LEICA M MONOCHROM : keep sharing pictures, guys, ....

[FredBGG]

Hi,

I do find that the ability of using LR's almost infinite variety of filters to convert the colour DNG's into black and white images is vastly superior to just using a yellow,green, red.. filter on the lens.

Jean-Michel

Exactly my thoughts. If I'm going to shoot for B+W with digital I want the flexibility to do bw conversion in post some times even making
multiple bw convertions to different layers and blending.

Also if I'm doing straight B+W I would choose 6x8cm mf or larger film. However nice the 35mm Leica lenses are they are no match for the tilt shift
lenses of the Fuji GX680 and a fine roll of film.


Aggressively developed plus x for a nice grain effect


Fine grain processing


Rich skin tones with fine detail and great highlights


Crop from the photo above showing fine detail and nice grain structure.

[Allen Bourgeois]

I prefer medium or large format film but this M Mono is the first 135 format digital camera that comes close and its because the images don't start out color. No bayer filter.
Heres the LL review.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/leica_m9_monochrom.shtml

http://www.reddotforum.com/content.php/226-Leica-M-Monochrom-Review

[Allen Bourgeois]

1600 ISO


100% crop


3200 ISO


100%

[hasselbladfan]

Also if I'm doing straight B+W I would choose 6x8cm mf or larger film. However nice the 35mm Leica lenses are they are no match for the tilt shift lenses of the Fuji GX680 and a fine roll of film.

Agree, Fred, but the writing is on the wall.

How long will the Tri-X still be available in 120?

I probably sold my darkroom a bit too fast (while it was still worth something), so I closed (regretably) that chapter already.

[hasselbladfan]

100%

Amazing how the MM delivers these fine grey hairs so well at 3200.

[TMARK]

Agree, Fred, but the writing is on the wall.

How long will the Tri-X still be available in 120?

I probably sold my darkroom a bit too fast (while it was still worth something), so I closed (regretably) that chapter already.

I'm OK with Ilford Delta 100, Fp4, etc., even if Kodak films like TMAX are no longer around. 

[hasselbladfan]

I really hope they stay forever.

But I have no clue how many films a producer need to sell to make a small profit and to sustain operations.

[Allen Bourgeois]

Sad indeed. I no longer have my 500 C/Ms wish now that I would have held on to at least one of them a 120 & 220 back and my 180 CF and 50 FLE CF lenses. I also no longer have my darkroom. I have a great old Solar 5X7 enlarger with a zone VI cold light head.

The Monchrom is truly the first digital B&W that has impressed me. I have been converting from both M9 and 5DII and I like the results ok but have never really impressed and the MM impresses me. Thats why I bought it.

Heres some of my old blad work






A few conversions from my 5Ds










I gotta tell ya the mono is the first digital B&W stuff that has impressed me 

[Allen Bourgeois]

Oh some conversions from the M9







And these are good but the high ISO performance and sharpness of the MM make it for me a no brainer for me with the way I'm seeing lately.

[Allen Bourgeois]

A few from today






Anybody else?

[Allen Bourgeois]

The KING of the street


Size diff.

[Allen Bourgeois]

[Brian Hirschfeld]

I've had the MM for a very long time (got the second one in England apparently but that is hearsay) and its absolutely amazing, Haven't gotten enough of them up but here are a few....It has amazing capabilities and control, special menu for RAW processing in ACR that recognizes it as Monochrome and gives that amazing control.   

Some Initial Tests:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianhirschfeldphotography/sets/72157631374577510/

And some "better" pictures...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianhirschfeldphotography/8079896775/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianhirschfeldphotography/8079890792/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianhirschfeldphotography/8079897583/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianhirschfeldphotography/8002094905/in/photostream

[Allen Bourgeois]

Nice Brian...
I am very lucky to have landed my mono.

[Brian Hirschfeld]

I think your using it better then me already. 

[BarbaraArmstrong]

Allen, I liked your upward shot very much.  Made me realize I don't look up often enough.  I am quite enjoying seeing the results achieved by those of you who have gotten your hands on a Monochrom. --Barbara

[Allen Bourgeois]

Thanks Barbara,

I have been blown away by the range and high ISO of this camera. The 35 lux is probably the sharpest 35mm lens i have ever shot with and it has decent bokeh unlike most 35mm lenses. I was kinda testing it here. If you can get your hands on one and you see in B&W I'd recommend getting your hands on one.

[Allen Bourgeois]

A couple from early this morning
Anybody else out there?

[hasselbladfan]

Dogs can be so smart . Thanks for sharing.

I am convinced it is a great camera. I wish Leica would share some B&W comparisons between the M and the MM by now. Hard to guess who will come on top for B&W work.

[Allen Bourgeois]

That would be interesting. I would imagine with the CMOS sensor it will have the bayer filters so the MM will be sharper but maybe theres a reason Leica hasn't shared much yet. THey don't want to kill the sales of the MM ? Just a thought. I'm glad I pulled the trigger on one. It has exceeded expectations. I plan to move away from my DSLR for my professional work to Leica M in the next few years so I'm anxiously waiting to see the new M. I have already shot some stuff annual report stuff with the MM but I can't get away with all clients in all situations shooting B&W though I really wish I could..