Popular Post johnbuckley Posted January 26, 2020 Popular Post Share #1 Posted January 26, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I bought the original Monochrom in September 2012 and it had a profound affect on my photography. When the M Monochrom came out in April 2015, I moved to that version and, with complete respect for those who are less enthusiastic about Monochrom V.2, it became the camera I probably shot more pictures with than any other, ever. On Thursday I took possession of my new M10 Monochrom. I wrote an essay on the three Monochroms, with some thoughts on the new one, having used it even only for a few days. Longtime members of the LUF (I've been posting here since the Digilux2 days of 2004) may remember I have written about the Monochrom before at several junctures. It is that odd camera system that makes you not only want to take pictures but to think. A preview of the piece is this: I've loved both previous Monochroms, but I'm pretty stunned by the M10 Monochrom. If the M9 Monochrom was a poet, and the M Monochrom an athlete, this new sibling is a poetic athlete that can see at night. It's a pretty good camera. I hope you enjoy the essay. 20 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 26, 2020 Posted January 26, 2020 Hi johnbuckley, Take a look here On Shooting The Three Monochrom Versions Over The Past 7+ Years. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Fedro Posted January 26, 2020 Share #2 Posted January 26, 2020 Hi John - lovely essay, thank you for sharing 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likaleica Posted January 26, 2020 Share #3 Posted January 26, 2020 Nice write up, John. Thanks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted January 27, 2020 Share #4 Posted January 27, 2020 < Smile > That was a net-only three-pointer, John. You nailed it, exactly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted January 27, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted January 27, 2020 19 minutes ago, Jager said: < Smile > That was a net-only three-pointer, John. You nailed it, exactly. Thanks, Jeff! And so hope you're enjoying yours (sounds like it.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalfx Posted January 27, 2020 Share #6 Posted January 27, 2020 Very nice! Thanks for sharing. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted January 27, 2020 Share #7 Posted January 27, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) John, Your essay on the three Monochrom cameras is most excellent. Like you, I found the M10-M to be superb. r/ Mark 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted January 27, 2020 Share #8 Posted January 27, 2020 @johnbuckley, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the three Leica Monochrom cameras - this is an excellent essay and is valuable information for a guy like me who is giving serious thought to investing in a copy of the M10 Monochrom. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted January 27, 2020 Share #9 Posted January 27, 2020 Good enthusiastic review...especially for the existing monochrome owners. Nothing like a bit of positive reinforcement. Glad to see M240 conversions were so highly regarded by the experts. All best... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirubadanieru Posted January 27, 2020 Share #10 Posted January 27, 2020 Exactly what I was searching for! Been thinking about getting the M10M or the M9M again (which was my favorite digital Leica of all time). Thank you! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
onasj Posted January 27, 2020 Share #11 Posted January 27, 2020 Great essay (and photos), John. Thank you for sharing. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChicagoMatthew Posted January 27, 2020 Share #12 Posted January 27, 2020 good stuff! great images! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M10Alpine Posted January 27, 2020 Share #13 Posted January 27, 2020 I'm hugely conflicted. I see so many blurry out of focus pictures that are frankly very disappointing: I was so exited about this and put my name forward in June / July 2018 at my Leica store. I'm not sad I haven't got it yet because I'm not sold on what have seen so far. I'm seriously considering a Monochrome 1 and a F1 Noctilux as its about the same money. At the same time This must be a good camera, fin years later, but is the output nicer? obviously subjective. I don't know what to do if mine arrives this week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
setuporg Posted January 27, 2020 Share #14 Posted January 27, 2020 I’d like to see a thorough M10M vs M246 comparison. I wonder if the differential is wide enough to necessitate an upgrade. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likaleica Posted January 27, 2020 Share #15 Posted January 27, 2020 1 hour ago, M10Alpine said: I'm hugely conflicted... I don't know what to do if mine arrives this week. Why not buy a fresh SD card at the dealer, make as many exposure as they will permit, take the card home and have a look. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share #16 Posted January 28, 2020 1 hour ago, setuporg said: I’d like to see a thorough M10M vs M246 comparison. I wonder if the differential is wide enough to necessitate an upgrade. I’m not a tester, and I don’t have my M-246 since I traded it in on this purchase, but in certain noticeable ways, after less than a week’s use, the M10 Monochrom beats out the M Monochrom. The clean files above 10,000 ISO are better, from my experience. There is a resolving power advantage to 40 MPs over 24, and I’m now going out with a 28, not 35 lens because I know I can crop. The M10 is a better form factor than the M-240. Whether any or all of that makes an expensive purchase worth it is a decision people have to make. I can say that, even though the M-246 was my favorite camera, initial results from the M10 Monochrom suggest it will supplant that affection. Other than the math of 40>24, and the smaller form factor > bigger camera, all my opinions are just that! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted January 28, 2020 Share #17 Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, M10Alpine said: I'm hugely conflicted... I don't know what to do if mine arrives this week. @M10Alpine, If I were in your shoes, I would buy the M10 Monochrom. That way, you can shoot with it, process the files and see for yourself what your actual results will be rather than making your decision to buy and keep it based on the images other people have made with the M10M. Quote ... I see so many blurry out of focus pictures that are frankly very disappointing: I was so exited about this and put my name forward in June / July 2018 at my Leica store. I'm not sad I haven't got it yet because I'm not sold on what have seen so far... Did the shooter who made the images you have seen use Leica M glass? Maybe. Maybe not. Was their shooting technique good? Maybe. Maybe not. Do they know what they are doing with regard to post processing? Maybe. Maybe not. Base your decision to keep or sell the M10M on your results, not on someone else's. If you still are not pleased with the image quality and results you get from the M10M, you can resell it for maybe 90-180€ less than you paid for it. There are plenty of photographers out there that would happily pay almost MSRP for an M10M that has had maybe 500 or 1000 shutter cycles on it rather than wait 6 to 12+ months to get an new in the box M10M. Edited January 28, 2020 by Herr Barnack 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M10Alpine Posted January 28, 2020 Share #18 Posted January 28, 2020 3 hours ago, Herr Barnack said: @M10Alpine, If I were in your shoes, I would buy the M10 Monochrom. That way, you can shoot with it, process the files and see for yourself what your actual results will be rather than making your decision to buy and keep it based on the images other people have made with the M10M. Did the shooter who made the images you have seen use Leica M glass? Maybe. Maybe not. Was their shooting technique good? Maybe. Maybe not. Do they know what they are doing with regard to post processing? Maybe. Maybe not. Base your decision to keep or sell the M10M on your results, not on someone else's. If you still are not pleased with the image quality and results you get from the M10M, you can resell it for maybe 90-180€ less than you paid for it. There are plenty of photographers out there that would happily pay almost MSRP for an M10M that has had maybe 500 or 1000 shutter cycles on it rather than wait 6 to 12+ months to get an new in the box M10M. Very fair point! I absolutely agree that one can only judge once own work, and results. I just ventilated a concern. On the M10 I had it fires week it was out and everything I saw by other made me fell super exited about getting it early. This one less so and parting with 8300 is substantial. I have the Leica glass to use this M10M for sure so as you say I might be able to sell it if I'm unhappy. Any one else seen slightly out of focus results posted in various threads online? Or is this just me ? Let's see if I have one on Wednesday, I deserve one for sure given that I paid a 500 € deposit on Jan 7th and have been on the list since 2018. My first Leica M was the 246 - currently I have no Leica Monochrome. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirubadanieru Posted January 28, 2020 Share #19 Posted January 28, 2020 5 minutes ago, M10Alpine said: Very fair point! I absolutely agree that one can only judge once own work, and results. I just ventilated a concern. On the M10 I had it fires week it was out and everything I saw by other made me fell super exited about getting it early. This one less so and parting with 8300 is substantial. I have the Leica glass to use this M10M for sure so as you say I might be able to sell it if I'm unhappy. Any one else seen slightly out of focus results posted in various threads online? Or is this just me ? Let's see if I have one on Wednesday, I deserve one for sure given that I paid a 500 € deposit on Jan 7th and have been on the list since 2018. My first Leica M was the 246 - currently I have no Leica Monochrome. To be fair to the M10M every pic I upload to this forum (even shot on film) is so downsized that it always looks crap lol so I’m guessing that is even more true with such a huge file. In the end I do feel I have to try it out and see for myself, especially given I only use lens from the 50s and 60s and all examples have been with asph/apo lens. If I like it, great...if I don’t I’ll sell it at no loss and just buy a M9M which is the best digital Leica ever (output wise) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 28, 2020 Share #20 Posted January 28, 2020 In the US, it’s available for rent (as are the prior two versions). https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/leica-m10-monochrom Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now