Getting your BEST B&W image!
Outer Banks Pier, Monochrom Camera System
I wish to share some images and thoughts from the Leica M Monochrom B&W ONLY camera system. I know that it is NOT FILM and a very expensive camera system, but it comes as close as you can get in a wonderfully usable B&W only system!
Most people will take a color image then convert it to B&W in post processing but it will never be the same as actually shooting in B&W with a digital or film system! Yes you can get close but you loose the amazing gradations and tonality that is part and parcel to world class B&W images.
Duggers Creek Falls, Linville, NC M Monochrom
The Pier on the top, is in the Outer Banks and is a 4 min exposure using a Leica Elmerit 28mm lens and the creek below is is in the New River Gorge in West Virginia. It is Dunloupe Creek and a 8 second exposure using the AMAZING 50mm Summilux lens. As you can see, the graduations and clarity are simply amazing. The water takes on a distinct Platinum tonality!
Why am I showing you these? Well at the end of the post I will give you a link for 2 videos where a Fuji X100T and a Leica M are compared for street photography and for a discussion on the Leica M B&W. The videos are quite entertaining and shows why sometimes a more expensive camera can be worth the money…
Sometimes!
Dunloupe Creek, New River Gorge WV, M Monochrome
It can be very hard balancing the desire between camera systems and affordability, but sometimes, with SPECIAL cameras the money takes a back seat. I own 3 Leica camera systems, and 1 of them I could have done without (Leica M240), another is an amazing film system (Leica M7) and then there is the M Monochrom. The Monochrom is scary amazing with crazy good B&W output to even consider shooting color then converting. I have NEVER considered the money spent on it to be wasted! In fact, I am considering selling/trading the M 240 but will keep the Monochrom and M7 film body along with most of my Leica and Voigtlander glass.
Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park, WV, M Monochrome
For me shooting in B&W is a soul centering event. I take it very seriously and slow. When you consider how working in Monochrome strips away the confusion of color leaving the soul of the image then you can understand why I am looking for the very best way to capture the best possible image.
- Shooting in color then converting to B&W works but is a compromise and will only give you a compromise image.
- Shooting in film generates a purest form of B&W image and by far is the best way to do it but requires extensive time for setup, capture, development, wet scanning then printing! One roll of 120 film in the 6×7 format will generate 10 images. Processing takes about 45 min then it has to go into a film dryer overnight. Lastly, comes wet mount scanning which can take 1/2 hour per exposure. Now, I do not scan every image, I choose the very best images from the roll (usually 3 or 4) and only scan those. All in all there is about 8 hours of work involved with that single roll! It is a slow process to be sure but very fulfilling and leaves me with a great sense of inner peace.
- Now, along came the M Monochrom camera from Leica, a full frame 19 mega pixel sensor with NO COLOR FILTERS over the image wells. This means that there is no anti-aliasing filter, and no brayer array. So effectively you get a 19 x 3 megapixel image (no brayer layer means every pixel well generate a true monochrome data value different from its neighbors!) which is crisp and has film like gradations that are difficult to differentiate from a film negative!
Roanoke Marsh Light, Outer Banks, M Monochrom
Aside from doing all of this in film (which I still work in all of the time) the M Monochrome (or its sisters) is the ONLY GAME IN TOWN! Hence, the cost of the system takes on new meaning since it is such a specialized digital system!
Sometimes I will put the film away and take out the Monochrom system. It is not quite the same as film in the overall process but it certainly is when the finished products are compared!
This is something to consider…
Here are the video links:
Mark Hilliard Atelier's Blog 
Mark…..Have you had a chance to compare the original Leica M Monochrome with the newer Type 246 version, and if so, have you noticed any difference in image quality?
Yes side by side. The new has higher (a little) resolution but I like the CCD Mersin and camera function of the M9 much better.
Hi Mark, Where are the links you mention…. Why am I showing you these? Well at the end of the post I will give you a link for 2 videos where a Fuji X100T and a Leica M are compared for street photography and for a discussion on the Leica M B&W. The videos are quite entertaining and shows why sometimes a more expensive camera can be worth the money…
Mel
From: Mark Hilliard Atelier’s Blog To: melloynd@yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 1:56 AM Subject: [New post] B&W Camera Systems: Functionality/Creative Power/Affordability/Film/Digital ?? #yiv5147395804 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv5147395804 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv5147395804 a.yiv5147395804primaryactionlink:link, #yiv5147395804 a.yiv5147395804primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv5147395804 a.yiv5147395804primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv5147395804 a.yiv5147395804primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv5147395804 WordPress.com | markhilliardatelier posted: “Getting your BEST B&W image!I wish to share some images and thoughts from the Leica M Monochrom B&W ONLY camera system. I know that it is NOT FILM and a very expensive camera system, but it comes as close as you can get in a wonderfully usab” | |
They are at the very bottom of the post. I just checked!
Hi Mark,
Been debating on picking up a Leica but the known sensor issues in the M9 scare me. Looked at the 240 as well. Am thinking I may get a Sony A7Rii and adapt lenses. Love that stuff. You suggested the Sony a while back. I got the Fugi x pro2 which I enjoy but for all the adapted stuff I woukd like to do am thinking now the Sony. Have read several articles…what do you think of adapting Leica to the Sony?
John, I never had any issues with either Leica. BUT… I have to tell you that they take back seat to the Sony! The sony is amazing and yes you can use the leica glass with it and produce amazing images. I am doing a blog post on that very subject right now!
Thanks puts me more at ease now. Always wanted a Leica and the price of the M is now within reach. Or instead of camera was going to just keep my Fuji and get a Leica 90/2 APO.
Great! I have the 90 elmerit macro, 28 f/2.8 elmar, the 50mm summilux asph and the tri elmar 16-18-21 mm with the Frankenstein viewer. I just sold my M240 but have the M monochrom and the M7 film body. I love the system
Probably will go the Sony and adapter route. Sounds like fun.
Do you recommend the Sony or M240?
The Sony is more cost effective with a better image. The Leica is wonderfully simple and slows you down and improves your work. I like both. I kept the monochrome Leica and sold the color. For that I only use the Sony as there is nothing like it currently on the market.
Hi Mark,
Have the Sony coming…
Great! It is an amazing camera.
Sony A7rii came. Resolution unreal. You were right! Using all manual and legacy lenses right now. Lots of fun.
Have fun with it! Wait till you try long exposures…
Saw there were early issues but that’s what I love to do…can’t wait.