Jump to content

B&W Digital M?


dfarkas

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 58
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

While I suspect it is vaporware, it would be an excellent idea. What would be even better, is if true to the tradition of previous cameras being upgradable [e.g. non-RF screw mount cameras could be upgraded to model III, or ST added to a camera without it from the factory], an existing M8 could be converted by the factory.

 

NS

Link to post
Share on other sites

imants, I love your portrait photography, but many of your shots seem slightly soft. I can see that some are done in dark situations, and it adds to the atmosphere, but in shots like that on the front page, I think I would prefer a sharper image. Was it also taken in a dark room, or a studio with lighting control?

Link to post
Share on other sites

... nice device ... hard to sell ... they surely won't do IT : how many years from the last BW only camera ? A shock in the market... maybe in tech terms a modification of M8 could be someway possible... they could make it available a "factory retrofit"... costly, for lovers of BW (and probably, owners of a pair of M8s...)

Link to post
Share on other sites

At some point technology will have evolved far enough that they can't get the consumer with the newest mega-pixel count, etc. At that point they will introduce things like a thought-out B&W mode, possibly with various licensed settings to mimick things like Tri-X.

 

But a B&W-only camera at this point?

 

Also, I wish I had the skill, but there are people doing unbelievably-good B&W conversions in Photoshop that far exceed anything that can be captured on a roll of 35mm film. THAT is where the B&W development will come from, not from inside the camera.

 

Leica never produced a B&W-only film camera, why should they produce a B&W-only digital camera.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yea you are right about the soft images, laziness and forgetting is the cause. The softer ones are straight RAW (LIghtroom or Raw Developer) conversions with no sharpening as I usually selectively sharpen just before printing. I downsize images for the and then it is too late to sharpen after the event. I'll try to remember...........

Link to post
Share on other sites

..yea it works but...... I prefer Photokit Sharpener,,,,,,,by then I have pushed too many pixels too far and at 72dpi 500x430 sharpening basically adds unwanted noise as well as it sharpens the whole image.

I use sharpening brushes.......... preferring the selective and subtle changes, something that works well at higher dpi/size etc

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'd buy one, too. If there was adequate differentiation between it and the colour model (eg, noticeably higher resolution as a result of dropping the bayer interpolation stage; wider greyscale gamut; greater exposure latitude etc etc).

 

It's a very fair point that Leica never made a B&W-only film camera. But for those of us who really like shooting in B&W, it would be hugely tempting... :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

It's a very fair point that Leica never made a B&W-only film camera. But for those of us who really like shooting in B&W, it would be hugely tempting.
.....especially if we could use colour film and turn it into..............................gold perhaps
Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, a BW-M8 would be a nice thing... in particular because no Bayer pattern would be necessary. A REAL 16-bit DNG would be important in such a case, instead of this "crutchy" square-root conversion into 8 bits we have presently.

Well, and with a BW-M8, all the colour filters could be used again we once knew from old-fashioned film times... ;) ...although I anticipate that several people again would grumble about filters... :D

Link to post
Share on other sites

Apart from the die hard B&W fans, I doubt a one trick camera would have wide appeal outside that circle. Anyhow as it's been pointed out many times, what's considered the "art" of B&W comes not only from the negative but also from the paper / process. I suspect a monochrome or grayscale M8 will always be shunned by those "true" to their art.

 

Personally speaking, I'm ignorant as far a B&W is concerned, but I'm quite happy with the results the current M8 files can produce in post with monchrome adjustment and inkjet printing. They look fine to me, hardly any reason to consider an alternative. YMMV ;) .

Link to post
Share on other sites

how much bla bla bla.......

and how much disrispect to real b/w photography........

 

.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Link to post
Share on other sites

how much bla bla bla.......

and how much disrispect to real b/w photography.........

 

I was waiting for you to add your 2c worth. Critical as ever and reinforcing your publicly stated opinion that here in digital land we some how disrespect B&W. "Kitsch" I think is the term you use and imply the only righteous path is B&W film and a darkroom. So I take it you also would have no interest in a B&W digital M, eh Vic?.:D Oops, slip of the tongue, I should have said Grayscale Digital M.;) Sorry!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...