p.1 #1 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
I purchased the M11M and after two vacations in Asia, it became my favorite camera. First was the ability to shoot without regard to ISO and then there is the incredible resolution and tonal range. I traveled with the M11M and two lenses, as well as the X2D and 38v/25v lenses. The Hasselblad was used when it rained.. and it rained a good bit. So, the M11M became my favorite camera and I have many great lenses, but I only travel with two, or possibly three lenses.. I’ve used other cameras, including the X2D when not vacationing.
I’m thinking of selling my M11M. First, there is the introduction of the X2Dii and two high end zoom lenses. I’ve never warmed up to zoom lenses, but I ordered both and have received the 20-35mm e zoom. My thoughts are to handle international travel with just the X2Dii and the two zooms. I believe that this will provide me with what I liked about the M11M while avoiding some of the limitations. Of course, the HB kit is much larger and heavier. The 100Mpix images are on par with the M11M for resolution and dynamic range. The incredible IBIS make low light shooting, even with slower zooms, pretty easy. It simplifies what I carry and greatly simplifies lens changes..
Behind this is a pledge that I made to my wife to fund photo purchase with equipment sales and so we get back to selling the M11M as well as my Sony gear and many film cameras, scanners and so on to fund the new Hasselblad equipment. Also, I’ve recently been shooting film and have maximized copying negatives.
Anyone else, love the Leica Monochroms, but sell them?
p.1 #2 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
I rarely sell some of my photo gear, but I also upgrade very slowly and only very selectively. I only sold photo gear where I knew for sure that I will never going to use it again - for example all my APS-C based cropped sensor EF camera and lens gear years after I upgraded to full-frame.
Talking about Leica M- and LTM-gear, so far in > 10 years I have never sold any of it. And it is unlikely that I ever will. I own the Leica M 246 monochrome camera, and I won't let this one go for sure. But I also won't upgrade to a M10M or M11M either. What the M 246 delivers is all I need and perfect for my usage.
In parallel, I am still using film also but mostly B&W film these days. Color film prices became too crazy high for my taste to make it still worthwhile for me. B&W film is not better than monochrome digital files - I simply still use B&W film because I enjoy the process of developing film and making sporadic darkroom prints from negatives. But everything travel related is now 100% digital for me. Too much trouble to take film through security scans at airports etc. In the past I often purchased some film at the location where I traveled - hard to find now in Europe still existing photo stores which also carry some B&W film.
p.1 #3 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
Yes. Sort of. It’s known I’m notorious for not selling gear. I really really need to. But for me it’s my Sl gear that’s in the firing line.
I also love my M11M. It’s simply epic but I don’t use it enough to really justify it. Like you the Hasselblads have really dented my Leica use. The Q3-43/Q3 gets some use and that is also a culprit in my lower M usage. A Q3-43M would be a must have, for me. I passed on the Q3-28 although I got one for K. She shoots 75% on her Q2M. A no brainer upgrade as her colour camera is a Q3-28.
Where possible I generally travel with the Hasselblads. I will be using the two zooms going forward as well (the 35-100 is excellent) but I’ll still have a couple of primes (28 and 55, plus maybe the 90) for a smaller carry. Hopefully I can flesh out the kit with a longer zoom in the not too distant future. Plus, I’m going to try and integrate more drone usage. A Mavic 4, internationally and an Inspire 3 locally. I sell well off my aerial images so I should do more. Thinking of an Iceland trip with just my drone. Some countries are a no go for drones though. For longer stuff I have an extensive Sony kit that handles the fast focus stuff and long lenses. And frankly the 28-70 f2 and 50-150 f2 simply stomp on any L mount offering.
I really, really, really wish the X2D series had a b&w preview in the EVF.
I will be keeping my M gear. Well some of it. I will keep my M11 safari, M-EV1 and M11M and a few lenses. I am thinking of divesting my SL3 and SL lenses though.It’s my favourite small format camera of all time. More than the M’s. But it basically competes directly (in MY usage) with the X2D2. And the new zoom is basically a nail in the coffin for the SL3’s.
The M’s stay because they offer a unique experience. Something I use for me *camera detox* days when I’m done with cameras doing stuff for me. When I’m feeling like I’m getting lazy or complacent.
I reckon you’ll miss the M11M a LOT. I’d talk to the wife. Surely you can sell one of the kids for organ harvesting or something similar. Bribe your lady with something shiny. That works well here. Move from Leica to CV lenses and keep the body plus two favourite lenses. You get one life. It’s incumbent on you to enjoy it to it fullest if you can.
p.1 #4 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
I prefer to talk about lenses. Then I talk about the scene I want to shoot. I use a color or monochrome M11 camera. But lately, I've been a bit lazy - I only take the color M11 with me. It's lighter, and there's practically no difference between the M11 and the M11M when shooting daylight. I considered the X2D2, but I realized it wasn't necessary for my purposes - I don't shoot landscapes.
p.1 #5 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
flash wrote:
Yes. Sort of. It’s known I’m notorious for not selling gear. I really really need to. But for me it’s my Sl gear that’s in the firing line.
I also love my M11M. It’s simply epic but I don’t use it enough to really justify it. Like you the Hasselblads have really dented my Leica use. The Q3-43/Q3 gets some use and that is also a culprit in my lower M usage. A Q3-43M would be a must have, for me. I passed on the Q3-28 although I got one for K. She shoots 75% on her Q2M. A no brainer upgrade as her colour camera is a Q3-28.
Where possible I generally travel with the Hasselblads. I will be using the two zooms going forward as well (the 35-100 is excellent) but I’ll still have a couple of primes (28 and 55, plus maybe the 90) for a smaller carry. Hopefully I can flesh out the kit with a longer zoom in the not too distant future. Plus, I’m going to try and integrate more drone usage. A Mavic 4, internationally and an Inspire 3 locally. I sell well off my aerial images so I should do more. Thinking of an Iceland trip with just my drone. Some countries are a no go for drones though. For longer stuff I have an extensive Sony kit that handles the fast focus stuff and long lenses. And frankly the 28-70 f2 and 50-150 f2 simply stomp on any L mount offering.
I really, really, really wish the X2D series had a b&w preview in the EVF.
I will be keeping my M gear. Well some of it. I will keep my M11 safari, M-EV1 and M11M and a few lenses. I am thinking of divesting my SL3 and SL lenses though.It’s my favourite small format camera of all time. More than the M’s. But it basically competes directly (in MY usage) with the X2D2. And the new zoom is basically a nail in the coffin for the SL3’s.
The M’s stay because they offer a unique experience. Something I use for me *camera detox* days when I’m done with cameras doing stuff for me. When I’m feeling like I’m getting lazy or complacent.
I reckon you’ll miss the M11M a LOT. I’d talk to the wife. Surely you can sell one of the kids for organ harvesting or something similar. Bribe your lady with something shiny. That works well here. Move from Leica to CV lenses and keep the body plus two favourite lenses. You get one life. It’s incumbent on you to enjoy it to it fullest if you can.
I think that you were one of the prime movers that had me going with the zooms. Still waiting on the 35-100mm. Most of my time/energy is going into getting my film photography up and running and then I need to put some travel on the schedule. I don’t need to sell, but my wife has let me know on many occasions that she really doesn’t want to have to figure out what to do with all my stuff. It isn’t just photographic. I would hate to haunt the house because I failed to make things easier for her. This is my prime motivation to simplifying what I own.
p.1 #6 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
Not that I need to sell, but when looking at the gear I own, I have had way too much invested and try to stay as reasonable as possible. I’ve sold quite a bit lately, focusing on my less used lenses and redundant bodies. I’m strictly a hobbyist, not doing this for a living or any cash, so when I look at my gear I try to keep what I know will be used and enjoyed by all. I do have at least something with Nikon/Sony/Leica/Hasselblad, so all over the place. My favorite camera I own is the M11M, so unique even though up to a certain point you can just convert your M11 images to B&W and get 90+% of the result. Although I’ve seen some good tests from others showing the differences may not be as big as I think, I usually get results that wow me, especially with certain lens combinations (28 APO / 35 APO). Nobody in my family likes B&W but me, and always want to see the color image instead, but there is something in those images that keep me holding on to that camera. I would hate to get rid of the camera and would certainly lose some enjoyment if I did so. I would much rather get rid of a couple of less used lenses than to remove the M11M from my collection. It’s unique items, like the M11M, that you will end up sorely missing when it is no longer on your shelf
p.1 #7 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
of course a chacun son gout.
But for me - that's a hard no. I could no more get rid of my M11M than I could one of my dogs
It's a toss up, given the particular day, whether it or my M11P is my favorite camera. But I love love love shooting manual focus with rangefinder and choosing each time I go out to shoot (most every day) which one of my wonderful Leica lenses I'll use.
Unless you need funds from selling the M11M, I recommend you hold off selling. Put it on the shelf. You may find you'll change your mind and rediscover the joys of shooting with it.
p.1 #8 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
rsolti13 wrote:
Not that I need to sell, but when looking at the gear I own, I have had way too much invested and try to stay as reasonable as possible. I’ve sold quite a bit lately, focusing on my less used lenses and redundant bodies. I’m strictly a hobbyist, not doing this for a living or any cash, so when I look at my gear I try to keep what I know will be used and enjoyed by all. I do have at least something with Nikon/Sony/Leica/Hasselblad, so all over the place. My favorite camera I own is the M11M, so unique even though up to a certain point you can just convert your M11 images to B&W and get 90+% of the result. Although I’ve seen some good tests from others showing the differences may not be as big as I think, I usually get results that wow me, especially with certain lens combinations (28 APO / 35 APO). Nobody in my family likes B&W but me, and always want to see the color image instead, but there is something in those images that keep me holding on to that camera. I would hate to get rid of the camera and would certainly lose some enjoyment if I did so. I would much rather get rid of a couple of less used lenses than to remove the M11M from my collection. It’s unique items, like the M11M, that you will end up sorely missing when it is no longer on your shelf...Show more →
Interesting on your feelings about the M11M. I've tossed around the idea of a monochrome body but never pulled the trigger. But I'm fast approaching the bloat of equipment especially bodies. I have the M11 and the EV1. But also the SL3 and the Hassy X2D II. I've thought about selling the M11 and picking up the M11M in its place but I need to be convinced that I would be satisfied with the EV1 as my color M body.
p.1 #9 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
bwcolor wrote:
I think that you were one of the prime movers that had me going with the zooms. Still waiting on the 35-100mm. Most of my time/energy is going into getting my film photography up and running and then I need to put some travel on the schedule. I don’t need to sell, but my wife has let me know on many occasions that she really doesn’t want to have to figure out what to do with all my stuff. It isn’t just photographic. I would hate to haunt the house because I failed to make things easier for her. This is my prime motivation to simplifying what I own. ...Show more →
p.1 #10 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
Owned every Monochrom model since the M9M and still like using the model. Since many of my images I would convert to B&W anyway, most times I just prefer to use the Monochrom.
Yes, flash, you convinced me to get the 35-100 and like you, I look at my SL3/SL3S and say why keep them especially after using the X2Dii on a recent trip out West. I like a wide prime so I will let the 25V suffice. I have not yet used my 35-100 however as before receiving it I mainly used the 38V and 90V so I feel that 35-100 will be a sweet lens top use with my 25V and 135. I found my self seldom using the 55V in a landscape environment.
I will release the Q3-28 and keep the Q343 and probably the SL series will go. I have many old Hasselblad lenses I like for adaption to the X2Dii like the FE 110/2.0 and FE 150/2.8 plus both the long Superachromatic 250 and 350 plus the APO 1.7x for the 350. I now find myself seldom using long lenses even with my SL setup which was one case for justifying its purchase starting with the SL2 and SL2S and a bunch of long lenses which I did use in Death Valley a few years ago, but not since.
I have way too many M lenses and have started selling off duplicate FL/f stop lenses, but the dent has barely given my dry cablnets more space for whatever comes next. I even sold my second M11P and M11M while retaining one of each to make room for (perhaps) an EV1. A small travel kit with M e39 lenses makes sense, but is that really me with my X2Dii setup which I always end up taking on even long distance travel trips? The Q43 is now my backup kit to my backup second X2Dii whenever it arrives.
As for the M11M, it will always have a reserved space in my cabinets.
p.1 #11 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
Q2M user here.
My copy has earned its place in my stable as it crushed two summit attempts on Denali. As much as I love it, its IR response is non-existent, so I added a full-spectrum monochrome A7R4. The idea of selling the Q2M has crossed my mind, but I am not certain it is the right move. In these situations, I move the gear in question out of sight for a year (I store it in a closet) and if I indeed do not ever reach for it then I sell it. What may save the Q2M is its leaf shutter. The Sony e-shutter is great in most situations, but when absolute silence is required indoors in certain artificial lighting, there is no way around the Q2M's leaf shutter. Leica hit it out of the park putting a leaf shutter in the Qs.
p.1 #12 · For Those That Love Their Monochrom - Anyone Sell and Move On to Film, or Another Digital Camera?
If you're asking, yes. I had a Q2 Monochrom and liked it a lot but I don't love 28mm. Additionally, the price of a used Q2M buys quite a bit of film as it turns out. These days I shoot film with a (more expensive) Leica MP and (ridiculously cheap) Nikon FM2, and shoot a lot of black and white.
One thing film will always lose to digital on is low-light/night photography. The Q2M, M10M, and M11M all will laugh at ISO 3200, and happily shoot up to ISO 50k without an issue. Meanwhile, in film you're probably pushing (pun intended) your luck to rate TMax 3200 anything above 6400. You'll also get a far clearer picture from the digital monochrome cameras at 6400 versus pushed film.
Move from Leica to CV lenses and keep the body plus two favourite lenses. You get one life. It’s incumbent on you to enjoy it to it fullest if you can.