CCC Forum

If the rumours are true, Samsung are working on a monochrome only camera -

http://petapixel.com/2014/09/29/rumor-s ... chromatic/

The idea really appeals to me for some reason, especially if it offers improved image fidelity. I know the argument that a colour camera can get essentially the same images but I do find that I approach shooting differently when I'm using B&W film, it makes me think differently about the scene.

Anyone else interested in a black & white only camera? That isn't the absurd Monochrom Leica

I find this intriguing, the camera looks like it would be great for street photography. I should get my Panasonic Lumix out again - that has a great B&W mode which renders really rich tones. Or perhaps I should put some film in my old Rollei 35...

davidc wrote: the absurd Monochrom Leica

Other than price, what do you find absurd about the Monochrom?

I also heard this rumour a few days ago, although it remains to be seen whether it actually comes to fruition. Samsung has been struggling to make its mark in the photography world, although the recently announced NX1 might change that. A mono only camera will always be niche, but perhaps Samsung might be thinking that such a product at an attractive price would introduce serious photographers to the rest of the range? Apart from the aforementioned Leica Monochrom, Phase One also makes mono backs which are even more expensive, but to date an affordable option does not exist.

The question most people will have to decide for themselves is whether they wish to make the decision about colour or mono at the point of capture. There are some photographers I know who work exclusively in black and white, so for them the answer is straightforward. For others, it could mean either carrying two cameras or concluding that mono derived from a standard RGB sensor is good enough. There are some excellent tools such as Silver Efex Pro which yield very good results which most people will not be able to distinguish from a shot taken either on film or a digital sensor modified only to record luminance values. The software solution has the definite advantages of being more adaptable and cheaper than a dedicated camera. As Rose has said, those wanting the digital black and white experience can set their cameras to show the result in mono on the rear LCD, which can also aid the challenge of visualising a scene without colour. Provided a Raw file is recorded at the time, it leaves the option open of whether the final image will be in colour or not, which I suspect is the way most people actually work.

One thing worth noting is that with a digital mono only camera, the use of coloured filters to control tone and contrast at the time of taking again becomes necessary. Only those who either already have the necessary experience with film or are prepared to give the time and dedication required to learn how to use such a specialist camera will get the best from it. While the idea has appeal, I do not believe that it is an easy course for those seeking the instantaneous gratification that is so prevalent in our modern world.

The topic has been covered at The Online Photographer where the usual cvilised debate has taken place. Although there are no featured comments, Mike Johnston who runs the site has indicated that Stan Roger's comment best reflects his own views.

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.co ... g-man.html

Mike Farley wrote:Other than price, what do you find absurd about the Monochrom?

Missed this when I was away, sorry! The price is the main absurdity. Articles like this

http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/featur ... lack-book/

and videos like this

http://vimeo.com/106179010

are the other reason I'm not bought into the cult of Leica, or that they are any better other cameras. They are just tools to achieve a goal. Though you could argue "food is just a way to refuel", I don't need to eat Michelin-priced meals every day either

While the cameras are nice to look at, undoubtedly, they really are a triumph of marketing most of all.

Though then again, I don't own one so maybe "I just don't understand"

I know a lot of people who swear by theirs and I'm sure you love yours but I just don't see the allure.

Admittedly Leica is the one brand I have bought with my heart rather than my head and there is an element of "veblen goods" about them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good

That said, the lenses are superb and render like nothing else I own. Good enough to justify the high price? That's a personal judgement. My shots are from a variety of cameras and certainly no one has specifically gone "wow" when a Leica one is displayed, so the satisfaction is purely a personal one. That's the way it should be. The camera is the least important element of any photograph.

My comments relate to the M series, which retain the important elements of Leica tradition. Just after it was launched, Ivor Cooper of Red Dot Cameras brought a T to a Leica Forum Group meeting in London earlier this year. As an artefact, it was impressive. As a camera, it seemed lacking. Speaking to a friend afterwards as we wnt home, he felt much the same. The T is clearly the start of something new for Leica and the mount is large enough to accommodate a full frame sensor, so I asked Ivor whether he thought it heralded a move away from the M. He was adamant that Leica would never stop making the M. We'll see.

I get the feeling that after a period of consolidation when all that really changed with cameras over the last few years was that digital sensors replaced film and we got a screen on the back of the camera, the way we capture photos is about to go through a revolution. There is a convergence of still and video, and producing tweaked versions of previous models is not working for manufacturers. Are we about to see new form factors and improvements in respect of end to end workflow? It would seem to be where the next opportunities lie for the manufacturers, although based on recent launches they have stubbornly failed to demonstrate an understanding of the new possibilities which are opening up. As it has shown with the T, imperfect as it is, Leica is actually one of the more innovative companies out there.

Mike Farley wrote:That said, the lenses are superb and render like nothing else I own. Good enough to justify the high price? That's a personal judgement. My shots are from a variety of cameras and certainly no one has specifically gone "wow" when a Leica one is displayed, so the satisfaction is purely a personal one. That's the way it should be. The camera is the least important element of any photograph.

This is pretty much the exact opposite attitude to every other Leica owner I've known

davidc wrote:

Mike Farley wrote:That said, the lenses are superb and render like nothing else I own. Good enough to justify the high price? That's a personal judgement. My shots are from a variety of cameras and certainly no one has specifically gone "wow" when a Leica one is displayed, so the satisfaction is purely a personal one. That's the way it should be. The camera is the least important element of any photograph.

This is pretty much the exact opposite attitude to every other Leica owner I've known

I suspect that I know a number on the Leica Camera Forum who would agree with me. Yes, the people I know are happy handling the cameras and discussing the attributes of various bits of gear, but what they are really interested in doing is going out to take photographs. Certainly, I have never heard anyone claim that only Leica could achieve a shot in a particular way. People even bring along other camera brands to the meetings.

I have just come across this comparison between a Zeiss Otus 85 f/1.4 on a Sony A7R and the original Sony RX100. The former has a bang up to date 36 MP sensor and the latter is a two year old compact with fixed lens and 20 MP 1" sensor which sells for the fraction of the price of the Sony/Zeiss combo. Unscientific as it is, It highlights the point which we have been discussing, namely the law of diminishing returns when spending increasing amounts of money. Years ago the differences might have larger, but computer aided design and construction has done much to improve optical quality at the lower end of the market.

http://randolphimages.com/otus/

I saw that comparison too, it does make me smile

I'm waiting for Sigma to bring their 85mm out and repeat what they did in the 50mm battle!