I am now really looking forward to getting my hands on the new Mark II Leica Monochrom. I thought the original was the bee’s knees but I am persuaded that the CMOS version of this unique full-frame black-and-white shooter will bring along he legs, not to mention the bee’s body.
Everything I have read points to this and I am just waiting to pair the Monochrom with the incredible 50mm Apo-Summicron-M. Could this be a marriage made in heaven? I rather think it could. After all, the 50 Apo was introduced alongside the original Monochrom as a perfectly matched Objectiv. It should perform even better on the new camera.
DPreview has cast its expert eyes over the Monochrom and the verdict is favourable. But what of the suggestion that conversions from ordinary cameras, however good, can compare with the output of the Monochrom:
Recently a well-known and respected photographer told me that he doesn’t need a Monochrom because his DSLR can do the same thing. He is clearly mistaken. There isn’t a DSLR that can do the same thing – all DSLRs use interpolation and use filters that cut light and force guess-work, and many use low pass filters that reduce the detail-gathering abilities of any sensor. So, no, as good as most DSLRs are at shooting black and white this just isn’t the same. It is something entirely different, and far better.
Mike
Totally agree. Those who believe that a dSLR can do what the MM could do, or what the MM246 will do, are mistaken. Internet fora are littered with such comments from punters, who rail against Leica in general, the Monochrom in particular, and (in indignation), the price. Slightly impishly, I’d suggest they would do,it, if they could afford it..).
Those of us who’ve shot with the MM mk1 as you and I have done, know the truth. Can’t wait for the call from Red Dot to say that my MM246 has arrived…..