Official Talk Leica thread

ShinySideUp said:
I don't have a Leica nor am I ever likely to as I just couldn't justify the price but I do have a question: How popular is the Monochrome version? It seems a lot of money and heavily restrictive so at whom is it aimed?
Click to expand...
I couldn’t put numbers on how many units Leica have sold but as the Monochrome version is on its third iteration, it’s must be a hit for Leica or they wouldn’t have continued with it or indeed carried it over into the Q range.

I guess for those who always shot black and white film it’s a compelling option, having said that I‘ve seen a number of Leica users who have both a colour & a Monochrome body. For me personally if the M10 Monochrome had been out when I bought my M10P a couple of years ago or so, I’d have probably looked a lot harder at it, as a different option.

I am quite surprised other manufacturers such as Fujifilm have not jumped on the Monochrome option.
 
Harlequin565 said:
There is a technical thing with the colour sensor array that sits over the actual sensor. A B&W camera doesn't need such an array and therefore records light in the purest of ways. I would imagine this gives people a sense of getting a more "perfect" result, although in a sense, it is true black & white photography. I'm not a pixel peeper so I couldn't tell the difference, but there are probably loads who could. This article explains it in a bit more detail: https://petapixel.com/2021/04/09/are-black-and-white-only-digital-cameras-crazy-in-this-day-and-age/
Click to expand...

Removing the colour filter instantly has two big benefits, a) more sensitivity and b) spatial accuarcy (with a coloir filter the pixel accuracy of objects is determined with interpolation)

wibbly said:
I am quite surprised other manufacturers such as Fujifilm have not jumped on the Monochrome option.
Click to expand...

Its been discussed/reviewed multiple times, but my understanding is that the way Fujifilm manufacture is geared for higher volumes so having a low voilume run model is economically difficult. Its under constant review so never say never.
 
ShinySideUp said:
I don't have a Leica nor am I ever likely to as I just couldn't justify the price but I do have a question: How popular is the Monochrome version? It seems a lot of money and heavily restrictive so at whom is it aimed?
Click to expand...
I always wanted one (from toby's posts) but price was the main factor... many years of saving and a used leica approved one later... :) plus an upgrade to m10 (used).
Similar price as new nikon z6/z7.
If I didn't use the evf almost all the time (has digital peek, focus assist) then the range finder view gives a different feel... Not for everyone... but I like it :)

 
I think Ming Thein had an article where he did a DIY monochrome conversion on a Sony… maybe it’s still online somewhere?

A combination of secondhand AD dealer stock, NOS and ex-display purchases from Leica/Zeiss/Voigtlander have seen me build an M system over some years that hasn’t been significantly more expensive than buying new* from the more mainstream brands (even less compared to MF or the top end of sony-canikon)

*yeah new v secondhand is a bit awkward, but at the end of the day a £ for a camera is a £ for a camera, if one can afford (say) £1800 for a new sony or whatever then one can afford £1800 for a secondhand M240. Sure the sony will run rings round the Leica in specs etc, but Leica (well in M at least) isn’t appealing to tech-specs crowd in the first place.
 
Adzman808 said:
I think Ming Thein had an article where he did a DIY monochrome conversion on a Sony… maybe it’s still online somewhere?

A combination of secondhand AD dealer stock, NOS and ex-display purchases from Leica/Zeiss/Voigtlander have seen me build an M system over some years that hasn’t been significantly more expensive than buying new* from the more mainstream brands (even less compared to MF or the top end of sony-canikon)

*yeah new v secondhand is a bit awkward, but at the end of the day a £ for a camera is a £ for a camera, if one can afford (say) £1800 for a new sony or whatever then one can afford £1800 for a secondhand M240. Sure the sony will run rings round the Leica in specs etc, but Leica (well in M at least) isn’t appealing to tech-specs crowd in the first place.
Click to expand...
All my Leica kit bar 1 lens was second hand, I could have bought new but the stuff I've got mostly isn't made new anymore.
 
Adzman808 said:
I think Ming Thein had an article where he did a DIY monochrome conversion on a Sony… maybe it’s still online somewhere?

A combination of secondhand AD dealer stock, NOS and ex-display purchases from Leica/Zeiss/Voigtlander have seen me build an M system over some years that hasn’t been significantly more expensive than buying new* from the more mainstream brands (even less compared to MF or the top end of sony-canikon)

*yeah new v secondhand is a bit awkward, but at the end of the day a £ for a camera is a £ for a camera, if one can afford (say) £1800 for a new sony or whatever then one can afford £1800 for a secondhand M240. Sure the sony will run rings round the Leica in specs etc, but Leica (well in M at least) isn’t appealing to tech-specs crowd in the first place.
Click to expand...

Hi, looking too closely at the financial aspects of a hobby makes the fun disappear. - For me, Leica is about Total Fun of Ownership. It gives me the most pleasing photographic experience.

This is highly subjective. So, I would never try to convince anyone of buying Leica gear... ---

I bought several cans of beer at ALDI's, again - and this Christmas rose, which I show ... (M9 - ZEISS Planar 2/50 f 2) :



L1007465_DxO-z50p-2.jpg
 
justpix said:
Hi, looking too closely at the financial aspects of a hobby makes the fun disappear. - For me, Leica is about Total Fun of Ownership. It gives me the most pleasing photographic experience.
Click to expand...
Ever since Leica tied up with Panasonic, TFO and TCO have converged, to the advantage of cheapskates like me. Another picture from the TZ40 with "Leica" on the front...

British Airways Airbus A380 TZ40 1020149.jpg
 
I must confess to a liking for B&W and if the price was nearer what I could spend without buyers remorse, I'd probably buy a monochrome Leica. Since 1973, I have developed and printed my own monochrome films so almost all my pictures until I finally succumbed to digital in 2002 are in black and white, since then, they have mostly been in colour; which is something I kind of regret. I have tried taking pictures in black and white but the knowledge that the colour image is in the camera anyway makes it all seem a little pointless. I think it would be nice top have no choice in the matter.

Reading the above back I can see who the Leica monochrome cameras are aimed at...me.

Still can't justify it though.
 
I really love this Sonnar. So glad I bought it.

2021-12-09-hp5at1600-2-06.jpg
Leica MP, HP5 at 1600, CZ Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
 
Adzman808 said:
I THINK there's companies that can de-CFA regular cameras, a monochrome X-pro1 might be nice thing to shoot with
Click to expand...
I kept one of my X-Pro1s because it looks so tatty I didn't think I could sell it even though it works fine. If such a company exists I would seriously consider having it converted. (y)
 
Adzman808 said:
I THINK there's companies that can de-CFA regular cameras, a monochrome X-pro1 might be nice thing to shoot with
Click to expand...
I’ve seen someone touting this service on X-Pro1’s somewhere. Can’t recall if it was UK or USA company.

I’ve thought about buying a second X-Pro1 and having it IR converted, just never done anything about it…. And X-Pro1 prices appear to be going North again for some reason!
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
But monochrome is just one slider away, so why not use that?
Click to expand...

As I mentioned, it's the fact that the colour image is already there somewhere and I feel that tends to split the brain between the two modes.

I consider it to be like a car park. If you only had one space your mind would be concentrated on parking in that space, but if you have many you'll almost certainly not park evenly the first time because of the choice. If I can ONLY use black and white the choice is removed and I can concentrate on that only.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ShinySideUp said:
As I mentioned, it's the fact that the colour image is already there somewhere and I feel that tends to split the brain between the two modes.

I consider it to be like a car park. If you only had one space your mind would be concentrated on parking in that space, but if you have many you'll almost certainly not park evenly the first time because of the choice. If I can ONLY use black and white the choice is removed and I can concentrate on that only.
Click to expand...

There are lots of settings and options in cameras these days and you probably do happily ignore some and maybe lots and I struggle to see why colour or B&W should be any different. Once the camera is set up it'll take a deliberate intervention and diving into the menu to change it and in time the urge to do so should lessen and let you just get on with things.

And no, I don't get confused in car parks but an ex GF of mine was once reduced to tears because she couldn't decide where to park but that's just not a frame of mind that's ever affected me. maybe I'm just lucky :D
 
Last edited:
ShinySideUp said:
If I can ONLY use black and white the choice is removed and I can concentrate on that only.
Click to expand...
That's interesting because it's quite different to the way my mind seems to work.

I've always seen shapes and relationships first and that's what I make my pictures out of. Having the ability to decide later whether to present the image with colour or not is a nice extra.
 
ShinySideUp said:
If I can ONLY use black and white the choice is removed and I can concentrate on that only.
Click to expand...
For me also. Since shooting a lot of b&w film, the way I look at things has changed dramatically. And whilst the process is there to go the other way (B&W into colour) I've never been tempted. My colour photography has improved quite a bit as I tend (as Andrew alluded to) to see shapes and relationships first and foremost these days. Colour then becomes the icing on the cake rather than what it was before.

I wonder if photographers who grew their hobby on b&w film subconsciously have more of this "vision" than those who started on digital (and predominantly shot colour). It's an interesting discussion...
 
I started on BW film before digital was even a thing and now I'm 99% a digital colour shooter (the other 1% is digital BW)
 
Morgan in Sidmouth (Leica DG-Vario-Elmar 100~400mm / Panasonic G9)...

Morgan car turning left off Sidmouth Esplanade P1012946.JPG
 
ShinySideUp said:
I must confess to a liking for B&W and if the price was nearer what I could spend without buyers remorse, I'd probably buy a monochrome Leica. Since 1973, I have developed and printed my own monochrome films so almost all my pictures until I finally succumbed to digital in 2002 are in black and white, since then, they have mostly been in colour; which is something I kind of regret. I have tried taking pictures in black and white but the knowledge that the colour image is in the camera anyway makes it all seem a little pointless. I think it would be nice top have no choice in the matter.

Reading the above back I can see who the Leica monochrome cameras are aimed at...me.

Still can't justify it though.
Click to expand...
I had a long think about this and I have decided to do a bit of a project using my M9s but set to B&W jpg only therefore there won't be a colour image anywhere in the camera. I don't know if I will get on with the restrictions of B&W jpg only but on the other hand it's only like loading a B&W film in my MP or M2 so I'll give it a go. Might even make it a theme for next year's 52.
 
Taken around Christmas 2004: Farringdon Street from London's Holborn Viaduct through a Jupiter 12 on a Leica IIIc...

Farringdon Street from Holborn Viaduct London IIIc imm025.jpg
 
Hi, St.Peter in Mainz/D ... (M9 - ZEISS Distagon 4/18 f 4 ; crop) :



L1026905_DxO-z18-4-c.jpg


(Taken at 50cm, using the body length for metering... --- )
 

Attachments

  • L1026905_DxO-z18-4-f.jpg
    L1026905_DxO-z18-4-f.jpg
    422.4 KB · Views: 0
Another oldie: Paddington station. (Leica M3, Summicron 50mm, FP4)

Paddington station train shed window Leica M3 Summit SP3 11.JPG
 
Edinburgh, Scotland weekend with my 2 M series ! 1965 M2 for B&W and 1986 M6 for C41 Colour ! Busy Processing and scanning to show on my many Forums !
Moon Over Fire Station opposite our B&B 1957 90mm f4 ELMAR
2021-12-21-0003.jpg
Edinburgh Castle , Yellow Filter held over APX 400 in home-Made ID11 formula 1+1
2021-12-21-0005.jpg
A 'Pictorial Shot' steps leading up to Golden Mile
2021-12-21-0008.jpg
Van by the Castle -- 50mm f2 Summicron
2021-12-22-0004.jpg
Golden Mile 35mm f1.4 Canadian Leitz Summilux
2021-12-22-0009.jpg
Must show a PIPER ! Ha Ha ! Cost me a Quid ! 50mm f2 Summicron on way to Waverley Station
2021-12-22-0030.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top