Would you consider an M Monochrom (type 246) in 2023?

[a.noctilux]

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This said, the first CCD Monochrom that I use since 2015 could be "first" Monochrom to try, but the sensor corrosion (mine had been replaced),

and I think / feel that the "magic plus" of first sensor (original not replaced one ) vanished with the replaced sensor, not evidence though, just a feeling.

As it is now, the Monochrom CCD still has some magics in use.

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[sometimesmaybe]

On 8/19/2023 at 3:19 AM, kivis said:

Would you consider an M Monochrom (type 246) in 2023? A friend is upgrading and is offering a very good price ($3000). Will put it on classified if I don't take it, but at a higher price.

if you like BNW images, and can spare the cash, i reckon the 246 hits a real sweat spot in the monochrom family - good price to feature/performance ratio:

1. no sensor issues like the M9M;
2. 24mp gives enough headroom for cropping (effective resolution is higher sans bayer filter);
3. good battery life; 
4. liveview (if you shoot glass with a fast DOF); and
5. images are usable (for portraits) up to ISO10,000.

 

[Myvalko]

I asked myself the same question last week. I decided to sell my M7 and take the M246.

I dropped film because at the end, the digital picture is done by the scanning process and not completely the camera/lens.

For me, 80% of my images are in bnw. I have the M9 and other little camera (wonderful Ricoh gxr) for colour shots.

So I am still in the learning curve but enjoying the M246.

Also when I take it I know that I will be restricted to bnw (what else) but I can count of a very good battery life and high iso performances. I read several reviews and a very good friend t9ld me also that Iso was almost as good as the M10m.

The pentax was tempting but still apsc and too bulky. 
So yes, it is I think a valid choice.
M9 m was tempting but difficult to find.

The only “negative” would be its resell value in a few years as the M246 seems less popular.

[sometimesmaybe]

10 hours ago, Myvalko said:

I asked myself the same question last week. I decided to sell my M7 and take the M246.

I dropped film because at the end, the digital picture is done by the scanning process and not completely the camera/lens.

For me, 80% of my images are in bnw. I have the M9 and other little camera (wonderful Ricoh gxr) for colour shots.

So I am still in the learning curve but enjoying the M246.

Also when I take it I know that I will be restricted to bnw (what else) but I can count of a very good battery life and high iso performances. I read several reviews and a very good friend t9ld me also that Iso was almost as good as the M10m.

The pentax was tempting but still apsc and too bulky. 
So yes, it is I think a valid choice.
M9 m was tempting but difficult to find.

The only “negative” would be its resell value in a few years as the M246 seems less popular.

i find ISO 10,000 to be usable for me on the 246. noise at that ISO is noticeable but not intrusive. the funny thing is i've started adding grain to my 246 low ISO images... go figure  💁‍♂️

[pegelli]

On 8/19/2023 at 2:48 PM, jaapv said:

Is it cult status or reality? I vote for the latter. 

I think it's both, there is a difference some people like but in my opinion it's overhyped

[jonnyboy]

The value of the M246 has dropped a lot recently, I sold mine last month for £2600 which I thought it was a tremendous bargain. 

I think it's very contemporary even to these days, 24MP is still more than enough (at least for me).
Some people here recommend the M9Monochrom (which I had previously), depending what you really want to do with the camera I would give some serious thought about it. Try do a job with the M9 Mono can be a bit tricky (buffer, 18MP...) whilst the M246 can easily get the thing done up to standards!
 

[Laurel]

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I currently own a Leica Q2.  I bought this for the image quality and various features.  However, I find it is awkward for me to use, mainly because of the viewfinder.  I think I might be better suited to a 246 Monochrom or an M10M.   I used a 246 briefly and now regret that I did not buy it when it was available.  I think that model might be a good fit for me as most of my photography going back decades has been on manual film cameras including Rollei, Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad xpan, etc.  The big question for me is: will parts be available for the 246? My understanding is that there have been sensor problems with some of these and there are no replacement sensors available now through Leica.  I am also considering a M10M. I am looking at finding a nice used version of either camera for B+W which is all I do.  Anyone have any thoughts or experience to share?

[sometimesmaybe]

10 minutes ago, Laurel said:

My understanding is that there have been sensor problems with some of these and there are no replacement sensors available now through Leica

the sensor issues were with the m9m.

m246 is prob the best value for money and m10m is also a great option if you find something within your budget

[jaapv]

There is always a risk that parts run out after a decade after production stop. The price reflects this. On the other hand the 240 series has always been very reliable and problem-free. The sensor story applies to the M9, not the M240. There was only a very small run of cracked cover glass  at the very beginning. 

[jonnyboy]

On 10/3/2023 at 8:12 AM, Laurel said:

I currently own a Leica Q2.  I bought this for the image quality and various features.  However, I find it is awkward for me to use, mainly because of the viewfinder.  I think I might be better suited to a 246 Monochrom or an M10M.   I used a 246 briefly and now regret that I did not buy it when it was available.  I think that model might be a good fit for me as most of my photography going back decades has been on manual film cameras including Rollei, Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad xpan, etc.  The big question for me is: will parts be available for the 246? My understanding is that there have been sensor problems with some of these and there are no replacement sensors available now through Leica.  I am also considering a M10M. I am looking at finding a nice used version of either camera for B+W which is all I do.  Anyone have any thoughts or experience to share?

The experience with the Q is quite different than M: the moment you want to switch to manual focus and trying to focus with the electronic viefinder you will see an enormous difference.

M246 is a proper workhorse - I had it for few years and throw it through a variety of situations and never skipped a beat.

[sometimesmaybe]

On 10/6/2023 at 4:07 AM, jonnyboy said:

M246 is a proper workhorse - I had it for few years and throw it through a variety of situations and never skipped a beat

ive clocked 9,000 images in 15 months. my 246 is still going strong

[BradS]

Consider? yes.

Buy? no.

[jayroon]

On 8/19/2023 at 12:03 PM, pegelli said:

I got a M246M last year and am enjoying it a lot, so much that I'm also eyeing a M240P and I have no desire for an M10M or M11M, for me the improvements of those are not worth the price difference.

This is my journey into the digital M system exactly! 

Got my M246 late last year, at around 3500 euro. Coming from film, bw mainly, this felt like a interesting addition, a camera that I could use in more challenging circumstances as well. And the benefit of not having to dev and scan all my film. 

Last month I’ve added a MP240 to the bag, its off to get a rf calibration, so havent used it much yet. 

So is it worth it getting a M246? I would say yes! Im enjoying the workflow and the results Im getting from this camera a lot! Especially with a more classic lens I get the look I like. 

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by jayroon

[ramarren]

If I'd had my druthers in 2015, I'd have and likely still be using the M246. If I hadn't gone way past sensibility and finally bought an M10-M in 2022, the M246 would have done just fine. 

G

[RexGig0]

On 10/9/2023 at 9:07 PM, ramarren said:

If I'd had my druthers in 2015, I'd have and likely still be using the M246. If I hadn't gone way past sensibility and finally bought an M10-M in 2022, the M246 would have done just fine. 

G

Thanks! It is good to see these words of reassurance, from a shooter who has used both the 246 and M10 Monochrom cameras. I am enjoying my M Type 246 and original-version M10 cameras, but now and then, contemplate the idea of acquiring an M10 Monochrom. It is good to see occasional reminders that the 246 can continue to do what I need, and, to be clear, I see the 246 as an “upgrade,” compared to my original M10, even though a I bought the M10 first.

If I have an extreme urge to spend money, I should buy a lens, rather than a newer M camera body. (I have no buyer’s remorse, after having added a Steel Rim Re-Edition 35mm Summilux, a few months ago.)

[wolfloid]

For me, the M246 is a great camera. I chose it over the M10m because:

1. It felt better in my hands (and I shot M6s for years.)

2. Much better battery life.

3. Higher rear screen magnification when checking central sharpness.

4. Half the price.

5. I could see no difference in the files unless blowing them up to huge dimensions more than a metre across.

6. I could easily live with the  12,500 ISO results.

What I miss is USBc charging in camera, and a less clunky live view.

Edited October 24, 2023 by wolfloid

[pnwpotter]

I have had both the typ 246 and M10M … one difference and advantage of the 246 is it’s meter algorithm, meaning that if you set the camera to auto ISO, and let it chose the shutter speed, it does a better job of keeping the shutter speed high, and the ISO as low as possible. 

The M10M seems to be weighted more toward keeping ISO low, so you have to set the shutter speed manually, so you don’t get camera shake from the shutter speed dropping into “hard to hold steady” land. 

But the disadvantage of the typ 246 is banding at high ISO if the image is slightly under exposed … the M10M high ISO files are so clean compared to the typ 246, and are easier to pull shadow detail out without any banding what so ever.

But I am talking about the camera that I have now … as this is the third one I’ve had. First one had a shutter button problem, and the second one had sensor read out issues which would produce white lines, but the third one had been perfect. I am thinking of getting another typ 246 as a back up as I enjoyed the speed of using it and battery life.