Leica M11 Monochrom vs Sony A7R V Pixel Shift, Fujifilm GFX100S
Related: black and white, digital sensor, Eastern Sierra, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX100S, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, Leica, Leica M, Leica M11 Monochrom, medium format, Mt Whitney area, peak bagging, pixel shift, rangefinder, Sony, Sony A7R, Sony A7R II, Sony A7R III, Sony A7R IV, Sony A7R V, Sony mirrorless, Sony Pixel Shift, true-color sensor or image
re: monochrome and diglloyd Monochrome
As the crops show, the Leica M11 Monochrom offers unprecedented capture detail (albeit with a strictly limited set of lenses with adequate performance). And it can be done handheld in single shot.
But an interesting comparative opportunity arises since the M11m sensor is at its core the same sensor technology as the Sony A7R V/IV sensor.
At least with static subjects, how will Sony A7R V 4-shot pixel shift compare to the capture detail of the Leica M11m? Should be just as good in theory, but in practice pixel shift has less than perfect pixel alignment.
How Good is the Sony A7R IV for Monochrome vs the Leica M10 Monochrom and/or Nikon D850 Monochrome?
I’ve already shown that even with moving subjects like leaves and water, Sony A7R V pixel shift can vie with the Fujifilm GFX100S for detail and even outperform.
Moreover, capturing in full color means that far more sophisticated tonal rendition is possible than with a pure monochrome capture. That is, the filter need not be crude physical filtration at the time of capture with its irreversible effects, but far more sophisticated filtering in Photoshop for precise tonal mapping from colors to grayscale, tonal differentiation, etc.
It’s the final result that matters, and if the detail is the ~same, then tonal control in Photoshop is a huge advantage, see Mining Cabin Interior and View Over Alabama Hills to Wind Driven Snow on Whitney Range.
Thus I am keen to see if I can, for static subjects, achieve superior results with the Sony A7R V pixel shift vs the Leica M11m. My hunch is that the pixel shift results will be superior overall, but with the obvious limitation of tripod usage.
If you’re buying a Leica M11 Monochrom, please buy through the links on this site when it becomes available at B&H—thanks!
Sony A7R IV + Sigma FE 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
ENV: Alabama Hills, altitude 5100 ft / 1554 m, 55°F / 12°C
RAW: LACA corrected, vignetting corrected, push 0.17 stops, +100 Shadows, -100 Highlights, +50 Whites, +88 Blacks, Color Luminance {Blues -76, Purples +100}, +40 Dehaze, +30 Clarity, Chroma NR {40,20,50}, USM {20,50,0}
ACR BW07
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Fujifilm GFX100 + Fujifilm GF 250mm f/4 R LM OIS WR @ 205.5mm equiv (250mm)
RAW: LACA corrected, distortion corrected, vignetting corrected, pull 1.45 stops, +100 Shadows, +60 Whites, +20 Dehaze, +20 Clarity, USM {8,50,0}
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