[Sylvain]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/05/10/Leica-announces-M-Monochrom-18MP-Full-Frame-Mono-Rangefinder#specs



Interesting !

[mst]

Yep, interesting. I'm sure I wouldn't want to give up the option of using colour filters during RAW processing even in b&w conversion (so... after the shot), but the results certainly look impressive. Especially to anyone familir with the high ISO noise of the M9 colour sensor <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



-- Markus

[popo]

I'd love an unfiltered mono sensor for more specialist photography (e.g. narrowband filter imaging) but not at Leica prices. Even astronomical CCDS are a bit much for me.

[dave9t5]

[quote name='mst' timestamp='1336679948' post='18107']

Yep, interesting. I'm sure I wouldn't want to give up the option of using colour filters during RAW processing even in b&w conversion (so... after the shot), but the results certainly look impressive. Especially to anyone familir with the high ISO noise of the M9 colour sensor <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



-- Markus

[/quote]



Thanks god it's got a colour rear screen <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='<_<' />



Screen / viewfinder

Screen type TFT color LCD with a sapphire glass LCD cover

[Guest]

[quote name='Sylvain' timestamp='1336679470' post='18106']

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/05/10/Leica-announces-M-Monochrom-18MP-Full-Frame-Mono-Rangefinder#specs



Interesting !

[/quote]

Interesting, yes. But I d rather have Leica put their energy into developing ( or causing their supplier to develop) a color sensor which offers comparable performance to the Japanese makes. This monochrome camera, while a nice improvement over the M9, does not suggest any progess over the current sensor technology, since the iso and shaprness gains seem to be soley due to the shaving off the color filter array. Furthermore, the added sharpness is visible at a 100% but the M9 was already so good in the discipline that this improvement doesnt not seem very relevant to me.



On the other hand the M9, a camera which is so adapt to street shooting with fast glass, compact size, fast operation etc, woefully lacks an adaquate sensor which allows shooting at iso 1600 and above in good quality. Imagine a Porsche with a ford focus engine, thats the Leica M9 right now. And while I am at it, Leica, how a bout a modern, high res screen so that one can actually check the images for correct focus and exploit the sensors resoultion capabilities. Please, get the basics right before wasting time and money on some specialist tool that even fewer people may want to buy than an M9. Remember Leica you almost went bankrupt a couple of years ago, when you thought that mainstream was not your thing and you could easily ignore the digital competition. If you want to stay a premium brand with adaquate sales you must retain a certain competetivness, the brand name and good glass will not cut it alone. Now that the compettion (Fuji and Co.) have understood that compact mirrorless cameras are in demand, they will no longer leave this field to Leica alone. It would be really sad if one day Leica glass gave a better image on a fuji/canon/Nikon/sony camera than on a Leica camera. So again, please get the sensor in order.

[PuxaVida]

Definitely will be a very loved product for a specific group of users. Better tonal range (of gray) and increase of perceived resolution...



But despite the strength of B&W photography, a dedicated B/W camera with that price tag... I personally don't get it for sure.



The upgrade for this one should include a B&W viewfinder <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />...





Serkan

[Brightcolours]

It is a big plus to be able to shoot with filters normal for BW shooting and get the results one is after... Can not do that with an RGB sensor as the separate colours react different to filters (maybe with a Sigma, not sure?).

Markus, do you know any software which gives a good implementation of B/W filters? The ones in Photoshop's black and white conversion are nonsensical (give some very wrong results with certain colours). It certainly is nice to see a real BW camera.



Criticizing that it has a color LCD screen is a bit silly. We can watch BW films fine on colour TVs, and the colour display is handy user interface wise.

[mst]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1336720367' post='18114']

Markus, do you know any software which gives a good implementation of B/W filters?

[/quote]



Sorry, no. I do b&w conversions occasionally only and for my needs usually get along with the colour sliders in Aperture (plus a touch of sepia toning). I hardly have any experience with real colour filters on b&w film, so I cannot really comment on the quality or degree of realism of those sliders.



I've heard lots of good things about Silver Efex, though, coming from users who are really into b&w.



I'm sure Dave's comment about the rear LCD being colour was meant ironically. However, jenbenn certainly has a point regarding the display's resolution. Both the M9, but even more so the new X2, look fairly outdated with these displays. It's a sad fact that on a camera that features very high sharpness on pixel level you cannot access these details (or even reliably check focus) until you're back home.



-- Markus

[Guest]

Participating in an analog B/W lab workshop right now and regretting not having started this earlier, I cannot see how the typical Leica B/W target group could be overly excited by this announcement. I would think people using the combination of Leica and B/W are still using film and this will not change in the near future. I might be wrong, of course, but the slow and thought-out creation of an analog print goes perfectly well with the Leica philosophy, IMHO.

If I were forced to buy a Leica again, it would be the MP.

[miro]

Please correct me if I’m wrong. The main advantages of digital are:

1. Instantaneous feedback – You see what you have taken.

2. Easy post processing for the crowds.

3. Enormous flexibility of BW conversion.



I understood Leica’s decision. They are trying to be innovative. This is fine. They know that in terms of electronics and software they can never catch up the Japanese.



If I have to use cars to comare this like I would say.

The Porsche 911 from 50´s is fast, makes nice sound and fun to drive, but I would prefer

Audi RS6.





Take my comments as personal.



Greetings,

Miro