burchyk wrote:
> I rarely convert digital photos to BW.
This statement there makes me think you don't want a Monochrom.
Perhaps you are right, but there are many other reasons to not like a mono image that was taken in color and converted to mono in post.
I would argue the OP should use a monochrom for a day/week and then make up their mind. While the monochrom is not always the best camera for each situation, the banger pics that I end up printing and hanging on the wall mostly come from the monochrom.
I initially got into monochrome because I had done a 9-day-long glacier travel trip and noticed that monochrome converted images looked nice. After some research, I concluded that glaciers and monochrome were a perfect fit, bought a monochrome camera, slapped on a red filter, and I have been taking that camera on glacier trips since then (two summit attempts on Denali and one summit on Rainier). The Q2M crushed on all of these trips.
I was not certain if the monochrome camera would serve me well outside of those trips, and in 2024 I took it to the tropics. Because I was so uncertain, I also had a color camera on me. This is not an apples to apples comparison by any means, but it is a comparison of how monochrome images are different, and I apologize I lack the vocabulary to put it in words, so here is the view from a balcony in the tropics.
Even if you perfected the color image (by waiting for the decisive moment), I will argue the monochrome image is miles ahead in story telling.
I’d say go for it if you already know you enjoy shooting BW film. The monochrome files have a different feel, but if you can only afford one digital Leica, I’d probably stick with color for the flexibility.
I initially got into monochrome because I had done a 9-day-long glacier travel trip and noticed that monochrome converted images looked nice. After some research, I concluded that glaciers and monochrome were a perfect fit, bought a monochrome camera, slapped on a red filter, and I have been taking that camera on glacier trips since then (two summit attempts on Denali and one summit on Rainier). The Q2M crushed on all of these trips.
I was not certain if the monochrome camera would serve me well outside of those trips, and in 2024 I took it to the tropics. Because I was so uncertain, I also had a color camera on me. This is not an apples to apples comparison by any means, but it is a comparison of how monochrome images are different, and I apologize I lack the vocabulary to put it in words, so here is the view from a balcony in the tropics.
Even if you perfected the color image (by waiting for the decisive moment), I will argue the monochrome image is miles ahead in story telling....Show more →
Ummm...OK. Personally beach scenes for me is all colour...especially during sunset.
I shoot most of my images in colour and then convert to B&W. This gives me tons of latitude during post processing allowing me to fine tune each image to it's strengths.
Some examples:
If you decide on a Monochrom, I highly recommend going the extra step and having the hot mirror removed from the camera as well. Having full spectrum is more expensive. Aside from the surgery, assuming you're not gutsy enough to do it yourself (I wouldn't be), your lenses will all need UV/IR cut filters (or a hot mirror filter like BG-40 for anything wider than 24mm) to shoot visible light only. For that extra expense, you get new methods of controlling contrast and the overall appearance of your creation with IR shooting. It's been well worth it for me.
