There are a number of camera brands that convert to black & white particularly well. Leica is certainly one. Fuji and Panasonic are two others. There may be more. But you made the right call, Kirk.
Do you find that seeing the image in black and white in the viewfinder is a real help? I really love getting an idea of the contrast and look beforehand.
Love being able to preview the image in grayscale. It's definitely a big help. The Q2 is a fine little camera. I had it set for 35mm all day yesterday. Worked perfectly. Never missed focus. And the exposures were usually right on the money.
As your financial advisor, I'd point out that you saved $14,227 by not buying that Hasselblad. KEH is selling a Q (used, ex+) for $2624.91, meaning that with your savings plus the value of your current Q, you should have $16,869.91 to work with. A new high-res Q2 would cost $5,795 at B&H, so you'd still be $11,074.91 to the good AND have vastly improved images. An opportunity like that doesn't come by every day.
I would love to see an engineering analysis of that sensor. There's "something" about your black-and-white images that "feel" like those I get out of the cheapo used Huawei P20 Pro phone I bought off eBay a few years ago. Allegedly Leica designed its optics and image processing; my understanding of how it does color images is that it uses its sensor for the image, and its color sensor to effectively "color in" the black and white. (And I admit, I could be totally off-base on this). So, I wonder if the Q2 might use the same trick? And, if it does, then it already has a monochrome sensor, no need for a Q2M.
I had "monochrome" in HTML-like brackets before "sensor" so it looks like it vanished when published. That phrase should read "it uses its monochrome sensor for the image"
Hi Kirk, In your previous post, you described image 22 as "....meh. Ick. An image only a rabid Lee Friedlander fan would like."
I love the colour original and I must confess I may have passed be the B&W version by had I not been looking for it, to compare them. The more I look at it though, the more I like it. It is a fascinating study in shades of grey and types of contrast. I think you might see the same if you study it on its own merits.
One thing that I did also notice is how much more pronounced the moire is, on the door, in B&W. I did not initially notice it in colour.
Loved this and the previous post.
P.S. Thanks for passing up that M240. I think I'll pick it up! :)
Hi JC, I have never owned a Leica Q. I bought a Leica Q2 almost two years ago, brand new, with warranty, from our local Leica dealer, Precision Camera and Video. So, instead, I'll just pocket that $14,227 and smile all the way to the bank. As your camera advisor I advise you to immediately order a Q2 or Q3 because they are so much fun to shoot. And everyone should reward themselves with a new Leica whenever they finish a big project....
How's it coming along with the Pentax Mono camera? Some people suggested I ask you about that. Still happy with it? Ready to send it on over for an evaluation?
HI Kirk,I am fortunate enough to own a Leica CL a QP and Q2.In addition I own a Hasselblad X1D ii.Each of the Leicas produce superb monochrome images.The Hasselblad doesnt offer the option.The Hasselblad does indeed offer superb color images however you have to wrench them out of the camera.while getting the Blad prepaired for the shot which almost always requires a tripod the Leica can take a number of beautiful hand held shots and have a ball doing it, thats what its all about.After 40 years of shooting with every type and brand of camera although some will cry foul stick with your Q2 you simply cannot produce a better image and enjoy the process more than with a Leica.
Danny.... I am convinced. Both the SL and the Q2 are wonderful and quite different from all the other cameras I've used. (and I've used a lot). Has anyone noticed that this is one brand of digital camera of which I have not sold off any cameras? Just sayin.
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15 comments:
Chanelling your inner Friedlander I see. He did a whole series of whimsical shadow portraits in a book I have.
Now I'm tempted to take a photo of a convex mirror using a fish-eye lens just to see what it would look like.
Hallelujah, words and music by Leonard Cohen, image number 26.
Rather good images, Kirk, especially viewed on a 27 inch calibrated monitor with hood, many thanks.
There are a number of camera brands that convert to black & white particularly well. Leica is certainly one. Fuji and Panasonic are two others. There may be more. But you made the right call, Kirk.
Do you find that seeing the image in black and white in the viewfinder is a real help? I really love getting an idea of the contrast and look beforehand.
Love being able to preview the image in grayscale. It's definitely a big help. The Q2 is a fine little camera. I had it set for 35mm all day yesterday. Worked perfectly. Never missed focus. And the exposures were usually right on the money.
Got that one dialed in. Very nice.
As your financial advisor, I'd point out that you saved $14,227 by not buying that Hasselblad. KEH is selling a Q (used, ex+) for $2624.91, meaning that with your savings plus the value of your current Q, you should have $16,869.91 to work with. A new high-res Q2 would cost $5,795 at B&H, so you'd still be $11,074.91 to the good AND have vastly improved images. An opportunity like that doesn't come by every day.
I would love to see an engineering analysis of that sensor. There's "something" about your black-and-white images that "feel" like those I get out of the cheapo used Huawei P20 Pro phone I bought off eBay a few years ago. Allegedly Leica designed its optics and image processing; my understanding of how it does color images is that it uses its sensor for the image, and its color sensor to effectively "color in" the black and white. (And I admit, I could be totally off-base on this). So, I wonder if the Q2 might use the same trick? And, if it does, then it already has a monochrome sensor, no need for a Q2M.
I had "monochrome" in HTML-like brackets before "sensor" so it looks like it vanished when published. That phrase should read "it uses its monochrome sensor for the image"
Hi Kirk, In your previous post, you described image 22 as "....meh. Ick. An image only a rabid Lee Friedlander fan would like."
I love the colour original and I must confess I may have passed be the B&W version by had I not been looking for it, to compare them. The more I look at it though, the more I like it. It is a fascinating study in shades of grey and types of contrast. I think you might see the same if you study it on its own merits.
One thing that I did also notice is how much more pronounced the moire is, on the door, in B&W. I did not initially notice it in colour.
Loved this and the previous post.
P.S. Thanks for passing up that M240. I think I'll pick it up! :)
Hi JC, I have never owned a Leica Q. I bought a Leica Q2 almost two years ago, brand new, with warranty, from our local Leica dealer, Precision Camera and Video. So, instead, I'll just pocket that $14,227 and smile all the way to the bank. As your camera advisor I advise you to immediately order a Q2 or Q3 because they are so much fun to shoot. And everyone should reward themselves with a new Leica whenever they finish a big project....
How's it coming along with the Pentax Mono camera? Some people suggested I ask you about that. Still happy with it? Ready to send it on over for an evaluation?
Delicious tones and lines. Thanks for sharing.
HI Kirk,I am fortunate enough to own a Leica CL a QP and Q2.In addition I own a Hasselblad X1D ii.Each of the Leicas produce superb monochrome images.The Hasselblad doesnt offer the option.The Hasselblad does indeed offer superb color images however you have to wrench them out of the camera.while getting the Blad prepaired for the shot which almost always requires a tripod the Leica can take a number of beautiful hand held shots and have a ball doing it, thats what its all about.After 40 years of shooting with every type and brand of camera although some will cry foul stick with your Q2 you simply cannot produce a better image and enjoy the process more than with a Leica.
Danny.... I am convinced. Both the SL and the Q2 are wonderful and quite different from all the other cameras I've used. (and I've used a lot). Has anyone noticed that this is one brand of digital camera of which I have not sold off any cameras? Just sayin.
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We Moderate Comments, Yours might not appear right after you hit return. Be patient; I'm usually pretty quick on getting comments up there. Try not to hit return again and again.... If you disagree with something I've written please do so civilly. Be nice or see your comments fly into the void. Anonymous posters are not given special privileges or dispensation. If technology alone requires you to be anonymous your comments will likely pass through moderation if you "sign" them. A new note: Don't tell me how to write or how to blog! I can't make you comment but I don't want to wade through spam!
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.