↑Leica Monochrom and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4, ISO 2000.
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I finally had an opportunity to evaluate a Monochrom. I can’t say I was surprised with the output, as it delivered what I expected: the goodness of the CCD sensor found in the M9 (with more “bite”) and the ability to shoot at high ISO. Of course, all of this goodness comes in only one flavour: B&W.
The other thing I expected and observed was that the output is not like B&W film. It really is different — not better or worse, just different.
Having said that, there was one surprise with this particular camera:
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Don’t see it?
Let’s look a little more closely:
(click on the image to view at MAXIMUM size and sharpness)
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That’s a dead pixel on the sensor with an associated column defect. It won’t show up in web-size images but will show up on large prints.
Ouch.
Did I say there was one surprise?
Actually, there was a second:
(please click on the image to view at MAXIMUM size and sharpness)
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Yes, that’s a second dead pixel.
The camera is currently in transit, back to Leica.
—Peter.
Prosophos 
wow. So that means you have a monochrom even it has been sent back to Leica? Congratulations! Too bad the little surprises however…
Hey Peter,
I for one am very pleased to see this camera in your hands! 🙂
All the better if you’ve kept the M9, a formidable combination.
With regards the defect it’s very frustrating! That said, the camera is worth a little patience.
Look forwards to you getting it back.
Cheers, Jason
Congratulations and frustrations all in one go…:) Looking forward to results once it’s back Peter.
Interesting note in Ming’s review yesterday with regard to his thoughts on how the new M will go close to the Mono output in this department. Interesting times ahead for those in the (Leica) transition lounge from one option to another over the next couple of months….
Thanks Luiz, Jason, and Andrew, you are so supportive!
However, I don’t want to mislead you. I’ve requested a refund instead of a replacement. I mentioned above that the output is different from film, and even though it’s very nice, I’m not sure it’s for me. Having said that, I have one or two days to think about it.
I’m a little surprised but in the end you know your own mind…….in as much as anyone can when it comes to making decisions on cameras!! 🙂
I’ve had the MM some time now, I’d say I know it very well. I took my time before committing to it and it most definitely wasn’t love at first sight in terms of the output but I certainly wouldn’t be without it now. Especially if one is in a position to keep the M9 also.
From a purely selfish perspective I’d really like to see you keep it…….
Thanks for the personal endorsement Jason. I know what you’ve done with the Monochrom and your opinion matters.
I’ll continue to contemplate this over the weekend.
Been wondering when you would get this – I’ve had mine for a couple of months now and love it and fortunately, I don’t have the sensor problem you got stuck with. Hope to see some more of your MM pics soon. BTW – while I agree with you that Ming’s pics with the M are much better than anything we’ve seen before, I find them to be too sharp throughout. Obviously, I don’t know the settings he used to take his pics but that would be my take on the difference between the M (and maybe the CMOS sensor) and the more classic (if, you can call it that) Leica pics that have been taken with the prior M versions. Hope you get your replacement soon!
Thanks Kevin, but as I mentioned in my response above I’ve requested a refund, not a replacement. You and the other gents aren’t helping me stick by my decision however 😉
It doesn’t really matter too much about the camera YOU use Peter:)…
Given Mings review I am sure the new M might be a contender in this space anyway (B&W).
I am using an M6 to start my RF experience off and by the time we get to know each other we’ll see what options are on the table….provided using a RF sits well…initial signs are good though…challenging & fun at the same time.
Ah Peter! I knew you would crack…sooner or later. Although, I can’t say your decision to return surprises me that much either. It is *really* hard to justify keeping such a beast (resolution and high-ISO performance notwithstanding…) given that it *only* does B&W…Yes, it is beautiful; but you can arguably spend less, and get more (…flexibility, that is).
I am currently wrestling with the same decision…if it was 25% cheaper, I think it would be an absolute no-brainer, but it is currently at the top of the “price food chain” so-to-speak, and one really has to be committed to the idea of high-ISO B&W “art” in order to quasi-justify it.
In the end (despite less resolution and more high-iso noise) there are those times when a shot just *begs* for color after the fact, and having the raw files available in my M9 is a great comfort. In the right hands, the Monochrom is amazing (and I certainly don’t mean to talk YOU out of it…) but I’m not sure I have the confidence to reach for one exclusively.
On another note: how did you discover the defects? Was someone pixel-peeping?? (Good thing, too!) Anyway, good luck with your choice…I think you may be making the right one. (Don’t tell anyone I told you that!!)
…YOUR color is your signature, you know?
All the best,
M.
Thanks Mark… for bringing up the other side of the argument.
The camera arrived on the same day my kids had an after-school concert and I ended up jumping into the fire (so to speak) and using it that very night. Things went smoothly, despite operating a brand new camera (the advantage of being familiar with the ergonomics of its M9 cousin).
I managed to get some nice images at ISO 4000 (there’s very low light in the school gymnasium and so the ISO needs to be high even when shooting with a Summilux).
So, it has its uses (of course). And, in low light, I often stray away from colour anyway so the B&W limitation isn’t a limitation at all.
And there’s something about the B&W output out of this camera that can be jaw-dropping-ly similar to medium format film but… it can just as often look unpleasantly “synthetic”, for lack of a better term, to my eye. I could cite my own unfamiliarity with processing its files as the cause, but I’ve seen it in others’ work as well.
Ultimately, like you, I’d like to make the decision of whether I go with colour or B&W at the post-processing stage, not a priori. The camera that comes closest to satisfying both worlds competently is actually not the M9… it’s the M8.
I forgot to answer your question… I discovered the defects as I was evaluating the files… I do this sort of testing with all my new equipment so that I know it’s working properly. I know, from previous experience, not to trust Leica completely on quality control issues 😉
…Funny you should say that: I’ve also been looking at used 8.2’s…They don’t come cheap for anything in good condition. Now, I can’t help thinking your endorsement won’t help matters!!
🙂
M.
bah, electronics…
Maybe it’s not Leica how’s to blame. X-ray can also seriously harm CCD sensors. Maybe customs had a ferm check on the box?!
We had special SW in our cameras to copy a surrounding pixel, this way customers could “vanish” dead pixels in the camera itselve.
Anyway this is all very exciting! Hopefully it will be back soon Peter. I love to see BandW images from you ;).
Did you trade in your medium format equipment?
Enjoy Peter! You are worth it!
Mon Cher Peter,
First of all, sorry for this story, dead pixels … After the episode of I. Phone, that’s a lot … Now, there is nothing serious! It is only material!
Now this, is it a sign of destiny … Would you have kept the MM, if there was no problem?
Someone here said, your signature is your color! I can not contradict! I also know your ability to treat your files colors to make beautiful black and white …
SO! I’m not sure you really need this MM!
You’ve got your M3 for the classic black and white!
Now here, the MM product files (I speak therefore digital) that can give me chills … I think the modeling produced by the MM + Noctilux combo is just superlative …
I also like the grip of the case, and this impression of Tank!
6400 isos, well exposed, it is a slap in the M9 at 1250 iso … IMHO of course!
I also love the rendering of the “grain” digital!
MM I buy this for its ability to climb high isos, and force me to think only black and white!
I could do this with a M6 and Tri-X … I’m not patient enough and brave for the development … It is mainly that I do not have enough time!
All this, you know! I think the choice to have or not MM is a matter of affection (I speak for myself). I really like this camera, there is something between her and me! LOL
I would say that I always have on hand the M9 … But the MM SevenSun me and motivates me even more … I can not explain!
It’s like a little treasure ….
Finally, you have an M9, a MM a M, M3 …. YOU! Peter, you will always wonders my friend!
Hoping that the return to work unfolds as you want!
See you soon!
Hugues.
Dear Hugues,
Indeed, I know how powerful the Monochrom is in your very capable hands.
On the other hand, colour photography is very important to me these days, for many reasons.
However, I’ve decided to go ahead and give the Monochrom another try. It may take some time before I get another one in my hands.
Thank you, as always, for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and helpful post, and for your continued generosity.
Peter.
I have the M9P and MM now. Classic combo of great CCD cameras…the last of the breed. The MM is probably the best (for B&W of course) FF format CCD camera that will ever be produced. The files out of camera will allow you to manipulate them in whatever way you want. You will have a better appreciation for subtle gray tones that you won’t see in film.
Most importantly it is a different way of shooting. Thinking about only black and white allows you to approach your photography in a different way. It is totally different than having a color camera and shooting in B&W jpeg mode. You won’t know what I’m talking about until you play with it a while.
When you get yours back…shoot with it for a few weeks. Worse case scenario sell it for a few hundred less and chalk it up to a “rental.” You can talk about it all you want but you will absolutely not understand until you have one. I didn’t either, and picked one up rather unexpectedly but I “get it”.
Read this 3 part review if you haven’t already (although I’m guessing you have). it’s the best ever:
http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/blog-contributors/fegor-a-fetishists-guide-to-the-monochrom-part1/
Jonny
Hey Jonny,
Great to have you commenting here, and yes I have seen that review. It’s articles like that, and passionate photographers like yourself, and the CCD sensor of course 😉 that make me want to give it a try. The Monochrom I had was with me for only 24 hrs, but it opened my eyes to the possibilities.
Thanks again!
Thanks for the note!
honestly I must confess that I posted for purely selfish reasons:
I’d like to see your pictures with the Monochrom!!
That’s awfully kind of you, and I really appreciate it. I hope I can do the thing justice when my replacement arrives.
I’m massively disappointed with my MM, and can’t get the results I used to get with my M9. I do post-process at quite high contrast, and burn frame edges a lot, and find that the combination of Lightroom + Nik Silver Efex can introduce strange highlight artifacts which looks somewhat like moire. Strangely, these artifacts are not apparent when I import the jpeg to Aperture & then process with Nik Silver Efex. I also find that high ISO files are rarely usable in terms of getting the output I’m aiming at so now limit myself to ISO1250, i.e. the same as my M9.
Admittedly, the MM files can be gorgeous in classical pictorial terms but my experience over 5 months is that it’s not an advance on the M9 + Aperture + Nik Silver Efex if one has a high-contrast style and frequently uses high ISO at night.
I’ve just returned my fourth and last Leica M Monochrom.
The first one had a few dead pixels and also a dead pixel column like yours.
The second had it’s rangefinder focusing window vertically misaligned out the box.
The third had a MASSIVE back focus problem.
The fourth had again bad pixels, a feint pixel column failure, and signs of a remapped pixel column.
I bought the camera in South Africa, for which I flew down from Namibia to collect. South Africa doesn’t have any Leica service centres, so I couldn’t even send the camera off for a quick RF adjustment. Only four cameras were available in the country at the time, and now I’m without a MM. LOL
Ouch! Extremely frustrating.
And not being able to service these cameras easily is another issue altogether… unfortunately it’s something most of us are affected by.
Yeah, it was bitterly disappointing.
What stumped me the most is how far out of tolerance the rangefinder focus was on the one camera, and that the vertical alignment wasn’t perfect on two of the cameras.
I noticed some strange artefacts on two of the four cameras that I’m guessing are due to mapped out pixels…
Seems like if there isn’t a white line, there are bound to be some of these odd remapped lines.
Here are some small crops…
I just noted it for the first time on my monochrom I bought dec 2012. hope Leica service will do an appropriate work.