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Fun with the Leica M Monochrom
- Thread starter bradhusick
- Start date
GrahamWelland
Subscriber & Workshop Member
Cool 'guard dog'50mm AA
Jay Emm
Member
On a recent trip to New York, I arranged to rent a Monochrome M and 35mm Summicron lens.
This was my first time using a Leica, so I was keen to take the rental path to see if I enjoyed the RF experience. Might as well dive in with the Monochrome version while I’m at it right? Also, I’d never shot street-style before, but hey, “When in Rome"...
What I liked: Clean files that handle editing well. Gorgeous range of tones. RF focusing was a better experience than I anticipated - although I still missed plenty of shots as a newbie. Manual setting options worked well for street. Unobtrusive and quiet, people hardly glanced as I took their photo from short range. Well thought out menu system. Remarkably small lens compared to my Nikon and Hassy gear. Ability to use auto-ISO with manual shutter and aperture settings was nice. Good file sizes (the Goldilocks zone of not being too big nor too small IMO)
What I disliked: LCD screen was pretty poor. Write speeds were very slow.:wtf: It locked up once and I had to remove battery to re-boot. Without a grip it’s not that easy to hold for extended periods. It’s expensive.
Would I buy one? Well maybe a new Monochrome is in the pipeline based on the current CMOS M. If it has faster handling and with a better LCD, I’d be keen. Then again maybe current models will prove cheaper on the second hand market when a new model arrives - but who knows, as I’m sure debate will rage on how any new CMOS monochrome draws vs the current CCD.
Interestingly I planned to use this rental to test the Leica M-series camera - in particular the manual focus. If I didn’t like it I had made my mind up to buy the T instead. While I’ve checked out the T in-store (lovely camera), I’m not a buyer as the larger camera has won a place in my heart and mind - and that is likely a good note to end this post on
This was my first time using a Leica, so I was keen to take the rental path to see if I enjoyed the RF experience. Might as well dive in with the Monochrome version while I’m at it right? Also, I’d never shot street-style before, but hey, “When in Rome"...
What I liked: Clean files that handle editing well. Gorgeous range of tones. RF focusing was a better experience than I anticipated - although I still missed plenty of shots as a newbie. Manual setting options worked well for street. Unobtrusive and quiet, people hardly glanced as I took their photo from short range. Well thought out menu system. Remarkably small lens compared to my Nikon and Hassy gear. Ability to use auto-ISO with manual shutter and aperture settings was nice. Good file sizes (the Goldilocks zone of not being too big nor too small IMO)
What I disliked: LCD screen was pretty poor. Write speeds were very slow.:wtf: It locked up once and I had to remove battery to re-boot. Without a grip it’s not that easy to hold for extended periods. It’s expensive.
Would I buy one? Well maybe a new Monochrome is in the pipeline based on the current CMOS M. If it has faster handling and with a better LCD, I’d be keen. Then again maybe current models will prove cheaper on the second hand market when a new model arrives - but who knows, as I’m sure debate will rage on how any new CMOS monochrome draws vs the current CCD.
Interestingly I planned to use this rental to test the Leica M-series camera - in particular the manual focus. If I didn’t like it I had made my mind up to buy the T instead. While I’ve checked out the T in-store (lovely camera), I’m not a buyer as the larger camera has won a place in my heart and mind - and that is likely a good note to end this post on
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airfrogusmc
Well-known member
Also when working really fast I use the DoF scales a lot and after some practice you get pretty good with them.
nice work, in my town, too! every now and then i shoot the 28 cron and that baby sees a lot of FOV. but my go-to is the 75 cron for street
i use the thumbs up, couldn't be without it. also the Luigi baseplate, which has fold up doors for the battery and card
biggest problem i have is remembering which frame lines to use!
i use the thumbs up, couldn't be without it. also the Luigi baseplate, which has fold up doors for the battery and card
biggest problem i have is remembering which frame lines to use!
thompsonkirk
Member
Camera inspection, free estimates:
Camera Inspection by thompsonkirk, on Flickr
First day of printing MM files. I think Im finally getting some 'Walker Evans tones.' This isn't cropped – it's two horizontal files stitched together. 50 p-a Lux.
Kirk
Camera Inspection by thompsonkirk, on FlickrFirst day of printing MM files. I think Im finally getting some 'Walker Evans tones.' This isn't cropped – it's two horizontal files stitched together. 50 p-a Lux.
Kirk
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