Real World Shooting with the Leica M10 Monochrom

Just a day after I published my Leica M10 Monochrom video on launch day, the camera showed up on my doorstep. As promised, I took to the streets to get some real-world hands-on experience with the M10 Monochrom. In the video, I talk about my experience with the camera and offer some image quality analysis with plenty of real-world samples at all different ISO settings, lighting conditions, subject matter and with an array of different M lenses.
If you haven't watched our initial video you can check it out here:
• Thoughts on the new Le...
To pre-order the M10 Monochrom, head over to Leica Store Miami:
leicastoremiam...
Check out David's photography on Instagram:
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@davidfarkasphotography
Technical details:
Video shot on Leica SL2 in L-Log. Recorded to Video Devices PIX-E7 in UHD ProRes 422 10-bit. Sound recorded using Sennheiser MKH-8060 shotgun mic into Sound Devices PIX-LR. Edited in Adobe Premiere Pro 2020.

[@bennyob01]

I'm blown away by that high iso performance. Incredible. I guess that's why it carries a hefty price tag

[@slickhatter9812]

It is a beast in real life youtube compression as well not showing its true potential as well when you print the files it is incredible specially with 50 APO

[@pggrootde6726]

Wow, nice pictures….! Thanks for this elaborate and informative review!

[@JJ_Photo]

The 20.000 ISO shots are fantastic! Very analog like, and still so detailed and sharp.

[@laurencepak8851]

the pictures are soooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks! Appreciate it.

[@chirag4]

Thank You Sir. I got the M10-P two weeks back .... & my friend got the M246 Monochrom last year. I have yet to visit him & check his monochrome files personally. Now i can't help but meet him ASAP to see the magic of a true B&W image coming out of a sensor that's not overlaid with a CFA (color filter array). Seeing your stunning & striking photos on my iMac 5K 27" display left me gasping for breath (in a positive way). For those who don't know what CFA is : It is a mosaic of color filters (generally R, G, & B) that overlays the pixels comprising the sensor. The color filters limit the intensity of light being recorded at the pixel to be associated with the wavelengths transmitted by that color.

[@CrueLoaf]

Good shots!! Liked the jazz too!!! People are so worried about noise but black and white and a little noise can work really well!

[@jeff5375]

Came for the review, stayed for the pics, subbed for the cool music! Great review!

[@victorcarmelo8606]

Thank you for a great review, love the music.

[@dieheldenderweinstrae2393]

There was some talk about possible limitations in the resolution especially of the older Summilux and Summicron lenses which may be exposed by the Monochrome. You have been shooting with newer glas - Any chance you can screw on a Summilux 50 from the 80s and see how that turns out?

[@sfbroome]

Well done review, David. Thank you.

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks!

[@fraserhalscheid7777]

I am not a strict B&W guy,,,only convert about 10% from my M10P and M9P but those pics of the horses really making me rethink my “need” for this beauty. Great images...thanks for thoughts and sharing

[@RedDotForum]

You may want to consider picking up a used M246 Monochrom to shoot alongside your M10-P. Would be a cost effective way to add this capability to your kit, and you could always move up to the M10 Monochrom in the future if you found the need.

[@KristianDowling]

Great work David!

[@narayanghadigaonkar1030]

Have u done huawei p9 camera review like your review I own p9 it is good camera phone for stills

[@reynoldsyoung4163]

You guys do such a nice job with these reviews....thank you so much!!

[@RedDotForum]

Glad you like them!

[@belgiboing]

Thanks for the video. Just answered my biggest question on this - shutter speed to prevent motion blur. Its great to know the improvements in high ISO is such that minimum 1/250 at 40+Mpx didn’t constrain image quality in any way. Amazing for fast paced movement capture and opens up a lot of possibilities also in using f5.6 - f16+ . That being said, if one doesn’t need the megapixels, then the M246 with the ability to shoot real-world sharp photos at 1/125 using ‘normal movements’ is still quite a machine.

[@RedDotForum]

Exactly.

[@marcp.1752]

Excellent samples, David. I like the Picture at 4:42 most, it looks for my eyes with a Edward Weston inspired touch, hence composition. (Group F/64).

[@tonydicasa9254]

Wow, very impressive. The photos are rendered beautifully. Sure wish I went to dental school! Thanks for an informative and enjoyable video.

[@francoistaljaard9675]

How would this camera handle tough conditions? I am a permanent traveler, going to extreme location and I am not sure if it will handle the elements. Can you comment on this, I am also looking at the Q2 mono and I know its got weather sealing.

[@ucevrim]

I'm just glad that this company exist.

[@abdullahalghunaim5520]

Thanks a lot David.

[@datdudenosense]

I appreciate you doing this review in the real world in opposed to the fake world....👍👍

[@henrikolsen5]

Wonderful colors in your studio takes. Very nice look, especially skin tones. What's the light source and modifier?

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks for the feedback. I do list the main technical specs in the video description, but not the light source. I'm using one light for this setup - an Intellytech Light Cannon F-165 Bi-Color with Intellytech F-165 Softbox.

[@ruben619448]

Wow, those ISO 20,000 images look great. I get nervous on anything over 6400

[@wisruteb]

Thank you for an informative and very concise video!

[@Traveljournalist]

the way you speak is very pleasant. thanks for this great video !

[@RedDotForum]

Thank you! 😃

[@supersingular]

Amazing video as always. We just really hope this channel would create content regularly, specially since there are no channels with this quality focused only on Leica. It would be transcendental for people like me to have a channel like this uploading videos every week or so.

[@Tief84]

Iso 20 000 looks like my Ilford xp 2 400 on my m4-p =D

[@RS-Amsterdam]

Beautiful shots, I'll have two, no three of those M 10 M's ;-) Also great you showing the shots with different lenses Why don't you offer some RAW's to download so we can see it on our own monitor without a YT saus !! Thanks for sharing !!

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks! I don't generally make DNGs available. For me, the final image is what matters. And that end product is the product of my entire workflow.

[@RS-Amsterdam]

@@RedDotForum Then add some JPG's to download . For a high end camera plus high end lens, it is often the details that matter and that can only be seen on a good monitor (e.g. at home) You Tube video compression takes that often away. Never the less great images in the video.

[@terrywbreedlove]

RedDotForum Yes but you are reviewing a camera not your work. However it is your choice to make 👍🏻

[@RS-Amsterdam]

@@terrywbreedlove My thoughts too. But in this case I (Monochrome) I was very curious about the difference of a Monochrome image compared to monochrome from color , an edit 16bit JPG will do (even 8 bit or Tiff)

[@WayneKnight_Rider]

great mini-review. definitely lusting after one, but i'll have to settle for a second hand 246. Shout out Leica Store Miami as well, great group of people.

[@RedDotForum]

"Settle" isn't the word I'd use. The M246 is an awesome camera. And I agree, the Leica Store Miami team is the best!

[@dougcoombs9609]

I vote for a discussion on the Q2. I am an M user since forever (1960's), but am not familiar with the Q2. Thank you.

[@nayuki2020]

I wear a similar glass as yours. For me seeing 35mm is barely manageable, and seeing 28mm frameline is basically impossible, is this the case for you too? Do you use external for 28 and wider?

[@RedDotForum]

For me, 35 framelines are no problem. I can see 28, but they take up the entire viewfinder. When using the 24 I have to use the EVF for accurate framing. I suppose I didn't comment on this since I've been an M shooter for 20 years and don't think about it too much at this point.

[@joeschlicht]

Were these files straight out of the camera with no processing? I don't want to sound negative here, but so far most sample images from this camera leave me cold (including and especially samples in this video). Everybody says "medium format tonality", but all I see is uninspiring gray mud. I don't see rich blacks and sparkling highlights that I know the earlier Monochom versions are capable of with the right processing. There are a couple images that have potential, I think the goat shot towards the end... but let's hope the Adobe RAW support will help these along.

[@kostyafedot551]

Where are only few who could manage Monochrome files well. My counter window for those hasn't changed after I watched this video.

[@richardbarakett4163]

Awesome review ! you are very good at what you do ! thank you for sharing :)

[@RedDotForum]

Thank you so much.

[@lucadilazzaro240]

Which a fast 64 or 128 gb sd card do you recommend with Leica M10 monochrom?

[@jrwpixcom]

Thank you for your refreshing honesty! Agreed, once Adobe (or others) incorporate the M10M into their software....it will only get better. Again, thank you!

[@RedDotForum]

I've seen it on every Leica camera I've ever tested. The image quality gains are huge once Adobe support comes out.

[@ricardoduarte6589]

Could you please disclose the details of the great background music score?

[@ropersix]

What LR adjustments do you use as a starting point, since the images out of the camera are pretty flat/low contrast?

[@AlainSandoz]

Anything about battery?

[@natus99]

Definitely camera to buy in few years when price goes down to the level of current M246...whenever it will be

[@muhammadasi531]

Hi .... could you please mention your first lens recommendation for this camera? I am thinking of 35 for landscape, portrait, and street shoots. Can not decide between summilux vs summicron. Thanks

[@RedDotForum]

For a 35mm, either the 35 Cron ASPH or the 35 Summilux ASPH will provide excellent results with the M10 Monochrom. The Summicron is more than capable but is prone to flare when pointed towards bright light sources. The Lux is extremely resistant to flare and is optically slightly better overall. Really, either would work great.

[@MB-or8js]

Thanks for posting the sample photos with the descriptions. The photos turned out well but I am clearly seeing most of them as digital. I often miss in them a more film like look. But that might be too much to ask since digital and film are different media. Digital noise cannot replace film grain.

[@RedDotForum]

Yes, clearly film and digital aren't the same and don't behave the same. But, I'd challenge you to find any B&W film that can shoot cleanly at ISO 6400, let alone ISO 32,000. Digital opens up entirely new possibilities that I couldn't have even imagined when I was shooting film.

[@MB-or8js]

@@RedDotForum I agree that the high ISO performance is one of the benefits of the M10M. I pushed B&W films up to ISO 6400, but grain is much more visible there (it works better with pushed XP2 400 film which is developed with C-41 instead). I rarely shoot at high ISO numbers - in fact more the opposite, my go-to films are ISO 50 and 125 based.

[@thomashilmersen711]

I have an M246 and a SL, and I'd say the SL is much easier to carry in the hand and operate. The M has no handgrip, so you have to grab it by the lens if you're going to carry it in one hand. The good thing about the M is that it is pocketable with a small lens like the 28mm Elmarit.

[@michaelmcneil9506]

🙌🏼 jem images. Brill review. 😊

[@690MBCOMMANDO]

So I have the M10P, Q2, Q and CL and even though I really want to get the M10M it looks I can get those images out of my current lineup.

[@KS0stli]

Just as with B&W film one generaly needs to use filters with the monochrom to get great results. A yellow filter, for instance, would give you much less bland results.

[@77142957]

Can you apply the Zone System to this camera? Controlling contrast with ISO?

[@elyzabethlatief886]

did you use colour filter?

[@RedDotForum]

For these test images, I did not use any color filters.

[@sanfordlavine1760]

Great review as usual David. I’m on the list for an M10 Monochrom. Having no prior experience with any of the Leica Monochrom cameras I’m interested in what your processing workflow is in LR.

[@georgerice1664]

did you make any physical prints?

[@adexx69]

Great review. How does IQ compare with converted files from SL2?

[@victorcarmelo8606]

I would image no contest, the sensor on this camera is pure monochrome. SL2 however, the sensor is covered by the Bayer Colour Aray which would require a lot of magic to get any monochrome images close to the images on this camera. But I am only guessing as I only have a Q2.

[@eavesphoto]

Is it possible you could go over to like a menu system? I don’t have a Leica and Don’t know what the menu contents and system contains.

[@RedDotForum]

Sure, we've done those in the past. If there's interest, it's something we could look at doing again.

[@nelsonclub7722]

I'm still confused as to why Leica did not put the 47.3MPX sensor into this and alter the battery so it was in line with the Q2, Q2M and SL2 series. I have the Q2M but only went down this road as I have the SL2 as well - I have no desire to carry around two systems of battery since I carry 4 batteries for each camera and just 1 charger but would love to just change lenses between M and SL. In my humblest the Q2 and the Q2M produces cleaner pictures than the M10 equivalents. And I have experience of this in the real world as I have been a photographer for over 35yrs - was a Fuji Ambassador and owned and operated my own Pro Lab for hi end wet B+W printing so I do know the difference when properly printed pictures are produced. Maybe the upcoming M11 will be more inclusive?

[@David-my3uu]

Thanks! Wish you hadn’t rushed to get this out and took another day to do just sunny outdoor shots - would have left me more comfortable in re the potential blow out issue. Still, great candid review!

[@RedDotForum]

D. G. I actually didn’t have an extra day! I’m currently boarding a plane on my way to lead a landscape photography workshop in Lofoten, Norway. Believe me, I would have loved an extra day or two. Or to have gotten the camera when it was initially scheduled to arrive. I plan on further testing when I get back in a couple weeks.

[@jmacdonough822]

@@RedDotForum I believe US Customs decided to review the camera too

[@David-my3uu]

RedDotForum I’ll look forward to it. Safe travels.

[@kuau714]

Nice review David, Do you feel it’s all but mandatory to use the Visoflex to get the most out of the new Monochrom? Also looks like the 50APO gives the best results

[@RedDotForum]

Not necessarily. I shot about 50/50 with and without the EVF. If anything, I found focusing a bit quicker and more precise using the rangefinder. Composition, though, was more accurate with the EVF. Yeah, the 50 APO is made for this camera, just as it really shines on the M246 as well.

[@calbrown778]

RedDotForum o

[@lewis1716]

Very nice, but what exactly is the Lightroom highlight recovery "tool"? What/where is it?

[@raksh9]

It's a slider in the right hand set of controls in Lightroom, along with shadows, whites and blacks.

[@johnsmith1474]

Real simple question, are these three channel RGB files or not?

[@RedDotForum]

No. The DNG files are single channel.

[@johnsmith1474]

@@RedDotForum - No, DNG files are not "single channel" unless the original RAW file (or scan) was single channel. DNG format is an Adobe (open source) container for RAW formats of many types, and loses no data that existed in the original. So for instance Canon CR2 converted to DNG are 3 channel RGB files. I inquired because looking at the Leica datasheet the clue that they may be single channel is that the listed file size is no bigger than the megapixel count. RGB files are a the megapixel count for each channel (as TIFF or PSD ect.). I posted this same inquiry to another forum (BH Camera) and the short answer is, yes Leica files from this camera are only single channel. I could go into at length why this fact is at first blush dismaying to a landscape photographer, but sticking to short answers: the best B&W possible is always a derivation of color via the luminance of each color channel. Single channel suggests (I say suggest because it seems ridiculous Leica would do this) for instance that the photographer cannot use the red luminance channel (to use the most obvious example) to precisely darken a blue sky. This is the Photoshop equivalent to the old school film technique traditionally practiced via yellow or red filters in front of the lens. In short the path to best B&W is via proper adjustment of the color channels, impossible if they do not exist. If one cannot attack the luminance values via the color channels, one is left to make tedious and generally inaccurate "selections" to for instance darken a blue sky so that the clouds stand out ala Ansel Adams.

[@ofeykalakar1]

John Smith so the Apochromatic lens is useless- why not use a coloured filter to add that depth - has anyone experimented with this to limit frequencies / wavelengths of light in the visible range? Can the M10M be used for infrared photography using the appropriate filters?

[@michelthibert304]

It would be a big plus if you could compare to a Phase One IQ4-150 monochrom

[@robertslegers257]

"He threw them in a shoulder bag" 20,000 dollars worth of lenses

[@terrywbreedlove]

Ignoring the differences in work flow the camera does give better images. Or so I am told so if you are a black and white fine art shooter this is great 👍🏻

[@goldfinch2283]

Useful review and some nice images; thanks. The result of a person understanding how to use a Leica M.

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks, Martin.

[@marc6652]

You can be thrilled when using a M camera and I understand it. I had many M and R Leica. But if you are amazed by the performance of this M10M in low light situation, look at what many other cameras do. Honestly, nobody needs a $8300 and a $8800 50mm to enjoy BandW photographie at night. But for any reason, some want...

[@Herman8279]

Great video, thanks ! One question, so I am using m10-p and I seem to take more b&w pics than color pics. However, from my own experience, b&w on my camera is already good. If I never need to print big pics, do you still think it is worth the swap ? Thanks in advance

[@RedDotForum]

The biggest difference is the 2 stop ISO advantage, in addition to the tonality you get with a pure monochrom sensor with no interpolation. If you want the ability the continue to shoot color, the M10-P might be the right choice. If moving primarily to black and white, the M10 Monochrom is the way to go.

[@wookchang8852]

Wow! I didn't dare to go over ISO 10,000 with my Typ 246.

[@RedDotForum]

I'd occasionally use 12,500, but the M10 Monochrom just takes low light performance to a whole new level. It's crazy.

[@jamesgerboc]

I have a Mercedes with a 5HP electric motor if youre interested. It gets 223 miles to the gallon.

[@stuartpotgieter1660]

Can only dream or have vision's of one in my posession.

[@Hassebas88]

beautiful piece... but if I want the tri-x look: i'll buy tri-x film

[@RivandoGuilherme]

Ok but can you shoot trix at night at high speeds? I dont think so

[@Hassebas88]

@@RivandoGuilherme got a steady hand ;-)

[@notyah2411]

Taking this out with 4 lenses this must be a fortune you are walking around with.

[@johncolquhoun6416]

Just through 4 old lenes in shoulder bag. 👀

[@DB-nl9xw]

Do some shoots at iso 60,000 and 80,0000

[@ck251666ify]

Why the night sample photos always using very high ISO to shoot ? Also no shutter speed shown.

[@krishartsphotography5643]

Nice & Thanks :)

[@Francois15031967]

I'll buy one and make a photo trip in the countryside with my digital 35mm lookalike camera and my lithium powered T model Ford, hoping that nobody would tell me how the emperor's new clothes really are.

[@garycraggs9953]

I presume you typed this message on an Underwood, then had it tapped out on the telegraph and hand delivered to the internet by the Pony Express. And your sackcloth tunic does indeed look wonderful 🤣

[@psychoanima]

There are images you took with iso2500 and it's really noisy in the shadows. Not impressed.

[@mikaelsacchi]

Aperture information missing???

[@thephotographerseye5184]

I wish i wasn't camera poor!

[@timoteiafanasie4894]

Leica is Leica. No other camera do b&w images like Leica. My opinion.

[@ConnorRoss]

If I were to present you with a set of Leica Monochrome images and desaturated color images do you think you would be able to tell the difference?

[@timoteiafanasie4894]

@@ConnorRoss As I do photography for 40+ years... I think so. A good postprocess can give a very close look, but as you very yourself said - there are 24 mp of same kind of pixels which give a certain smoothness and, probably, some specific shades of grey.

[@timoteiafanasie4894]

@@ConnorRoss we can try something else: I give you my Canon 70D - can you get same images? ;-)

[@ConnorRoss]

@@timoteiafanasie4894 Somehow I find you offer to compare it to a 2013 APS-C camera instead of a similar color camera a lack in confidence that you would be able to tell the diffence at all. To be clear im taking using a monochrome color settin within a Leica itself vs a Monochrome sensor Leica.

[@ilyacosmonaut]

lol, no ))

[@magicman6010]

You left out long exposure which is the real innovation in this camera.

[@QwertyMan311]

Without noise - BW not BW

[@cl3826]

I rarely call M’s “lightweight” lol

[@cuberpunk7609]

c l They are certainly not lightweight. But my wallet is now lol

[@RedDotForum]

Compared to my SL2 or S007... the M10 Monochrom is a feather.

[@cl3826]

@@RedDotForum I think that says more about the SL2 than the M10. And M bodies used to be lightweight. Just pick up a film body and compare it to a digital.... you'll notice a difference. But also with the smaller sensor cameras of today, the M is more of a middle weight when compared to just about any Fuji, the Z50, Sony's 6000 series, Micro 4/3rds, even the CL...

[@adrianmontesinos1741]

Now x-pro 3 monochrome without screen 🤣👌

[@vereyafrequency]

4 months salary right there...

[@Alexandrekreisman]

don't really understand this vibe of going hi iso. Learn how to shoot and drop your speed! 80% of the image in the video can be achienve @1600, 6400 max. No need of high iso and especially no need of a 8k camera But hey that's just my take

[@ichristianrodriguez]

Idk, the files just look SO digital.

[@ichristianrodriguez]

@Bobby Brady Were viewing through a screen so it's not 100 percent, seeing some prints would be best. However from the video something about the way the grain structure? Something about the files look too perfect. For example, 6:08 the highlights on the mans face compared to the shadow on the lower left section, it feels uniform in a way that I think film wouldn't. Would love to see some prints/maybe a different lens to see if rendering is changed. This could also be post going a bit too far.

[@buesuk]

This is a self inflating video, most of the images are not that great and impressive! The camera and the lens you use can do a lot better than what you showing us on the video. In fact some shots are quite good but why you didn't even bother to pick only the best! Sorry to say, most pictures you showing Huawei Phone can give you the same! Please spend time and show people your best.

[@jpdj2715]

The artistic value may not be great, but have you watched at 4K on a 4K display and looked at that display from close by. No, that phone cannot do that. I have to say the grain looks very filmy. Not exactly Kodak Tri-X with Rolleiflex (2.8 best lens, little pushing and finest development process), and I would prefer this Leica. As the shots were in low light with little contrast, the available dynamic range did not reveal itself. To me in one of the shots with black night sky, the noise in the sky was disappointing. The daytime photos all showed little contrast as well, because of the choice of scenery. I am not in the position to ask for more from a free service based on volunteer work. That said, if the channel wants to further Leica's cause, then that mission did not get fulfilled.

[@fangxusun1723]

your photos don't do justice to that camera. they look underwhelming.

[@Jantonvid]

Riding lessons? lol I hate to rag on you but damn you are straight up leicas target audience. Rich white guy. Seriously though good job with the video

[@funnyworld9784]

expensive toyS！！！again

[@PriyabrataHalder]

Good camera. REALLY BAD PHOTOGRAPHY. I wonder how many photographers in youtube are really, "photographers in youtube". Not a single good composition. Just buy/rent gear and try to make money in youtube by being pretentious.

[@RedDotForum]

Sorry you didn't like the sample images and thank you for taking the time to offer your opinion. Normally, I have at least a week to shoot test shots, or more preferably a real shoot. This time around, I had one evening after work in a fairly dull neighborhood, a couple hours the next morning taking my daughter to her riding lesson in the suburbs, and that night processing images, then filming and editing this video. Upon finishing up an all-nighter around 6am, I headed home, packed my bag and went straight to the airport to catch my four-leg, 20 hour flight to Norway. See, I was leading a 10-day landscape photography workshop and would be gone for two weeks. I'm primarily a landscape photographer, but wanted to provide a variety of sample images under different lighting conditions in a timely fashion. The sample camera didn't arrive as scheduled, so I had to make the best of what short time I had. Again, sorry the test shots weren't to your liking and the 20-30 hours it took to produce this content weren't appreciated. Look, I'm a photographer first, a KZbinr not even a distant second. And based on a total ad revenue of $94.95, I'd also say I'm also not doing it to 'make money on KZbin.' If you want to check some of my real work you can take a look at my Instagram: instagram.com/davidfarkasphotography

[@PriyabrataHalder]

@@RedDotForum Man don't get dejected. Sorry I just blurted out something which ended up hurting. I may not personally like these photos but that does not mean I did not not appreciate the camera review. I think deep down you also know that you were not in your elements when you took these images. Also before I made the first comment, I actually went to your insta page to check out your photos. I personally found photos to be well composed, but too saturated, bright and HDR bumped to a level where actually nothing felt 'naturelike'. Again, my preference, there are obviously some who appreciate your work. Sorry again for hurting your emotion. Anyway peace.

[@deesis4962]

@@RedDotForum thank you for your content. ignore this guy. thank you for getting your content out in public and sharing. It easy for the faceless to criticise other people's work. For the rest of us we appreciate the content and the hard work. You have most certainly helped get into the digital M world. Thank you.