Leica Tech Talk: The Soul of Monochrom

[@rexgigout1472]

I do not know how I missed this wonderful presentation, three years ago. Maybe I had started watching, but then been interrupted by something, because there is something familair about the early part. I am going to re-watch, probably today. There are some beautiful images, created by both of you, that I want to see again, especially the Noctilux images. Regarding M versus Q, I am firmly in the M camp, largely because the Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, which was the lens that got me started in Leica M system shooting, is still my undisputed favorite Leica lens. I also have favored 35mm M lenses. Cropping to 50mm “equivalent” with a Q is just not the same. Then, there are my 21mm and 24mm wide-angle lenses, and my 75 Cron and 90mm Thambar-M. My Monochrom is the M Type 246, acquired pre-owned, after I had already started Leica M shooting with a new M10, in 2018. In early 2021, about when this presentation was released, I was seriously calculating my budget, to see whether I could hope to save enough pennies to acquire an M10 Monochrom, during 2021, or should remain content with my M Type 246 Monochrom and my original-version M10. Then, in early 2022, rather than upgrade to an M10 Monochrom, I added pre-owned APO Summicron-M 75mm ASPH and Elmar-M 24mm ASPH lenses, plus a couple of “fast” Voigtlander Nokton lenses. This was a big decision, because I knew that early 2022 was the final time that my income would allow me to realistically afford to buy a new digital M camera, or even a pre-owned, but current-generation digital M camera. I still have no regrets that I acquired the lenses, rather than the M10 Monochrom. The 246 remains amazingly capable, and, I will always prioritize lenses.

[@bakaroo23]

My best black and white images were shot on film using red and orange filters. Being able to reintroduce that workflow is awesome in the digital space. Plus night time high ISO shooting. Big ✅‘s in my book.

[@andrewf5390]

Love it. I was an early adopter of the CCD M Monochrom in 2012 and just took delivery of my new M10 Monochrom today. I can’t imagine using anything else as my primary camera.

[@splootan]

I sold my M10M For the Q2M Never looked back.

[@andrewfishkin6559]

@@splootan Well, since I shoot mostly 50mm and a truly ancient (1937 Carl Zeiss 5cm f/1.5 Sonnar) 50mm at that, a Q2M would be completely incapable of what I want from a black and white camera.

[@richarddenise3886]

Magnificent presentation squared !!!

[@flatsixcyl]

Wow that Tmax 3200 really held up well in this comparison!

[@pw3459]

How do I switch off the blinkers?

[@vadimhsu5114]

The first Leica I ever owned was a 246. I loved and still do the ‘distant and melancholy’ feel of that camera. Of course the M10-M is more technically advanced, and is wonderfully ‘correct.’ Paired with my 75 Noct, it is the pairing I use most in my current work. But if I had to tell you my FAVORITE form my heart. I’d have to admit now (and I wouldn’t have a few months ago..) that is the 246... She is like a mysterious woman: complex, difficult, beautiful, moody, hard to get along with at times... But the images, ohh the images. Favorite pairing is with the 50 f/0.95 Noct. And probably paired with the new f/1.2 Noct would also be amazing. Let me try one John and you guys can keep the photos!

[@JayJayNay]

Very nice video. Thank you.

[@davidwillis3330]

I love black and white photography, but you do not need a Leica to enjoy it. But if Leica want to lend me a Monochrom then I am here for you!

[@chrishewson40]

Do i use the lcd or view finder to save battery on the leica q2 Monochrom?

[@LeicaCameraUSA]

Chris, using the viewfinder and turning off auto playback will extend the battery life.

[@vadimhsu5114]

As to the Q2M vs M10-M comparison, full disclosure I have both, and love them both. I think the edge here goes to the M10-M, slightly but its right there if you look. I know this is a marketing video in all honesty. They are both great, but the options of the glass for the M-cameras though really take the prize, Peter Karbe’s 50APO and the 75 Noct on the M10-M and the 50Noct on the 246 - from an ‘emotional’ standpoint, there’s nothing like it...better than drugs or even most sex...or sex and even most drugs. I don’t know, I’m old, and I’m getting emotional here... this is your best video ever!

[@BillMcGaughy]

Why does the Q2 seem to have more noise than the M10, in the Starwars picture at 50,000 ISO, when it's sensor has almost twice the pixels?

[@rickfloyd4754]

1 - 47mp vs. 40mp = 2x? Hmmmm 2 - More megapixels given a comparable sensor size will usually have more noise with the smaller pixel size

[@JRBecraftMPH]

Superb. Thanks.

[@micartagenaco]

Watch and open eyes!

[@drc4563]

M246 or M10M? Wld love to hear more about how both render in normal light. There is a big price difference……

[@earvinquero2037]

They should make a lens dedicated to monochrom sensors.

[@cameraprepper7938]

I wish Leica will make a "Q" Camera with 60+ megapixels sensor, 9.5+ mill. dots EVF and Leica M mount !

[@gearreallydoesntmatter]

They do now, Its called the SL3.

[@cameraprepper7938]

@@gearreallydoesntmatter No, SL3 is too big and too expensive ! SL3 does NOT have good enough EVF and IBIS compared to the much cheaper Sony A7RV !!!

[@gearreallydoesntmatter]

@@cameraprepper7938 The A7RV is a Sony, you asked for a Leica.

[@Notso_Wild_Bill]

Unfortunately my Leicas did not survive the 3rd flood we had here in Houston. A 1913-1983 M4-P and it's 50/2, and a R4 w/19mm, 28mm and more. Loved to shoot B/W film, but not going to be able to afford, to do it on a Leica.

[@MikeKleinsteuber]

We are far too hung up on the technical quality and resolution of our images - something that's being driven by the profit hungry manufacturers - rather than considering the content quality. Most images are meh at best and communicate very little. They may be technically brilliant and emulate exactly the tonality and dynamic range of film (if that's your thing) but they may also be dead visually like 99.99999% of pix. The 0.00001% that aren't are great images irrespective of their technical quality. Obviously if you can improve their technical quality that's great but people would be better off understanding how to create great content rather than bothering with the technical quality of their kit.

[@Nearest_Neighbor]

Maybe you're watching the wrong videos then. This one is specifically meant to be about gear and it's technical quality. So user error like usually.

[@MikeKleinsteuber]

@@Nearest_Neighbor In that case don't use the rather untechnical term 'soul' in your title. So uploader error like usual

[@Nearest_Neighbor]

@@MikeKleinsteuber And because of the word 'soul' you thought that on a Leica owned channel they will tell us we don't need their newest gear because it's all about the content? Seems reasonable.

[@johnwaine56]

Getting so tired of this response to gear. We all know this. It's getting boring now. It's like saying the best F1 driver doesn't need a good car. Or the best musicians don't need to use excellent instruments and recording techniques. The simple fact is the best work is done by the best creatives using the tools they need to create to that level.

[@Jumo55]

it s the camera that makes you a good photographer otherwise everyone would use the same camera… he said, stroking his leica😂

[@vadimhsu5114]

Ok, here’s another thought...listening along here. I’ve shot a lot of incredible Leicas, notably the SL2 and 2S systems recently, along with all the monochroms to date, with the best glass, period. I’ve always struggled with color to show what I SEE in B+W and always tend to try to render my thinking in tonal luminances and gray scales - white to black, and then back... what I’m saying is I’ve seen b+w in color images, but I’ve never seen a color from a monochrom image. Ever... that’s just me tho. I live and breathe the monochrom goodness, the emotions, the gut punch, the moment in the tonal range - that can never never be converted from color...

[@pw3459]

Greece

[@rogerdunham244]

This missed the mark completely . Two main issues (1) it spoke to few if any Leica specific benefits of Capture One . The color profiles where to be a collaboration between Leica and C1 . Would assume that some presets ,recipes etc would be optimized for converting a Leica DNG to B&W . Saw nothing that convinced me C1 produced better raw conversions , (2) The feature set of C1 was discussed as hodgepodge of miscellaneous capabilities . It requires hours of tutorials to cover how to actually use C1 and there is plenty of great material on KZbin . So how exactly is the Leica /Capture One PRO features a new benefit for the Leica photographer .

[@kevinroy1053]

I dunno, this one is pretty hard to watch/ listen too. The tonal range of the range of the tones of the monotones of the chromatically tonal range monochrome look. Huh? Just get the German engineer and have him lay out the specs in 10 min. And what's obvious is the camera does not take a good picture, it's the eyeball connected to the gray matter that makes the shot. I don't want to sound like a jerk but eeesh! Cringey

[@refuztosay9454]

All the artistic elements of their discussion are independent of the camera. They act like only by using Leica can you take good “artistic” photographs. To be honest these cameras are good but not worth the price - meaning they offer poor value. They are essentially a status symbol of the rich and pompous. They do have a technical point on creating a “for purpose” b&w sensor that is superior to using a color sensor and then generating a b&w view of the sensor data. The rest of the Leica line up is again the equivalent of a rich woman buying a Gucci handbag just to flaunt her wealth. Forget the Leica - go take a few courses in art and photography and buy a few photography books. Spend the savings to travel to interesting place to take pictures.