M9M or M246?

[a.noctilux]

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£3k in 2020

and £2550 now

...normal decrease for me.

Good thing is M246 retains good value better than other M of the family, maybe same thing with M-D also because of it's scarcity.

I don't follow the prices, as I don't need to sell/buy but it's decreasing with time as normal digital M.

 

Film M ( pre-owned) gained some more values, since some years, I don't know why.

[Olaf_ZG]

As you have both the 8 and 9, I would go for the original m: same battery and so on. Keep life simple.

 

 I have the original m and it is great.

[a.noctilux]

9 minutes ago, Olaf_ZG said:

As you have both the 8 and 9, I would go for the original m: same battery and so on. Keep life simple.

 

 I have the original m and it is great.

OP Costa do have M246 now,

see post  #11

 

Keep it simple is ONLY using the M246 with b&w mindset to go with it.

Life is beautiful.

[Olaf_ZG]

2 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

OP Costa do have M246 now,

see post  #11

 

Keep it simple is ONLY using the M246 with b&w mindset to go with it.

Life is beautiful.

True, but he is still in doubt, see post 12 😎

but we agree that life is beautiful 

[a.noctilux]

No need to say the MM1 is tough challenger 👍.

 

For me Costa had done the right choice for Monochrom M246, a bit heavier/thicker than MM1,

gain more modern behavior, a bit more "swift" than MM1 (I know that when I happen to take many frames in "S" mode and the M is not responding),

with longer life battery, even the video is there if need be.

[costa43]

Hi all

Bad news. The chap I bought the camera from could not deliver it in time during my 4 day UK visit so the order has been refunded as I am now back in the EU.

Back to searching for a body. 

 

[Stef63]

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On 2/3/2022 at 7:55 PM, costa43 said:

3rd choice is to sell the m9p and upgrade to an m10r but the idea of having a monochrome only option is appealing.

If 90% of your photography is B&W why don't you indeed sell the m9p, keep the M8 for the 10% color and instead of a m10r go for a m10m?  I've had all 3 Monochrom versions and this is the absolute nbr 1.  

[RexGig0]

Following this discussion has been interesting. It is regrettable that the M 246 could not be delivered to costa43 with sufficient timeliness.

In my case, I started Leica M photography in April 2018, with a new M10, and later added a pre-owned M246, so, never used an original M Monochrom. Adding an M10 Monochrom has been tempting, in order to have the higher ISO capability, but I have resisted the urge, thus far. A “faster” lens would lessen the need for higher ISO, and, depending upon which lens, and whether acquired pre-owned, would be a lesser shock to the budget.

Edited February 12, 2022 by RexGig0

[a.noctilux]

On 2/11/2022 at 2:59 PM, costa43 said:

Hi all

Bad news. The chap I bought the camera from could not deliver it in time during my 4 day UK visit so the order has been refunded as I am now back in the EU.

Back to searching for a body. 

 

So now the choice is yours again:

MM1 or M246 ...each one that will be available can be THE one to enjoy.

They are not so rare, so you will buy one soon.

 

While waiting you can use what you have.

[Marac]

I have M9 & M9M and I am quite happy, I used to shoot with an M8 and the title 'poor mans monochrome' is just, it's an excellent camera for B&W with or without the IR block fitted.

Never owned a 246M but a friend that I used to shoot with sold his and got the M9M, he didn't enjoy the extra bulk of the 246.

Either way you will have an amazing camera.

[a.noctilux]

I have the two MM1 and M246 *,

at first, the "extra bulk" and also a bit heavier of the M246 bothered me.

In real use, I even don't notice this after two or three days.

Now I know which one I take, the weight told me and after each pic that the sounds are different too.

 

*

Monochrom @ 590g,

M246 @ 693g

[davidmknoble]

@costa43,  I think @a.noctiluxsaid this early on, but batteries and charges can be a nightmare.  When I have upgraded my monochrom, M9M to M246 to M10M, I always brought the color version with me.  So, battery type dictated a lot for me, and I’d say the MM makes a good fit in your kit.

That said, you already know that if you like to shoot a lot of available light, and there isn’t’ much, the “grain” (noise) appears much faster in the MM (M9M).  I’ve shot plenty at ISO 10,000 on the MM and I typically overexposed the highlights a tad so I could darken the image in post (which removed some noise), but that is counter intuitive to digital.  The M246 gives you some extra headroom if you shoot at higher ISO’s.

Each step up in the monochrom has been pretty monumental.  We have gotten better sensor resolution and more dynamic range, but different battery systems.  In the end, I love the M10M not only because it matches my film sized bodies, but also because it really renders the classic lenses well and the resulting images appear sharper.  This is a function of higher res capturing the fuzzier details better on the older lens types.  

Interesting conundrum.  Good luck picking one and by all means, enjoy shooting it!

[costa43]

On 3/13/2022 at 11:56 AM, davidmknoble said:

@costa43,  I think @a.noctiluxsaid this early on, but batteries and charges can be a nightmare.  When I have upgraded my monochrom, M9M to M246 to M10M, I always brought the color version with me.  So, battery type dictated a lot for me, and I’d say the MM makes a good fit in your kit.

That said, you already know that if you like to shoot a lot of available light, and there isn’t’ much, the “grain” (noise) appears much faster in the MM (M9M).  I’ve shot plenty at ISO 10,000 on the MM and I typically overexposed the highlights a tad so I could darken the image in post (which removed some noise), but that is counter intuitive to digital.  The M246 gives you some extra headroom if you shoot at higher ISO’s.

Each step up in the monochrom has been pretty monumental.  We have gotten better sensor resolution and more dynamic range, but different battery systems.  In the end, I love the M10M not only because it matches my film sized bodies, but also because it really renders the classic lenses well and the resulting images appear sharper.  This is a function of higher res capturing the fuzzier details better on the older lens types.  

Interesting conundrum.  Good luck picking one and by all means, enjoy shooting it!

Thank you David. After yet another failed attempt at purchasing a Leica Monochrom, I'm looking at selling some kit that is not getting used and purchasing an M10M too. 

[costa43]

On 2/12/2022 at 4:09 PM, Stef63 said:

If 90% of your photography is B&W why don't you indeed sell the m9p, keep the M8 for the 10% color and instead of a m10r go for a m10m?  I've had all 3 Monochrom versions and this is the absolute nbr 1.  

That is the direction I am going in I think.

[shinobi2012]

Am 5.2.2022 um 11:44 schrieb shirubadanieru:

M9M all the way, especially if you like vintage glass and enjoy B&W film rendering. With a simple profile from mastin labs (Ilford) or even the Adobe Monochrom profile with added grain, it will make your pictures look as close as you can get to Tri-X / HP5 on a digital platform. If this is to your taste, the M9M beats not only the M246 but also the M10M. 

If you prefer digital / clean with huge dynamic range and better ISO performance, obviously a CMOS sensor will always beat a CCD sensor. 

I’ve tried most Leica digital cameras and I still think that nothing renders as organically as film, but the 2nd best is the M9M. 

Other thing to consider is price. In 2y probably we will have the M11M, that’s the 3rd CMOS based MM, which will further bring the M246 prices down, whereas the M9 and M9M prices go up every year (where I live the M9M is more expensive than the M246 already).

It will not look like Tri X/HP5.

I shot M9M and M246 for many years side by side with both films doing documentary work and a lot of printing (dark room and digital).

And Mastin Labs MonochromeProfiles are way overprocessed. 

Embrace each format, film is film, digital is digital. Both have there strengths and beauty.

Amen

[shinobi2012]

Am 25.2.2022 um 16:01 schrieb a.noctilux:

I have the two MM1 and M246 *,

at first, the "extra bulk" and also a bit heavier of the M246 bothered me.

In real use, I even don't notice this after two or three days.

Now I know which one I take, the weight told me and after each pic that the sounds are different too.

 

*

Monochrom @ 590g,

M246 @ 693g

I pair a Summicron 40 with the M246 compensate the extra bulk. (beautiful combination)

Also, consider, the M246 Viewfinder is much better than M9M, and the battery life is outstanding.