How to edit Q2M files as opposed to Q: color->B&W

[Nachtmsk]

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Hi

I'm considering getting a Q2M. I routinely convert my Q files to B&W so it seems logical to consider a monochrome camera.  Not to mention I prefer to shoot(think)  in BW.

I am wondering how one goes about editing a Q2M (or any monochrome file for that matter) as opposed to a Q file, where I have the RGB channel to edit tone/contrast in those channels.

Some articles I've seen say it's common to shoot with color filters (Yellow, orange,red) -- that seems like a good idea.

Any practical advice monochrome users might have for editing monochrome files would be appreciated. (I used Photoshop but the principals amongst image editing software should be similar).

Thanks very much

Mike

PS. I have seen (online) some striking monochrome images. But at the same time I have seem a fair amount of muddy-gray images, that I hope aren't indicative of most monochrome files.

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[clasami]

The Q2M output is rather flat. A red filter helps increase contrast. But the editing tool that I found to be most useful to achive the contrast in B&W that I was looking for is the "Dehaze" slider in Lightroom.

Michael

[Anakronox]

The tone curve will be your best friend with any Leica Monochrom’s files.  If you think of the raws as HP5 without pushing or adding color filters, you’re in the ballpark.  I shoot both the Q2M and M10M and have made my own presets that set the curves and basic sliders to an average of my taste.  I can then tweak a few things quickly and have a finished image ready for export.