M10M ISO Invariant?

[AceVentura1986]

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Hello, all. I own and regularly shoot an ME and an M9M. Although I really like these, I’m beginning to fear that they may soon reach the end of their serviceable lives. If is sell both now, I can use the funds to defray the cost of an M10M once the M11M comes to market.

This leads to the question: is the M10M ISO invariant? I ask because one of the great things about shooting the M9M is it’s invariance. Ordinary, I set the ISO at either 400 or 1600 depending on conditions and then adjust in LR. I find I can usually push about 3-4 stops just fine. Shooting like this has the benefit of preserving highlights from clipping. 

So, is the M10M ISO invariant?

Thanks in advance. 

Ace
 

Edited June 4, 2022 by AceVentura1986

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[Jeff S]

I own both, and don’t think in terms of ISO invariance. I am satisfied to know that the M10 M (with the sensor having dual gain architecture, grater light gathering ability,  etc) has both greater file flexibility to bump shadows without noise as well as far greater high ISO capabilities. There are various ISO comparison tests from Red Dot Forum, the mathphotographer, etc to demonstrate its prowess. 
 

The M9 M benefits from its RAW histogram, but I haven’t had exposure issues with my M10 M. Any problem is mine, not the camera.

You might demo or rent. Workflows and output goals vary.
 

Jeff

Edited June 4, 2022 by Jeff S

[Ken Abrahams]

I use high iso with M10M regularly and often crop into the image substantially. At 3200 iso with cropping, the file grain is more noticeable. The 35 mm lens and subject distance helps to facilitate such cropping. I use 3200 iso in shaded street areas to achieve good exposures at f8 and 1/1000 - 1/3000 sec. 
Scenes with more light at 800-1600 iso. 
 

I have the M Monochrom and the disadvantage is with exposure control and camera or subject movement in low light compared to M10M. I think post processing techniques (developing workflows) are necessary to get the desired result and this takes time to perfect. It’s a big change stepping into M10M as was the M9M. One needs to really push M10M files to the max, to see what grain you can achieve but it’s definitely there at higher iso. 
 

Sometimes I need to add grain to M10M files but DXO Silver Effex has an option for using “file grain” rather than some preset film type. You can make the grain harder or softer and of course larger. The quality and image detail at 3200 iso with M10M is outstanding if you nail the focus and exposure. There is a far greater latitude to push these files in processing too, compared to M9M. 
 

I don’t know what M11M will bring but I could easily stick with M10M for years to come. 
 

Best

Ken 

 

[sarav]

6 hours ago, AceVentura1986 said:

Hello, all. I own and regularly shoot an ME and an M9M. Although I really like these, I’m beginning to fear that they may soon reach the end of their serviceable lives. If is sell both now, I can use the funds to defray the cost of an M10M once the M11M comes to market.

This leads to the question: is the M10M ISO invariant? I ask because one of the great things about shooting the M9M is it’s invariance. Ordinary, I set the ISO at either 400 or 1600 depending on conditions and then adjust in LR. I find I can usually push about 3-4 stops just fine. Shooting like this has the benefit of preserving highlights from clipping. 

So, is the M10M ISO invariant?

Thanks in advance. 

Ace
 

Well, short answer is Yes, Long answer is Yes: you can do whatever you want. I regularly use film on my MPs and when I get M10M there are literally no limits. Set a full stop or two of compensation for highlight recovery and just shoot. No shutter spped limits, no low light limits. Even @50000 ISO you have to add artificial grain in order to obtain a rather dirty film shot. To me, M10M is the best Digital Leica Monochrom.

[Stef63]

1 hour ago, sarav said:

Even @50000 ISO you have to add artificial grain in order to obtain a rather dirty film shot. To me, M10M is the best Digital Leica Monochrom.

Agree. The M10M is my first camera where ISO is not relevant anymore in the equation shutter speed - aperture - iso.  Set exposure comp to -1 or -2.  Set ISO to auto.  Shutter speed 2/f to be safe and to avoid camera shake...and use the aperture only for creative purposes.  I don’t even look at ISO anymore.  

But that is for regular and low light situations…

4 hours ago, Ken Abrahams said:

I don’t know what M11M will bring but I could easily stick with M10M for years to come. 

The only significant thing an M11M could add to the M10M features is 1/16000 electronic shutter speed to avoid having to fall back to the use of ND filters in bright light conditions, when you want fully open the aperture on fast lenses.  That is a feature I began to appreciate on the M11 a lot. 

[SrMi]

M10M is not ISO invariant. The Photographic Shadow Improvement curve needs to be level for an ISO invariant camera. E.g., Nikon D7000 is ISO invariant.

Photographic Shadow Improvement fro M10M and D7000

The data also shows that M10M is pretty ISO invariant between ISO 3200 and ISO 40000.

[ramarren]

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I agree with @stef63. I've mostly just set my ISO to auto, with AutoISO set to 160 to 16000 range, set the maximum exposure time based on what lens I'm using, and just gone shooting. I use an Orange or deep Green filter most of the time when outdoors, again depending on subject matter, and manipulate EV compensation per the circumstances. I'm getting amazing results. Love the M10 Mono. 

G