Leica M Monochrom In Use
Related: black and white, Leica, Leica M, Leica M Monochrom, Leica monochrom, rangefinder
I’ll have a variety of examples and comparisons for the Leica M Monochrom in my Guide to Leica in October, after I return from my trip.
I am grateful to have rented the Leica M Monochrom (and not bought one). Why? Because I miss color! Such beautiful blues and yellows today (got those colors on the Sigma DP1 Merrill instead, and it makes lovely monochrome results too). But also because the Leica MM is insanely expensive for a tool that I would use only as an adjunct to other things. It is every bit as challenging as the Leica M9/M9P except more so, in several ways which my review in Guide to Leica will go into some detail on.
That said, monochrome fans used to shooting in black and white will find that the MM delivers lovely files that should suffice for most any purpose. Diligence and effort will surely pay off. But with the aspen turning bright yellow and the sky a rich azure, I’m not enthusiastic about throwing away all the color— to my point which is this: monochrome images when skillfully done can be beautiful but also quite boring under many outdoor conditions. The skill is in learning to see in black and white (at which I do not consider myself skilled), and to pick the right situations.
Leica M Monochrom + 28/2 Summicron-M ASPH, ISO 320
