Leica Product Launch, May 10th - X2 & M Monochrome

[groovyone]

Looks like Leica is putting the M10 announcement off and, for now, planning to announce an M9 "Monochrome" that only shoots in B&W.

The upcoming Leica Monochrome rangefinder will have a M9 styled body | Leica News & Rumors

That would actually be pretty cool. I don't have funds for an M9, yet alone a monochrome one, but still cool.

[groovyone]

Today is the day!

[liubros]

Leica announces M-Monochrom black-and-white 18MP rangefinder : Digital Photography Review
Leica unveils X2 16MP premium large-sensor compact: Digital Photography Review
Leica offers V-Lux40 20X 14MP compact superzoom: Digital Photography Review

[groovyone]

You beat me to it.

The X2 looks like the update the X1 needed badly thanks to the Fujifilm x100, but it would be tough if it come out at $2K again.

[PEC]

Everyone going to sell there cars to finance this new M9?

[groovyone]

M9M as I am calling it: Leica M-Monochrom Hands-on Preview: Digital Photography Review

Removing the color filter array from the front of a sensor has several advantages. There are certainly benefits in terms of noise, mainly because all the light hitting the sensor is available to be captured, rather than just one color being allowed through to each sensor location. But also, because noise isn't spread by a demosaicing process, the noise pattern doesn't appear to muddy detail. These two factors see the camera's maximum ISO increase to 10,000, rather than the M9's 2,500.

However, the biggest advantage is resolution - each captured pixel gives one output pixel, with none of the detail-blurring combining of neighboring data that demosaicing inevitably brings. As a result, the M-Monochrom immediately trumps even the low-pass-filter-less M9 for sharpness. Given the reputation of Leica lenses, this has immediate appeal.

Sad that it still has the same lower res LCD on the rear.

[ptrd]

I'm curious to the 50 f/2 that's almost as much a noticlux...

[Snarfy]

Leica creates M9-P Hermès 18MP rangefinder special editions: Digital Photography Review

Also, this happened. $25k for the body only, $50k includes a 28/2, 50/0.95, and 90/2.

[groovyone]

Preorders for most of the stuff are up at B&H and Adorama.

[groovyone]

Leica Monochrome reviews:
Leica M Monochrom Review - Leica Forum Blog

The Leica MONOCHROM Sensor has a different structure: As it doesn’t need to deliver color information, it delivers the full resolution of the sensor without any artefacts. The MONOCHROM Sensor has the same official resolution of 18 Megapixels as the Leica M9. But it should create a much better image quality:

A much higher detail resolution – as no interpolation with adjacent pixels is needed
Higher sensitivity and thus less noise – as no color filter elements absorb light

If this is pure theory or if it results in better image quality – this is what we’ll find out in our field test.

Video review: Leica M Monochrom Video Review - Leica Forum Blog

[groovyone]

Digital Rev says why the Leica M, in this case the M9:
Why the Leica M is so unique - YouTube

[groovyone]

This shouldn't surprise any LL readers, but Reichmann got his hands on the Monochrome:
Leica M9 Monochrom

Let's get the poo pooing out of the way first. A lot of people simply are not going to get it. "It" being the need for an expensive digital M Leica that only shoots in B&W. That's OK. This camera then is simply not for you. So lighten up, and recognize that there are people for whom the rangefinder ethos and the monochrome aesthetic is a passion and a calling. There's nothing elitist going on, just a different mindset and sensibility than yours.

[dmora]

Why is the monochrom the same price as the M9.

Why not just get an m9 and do B&W conversion.

edit:
perhaps the answer lies here:

The Leica Monochrom M has none of these issues, because there is no Bayer array. Therefore actual resolution is higher that a Bayer sensor with the same number of pixels, and there is no possibility of either colour moire or related artifacting.

[ptrd]

I don't get it but I can appreciate it.

If I ever get some money, I might rent a M9 with a 50 f2 and see how it goes.

[groovyone]

Another Leica M Monocrom review: May 10, Part 1: The Leica M-Monochrom review

There is no question that the MM out resolves the M9 – by exactly how much it’s hard to say (hint: come back and see the post I have planned for Sunday) – but the difference is similar to the difference between a sensor with a strong AA filter and one without; it’s almost as though there’s a layer of something between you and the image that’s been removed. The MM has a level of clarity and acuity at the pixel level that so far has only been seen on Foveon sensors; however, even those start to become a weak at ISO 800 and above. The MM maintains its acuity all the way through the maximum ISO, though above ISO 5000 noise dominates the microcontrast structure of the image.