Leica Announces M-Monochrom

[KenjiS]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/05...no-Rangefinder

Really? Why the hell would you buy this? I dont see why you cant have the same effect using an M9 and having the option of color...

[woos]

This seems like the most pointless thing ever....8k? really?

[RobDickinson]

They have an M9 for $50,000 if you want one ?

A B&W sensor ditches the bayer and AA filters will have 3 times more light and a lot more resolution plus better noise grain. But it may not give the best B&W conversion you could get with a colour shot, may need filters for that!

[golemite]

Pixel peepers dream.. the detail is awesome

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/re...review-samples

[airfrogusmc]

Leica M is amazing. A great camera without all the bells and whistles. My next camera.

[namtot]

Leica is more confusing then Canon..

[airfrogusmc]

Originally Posted by namtot

Leica is more confusing then Canon..

Leica M is a much simpler camera. The optics smoke Canons best Ls....

[namtot]

Originally Posted by airfrogusmc

Leica M is a much simpler camera. The optics smoke Canons best Ls....

I meant as a company, the decisions they make. I agree that Leica's modern equipment is much more simple compared to other companies equipment and I really like that.

[golemite]

Originally Posted by namtot

I meant as a company, the decisions they make. I agree that Leica's modern equipment is much more simple compared to other companies equipment and I really like that.

Pretty sure Leica will have no problem selling these B&W only cameras. They know their market.

[palaima]

well 95% of the time my pics are turned into B&W and if did not cost ...a lot... i would be all over it

[J_TULLAR]

16 bit black and white for better depth. $8k though .... NAH!

[Shadowblade]

It's a very, very limited camera.

Even if your final image will be monochrome, you often apply some sort of colour filter to it, e.g. to enhance the sky, leaves or whatever. With a regular colour sensor, you can apply colour filters in post-processing as part of monochrome conversion (since you still have the colour information), including using different filters in different parts of the image. With a monochrome sensor, you need to use colour filters at the time of shooting (there goes your ISO and resolution advantage already), with no option to fine-tune it in post-processing.

Add to that the fact that, with no live view and no through-the-lens preview, there's no way to see what the effect of any colour filter you apply is...

[palaima]

Originally Posted by Shadowblade

It's a very, very limited camera.

Even if your final image will be monochrome, you often apply some sort of colour filter to it, e.g. to enhance the sky, leaves or whatever. With a regular colour sensor, you can apply colour filters in post-processing as part of monochrome conversion (since you still have the colour information), including using different filters in different parts of the image. With a monochrome sensor, you need to use colour filters at the time of shooting (there goes your ISO and resolution advantage already), with no option to fine-tune it in post-processing.

Add to that the fact that, with no live view and no through-the-lens preview, there's no way to see what the effect of any colour filter you apply is...

But isn't it how it was in the old days? at least you will be able to see the image right away leica is playing on the same thing now for a bit a too long i guess. I like them, but...

[airfrogusmc]

Originally Posted by J_TULLAR

16 bit black and white for better depth. $8k though .... NAH!

No problem spending 8K on a IDsMkIII and in 4 years it ain't worth half what you paid. Have you seen the prices for 4 year old M8s? Theres still a waiting list at Calumet for M9s.

Leica must be doing something right.

There are a lot of photographers that prefer an all manual range finder camera. They prefer to find the moment instead of machine gunning their way through it. For the very reason some don't think an M9 is worth it, those are the very reasons that some photographers are flocking to it.

This is just another example of Leicas commitment to their customers.

[airfrogusmc]

Originally Posted by Shadowblade

It's a very, very limited camera.

Even if your final image will be monochrome, you often apply some sort of colour filter to it, e.g. to enhance the sky, leaves or whatever. With a regular colour sensor, you can apply colour filters in post-processing as part of monochrome conversion (since you still have the colour information), including using different filters in different parts of the image. With a monochrome sensor, you need to use colour filters at the time of shooting (there goes your ISO and resolution advantage already), with no option to fine-tune it in post-processing.

Add to that the fact that, with no live view and no through-the-lens preview, there's no way to see what the effect of any colour filter you apply is...

Yep its not the one size fits all mentality for sure. Aint that refreshing?