Leica's big news May 10....

[bayerische]

So what do you guys think if Leicas "big" news today?

A MONOCHROME M!!!!

What a joke.

I'm guessing second hand M9's just got a bit more valuable.

[rr-nyc]

I just don't get it... Who's gonna buy that?

[GradyPhilpott]

DPReview does a good job of explaining why some photographers might be interested in this new camera.

Shooting in black and white is not the same as converting color images to black and white.

"As the name suggests, the Monochrom is a truly black-and-white camera, with no filter array to allow the capture of color information."

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/leica-m-monochrom/

Most of us wouldn't bother with this highly specialized instrument, but clearly some will be more than willing to pay the premium for the technology or perhaps, the lack thereof.

[MoBe]

Maybe this will lead to an increased interest in B & W photography,,,,,,I`m not holding my breath.

[bayerische]

Some will pay the premium, mostly the collectors, as Leica cameras are huge among collectors, who never actually take pictures with their cameras.

I just think Leica did a wrong move with this, as it must have cost a fortune to make such a specialized camera. They barely break even with the M8 and M9.

[masterserg]

I think the monochrome is kinda cool if you have enough disposable income (and that's your shooting style of course). This is if sensitivity and dr are as promised.

The x2 on the other hand does not sound too exciting compared to the oly om-d or even sony nex-7...

[leica]

Unbelievable...

[leica]

And $8000 price tag is a sure putoff

[SLRdude]

8000 is a put off?

What about the 50.000 Dollars limited edition Leica M9 Hermes edition that's coming out. LOL. CRAZY.
Ridiculous.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/leica-hermes-m9-p/

[bayerische]

Ridiculous. Really makes Leica look like a camera you don't take pictures with....

[eric23]

That kind of sucked I was hoping for a new M10, I guess I will stick with my M4-2.

[eric23]

anyone know the story on the 7K 50mm F2.0 that was also released, why is it 7K?

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by eric23

anyone know the story on the 7K 50mm F2.0 that was also released, why is it 7K?

Because it's a Leica.

[eric23]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Because it's a Leica.

I guess I better buy a 50F1.4 for 4K before they go up to 20K

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by eric23

I guess I better buy a 50F1.4 for 4K before they go up to 20K

They'll soon be only for collectors.

[esspee1200]

Leica Hermes edition. $50k camera. look here: http://hypebeast.com/2012/05/leica-m...nboxing-video/

[KJacques]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I just don't get it... Who's gonna buy that?

I might. To me it makes a lot of sense. The reason is the Leica lenses which have a beautiful look from them, but I think the color coming out of an M9 looks like my old Ektachrome slides. I only shoot with b&w in my M6 so it makes sense to me to have a b&w only camera. And it's a little more specialized in that it's not just a monochrome setting in most cameras. It's not like shooting in color and removing the color later. By removing the Bayer filters from the sensor, you should more than double the light sensitivity and the sharpness and resolution really pop. I would expect for this camera to be rather unique in the images it produces.

If I wasn't looking into investing in either a RED Scarlet-X or other 4K cine-camera, I'd definitely consider this for still photography.

[TheDude]

Been away a while.

There is a lot of history around monochrome digital. Kodak released no fewer than four of these cameras in the late 90s and early 2000s, before most people knew what a DSLR was.

The final one, the DCS 760m was a 6Mpxl camera that cost $10,000. Fine art photographers used it, there's more info here.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...dak-760m.shtml


Also, one of the fine art guys who shot with the Kodak happens to be a beta tester for the new Leica. He has galleries from both cameras on his site.

http://www.petemyers.com/

[leica]

Originally Posted by eric23

anyone know the story on the 7K 50mm F2.0 that was also released, why is it 7K?

Maybe it was built for the m10