Leica M10 Monochrom

Well …. I decided to have it; I love BW and, honestly, having the M10R and SL2, both high resolution cameras, the Mono is not a real need today. I’m using films on my MP, I develop the rolls by myself and have a good quality scanner, so, I should be satisfied. Not really…

I am not going into a theoretical technical post. I’m not that kind of person. These are just my personal thoughts. I had the first Monochrom (CCD version) and I had a lot of very good results using it but, looking to improve my equipment for the studio, and looking also to the new M10P, I sold it. No complains… it was the right choice at that time BUT, I still miss that camera.

People and colleagues, discussing about this camera, are often focused on the possibility to convert files from cameras, normally color DNG files, to BW. Today there are incredible options using LR, CaptOne, PS or other plugins and results are outstanding. Agree with them all BUT

It’s not only the final result that give value to a native BW photo; it’s the attitude, the shooting preparation, the “mental approach” that are completely different. Shoot BW means think BW, see BW, read the lights, exposure and compose as BW. These are the differences.

Use the MP (film), or the Mono, requires the same approach. Of course the Mono will shows the results on real time, saving time for the chemical part to develop the film but under a photography point of view, the steps to have the best shots are the same. I don’t like to take multiple shots and loose time looking to dozen of shots searching to pick up the best one. I love to spend some time (seconds, not minutes or hours) looking for the best set up to have one shot. Just in case I take a second one. That’s it. Being born in the film and chemical “era”, I still love this photography mood.

Moving back to the main topic of this post, why having the MP and a dark room I’m having also the M10Monochrom? Often I receive request of BW images and, even if I am still convinced that using the SL2 or the M10R and converting their DNG files I can have good results, the native BW files have a different “sound” and different look. Beside this, it’s faster, at least for me, to manage a native BW than to convert a native DNG file and offer to my client a better result.

There are probably a lot of photographers that disagree what I’m writing here; please feel free to reply to this post, I will be happy to have all your comments.

You may also like