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Who can share a low-light comparison with the M246 and M10/P


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I’m debating consolidating my MD262 and M246 for 1 camera in the M10 family. One of the biggest reasons is low light performance. When I photograph our kids indoors I’m often needing to shoot at 3200, 6400 and sometimes even 8000. 
 

The M246 is outstanding here and my main concern is that the M10 won’t keep up. 
 

Does anyone have both who can compare for me? Bonus points if you can add an M240 family body to the comparison!

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I can't share examples right now but I can describe the difference as I've done exactly the comparison that you want (M246 vs M10).

The answer is that they both (for me) have the same high ISO limit, about 10,000. This is not because of noise but rather sensor banding. It starts to affect both at the same time, somewhere around 10,000-12,000 ISO. In both cases you can squeeze 1/2-1 stop more if you use a Denoise app that does banding repair like Nik dfine2.

Other than that the M246 has slightly finer noise at high ISOs than the M10 but the difference is not huge.

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22 hours ago, convexferret said:

I can't share examples right now but I can describe the difference as I've done exactly the comparison that you want (M246 vs M10).

The answer is that they both (for me) have the same high ISO limit, about 10,000. This is not because of noise but rather sensor banding. It starts to affect both at the same time, somewhere around 10,000-12,000 ISO. In both cases you can squeeze 1/2-1 stop more if you use a Denoise app that does banding repair like Nik dfine2.

Other than that the M246 has slightly finer noise at high ISOs than the M10 but the difference is not huge.

Very good stuff! Wow - so the M10 series can actually go head to head with the M246? Very impressive! If so, I’d argue that’s more like 2.5-3 stops better than the M240 sensor. Your thoughts?

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  • 5 months later...

B&W ISO Showdown 2020: Leica M10 Monochrom vs. M Monochrom (Typ 246) vs. M10-P vs. SL2 | Red Dot Forum

Sensors and Sensibility : The Leica M (246) Monochrom :: ULTRAsomething

Have a look at the links above.

I love my M246 and far better at high ISO than the M240. Actually, the M246 it is very similar to my Canon 5DIV at 25K.

I enjoy high ISO performance; just traded my 5DIV for SL2-s; the SL2-s is slightly better (5DIV) >25k ISO.

The M246 has slightly less detail at 25K then my SL2-s.  

Keep your M246 Monochrome! 

I sold my M240 and won't trade the M246 for M10-p.

 

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I am due to receive my M10 today and I can make some comparisons with my M262. What I have noticed recently is that the 262 is absolutely atrocious at 6400 (3200 pushed one stop). Maybe even worse than the Micro Four Thirds cameras I used to have. I'm sure the M10 could easily beat it.

Edited by BarberShop
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I have not done any well-controlled, side-by-side shoot-off experiments, and my LR/post-processing skills are in their infancy, so, I am in no position to provide useful, relevant samples, but, I can say “amen” to those who have written that the Monochrom Type 246 plays well, in low light, at high ISO, for the shooter who also has an M10. I started Leica M shooting with an M10, but after a mishap soon sidelined* the M10, for a while, I quickly acquired a pre-owned M 246. It is not a matter of one not being able to “keep up” with the other, in the conditions in which I have used them.

Now that I have a pair of Zeiss Distagon 1,4/35mm ZM lenses, enabling me to have identical lenses on two M cameras, I reckon that I could to a side-by-side, apples-to-apples comparison, with identical ISO settings.

*I want to add a quick expression of thanks, to the gracious and helpful people who work at the Leica service center, in Allendale, New Jersey.

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As user of these digital M, I would not use M262 at high ISO, if I can choose, but M10 is not much better,

M246 is in another category, even not so good DR, 1EV better than M262, after this chart

https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Leica M (Typ 262),Leica M MONOCHROM (Typ 246),Leica M10

 

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