Time to jump all in on a Monochrom?

[Sandokan]

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Do not laugh. 

Normally with a camera, I do not consider or see colours; so getting the M10 Monochrom was an easy decision. 

However, now when I go out with it, I have started to look at colours and think how the shades will render in B&W ... to the point where I take a normal camera with the same focal length lens to render the colour shots. Who knew I would learn to see colours with a B&W camera? 

[Jeff S]

1 hour ago, Sandokan said:

However, now when I go out with it, I have started to look at colours and think how the shades will render in B&W ... to the point where I take a normal camera with the same focal length lens to render the colour shots. Who knew I would learn to see colours with a B&W camera? 

Some may not realize that it’s the brightness/luminosity of the colors that distinguish black and white tones, not the hue and not the saturation of those colors. The following video shows some good examples that prove the notion.  See from about the 19 minute mark.  This has implications not just for how we see/shoot in b/w, but how we can more effectively use editing software to affect tonality (covered later in the video).

Jeff

[didier]

Thank you very much @Jeff Sfor the link. Very interesting !

[lmans]

Go for it...life is short..... what is a few thousand to Leica Fan boys/girls. Don't forget film though! jim

[Tomsmac]

On 5/3/2022 at 2:33 AM, erniethemilk said:

I’m pondering to now pick up an M10 Monochrom. I’ve found since shooting with my M10-P for almost 3 years my eye for black and white has become more acute to the point I now shoot my M10 with the JPG setting on black and white, I import my images to Lightroom with a black and white profile set on import and keep 99.9% of my images in black and white. 
 

Of course, the M10 Monochrom is a heck of an investment & I’d still keep the M10-P as it’s a special camera for me, but I’m feeling it’s now or never for picking one up. I like the idea of fully committing to black and white. 

I have what is literally a mint 246 on eBay if interested. I think I started it at $4200

Good luck!

[Jeff S]

52 minutes ago, Tomsmac said:

I have what is literally a mint 246 on eBay if interested. I think I started it at $4200

Good luck!

Literally mint?  Peppermint? Spearmint?  Or does it manufacture coins?

Jeff

[jplomley]

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On 5/4/2022 at 12:31 AM, Jeff S said:

Some may not realize that it’s the brightness/luminosity of the colors that distinguish black and white tones, not the hue and not the saturation of those colors. The following video shows some good examples that prove the notion.  See from about the 19 minute mark.  This has implications not just for how we see/shoot in b/w, but how we can more effectively use editing software to affect tonality (covered later in the video).

Jeff

Jeff, thanks so much for sharing this link. What a fantastic lecture 👍

[johnwolf]

Since you've opened the door to the possibilities for BW, I suggest you not dismiss film.

So many wonderful film M cameras for a fraction of the price. The process itself is engaging, with endless options for film, chemistry, and processing. Film adds an element of craft that can be very satisfying.

And then there's the lovely organic aesthetic, which can be so pleasing. 

It's at least worth adding to your mix of options.

John

[Stuart Richardson]

I agree. Every time I have thought about a monochrome camera, I have just looked at the B&W photos I get out of medium and large format film, and compare it to those that I have converted from digital, and the film ones by and large are just more pleasing...

But if you have no interest in film whatsoever, the Monochrome cameras offer very real advantages if you really want to shoot only black and white.

Edited May 7, 2022 by Stuart Richardson

[Luke_Miller]

I find that in comparing shots from my Monochroms with B&W conversions from Bayer array cameras that the Monochrom images are more pleasing.

[lmans]

1 hour ago, johnwolf said:

Since you've opened the door to the possibilities for BW, I suggest you not dismiss film.

So many wonderful film M cameras for a fraction of the price. The process itself is engaging, with endless options for film, chemistry, and processing. Film adds an element of craft that can be very satisfying.

And then there's the lovely organic aesthetic, which can be so pleasing. 

It's at least worth adding to your mix of options.

John

To me, this is spot on.....don't forget film. There is a huge intangible that one receives from shooting film as that analog process starts from the moment you determine what film to select, let lone to actually put it in the camera. And from that point it just continues. Film is magical, the process as well as the end product. I will develop my film but then shift to scanning and software as I find it a bit easier in my physical arrangement / situation. But surely it is easy to develop, It becomes a craft as johnwolf suggested. The entire experience from start to finish 'slows' you down as a photographer and allows you to understand the mechanics behind photography / exposure etc.    Many cameras out there so I am not going to get into which is best. But give it a shot and experience that early morning x-mas feel of opening up your photos for the first time and witnessing the imprinted negative etc.... jim

[erniethemilk]

Well I managed to find a 246 Monochrome to have a look at this afternoon and was not expecting to like it, but funnily enough I felt it fitted in the hand very well - I guess I’ve been suckered in by those saying models before the M10 were bigger and thicker. 😂

I’m still undecided as the idea of having the M10-P and an M10 Monochrome that are essentially the same (body size, battery, EVF, accessories etc) is appealing, but the M10M is quite a chunk more money. 

More to consider and ponder before I make a decision!

I have an M6 that I’ve shot plenty of black and white film with - but I think I’m done with film for the time being. I like the ease and immediacy of digital over film - albeit it does hood a special place in my heart. 

[Jeff S]

I find that the Leica thumb grip improves handholding and makes body size differences between my M(9)Monochrom and M10 Monochrom not very meaningful.  Other platform differences, though, are more significant.  
 

Jeff

[Erikvw]

An other link that explains the Monochrome camera's from Leica. I found it very useful.

 

[ru2far2c]

2 hours ago, erniethemilk said:

Well I managed to find a 246 Monochrome to have a look at this afternoon and was not expecting to like it, but funnily enough I felt it fitted in the hand very well - I guess I’ve been suckered in by those saying models before the M10 were bigger and thicker. 😂

I second Jeff’s recommendation for a grip, whether you get a M246 or M10M. 
If you are a 1C1L type of shooter for the day, then I would look into picking up an orange filter for contrast. Personally, I like the extra contrast that the orange filter provides with my M10M (& my M246, which I traded in) files. 
Also may want to look into a 3-stop ND with the M246, especially if you like shooting in bright light at ƒ 2.8 to ƒ 1.4. Base ISO of 320 and max shutter speed of 1/4000 have their limitations in certain situations.

[ramarren]

Finally got out for a first walk with the M10 Monochrom today, and I have to say that I have no issues at all with it. It just works the way I want a camera to work. Although a bit on the pricey side, and I didn't really need another camera, I'm very glad I went for it. 

BTW: I've never stopped shooting film. The M10-M won't change that: film and digital capture are two different recording mediums and see the world differently. I like both. And, of course, one of the reasons I have a nice kit of M-mount lenses is that I have and use an M4-2 as well ... Although I've not shot much with it this year so far, I've had it since about 2011 or so and have only ever used B&W film in it. It's been my Monochrom until today.  

So I'm jazzed, the camera works very nicely, and I'm taking my time to learn it. I did some analysis of the spectral sensitivity with unfiltered lenses, with orange and green filters too, and have been comparing the results against what I get with the CL and my usual B&W rendering start points. The M10-M with an orange filter in daylight is not very far off my usual color-capture -> B&W rendering starting point. That makes rendering the M10-M files very easy ... so far, I've done tests of about 20 shots that are all but done with about 15 seconds worth of effort each. Very pleasing! 

I know how right this camera is in that I stuck a strap on it, charged the battery, put in an SD card, and learned 3/4 of the configuration settings that suit me best within 10 minutes of my walk. I think it suits me.

onwards! G

[ramarren]

Some photos from my first walk here: 

G

[Leicaphile]

 

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Edited May 13, 2022 by Leicaphile