow filter can boost contrast, but how far ... then we can have this vision in LV/EVF of M246 in the field)

 

- that said, I'm color fan also and I'm lucky to afford for that I keep my other color M

 

[dkmoore]

M246 cameras seem to be selling for $4500-5500 in the US right now. In fact, used Leica prices seem to be the highest I recall seeing in the past 10 years. I suspect that prices will come back to earth around January/February after the SL2, M10M, and holidays are behind us  

I would wait until the M10M is released so that you can either buy the M246 at the right price or splurge and buy the M10M. 

I agree with Otto though that the M9M is so very unique. I have gone back and forth between the M9M and M246 exactly 3 times and I’ve finally settled on the M9M ( until the M10M comes of course). 

[_Olivier]

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12 hours ago, LeicaR10 said:

The only thing you might consider when buying the M246, the new model M10-M will be coming very soon.  

I've been hearing this for over a year now. 😆

[otto.f]

13 hours ago, otto.f said:

I agree with LeicaR10 that buying a 246 at this moment is a bit risky.

Whereas prices of the MM1 are only going up and probably will climb further for the next years

[Jeff S]

6 hours ago, _Olivier said:

I've been hearing this for over a year now. 😆

But even Leica said that was premature.  Besides, both the MM and M246 came 32 months after the base camera (M9 and M240, respectively).  The M10 was released 32 months ago as of September. So now the clock can more reasonably start ticking.

Jeff

[_Olivier]

26 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

But even Leica said that was premature.  Besides, both the MM and M246 came 32 months after the base camera (M9 and M240, respectively).  The M10 was released 32 months ago as of September. So now the clock can more reasonably start ticking.

Jeff

That is true, but my point was that "the new model M10-M will be coming very soon" is not necessarily a true statement since none of us know when (or even if) it is coming. 

[Jeff S]

17 minutes ago, _Olivier said:

That is true, but my point was that "the new model M10-M will be coming very soon" is not necessarily a true statement since none of us know when (or even if) it is coming. 

Of course, but a year ago the statement was unrealistic based on Leica interviews as well as recent history.  M cycles are now typically near 4 years. But yes, one could argue that any speculation is silly.

Jeff

[david strachan]

Hello Nshah

I'd keep the M240...the least reason is saving a truckload of cash.

Second converting to b&w with 240 files allows different colour channels to be manipulated...this has huge flexibility.

Third the push for latest, is not always greatest. The M10 series has a knob to change ISO...that's not very important really.  The M240 series has a much better simple method to quickly change ISO...Scroll wheel, which is much faster and much easier, also unobtrusive...not "look at me".

Fourth the M240 series has video...not everyones choice, but does allow travelogue notes for the photographer. Learn to use it to appreciate what is now lost on the M10's.

I have discussed the mono's with the cognoscenti, and it is really questionable if a dedicated digital b&w camera is better than good processing from digital colour DNG's....B&W is very particular to the artist anyway.  Some like contrasty, others prefer long tonal range, others prefer film.

All best, do homework and don't be forced by the opinions of the masses...

Edited October 11, 2019 by david strachan

[mmradman]

8 hours ago, david strachan said:

Hello Nshah

I'd keep the M240...the least reason is saving a truckload of cash.

Second converting to b&w with 240 files allows different colour channels to be manipulated...this has huge flexibility.

Third the push for latest, is not always greatest. The M10 series has a knob to change ISO...that's not very important really.  The M240 series has a much better simple method to quickly change ISO...Scroll wheel, which is much faster and much easier, also unobtrusive...not "look at me".

Fourth the M240 series has video...not everyones choice, but does allow travelogue notes for the photographer. Learn to use it to appreciate what is now lost on the M10's.

I have discussed the mono's with the cognoscenti, and it is really questionable if a dedicated digital b&w camera is better than good processing from digital colour DNG's....B&W is very particular to the artist anyway.  Some like contrasty, others prefer long tonal range, others prefer film.

All best, do homework and don't be forced by the opinions of the masses...

Original poster did not mention M10 or M10M.

For +90% B&W work dedicated Monochrom camera  is way to go, if nothing else but for the B&W mindset.  For user familiar with M240 acquiring M246 is logical next step, probably good S/H deals around. 

[otto.f]

36 minutes ago, mmradman said:

if nothing else but for the B&W mindset

Which is a factor which cannot be overrated. Photography is a highly intuitive process, where unconscious and fast decisions take place before we are aware of scenes to be photogenic, followed by the conscious decisions to capture them. It certainly matters in these fractions of seconds what is hanging on your neck, analogue, digital, color, b&w, Ektar100 or Cinestill, etc. 

 

Edited October 11, 2019 by otto.f

[a.noctilux]

N. Shah,

another way to know if you need M246 in place of your M240 is to use ( simulate the use in fact ) your M240 as if it was (not really in real world M246 with DNG which can be worked on)

Monochrom which gives only b&w files : set it to jpeg mono.

Use this b&w setting for a while, then you will see if you can live with monochrome "only" M.

[mmradman]

7 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

N. Shah,

another way to know if you need M246 in place of your M240 is to use ( simulate the use in fact ) your M240 as if it was (not really in real world M246 with DNG which can be worked on)

Monochrom which gives only b&w files : set it to jpeg mono.

Use this b&w setting for a while, then you will see if you can live with monochrome "only" M.

Top advice, I did exactly that with M240, next step was purchase of M246.  

My M9 and M240 were sold off long time ago but M246 is going strong, now into fourth year of constant use, perhaps my digital camera with longest continuous use. 

[Luke_Miller]

While I love the images produced by my MM1 and M246, not all my shots depict the subject best in B&W.  For those I use my M240 and would not want to give it up.

[AceVentura1986]

On 10/11/2019 at 10:08 AM, a.noctilux said:

N. Shah,

another way to know if you need M246 in place of your M240 is to use ( simulate the use in fact ) your M240 as if it was (not really in real world M246 with DNG which can be worked on)

Monochrom which gives only b&w files : set it to jpeg mono.

Use this b&w setting for a while, then you will see if you can live with monochrome "only" M.

I did that with my M8 and it worked very well but it did slow the camera’s write speed as it now needed to write bot the dng and the jpg to the sd card. Still used it this way tho, at least until I got my M9M. 

[fotografr]

This is hilarious. Reading the whole thread I see that you've been advised to keep the M 240, replace the M240 with the M246, buy an original M9 Monochrom, or wait for the M10M, which may or may not come. That always happens with this type of question. We all have different opinions and experiences to draw on. Ultimately, you have to do the research yourself, decide what you can afford, how you want to use the camera, then make your move.

Edited October 13, 2019 by fotografr

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[mradey]

On 10/10/2019 at 5:50 AM, Nshah said:

Hi,

Apologies in advance if this question has been asked before and answered.

I am not a professional photographer, more of an advanced amateur, started my photography 35 years ago. I am using M240 for 3 years now . I find that I convert 90 percent of my images to black and white.

Is it them worth selling M240 and buying a monochrom M246 ? Or there is not much difference between the two ( converted/ original monochrom image).

I thought the simplicity of monochrom may give me that peace of mind  from the stress of too much gear and too many options . 😊
 

Your thoughts will help me to take a decision!

N. Shah

Yes