Tips for buying a monochrome Q2

[Dopaco]

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I'm thinking about buying a monochrome Q2, but first I need to clarify a few questions:

Do JPG photos straight from the camera turn out well or do they need retouching?

If retouching is necessary, what app is good?

Any advice or information would be helpful...
Best regards.

Tips for buying a monochrome Q2

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[Sandokan]

Yes they are good. 

If retouching, Photoshop, Lightroom, ON1, ACDSee and many others can be used. 

If you do want to retouch, use RAW files not jpeg as there is more info in the file. 

[DenverSteve]

7 hours ago, Dopaco said:

I'm thinking about buying a monochrome Q2, but first I need to clarify a few questions:

Do JPG photos straight from the camera turn out well or do they need retouching?

If retouching is necessary, what app is good?

Any advice or information would be helpful...
Best regards.

Tips for buying a monochrome Q2

First, "turn out well" is subjective.  One may like SOOC images and others may not.  

Next, for the most part, you can use the same editing software you use for your photography. 

You can process your JPEG images which have been taken in a color Q2 in black & white, and Q2 Monochrom the same as both will be black & white.  The difference, if you see any, will be between Q2 Monochrom DNGs and Q2 DNGs in color converted to b&w.  

It seems like it would be a good idea to rent a Q2 Monochrom to see how you like it.  

[Dopaco]

vor 5 Stunden schrieb DenverSteve:

First, "turn out well" is subjective.  One may like SOOC images and others may not.  

Next, for the most part, you can use the same editing software you use for your photography. 

You can process your JPEG images which have been taken in a color Q2 in black & white, and Q2 Monochrom the same as both will be black & white.  The difference, if you see any, will be between Q2 Monochrom DNGs and Q2 DNGs in color converted to b&w.  

It seems like it would be a good idea to rent a Q2 Monochrom to see how you like it.  

I think you're absolutely right: it's better to try renting than to buy outright and then regret it.

If you're going to be processing JPG and DNG files, I don't see much advantage in buying a camera with a monochrome sensor.

Also, JPG files from other Leica cameras I've owned and still own can be configured to increase contrast, sharpness, and other settings, and the resulting JPG results will conform to those specified profiles.

Thanks so much for your wise advice; I like the rent-before-buy approach.

[Mr Perceptive]

1 hour ago, Dopaco said:

 

If you're going to be processing JPG and DNG files, I don't see much advantage in buying a camera with a monochrome sensor.

 

A monochrome sensor has more dynamic range (no Bayer filter in the way), better spatial accuracy (no pixel intepolation) and true luminance values (again no pixel intepolation, no Bayer conversion).

You will get the best out of it by processing the DNG files, as the JPG file is a lossy format in the first place.

You have to though be very mindful of the exposure settings when taking the image, as blown highlights are not recoverable.