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Leica M11 Monochrom: Conclusions
If the imaging goal is black and white but not necessarily in Leica form, see Leica M10 Monochrom: Alternatives.
This page summarizes the Leica M11 Monochrom, both my objective assessments as well as my reactions as a photographer. Regrettably I did not travel/shoot in the mountains for landscapes as with the M10M, but the two are essentially the same aside from resolution.
Why?
Monochrome capture can be rewarding when the subject matter is appropriate. My previous experience shooting the M10M for in December 2020 at Eureka Dunes, Alabama Hills, Lundy Canyon proved that out. At other times, a great deal is sacrificed, when color itself is a key element. In spring of 2023 with the M11M, I was acutately aware of the color-free images with flowers and greenery—monochrome is a specialized tool and it takes an entirely different mindset to create good images in monochrome.
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Diglloyd Guide to LEICA contains in-depth coverage of Leica M system cameras and lenses, with additional coverage of Leica M Monochrom, Leica Q.
Special emphasis is placed on Leica M lenses and certain Zeiss ZM lenses.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly the Summilux/Summicron/Elmarit choice and/or Zeiss ZM.
- Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning. Processing parameters are discussed and shown.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
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