Leica M11 Monochrom: the Obligatory First Shot, ISO 12500
re: monochrome
Consistent with internet standards and the requirements for using one of the world’s most expensive cameras on appropriate subject matter, my first shot with the Leica M11 Monochrom is of Tigger, my fully automated rodent conversion system*.
I cannot focus worth a damn using the rangefinder. My eye is definitely not up to it, it’s center only, and for all I know the lens+camera is off a little. All serious work will have to wait until the Leica Visoflex 2 Electronic Viewfinder arrives on Friday.
I also need to get ahold of appropriate color filters for the Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon but fortunately I can borrow those locally. It is a little annoying that the ZM35/1.4 cannot focus more closely, but that applies to virtually all Leica M lenses excepting the new Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH II which goes to 1:6.4. So not only is the EVF all but mandatory for accurate focusing, it is also needed for closer focusing.
I’ll shoot various things I can get done without those extras, but lens and sensor resolving power evaluations have to wait until the EVF gets here—glare off the rear LCD means it is not a viable option for outdoor shooting.
Check out the moderate fine-grained noise at ISO12500 (login to view the 7204 size = full camera resolution). I wonder how it compares to a Sony A7R V with Adobe Camera Raw AI Denoise. Images from the M11M require no extra processing, but there is also no control over grayscale rendition of colors other than crude optical filters.
* Squeaky rodent in ==> hairy turd out.
Metering on the M11M is awful. It already blew out highlights in a similar shot that no other camera would screw up on.
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(cropped)
LEICA M11 Monochrom + Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon + filter B+W KR-12
[low-res image for bot]
