M9M or M246

[a.noctilux]

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In the end which one you will begin with ?

MM9 has their advantages.

M246 is not bad to begin with.

Any one will give you satisfactions or maybe some frustations.

[costa43]

If it’s about the files then it can only be the M9M for me. It has something that the other monochromes do not to my eye. If it’s about anything else then the 246 is the one.

[Jeff S]

8 minutes ago, costa43 said:

If it’s about anything else then the 246 is the one.

Depends on preferences.  M246 lacks DNG histogram of MM, is thicker and heavier, and adds video.  
 

Jeff

[costa43]

7 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Depends on preferences.  M246 lacks DNG histogram of MM, is thicker and heavier, and adds video.  
 

Jeff

Very true, I was halfway through a bottle of chianti at this point and went for the headline single sentence response.  

[a.noctilux]

 

Those "things" are individual and some people will take them seriously and other people will "forget' about them.

These days that I use M246, I don't even miss one of those MM's strengths.

I don't use histogram anymore, and the thickness helps me holding better the M246, while I use the MM a grip is mandatory.

...

I used once or twice the video and happy having the feature on the M246 which is never fail and the video M button can be cancelled.

The battery life is another satisfaction means.

Edited August 25, 2024 by a.noctilux

[newtoleica]

Having owned an M9, MM and M240 in the past and now an M10-P, I would and probably will go for an M10-M… 

It’s just such a nicer camera to use…. File character is mostly post-processing anyway….. 

[NigelG]

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TLDR - Bought an M246, then later bought an M9M (with a new sensor), then sold the M246….

[Luke_Miller]

I have both.  The M246 is the better camera, but I prefer the look and feel of the M9M.

[AceVentura1986]

14 hours ago, newtoleica said:

Having owned an M9, MM and M240 in the past and now an M10-P, I would and probably will go for an M10-M… 

It’s just such a nicer camera to use…. File character is mostly post-processing anyway….. 

Yes, as I said above, I now own both the M10P and the M10M. I first got the M10M in December, used of course. At that time, I thought I would sell my ME and M9M to fund the M10M and just use my Canon 5DSR for color. Well, I really grew to love the ergonomics of the M10M. IMHO, this was a perfect M camera, so much so that I then acquired an M10P afterwards. 

[Jeff S]

17 hours ago, AceVentura1986 said:

IMHO, this was a perfect M camera, so much so that I then acquired an M10P afterwards. 

The M10-R is its “perfect” sister camera; developed simultaneously with color array added to same sensor architecture.

Jeff

Edited August 27, 2024 by Jeff S

[Dazzajl]

A little update to this thread.

The time people have taken to share thoughts here is much appreciated still and the resource of the image threads for both cameras has been an amazing journey. The shots you have all created with either camera are wonderful. Really.

The only conclusion you can really draw, with all the info and images to hand, is that the 246 is by far the better camera. The files capture more detail, offer far more tonal range to work with from a processing stand point and the rich quality reaches far higher up the ISO dial. Then there is the added value of live view, screen or bolt on EVF. I do like to shoot open with very fast lenses and that will mean a higher hit rate for nailed on focus. The price of a 246 would also probably be the same, possibly even less than the M9M too.

And yet, here is the 'BUT' that I'm sure you've all seen coming a mile off. 

There really is a look to the files from the M9M that stands apart from any other camera. There is a smaller tonal range to work with, which used well makes for extremely strong images. The last, deepest bits of shadow detail have a soft, velvety texture and then fade in to the deep inky black that looks like it could ripple if you touch it. I know I've sailed right past the point of quantifiable here and I'm half way across the sea of pretentious eulogising already but as someone who loves to shoot for shadows and shadow texture, this camera seems too perfect to ignore. So now, I search and wait for the right one to appear and enjoy the M8 in the meantime

[a.noctilux]

16 hours ago, Dazzajl said:

I search and wait for the right one

The right one is the one you use, M8/MM/M246 I know that one of them can be the right one.

 

Just to be clear, M8 and MM share same battery.

Old batteries not so reliable versus new great battery of M246, my choice was simple.

[newtoleica]

I bought a lightly used M10-M to go with my 10-P partly as a result of this thread. Nice to have a mono again……

[Dazzajl]

10 hours ago, newtoleica said:

I bought a lightly used M10-M to go with my 10-P partly as a result of this thread. Nice to have a mono again……

I’m very happy to have enabled in any small way. Looking forward to seeing some of the beautiful shots you’ll be making. 

[Biotar]

I use the M8 80% in monochrome with similar output to the M9M and additionally better filtering in post-processing. With the M246 in combination you could have both b/w looks.

[Dazzajl]

5 hours ago, Biotar said:

I use the M8 80% in monochrome with similar output to the M9M and additionally better filtering in post-processing. With the M246 in combination you could have both b/w looks.

This isn't a bad idea at all. After all, more is sometimes more, right?

I've been playing around with converted M8 files, where the picture is 'in the shadow detail' to see how similar the M8 look is. I think I might need to step away for a bit, I'm getting the visual version of an overstimulated palate 

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[DadDadDaddyo]

I've posted about this in the past, though must be quick to say I've never had the M9M: the M246 was my gateway into Leica Mono cameras (apart from all those years running monochromatic emulsions through all my various analog Leica bodies).

So, without an opinion to express on the M9M, my experiences with the M246 were decisively positive, simultaneously, a step forward and a return to form.

I think the M246 is an ideal gateway into the Leica Monochroms. 

It is, though, to be sure, a gateway. 

I doubt I would have undertaken the stretch that it originally took to move from the M246 to the M10M, absent my overwhelmingly positive impressions and experiences with the M246.

On the other hand, those impressions and experiences (with the M246) probably, if I'm honest, made my subsequent move to the M10M, and indeed, my later move to the M11M, inevitable. Everything I liked about M246, can also be said of the M10M and M11M.

These are great, great cameras, any one of which can serve you well for the rest of your life. 

[Likaleica]

Spend a little more money and get the M10M.  

[sometimesmaybe]

On 9/15/2024 at 8:02 AM, DadDadDaddyo said:

I think the M246 is an ideal gateway into the Leica Monochroms

i still love my m246, but ive now regressed to BNW 120 film. shooting the m246 really helped me to hone my eye for bnw composition and lighting. 

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[Dazzajl]

Getting quite pouty now. Since I decided that the M9M was the camera I want, one has been for sale in the U.K.  Yup. Just one!!

And that one was sold while I was on hold waiting for a chap to check the sensor version for me. Ho hum. ☹️