Leica Monochrom CCD, Who’s Selling? Why?

[jaapv]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

On 9/15/2020 at 6:33 PM, mmradman said:

For analogue feel shoot film. All digital cameras will eventually become history footnote when electronics and/or sensor cant be repaired any more. Arguing analogue feel coming form one type of sensor over other is fanboy-ism.

Efforts by MaxMax and Kolari to repair & convert older sensor is welcome but there are other electronic components inside any electronic device just waiting to fail and make cherished camera a door stop.   

You mean like we are able to keep R cameras on the road? I would argue that the results out of the M9M are nothing like film - but neither are they anything like newer Monochroms. They are in a class of their own.

[Jeff S]

28 minutes ago, wilfredo said:

This has remained a most enjoyable thread.  Going back to my original question connected to selling the M Monochrom (for those who own one or have owned one) I'm in the company of those who hold onto this camera.  In my case it has become a challenge to use it because I've lost some use of my left hand, making focusing difficult and slow, and like many of us who are in their sixties, my eyesight has gotten worse.  My second camera is a Sony A7RIII, not an intuitive camera but the ability of this camera to nail the focus, especially eye focus, is amazing.  Nonetheless, my Black and White Sony conversions, although very satisfying, still sometimes lack that certain Je Ne Sais Quoi.  It is the unique CCD sensor in the M Monocrom that keeps me married to this camera.  I will probably hold onto it until it dies, meaning it can no longer be repaired.  I mostly do Black and White photography and my favorite Black and White photographs remain those produced by my M Monochrom, and before that my M8.  I bought my M8 when it first hit the market, and what caught my eye regarding this camera were the B&W photos posted on the Leica Forum.  I see a change in esthetics as camera sensors become more "clinical" and perfect.  I realize that profits dictate what the photo industry produces and so the CCD sensor has run its life cycle.  Mystery is a constant theme in my photography, the search for meaning and answers, and the M Monochrom remains my most trusted photographic companion in that regard. 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

It’s good to have a style and a vision, and even better to have the tools and the workflow to support that end. And better still if you enjoy working with those tools and are encouraged to use them frequently.  
 

I can relate to aging (70), left hand tremor and need for eye corrections.  So far, M use is still pleasurable and effective.  I only wish that the M Monochrom had the more modern M10 body improvements... better VF, 2m frame line optimization, quietness, robust build and better weather sealing, slimness, etc. But I don’t need the high resolution, or the high price tag, of the current M10 Monochrom, so the old machine sticks around. It still provides the all-b&w workflow experience, with superb results.

Jeff

[mmradman]

58 minutes ago, jaapv said:

You mean like we are able to keep R cameras on the road? I would argue that the results out of the M9M are nothing like film - but neither are they anything like newer Monochroms. They are in a class of their own.

Maybe R cameras where electronic components could be fixed  by replacing discrete components with soldering iron. Now, trying that same trick with the Digital Back for R8/R9 (DRM?) where density of components is much higher and unless you have a spare circuit board chances are you would be out of luck. 

Comparing outputs of various MM I leave to others, I have nothing to prove, my M246 works fine for me in 320-6400 ISO range and with a good exposure up to 12500.  From the electronics point of view, except for the EVF,  I think the M240/M246 is  probably is the first well designed Full Frame Digital RF camera. I used to have M9P, and as much as I loved that camera I was glad to  part exchange it towards new M lens.   At times using it was nail biting as I could never be sure that file will be written to the SD card, even Panasonic Gold.  In terms of electronics M9 and M9M are pretty much the same camera, so keep cherishing unique CCD file coming from a camera prone to a game of Russian Roulette.

 

[jaapv]

The R series is irreparable through total lack of parts.  I never had any problems with my M9 and M9M, except for the sensors, of course. For the rest they are still running like a clockwork. The one I sold was the M240, although it was useful for the EVF, I never bonded with it.

[BrianS]

I just bought two new batteries and Ten 4x Sandisk 16GByte cards. Years ago I did some tests at ISO 10,000 with the 4x card and faster cards. The fast card produced some banding in the image.  I never put a fast card into the M Monochrom or M9 after that. The Sandisk cards were fresh- the packaging carried a 2020 date. Less than $5 each for the cards. Batteries had been out of stock at Popflash, they got some in.

[cba20k]

Bearing in mind that everything about this is a first world problem as well as solution, I recently took delivery of an M9 Monochrom with a corroded sensor which I sent in for one of the last available CCD replacements. I absolutely love this camera for the reasons brought up in the original post on this thread. I have the good fortune to also have an SL2 and if I need something clinical and precise and full of "because-science"... I'll simply shoot with that and an M lens and convert in Lightroom. But for that analog connection, there's nothing like an M9 Monochrom (the lack of LVF and a less-than-desirable attachment helps with this). It just makes you chill out, maybe take a seat, slowly turn that focus ring until the little red dot and arrows indicate an under-exposure, and then...you get something with the feels.

Just felt like sharing.

[otto.f]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

15 hours ago, wilfredo said:

This has remained a most enjoyable thread.  Going back to my original question connected to selling the M Monochrom (for those who own one or have owned one) I'm in the company of those who hold onto this camera.  In my case it has become a challenge to use it because I've lost some use of my left hand, making focusing difficult and slow, and like many of us who are in their sixties, my eyesight has gotten worse.  My second camera is a Sony A7RIII, not an intuitive camera but the ability of this camera to nail the focus, especially eye focus, is amazing.  Nonetheless, my Black and White Sony conversions, although very satisfying, still sometimes lack that certain Je Ne Sais Quoi.  It is the unique CCD sensor in the M Monocrom that keeps me married to this camera.  I will probably hold onto it until it dies, meaning it can no longer be repaired.  I mostly do Black and White photography and my favorite Black and White photographs remain those produced by my M Monochrom, and before that my M8.  I bought my M8 when it first hit the market, and what caught my eye regarding this camera were the B&W photos posted on the Leica Forum.  I see a change in esthetics as camera sensors become more "clinical" and perfect.  I realize that profits dictate what the photo industry produces and so the CCD sensor has run its life cycle.  Mystery is a constant theme in my photography, the search for meaning and answers, and the M Monochrom remains my most trusted photographic companion in that regard. 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Well said Alfredo, and indeed a good description of your nice work with M8 and M9

[Likaleica]

On 9/30/2020 at 11:49 PM, otto.f said:

Well said Alfredo, and indeed a good description of your nice work with M8 and M9

+1