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Taken today in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. My first serious image with a Monochrom. And, given that I don't want to create another thread I'll add a few comments on my first day with the camera.

 
As a photographer I've had an M4-2 and some other Leica kit since the late 90s. Since digital took over I've been using more conventional kit, A Canon 5D III and now a Sony A7 II. It was trying out some of my Leica and Voigtlander lenses on the latter and seeing how good and how bad they could be that convinced me finally to return to my roots. On Friday a brand new 246 arrived at my door and I've not stopped shooting since. Rather than writing an in depth review I'll just run through some points.
 
The camera is dense
 
And because it doesn't have a grip a-la the typical DSLR, I've found myself suffering from tired fingers. I usually prefer a wrist strap so I'll just have to get used to this.
 
Image review on holding shutter button
 
Is a work of genius. I usually don't chimp every picture but given the metering system and highlight clipping sensitivity I've been spending much more time than normal staring at the back screen.
 
The screen is dark, very dark
 
I tried automatic but now have brightness on high. Images are very dim and I struggle to see any detail below approx zone 4. I'm wondering if this is just me?
 
Where is the noise?
 
I'm travelling right now and so have nothing to compare it with, but I'm happy to use ISO 25600 for anything short of a shot requiring extreme detail. The noise is that fine. I usually add light grain in Silver Efex and even my conservative setting masks any noise from the camera.
 
Highlight clipping is dangerous
 
I'm back in the world of transparencies. Having been used to EVFs or at least colour files with recoverable highlights I now have to judge my exposures that little bit more carefully. A lack of familiarity with the meter and the previously mentioned dark screen means that I'm relying heavily on 1/255 clipping indicators and the thankfully very accurate histogram. This just means a few tries at the moment for any image with bright skies.
 
Live view is wonderful for diagnosing RF problems
 
I only have 3 Voigtlander lenses with me, my Summicrons are at home. I ran through the 3 comparing live view and RF at infinity and close focus. My 50mm f1.5 and 90mm f3.5 are very sharp and spot on throughout the range. My 28mm f1.9 is fine at infinity but miles off (1/3 RF patch width) at 1 meter. I'll need to get that seen to. At least I've not lost any photos finding this out and can be confident that any problems can be quickly dignosed, unlike with film or older digital cameras
 
The included strap
 
Is fine, but the stiff rubber bit for the shoulder precludes it from wrapping around my wrist properly. I'm putting on a wrist strap right now..
 
The box it came in
 
Would make a fine jewelry dresser.
 
Todays photos
 
Were not my best, but that's not the camera's fault. And I got a couple I'm very happy with. Most importantly the images are sharp and noise-free, and I had fun.
 
Nobody spotted me
 
I spent the day wandering around the centre of tourist-infested Edinburgh with the camera in hand or on shoulder. From other threads I was expecting a rush of respectful nods and Freemason-like secret handshakes. I'm only partially relieved. Maybe I should invest in a red dot?

Edited by convexferret
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Taken today in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. My first serious image with a Monochrom. And, given that I don't want to create another thread I'll add a few comments on my first day with the camera.

 

As a photographer I've had an M4-2 and some other Leica kit since the late 90s. Since digital took over I've been using more conventional kit, A Canon 5D III and now a Sony A7 II. It was trying out some of my Leica and Voigtlander lenses on the latter and seeing how good and how bad they could be that convinced me finally to return to my roots. On Friday a brand new 246 arrived at my door and I've not stopped shooting since. Rather than writing an in depth review I'll just run through some points.

 

The camera is dense

 

And because it doesn't have a grip a-la the typical DSLR, I've found myself suffering from tired fingers. I usually prefer a wrist strap so I'll just have to get used to this.

 

Image review on holding shutter button

 

Is a work of genius. I usually don't chimp every picture but given the metering system and highlight clipping sensitivity I've been spending much more time than normal staring at the back screen.

 

The screen is dark, very dark

 

I tried automatic but now have brightness on high. Images are very dim and I struggle to see any detail below approx zone 4. I'm wondering if this is just me?

 

Where is the noise?

 

I'm travelling right now and so have nothing to compare it with, but I'm happy to use ISO 25600 for anything short of a shot requiring extreme detail. The noise is that fine. I usually add light grain in Silver Efex and even my conservative setting masks any noise from the camera.

 

Highlight clipping is dangerous

 

I'm back in the world of transparencies. Having been used to EVFs or at least colour files with recoverable highlights I now have to judge my exposures that little bit more carefully. A lack of familiarity with the meter and the previously mentioned dark screen means that I'm relying heavily on 1/255 clipping indicators and the thankfully very accurate histogram. This just means a few tries at the moment for any image with bright skies.

 

Live view is wonderful for diagnosing RF problems

 

I only have 3 Voigtlander lenses with me, my Summicrons are at home. I ran through the 3 comparing live view and RF at infinity and close focus. My 50mm f1.5 and 90mm f3.5 are very sharp and spot on throughout the range. My 28mm f1.9 is fine at infinity but miles off (1/3 RF patch width) at 1 meter. I'll need to get that seen to. At least I've not lost any photos finding this out and can be confident that any problems can be quickly dignosed, unlike with film or older digital cameras

 

The included strap

 

Is fine, but the stiff rubber bit for the shoulder precludes it from wrapping around my wrist properly. I'm putting on a wrist strap right now..

 

The box it came in

 

Would make a fine jewelry dresser.

 

Todays photos

 

Were not my best, but that's not the camera's fault. And I got a couple I'm very happy with. Most importantly the images are sharp and noise-free, and I had fun.

 

Nobody spotted me

 

I spent the day wandering around the centre of tourist-infested Edinburgh with the camera in hand or on shoulder. From other threads I was expecting a rush of respectful nods and Freemason-like secret handshakes. I'm only partially relieved. Maybe I should invest in a red dot?

 

 

The 246 is a great camera. I have two of them! My only grief is the 1 minute maximum exposure. It will grow on you. Just keep an eye on the histogram and I didn't find the highlights to be much of a problem, just shoot conservative, like -0.3. I don't find the screen to be particularly dark rather than having a sepia cast. I replaced the straps with an Annie Barton braided pitch black strap, the more sexy strap in the world to me. I do use the EVF a lot and, for what I do, is good enough. Leica glass it's why we bought into Leica, isn't it? That's what it will drain your bank account. As for the grip, I am getting the multifunctional grip, hoping to get one where the gps works properly. In the future you can post bigger files, I resize to long size 1024 and is good for the forum. Keep it coming.

Edited by Giulio Zanni
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Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 LTM at about f2.8

 

The Taylor-Wessing portrait prize exhibition is on until the end of the month. Some good, some bad, worth seeing.

 

Thanks Giulio

    I've already fixed the photo. I thankfully already have 35 and 50mm Summicrons and a wide range of Voigtlander optics. I prefer the smaller lenses as well so I should be able to survive financially. I've attached one of my Gordy's wrist straps and it looks the part so I think that I'm fine there too. Time will tell. I intend to try and upload something here every now and again. That strap is nice though ...

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From a concert in Stockholm with the 90 Elmarit.

 

 

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attachicon.gif20160910_120808_L1000381-Edit.jpg

 

Taken today in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. My first serious image with a Monochrom. And, given that I don't want to create another thread I'll add a few comments on my first day with the camera.

 

As a photographer I've had an M4-2 and some other Leica kit since the late 90s. Since digital took over I've been using more conventional kit, A Canon 5D III and now a Sony A7 II. It was trying out some of my Leica and Voigtlander lenses on the latter and seeing how good and how bad they could be that convinced me finally to return to my roots. On Friday a brand new 246 arrived at my door and I've not stopped shooting since. Rather than writing an in depth review I'll just run through some points.

 The camera is dense

 

And because it doesn't have a grip a-la the typical DSLR, I've found myself suffering from tired fingers. I usually prefer a wrist strap so I'll just have to get used to this.

 Image review on holding shutter button

 

Is a work of genius. I usually don't chimp every picture but given the metering system and highlight clipping sensitivity I've been spending much more time than normal staring at the back screen.

 The screen is dark, very dark

 

I tried automatic but now have brightness on high. Images are very dim and I struggle to see any detail below approx zone 4. I'm wondering if this is just me?

 Where is the noise?

 

I'm travelling right now and so have nothing to compare it with, but I'm happy to use ISO 25600 for anything short of a shot requiring extreme detail. The noise is that fine. I usually add light grain in Silver Efex and even my conservative setting masks any noise from the camera.

 Highlight clipping is dangerous

 

I'm back in the world of transparencies. Having been used to EVFs or at least colour files with recoverable highlights I now have to judge my exposures that little bit more carefully. A lack of familiarity with the meter and the previously mentioned dark screen means that I'm relying heavily on 1/255 clipping indicators and the thankfully very accurate histogram. This just means a few tries at the moment for any image with bright skies.

 Live view is wonderful for diagnosing RF problems

 

I only have 3 Voigtlander lenses with me, my Summicrons are at home. I ran through the 3 comparing live view and RF at infinity and close focus. My 50mm f1.5 and 90mm f3.5 are very sharp and spot on throughout the range. My 28mm f1.9 is fine at infinity but miles off (1/3 RF patch width) at 1 meter. I'll need to get that seen to. At least I've not lost any photos finding this out and can be confident that any problems can be quickly dignosed, unlike with film or older digital cameras

 The included strap

 

Is fine, but the stiff rubber bit for the shoulder precludes it from wrapping around my wrist properly. I'm putting on a wrist strap right now..

 The box it came in

 

Would make a fine jewelry dresser.

 Todays photos

 

Were not my best, but that's not the camera's fault. And I got a couple I'm very happy with. Most importantly the images are sharp and noise-free, and I had fun.

 Nobody spotted me

 

I spent the day wandering around the centre of tourist-infested Edinburgh with the camera in hand or on shoulder. From other threads I was expecting a rush of respectful nods and Freemason-like secret handshakes. I'm only partially relieved. Maybe I should invest in a red dot?

 

Try 1972 Barton for wrist strap with a thumbs-up on the camera .... Very secure.

 

Oh, red dot would help but a t shirt cap with logo and the biggest Hadley you can carry will let them know you are one

In the know.

 

Me .. Its mainly landscape so when anyone approaches I hide my cameras and pretend the monopod is a

walking stick.

 

Enjoy the 246 .... Does not get much better than that.

 

Bob

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Oh, red dot would help but a t shirt cap with logo and the biggest Hadley you can carry will let them know you are one

In the know.

 

I have the hadley(s) but no success so far. Something to be worked on.

 

Here's another from yesterday. The steps/seats around the garden at the Scottish parliament building. There was a university parkour group warming up and I probably should have waited and caught some acrobatics.

 

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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!

 

And a last one for today, probably for the week.

 

This is the beach near South Queensferry, mostly clean, but not pristine.

 

I've found that running the images through Lightroom and correcting them to give a middle-of-the-road contrast and exposure means that when passed into Silver Efex my standard preset (based on Tri-X) gives a look I really like and I don't have to change much. The above has an extra hit of contrast though.

 

I'm still struggling not to blow out clouds though. Bit by bit ...

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...I'm still struggling not to blow out clouds though. Bit by bit ...

Just be aware that, while it is very easy to blow highlights, shadows often recover beautifully. If the highlights are specular, blowing may not be an issue - It is only when there are 'blobs' of highlights that it becomes an issue for me (which is prevalent here in the tropics). I suggest taking some bracketed test shots to see how much detail can be pulled from the shadows, to understand what this camera is capable of.

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Burrough Hill in Leicestershire, M246 + APO Summicron 50mm

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attachicon.gif20160911_103722_L1000602-Edit.jpg

 

And a last one for today, probably for the week.

 

This is the beach near South Queensferry, mostly clean, but not pristine.

 

I've found that running the images through Lightroom and correcting them to give a middle-of-the-road contrast and exposure means that when passed into Silver Efex my standard preset (based on Tri-X) gives a look I really like and I don't have to change much. The above has an extra hit of contrast though.

 

I'm still struggling not to blow out clouds though. Bit by bit ...

Never ever be afraid to underexpose with this camera. Often I take a shot I think will be right, which is usually around one stop under and then just to be sure take couple more T -2 and -3 stops or even lower. And don't really rely on the screen. Your not going to know if really got it until you download and post process quite a bit. Often time what looks good on the back screen isn't that good. And, vice versa. Do use the histogram to check blow out. Very handy.

 

Love this camera!

Edited by billinghambaglady
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Never ever be afraid to underexpose with this camera. Often I take a shot I think will be right, which is usually around one stop under and then just to be sure take couple more T -2 and -3 stops or even lower. And don't really rely on the screen. Your not going to know if really got it until you download and post process quite a bit. Often time what looks good on the back screen isn't that good. And, vice versa. Do use the histogram to check blow out. Very handy.

 

Love this camera!

 

Absolutely, it's a combination of having been used to EVFs with their inbuilt clipping indicators and colour sensors with the ability to pull back otherwise blown highlights. I'm going to run some tests tonight to help 'calibrate' my expectations a bit. I've already played a bit raising shadows etc and they are definitely very clean, so there's no need for me to worry there. On a positive note my new Voigtlander 21/4 arrived this morning so I have an excuse for an evening wander around the harbour.

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I've had a 50mm Summilux ASPH for just over two years but found it difficult to get the results I expected so I often reverted to my f2 Zeiss or f2.5 Summarit.

 

Last week I took it out with me for a further try and I believe managed to get some shots (on M246) that were ok. At least they inspired me to get the Lux out more often.

 

Photo taken in Liverpool, UK, of a street artist performing Beatles songs to raise cash for Diabetes UK.

 

I've called it "what would they think if I sang out of tune?" :)

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Edited by greene881
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Hokkaido, Japan. Typ 246 + 35/1.4 Asph FLE

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A quick snapshot over breakfast yesterday morning with my new Voigtlander 21/4. There's a cycling meetup going on down there.

 

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