Q2 Monochrom PDR on Photons To Photos

[SrMi]

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Bill Claff has published data for Q2 Monochrom:

https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Leica Q2 MONOCHROM

 

 

Edited November 19, 2020 by SrMi

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[hdmesa]

Thought this comparison would be good visual for how the current Q2 and M line look together.

Looks pretty plain to me that ISO 100 is the true Base ISO of the Q2M, yet Leica only lets us use ISO 100 manually and not as a part of Auto ISO. I'm not sure if ISO 100 is really a "pull" from base 200. Having ISO 200 as the Base ISO looks more like a tactic to protect the highlights like Fujifilm does with its expanded DR settings that force Base 200 or Base 400 ISO (depending on the strength of the setting). Regardless, this chart seems to indicate that forcing ISO 100 and then carefully watching the highlights (as we do anyway on the Monos) is the best way to go for IQ.

The Photons to Photos read noise chart also shows ISO 100 on the Q2M has lower read noise than ISO 200.

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Edited January 11, 2021 by hdmesa

[SrMi]

2 hours ago, hdmesa said:

Thought this comparison would be good visual for how the current Q2 and M line look together.

Looks pretty plain to me that ISO 100 is the true Base ISO of the Q2M, yet Leica only lets us use ISO 100 manually and not as a part of Auto ISO. I'm not sure if ISO 100 is really a "pull" from base 200. Having ISO 200 as the Base ISO looks more like a tactic to protect the highlights like Fujifilm does with its expanded DR settings that force Base 200 or Base 400 ISO (depending on the strength of the setting). Regardless, this chart seems to indicate that forcing ISO 100 and then carefully watching the highlights (as we do anyway on the Monos) is the best way to go for IQ.

The Photons to Photos read noise chart also shows ISO 100 on the Q2M has lower read noise than ISO 200.

<snip>

There is some weirdness around that ISO 100. Bill Claff has measured and remeasured, and it is pretty clear that ISO 100 is base ISO. But Leica claims it is not (emails from Leica). As you mentioned, there are also some issues with exposure at ISO 100.  There are also inconsistencies with live histogram and highlight warnings when shooting at ISO 100 (different than in image review).

[hdmesa]

2 hours ago, SrMi said:

There is some weirdness around that ISO 100. Bill Claff has measured and remeasured, and it is pretty clear that ISO 100 is base ISO. But Leica claims it is not (emails from Leica). As you mentioned, there are also some issues with exposure at ISO 100.  There are also inconsistencies with live histogram and highlight warnings when shooting at ISO 100 (different than in image review).

Could be ISO 100 reacts differently than ISO 200 though max ISO, and Leica is unwilling to write the code needed in firmware to accommodate (for correct functioning of histogram, highlight warnings, and Auto ISO). Just did a search and didn't realize the base ISO issue came up with the Q2 as well – 50 vs 100.

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, hdmesa said:

Could be ISO 100 reacts differently than ISO 200 though max ISO, and Leica is unwilling to write the code needed in firmware to accommodate (for correct functioning of histogram, highlight warnings, and Auto ISO). Just did a search and didn't realize the base ISO issue came up with the Q2 as well – 50 vs 100.

It is the same with SL2 (50 vs. 100). They all use the same sensor type.