1.04.2023

I converted my Leica Q2 to monochrome by selecting an appropriate profile in the camera menu and dialing in some preferences to suit my taste. $6000+ saved in the process.

 


Yes. I am beginning to warm up to the 28mm focal length. Yes, I think the B&W HC setting in the Q2 is a close approximation of the way I like to shoot black and white. Confession: I still find myself wanting to hit the zoom button and compose in a 50mm frame. Habits. Habits. 








13 comments:

John Krumm said...

Hey, stop trolling us converts!

As a happy owner of a now monochrome only converted Nikon Z6, I'll just attend my small church of true believers. : )

You know, when you get that new S5 II, you can take your old one and join our church of true digital black and white for the low price of $1200.

Kirk, Photographer/Writer said...

Cool. But I'm actually pondering (with extreme prejudice...) the Q2M. The possible VSL first buy of 2023...

Chris said...

Re zooming to 50mm. I don't understand what is holding you back. Just click the lens to 50mm?

John Krumm said...

I think one of the nicest things about the Leica Q2M, besides it being a nice Leica with a great lens, is that the conversion from basic raw to non-demosaiced DNG Monochrome happens in camera, presumably tuned a little in-house, so you don't have to rely on a third party app like I do. If I open one of my raws straight, Lightroom treats it like color, and it looks ugly. That said, the little Monochrome conversion utility everyone uses is fast and easy.

Kirk, Photographer/Writer said...

Hi Chris, the lens doesn't click to 50. You opt to see 50mm frame lines in the finder. The image in the frame lines is smaller than the overall image of the EVF. And, you get 15 megapixels of resolution instead of 47.5. Big difference.

The lens itself does not zoom.

EdPledger said...


“ seeking out the poorer quarters
Where the ragged people go,
Looking for the places only they would know…”

Not exactly. But the small strip of weeds between the fences reminds me of the urban wildernesses, green spaces, of Austin.

Don Karner said...

That third photo is pretty darned terrific. Slightly tilted horizon gives it an edge. I really like these monochromes.

TMJ said...

Quite an orange, or red, filter look, as on film.

Anonymous said...

How do the images compare to your handy, dandy Sigma?
Any actual "in use" preference for one over the other?

Craig Yuill said...

Kirk - TMJ made an interesting observation about an orange filter. Does the Q2 have filter settings? Various Nikon cameras that I own do when set to Monochrome. One can use “filter settings” that simulate having a red, yellow, green, etc. filter on the lens. I don’t know how common this feature is to other brands. I have found, however, that RAW photos (which are always in color from my Nikons) processed as monochrome images in programs like Aperture or Lightroom seem to produce nicer-looking B&W images than the JPEGs from the camera.

Jon Maxim said...

Hi Kirk, Since you passed up on the "Reporter" Q2, you really should wait until they make a "Ghost" version of the Q2M. (You know, you really aren't a Leica owner unless you buy a special edition version)

CWM said...

I almost bought the Monocrom version of the Q2 instead of the regular model. However, technical gains made by having no Bayer filter over the sensor may be lost when using yellow, orange, green and red filters over the lens. I guess that would be the A/B test I'm looking for. Unless I want white skies, wrong shade of grey skin, etc. I would be using colored filters just like the film days most of the time. With the standard Q2 monocrom settings ...no filter required. Any thoughts?

Anonymous said...

Kirk

Here is an experiment for you to try, if you are curious.

Go to your collection of film accessories and mount an orange or red (R60) filter to your lens. Set a custom white balance for the day, or just use WB 2500, and go make some images.

Your raw files will look rather funky (purple-ish) in color. But they should convert to B&W nicely.

Have fun.
PaulB