An M10-M and M10-R pixel peeping comparison that will give everyone something to complain about

[John Miranda]

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After a year of observing COVID precautions, I am getting reduced to taking lousy neighborhood pictures followed by pixel peeping.  

I took random pictures of a nearby neighborhood with both my M10-R and M10-M.  The lighting was terrible, but the walk was good.  I never meant this to be a benchmark test, but in opening respective camera images of similar composition, I continue to be taken aback by the sharpness of M10-M results out of the box.  Below, I took a picture with each camera.  Now, this is poorly done, not on a tripod, two different 50mm lenses, and so on.  Still, now I am curious to follow up properly, was this a result of handshake, ISO, lens or does the Bayer color filter reduce sharpness to this degree. (e.g. presumably the difference between M10-M and M10-R.)

M10-M:  Voightlander 50mm f1.2 lens, shot at 1/750th, f4.8 ISO 160

M10-R:  Leica Summicron 50mm f2.0 lens, shot at 1/250, f6.8, ISO 100.

Both images at 100% crop.

 

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[Boojay]

I'd be interested to see what would happen if you swapped the lenses and the settings🙂.  That might narrow things down.  Same day, time, weather conditions?

Also wondering about the lenses, what version of the Summicron.   I only ask that as I have an old 90 2.8 TE that when used on the 10R, if I pixel peep, can disappoint, maybe a CLA would improve things, maybe not.   

Like you, pretty fed up of same old walking routes with nothing new to shoot.

[jaapv]

Yes, the Bayer filter reduces resolution by 30% by interpolation, and acuity through optical aberrations of the filter itself. With a monochrome sensor, every pixel you have ends up as a pixel in print. (quote from Erwin Puts)

[dkmoore]

If you do retest I would push the M10R speed above 250. Not bad performance from the M10R anyway. I heart the M10M, for so many reasons. 

[Luke_Miller]

Nice neighborhood.

[Herr Barnack]

Quote

Yes, the Bayer filter reduces resolution by 30% by interpolation, and acuity through optical aberrations of the filter itself.

One of the many reasons I am glad to have acquired an M10 Mono instead of an M10R. 

If you have an interest in black and white photography, the M10M will only serve to deepen that interest and possibly convert you to 100% B&W (I'm almost there myself nowadays). 

Black and white photography with one of Leica's Monochrom cameras is an entirely different dimension of image making. 

The M10M and Q2M are extremely capable image makers.

Edited March 11, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[jaapv]

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59 minutes ago, Herr Barnack said:

One of the many reasons I am glad to have acquired an M10 Mono instead of an M10R. 

If you have an interest in black and white photography, the M10M will only serve to deepen that interest and possibly convert you to 100% B&W (I'm almost there myself nowadays). 

Black and white photography with one of Leica's Monochrom cameras is an entirely different dimension of image making. 

The M10M and Q2M are extremely capable image makers.

As are the previous Monochroms. My personal favourite is the M9M.

[Herr Barnack]

@jaapv I would not slight the previous Monochrom cameras, even though I never have owned or used the earlier models.

The M10M's arrival happened to coincide with my own resurgent interest in and desire to return to shooting and printing monochrome on a serious level. 

That change of photographic ethos has been a long time coming for me, but it fits well and  I am comfortable in it.