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Review Summary
2012-12-17T19:00:00
I love this camera but it's a lot of money. This is the first time since I stopped shooting film that I feel like I'm not compromising the image for the freedom of shooting digital. I hate when you're charged more to get a version of a product that has less then the standard but this camera is brilliant. If you were a black and white Leica shooter and have been jumping through hoops to recreate that look then this is the camera for you.
RAFIEL G.
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Compact digital rangefinder system camera with a dedicated black-and-white image sensor
Leica M bayonet with additional sensor for 6-bit coding
Leica M lenses from 16 to 135 mm
Active area approx. 23.9 x 35.8 mm, 5212 x 3468 pixels (18 megapixels). Infrared blocking filter for invisible light with wavelengths longer than 700 nm, no low-pass filter
Optional resolution, DNG: 5212 x 3468 (18 megapixels), JPEG: 5216 x 3472 (18 megapixels), 3840 x 2592 (10 megapixels), 2592 x 1728 (4.5 megapixels), 1728 x 1152 (2 megapixels), 1280 x 864 (1 megapixel)
DNG (RAW), uncompressed, JPEG with quality-preserving compression
DNG: 18 MB (compressed), 36 MB (uncompressed),
JPEG: approx. 2-10 MB
sRGB hardwired
SD-cards from 2 GB, SDHC-cards up to 32 GB
German, English, French, Spanish, Italian Japanese, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Russian
Exposure metering through the lens (TTL), center-weighted at working aperture Center-weighted TTL-metering for flash with system-compatible SCA-3000/2 standard flash units
at f/1.0 / ISO 320/26° EV 1 to 21.
The left triangular LED in the viewfinder blinks when light levels are outside the lower metering range
ISO 320/26° to ISO 10000/41°, selectable in 1/3-ISO increments with aperture priority metering (A) and manual exposure settings, choice of automatic control or manual setting. ISO 160 also available as a pull-function
Aperture priority (A) / Manual(M)
Hot shoe with center and control contacts.
Optional, on first or second curtain
Metering range
Control by center-weighted, TTL pre-flash metering (with SCA-3501/3502 adapters or SCA-3000 standard flash units e.g. Leica SF 24D/Leica SF 58)
2 silicon photodiodes with condenser lens in camera base
+/-3 1/3 EV in 1/3 EV increments, adjustable on SCA 3501/3502 adapter
Settings in computer mode for LEICA SF 24D, +/-3 EV in 1/3 EV increments, or from 0 to -3 EV in 1 EV increments / adjustable in all modes for LEICA SF 58, +/-3 EV in 1/3 EV increments
Flash ready: constant illumination of flash symbol LED in the viewfinder, flash confirmation: Constant illumination or rapid flashing of the LED after exposure, underexposure indicated by temporarily extinguished LED
Large size, bright, combined bright-line viewfinder / rangefinder with automatic parallax compensation
Adjusted to -0.5 diopters Correction lenses for -3 to +3 dptr. available
By projection of two bright-line frames with each lens attached: for 35 and 135 mm, or for 28 and 90 mm, or 50 and 75 mm. Automatically displayed when lens mount locks. Any of the pairs of bright-line frames can be displayed by moving the frame selection lever
At a focusing distance of 1 meter, the bright-line frame size corresponds precisely to that of a sensor size of 23.9 x 35.8 mm.
At ifinity, and depending on the focal length of the lens in use, more of the sensor is covered than the bright-line frame actually shows, the opposite is the case for focusing distances of less than 1 meter, i.e. somewhat less
0.68-fold (for all lenses)
Bright rectangular spot (RF spot) with coincident and superimposed fields in the center of the viewfinder image
47.1 mm (mechanical rangefinder base 69.25 mm x viewfinder magnification 0.68x)
LED-Symbol for flash status (on lower edge)
Four-digit, seven-segment digital LED display.
Display brightness adapts to ambient light, for: exposure compensation activation warning, display of automatically determined shutter speeds in aperture priority mode, reminder of activated exposure value lock.
LED light balance with two triangular outer and one round central
LED for manual exposure setting
2.5" monitor (color TFT-LCD) with 230,000 pixels
Microprocessor-controlled, particularly low-noise, metal-leaf, vertical focal-plane shutter
In aperture priority mode (A) continuous from 32 s to 1/4000 s. In manual setting mode, 8 s to 1/4000 s in half-speed increments, B for time exposures up to max. 240 s, shortest shutter speed for flash sync, 1/180 s
Approx. 2 fps, 8 frames in sequence
Three steps: Activation of metering - store metering values (in aperture priority mode) - shutter release. Standard internal threading for remote release
Countdown 2 s (in aperture priority mode and manual exposure mode) or 12 s, menu setting option, countdown is indicated by a flashing LED on the front of the camera and a corresponding display on the monitor
Main switch located on the top deck, optional sleep mode for camera electronics after 2 / 5 / 10 minutes, reactivation by slight pressure to shutter release button
1 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, nominal voltage 3.7V, capacity 1900 mAh. Charge level displayed on monitor screen, when shutter locked in open position (for sensor cleaning), additional acoustic warning signal for insufficient battery charge
Inputs: 100-240 V AC , 50/60 Hz, automatic adaptation, or 12/24 V DC; output: 4.2 V DC, 800 mA
Full-metal body in die cast magnesium alloy with synthetic leather trim. Top deck and baseplate in brass with black chrome finish, sapphire glass LCD cover for the monitor screen
A 1/4 (1/4") DIN, stainless steel, integrated in base plate
32 to 104°F / 0 to +40°C
5-pin Mini-USB 2.0 high-speed socket for fast data transfer
Windows 7 SP1, Windows Vista SP2, Windows XP SP2, Mac OS X 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) or higher
5.47 x 1.46 x 31.5" / 139 x 37 x 80mm
21.16 oz / 600g with battery
4022243107601
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The Leica M Monochrom features a new 18MP, 35mm-sized CCD sensor that only captures black-and-white, but because there is no color Leica claims it will produce spectacular image quality at up to ISO 10,000; images are said to be 100 percent sharper than an image produced by an equivalent color sensor. This specialized camera is being marketed to street photographers and photojournalists who work exclusively in black-and-white. The advantage of a dedicated black-and-white camera is that real brightness values are available for each individual pixel, resulting in sharp, accurate black and white images without the need for post-processing.
The camera is packaged with a full versionof Silver Efex Pro 2 to let users recreate the looks of their favorite black-and-white films, and registered owners can take advantage of Whitewall, the Leica Monochrom print service that uses a traditional wet chemistry silver process.
The Key Features in Detail
Newly developed monochrome CCD sensor with a native resolution of 18 Million Pixel.
With its full, native resolution of 18 megapixels, the Leica M Monochrom delivers 100 % sharper images than with color sensors. The fact that its sensor does not "see" color means real brightness values are available for each individual pixel. That is to say, the sensor of the M Monochrom produces a "genuine" black-and-white image directly. In combination with the brilliant imaging performance of Leica lenses and the perfect matching of the sensor to the M system, this creates pictures of outstanding sharpness and natural brilliance, with no need to sharpen the image in post-processing. The result is incomparable picture quality, such as would normally only be expected of a medium-format camera. The impressively low noise level of the monochrome CCD sensor delivers an extremely fine-grained image, which is not perceived as disturbing even at the highest ISO settings.
Raw data histogram and parameter clipping warning
The Leica M Monochrom impresses discerning users and fine-art photographers with a raw data histogram for exact control of tonal values. In contrast to standard histograms, it depicts the actual raw data, unprocessed and uncorrupted. Especially in combination with the parameter clipping view, this enables exposures to be optimized with great precision in order to fully exploit the available dynamic range.
Tones
Whether sepia, cool or selenium with the M Monochrom images can be adjusted to the characteristic tones of analog black-and-white photography at the press of a button.
Design
The classic, iconic Leica M camera design is embodied in the Leica M Monochrom. The mat black chrome-finish top cover imbues the camera with the look of a discrete, unassuming instrument.
Only an engraving on the black accessory shoe reveals the product's name. The camera features an extremely soft, tactile leatherette body covering which is perfectly in keeping with the discrete overall look.
The camera comes with a real-leather carrying strap made of high-grade cowhide. Additionally there is a new handgrip available, featured with the same black chrome finish and the same leather trim as the camera.
Silver Efex Pro included
A full version of the world's leading black-and-white image processing software, Silver Efex Pro 2, is supplied. Silver Efex Pro 2 incorporates a unique and powerful set of darkroom-inspired tools to produce top-quality black-and-white pictures. Silver Efex Pro 2 emulates over 20 different black and white film types to recreate the classic monochrome look of film. The emulation is based on detailed analysis of multiple rolls of each film type. This results in accurate reproductions of popular film from ISO 32 to ISO 3200.
Leica Monochrom prints
For passionate black-and-white photographers looking to retain the accustomed brilliance and quality of their images in print, Leica offers a unique service. In cooperation with the photo processing lab Whitewall, the Leica Monochrom Print Service enables M Monochrom customers to obtain superb black-and-white prints of their work. This involves developing the digital images from the Leica M Monochrom on genuine fiber barite photographic paper. Thanks to use of the classic wet-chemistry silver process, the developed prints are indistinguishable from hand-made prints of analog images. Customers looking to utilize this exclusive service can order prints directly from Whitewall after registering their M Monochrom. This service is initially only available to Leica M Monochrom customers.
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