Q2 vs Q2 Monochrom

[jaapv]

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I would be very surprised if it were not possible to set the viewfinder of the Q2 to B&W. 

[Le Chef]

2 hours ago, jaapv said:

I would be very surprised if it were not possible to set the viewfinder of the Q2 to B&W. 

It’s dead simple to set the EVF of the Q2 to show B&W. When I borrowed a Q2 I set it to RAW only and then set the EVF to show B&W. If it’s not on the first menu page then it’s on the second.

[leicameech]

2 hours ago, kmonroe99 said:

So, did you ever decide between the 2  models?  I'm trying to make the same decision myself.  It seems for me,  the biggest advantage would be the B&W view finder with the Monochrom.

The Q2 viewfinder can be set to Monochrom all the time. The biggest advantage of the Q2M will be the things that make it inherently different in the first place -- way better at high ISO (a very noticeable, really-makes-a-big-difference-in-low-light amount), better dynamic range, richer gradation, simply put -- more shades of grey than a color camera can get, and therefore more information you can pull out of your files, even if you captured images in conditions where you'd be forced to have inferior image quality with a color-sensor-equipped camera. 

Something about changing your mindset, however, and knowing that black and white is all it's ever going to be...that's cool. Of course, you could shoot some film  

If you like to shoot in color but would like the option of seeing in black and white via the viewfinder, the Q2 does that. 

[jaapv]

5 hours ago, Le Chef said:

It’s dead simple to set the EVF of the Q2 to show B&W. When I borrowed a Q2 I set it to RAW only and then set the EVF to show B&W. If it’s not on the first menu page then it’s on the second.

Like any other EVF Leica  

[hdmesa]

22 hours ago, Le Chef said:

It’s dead simple to set the EVF of the Q2 to show B&W. When I borrowed a Q2 I set it to RAW only and then set the EVF to show B&W. If it’s not on the first menu page then it’s on the second.

FWIW, b&w live view and images on the Q2M EVF/LCD are much more pleasing than on the Q2 or M10-R in b&w JPEG modes. Much nicer.

Edited August 5, 2021 by hdmesa

[nwphil]

On 8/3/2021 at 8:13 PM, leicameech said:

The Q2 viewfinder can be set to Monochrom all the time. The biggest advantage of the Q2M will be the things that make it inherently different in the first place -- way better at high ISO (a very noticeable, really-makes-a-big-difference-in-low-light amount), better dynamic range, richer gradation, simply put -- more shades of grey than a color camera can get, and therefore more information you can pull out of your files, even if you captured images in conditions where you'd be forced to have inferior image quality with a color-sensor-equipped camera. 

Something about changing your mindset, however, and knowing that black and white is all it's ever going to be...that's cool. Of course, you could shoot some film  

If you like to shoot in color but would like the option of seeing in black and white via the viewfinder, the Q2 does that. 

 

2 hours ago, hdmesa said:

FWIW, b&w live view and images on the Q2M EVF/LCD are much more pleasing than on the Q2 or M10-R in b&w JPEG modes. Much nicer.

So can some Fuji cameras and even Olympus - the Pen F actually does shot in monochrome raw and jpeg, but tonality it's  not the same and I can always switch to color or keep  the cc raw in color . With the Q2M there is no workaround or switch later - it's  b&w and has to work or you don't  have a shot to keep.

Yes, it's  a strong  commitment,  not for everyone - it's  great to have choices.

[hdmesa]

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13 minutes ago, nwphil said:

 

So can some Fuji cameras and even Olympus - the Pen F actually does shot in monochrome raw and jpeg, but tonality it's  not the same and I can always switch to color or keep  the cc raw in color . With the Q2M there is no workaround or switch later - it's  b&w and has to work or you don't  have a shot to keep.

Yes, it's  a strong  commitment,  not for everyone - it's  great to have choices.

Fujifilm and Canon's monochrome JPEGs/in-camera b&w previews are pretty flexible as you can use any number of styles such as red-filtered, etc.

[ejg1890]

I am about 6 weeks late joining this conversation, but will add my 2 cents today as I am comparing the Q2 vs Q2 Monochrom. After much consideration and research I am leaning towards the Q2 vs the Q2M due to the ability to adjust B+W photos via color channels rather than attaching colored filters to the the Q2M. Additionally the color channels add more flexibility to adjusting the B+W tones than a colored filter. For the few times I ultimately want a final product in color that is there as well.

 

[Kreeshp]

2 hours ago, ejg1890 said:

I am about 6 weeks late joining this conversation, but will add my 2 cents today as I am comparing the Q2 vs Q2 Monochrom. After much consideration and research I am leaning towards the Q2 vs the Q2M due to the ability to adjust B+W photos via color channels rather than attaching colored filters to the the Q2M. Additionally the color channels add more flexibility to adjusting the B+W tones than a colored filter. For the few times I ultimately want a final product in color that is there as well.

 

As a current Q2M owner who also owned a Q-P and an M10-P before buying the Q2M, let me summarize the mental gymnastics and my conclusions re: Q2 vs Q2M.

If you need color, even if it's only one image out of 1000's, the Q2 is always going to be the better choice.

If you need black and white only, the Q2M is always the the better choice.

Both cameras have been designed to provide optimum results in their respective classes - color versus black and white.  Trying to make one perform as well as the other is either a compromise (e.g. post-processing color into monochrom) or impossible (e.g. cannot convert monochrom into color).

Anyone trying to do it all with one camera isn't being realistic with either his/her needs or expectations.  In conclusion, you cannot compare a Q2 against a Q2M because they aren't designed to create the same end result.

[SiOnara]

On 5/25/2021 at 6:12 PM, trickness said:

The DNG files straight out of the Q2M are crazy -

Yeah it’s amazing. I’m getting beautiful nighttime street shots straight out of cameras at 25000 iso at f8. Amazing tones and contrast. 
 

i have noticed I have to stop under by 1 stop during the day on low iso and at night on high ISO I’m best shooting at the correct exposure and the files sing for themselves. 
 

Q2M is a  perfect match for my SL2 and M10D. 

[wilfredo]

I found this YouTube very helpful.  I don't own a Q2 or Q2M but I love my Monochrom (M9) files.  Most of my work is B&W, and although I get great B&W conversions from my Sony A7RIII, my heart is mostly in B&W photography, hence I will probably be adding the Q2M to my kit.

 

[CAP]

One advantage the Q2 has over the Q2M is the ability to add virtual colour filters to the BW image in processing. Saves a lot of time, money and fuss.

[tom0511]

I have had the original MM and later the M246.

In both cases I first loved it and the b&w experience, but in the end after sometimes I always started to use the color cameras again, and then finally carried the b&w camera less and less.

Therefore for me its the color version, which also allows to "simulate" color filters later when converting the images and therefore gives more flexibility even for b&w.

I dont need ISO higher than 6400. 

[Guest]

A significant advantage of the Q2M is the ability to bracket exposure in a single press of the shutter.

I find that many shots would have been blown that now are recovered by using the lowest exposure ... and recovering in post.

With my MM and M246 I had the disappointment of discovering blown highlights when nothing in the meter or histogram predicted their

occurrence .... other times the longer exposure allowed a more subtle capture of midtones for post.

No difference from the Q2 but a distinct advantage for the Q2M over the M monos for me as bracketing with them seemed less immediate.

Edited September 30, 2021 by docmoore

[Kare]

Am 23.5.2021 um 03:37 schrieb ibramr:

I hope the following helps.  The shots were taken today in Washington, DC.  The aperture was f1.7, set at ISO 200, and both files are OOC.  The first is the Q2M and the second is Q2 converted to Monochrom.  Please share your thoughts.   BTW, more about Roosevelt Memorial is here.  

 

 

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If You look at there Egon under the hat the Q2 has more structure than the q2m. 

[Dr. G]

There's another advantage to the Q2M.  Even though the Q2 and Q2M both have a 47 Mp sensor, the Q2M is recording only light information on each pixel.  Without a blue/green/red grid this means that your resulting image has true 47 Mp resolution. Although this seems like a theoretical advantage, it is relatively apparent if you heavily crop an image from the Q2M and the Q2.  The Q2M images appear to retain more resolution/contrast/microcontrast when you crop.  

[alksv]

I used both extensively, currently using a Q2M as my only camera. I shoot a lot at night and in bad weather, so I vastly prefer the Q2M to both Q2 and M10M (with 28 Cron). The ISO performance is substantially better compared to Q2, and its fixed lens, weather-proof body and (occasional) auto-focus far outweigh the pure experience that is an M. This is absolutely subjective, as I love the Q2M to bits. But the vast majority seems to agree that if you shoot black and white, need ISO flexibility, wish for a rugged(er) body, welcome the convenience that autofocus and EVF bring and enjoy the 28mm experience, there's no contest. The Q2M wins hands down.

[Alan Friedman]

2 minutes ago, alksv said:

I used both extensively, currently using a Q2M as my only camera. I shoot a lot at night and in bad weather, so I vastly prefer the Q2M to both Q2 and M10M (with 28 Cron). The ISO performance is substantially better compared to Q2, and its fixed lens, weather-proof body and (occasional) auto-focus far outweigh the pure experience that is an M. This is absolutely subjective, as I love the Q2M to bits. But the vast majority seems to agree that if you shoot black and white, need ISO flexibility, wish for a rugged(er) body, welcome the convenience that autofocus and EVF bring and enjoy the 28mm experience, there's no contest. The Q2M wins hands down.

A perfect summary. I've been using the Sigma fp for the past several years and now the fp-L with various M mount, L mount and vintage nikkor lenses. I recently purchased the Q2M and expect to carry it with the Sigma fp-L as a compact two camera kit when I can bring along a small bag. I convert more than 50% of my shots to B&W and prefer the EVF over a rangefinder - for me the Q2M made perfect sense. The noise handling is remarkable. I love that almost all of the menu complication devoted to in-camera processing of jpegs is gone (with the exception of toning, which I wish I could remove from the status screen). For the times that I'm traveling light and recording color is a must, the IPhone 13pro is always in a back pocket. 

[timplog]

you can have b&w in the Q2 viewfinder

it's the camera's b&w rendering of the sensor's colour readout ?

c&c welcomed-new to Q2

edit sorry should've read back

Edited June 15, 2022 by timplog
repetitive

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[Dob3rman]

On 5/22/2021 at 9:37 PM, ibramr said:

I hope the following helps.  The shots were taken today in Washington, DC.  The aperture was f1.7, set at ISO 200, and both files are OOC.  The first is the Q2M and the second is Q2 converted to Monochrom.  Please share your thoughts.   BTW, more about Roosevelt Memorial is here.  

 

 

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Would you be kind enough to share the DNG files for these shots? I am considering a Q2 and Q2 Mono. That would be great if I can check the RAW images of the same scene with the 2 cameras. Thank you