if you think about it regular (non foveon anyway) digital cameras capture light with that bayer pattern, require low-pass filters to avoid false color etc. etc. etc.
A purely monochrome camera should indeed outperform a color camera converted to B/W in a few metrics.
I think Jamie is being closed-minded about this... I put the worldwide market at at least 103.
No doubt a dedicated monochrome sensor is better at B&W, but an $8000 monochrome camera is a stretch for even well-heeled enthusiasts. I guess if someone was just giving it to me, I'd be happy to use it, but I won't be parting with my money for anything Leica makes.
deepbluejh wrote:
Looks like an M9 (at a $1000 premium) that only takes B&W photos. I imagine it has a target market of at least 67 people worldwide.
Niche product to say the least...
Well, it is a Leica .
"The 18 MP image sensor of the M Monochrom is perfectly matched to the unique properties of the Leica M-System and the superior performance of Leica M-Lenses. As the sensor does not ‘see’ colors, every pixel records true luminance values – as a result, it delivers ‘true’ black-and-white images that are significantly sharper than comparable exposures from a camera with a color-sensitive sensor."
Interesting idea, but it's pretty hard to imagine any real world difference in quality over a color sensor. Maybe akin to how black and white film is supposed to be sharper than color because the emulsion is thinner... It probably really is measurebateable...but show me a couple of 11x14s side by side and then lets discuss it . Worth an extra grand? To some people I'm sure it is. To me? Well...the cost of that thing would keep my M3 fed and watered for a very, very long time .
That said, I love to shoot knowing that the result is going to be black and white...but you can do that with any camera by making a (free) mental adjustment to how you approach a shoot.
This sounds pretty awesome actually, the sensor tech is a lot more than "just an M9", with no bayer colour matrix the results could be really impressive.
I think they are totally missing the boat. If they priced this at $3-4k, all the Leica dreamers would totally jump on board with voigtlander and 50yr old used M lenses in hand.
p.1 #10 · OT: New Leicas..including B&W only model
swoop wrote:
I think they are totally missing the boat. If they priced this at $3-4k, all the Leica dreamers would totally jump on board with voigtlander and 50yr old used M lenses in hand.
Interesting idea... I'd certainly put myself in that category...
p.1 #11 · OT: New Leicas..including B&W only model
swoop wrote:
I think they are totally missing the boat. If they priced this at $3-4k, all the Leica dreamers would totally jump on board with voigtlander and 50yr old used M lenses in hand.
Leica is a luxury brand and is managed as such, the same ideas don't apply. I'm sure Ferrari would make a short term killing if they sold a cheap version but it would seriously damage the brand.
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. Worth an extra grand? To some people I'm sure it is. To me? Well...the cost of that thing would keep my M3 fed and watered for a very, very long time 
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