[Leica] M8 B&W questions

[Paul Roark]

I would strongly recommend Topaz's AI Gigapixel software.  I think it
can significantly help take your files up to pro, gallery quality.

In processing, I'd start with RAW (or dng), go to Tiff color, upres 2x in
AI Gig (maybe even twice -- 2 cycles of 2x expansion -- if a very small
file), then convert to B&W.

Consider looking at the individual channels (in PS it's "Split Channels"),
particularly the red one.  Don't sharpen much on opening or original
conversion.  Later processing risks sharpening halos.  Feed AI Gig a
file/image with no halos.

BTW, with some lenses the center 80% of a 16 x 20 proportion image is often
all that I use, including the new Leica apo 35 at f/2 on my Sony a7c (25
mp) (KoloriVision "Ultra Thin" sensor cover glass modification).

After AI Gig, the 25 mp Sony a7c image image quality is so close to the 61
mp file upres'd in Ai Gig that I never carry the 61 mp model any more.
That said, I found my old Canon 8 mp files somewhat lacking, but this was
before AI Gig also.

I have also had to do more work to get the image quality I want from the
50mm Elmar-M collapsible (essentially an old Tessar design).  But my target
display standards are subjective, with an emphasis on sharpness.  With the
50 Elmar-m and many of the older glass, f/11 is where I like to shoot my
daylight landscape shots.

Good luck and enjoy.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com



On Tue, Feb 15, 2022 at 7:43 AM Tina Manley via LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
wrote:

> I agree.  I love the M8 but I would never shoot jpegs.  That would be a
> total waste.
>
> Tina
>
> On Tue, Feb 15, 2022 at 10:41 AM Nathan <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote:
>
> > I am with Ric, RAW all the way, especially with a camera as limited as
> the
> > M8 (in terms of resolution and high ISO performance) I would not dream of
> > shooting JPG.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Nathan
> >
> > Nathan Wajsman
> > Alicante, Spain
> >
> >
> > http://www.frozenlight.eu
> > http://[www.greatpix.eu](http://www.greatpix.eu)
> >
> >
> > PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
> >
> >
> > Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/
> > Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator
> >
> > YNWA
> >
> > > On 15 February 2022 at 16:24 RicCarter via LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > I LOVE shooting my M8 with an old first gen rigid Summicron 50. Seems
> to
> > perfectly tame the “digital” look.
> > >
> > > It’s also fun for infrared play.
> > >
> > > Why you’d want to lose the safety of the RAW escapes me though.
> > >
> > > ric
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > On Feb 15, 2022, at 10:10 AM, Jean-Michel Mertz via LUG <
> > lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear Luggers,
> > > > I bought an M8 back in 2010. I've used it ever since for colour
> > photography, shooting in raw and then developing my pictures in
> Lightroom.
> > I think this camera produces great pictures despite its basic flaws - its
> > infrared sensitivity and the 1.33 crop factor. In fact the lens you
> choose
> > helps a lot ! (I use a summicron 35 on a daily basis).
> > > >
> > > > Now there's a good number of photographers who have come to realize
> > that this camera also produces fairly good B&W pictures. Some even
> compare
> > them to pictures taken with the M Monochrom. My point here is not the
> > conversion we all do from raw files to B&W, thanks to LR, PS, etc. I'd
> like
> > to know what your opinion is on shooting direct JPEG files in B&W and
> then
> > developing the pictures for example in Silver E. I've seen some really
> > smashing JPEG + SE pictures. Of course, you can't have large prints. Of
> > course, you won't have the possibility to resort to your raw files in
> > colour should you need to work on details.
> > > >
> > > > I've recently done a few pictures with my M8 + a 1949 Elmar 50, 3.5.
> > It's (almost) like shooting film. I mean, I get the same thrill. The
> > pictures have a nostalgic quality I miss when shooting colour and then
> > converting the files to B&W. And having a look at the LCD display is,
> after
> > all, a good way to assess the picture - a bit faster than darkroom work !
> > > >
> > > > Is the M8 the "poor man's monochrom" ?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for your answers and any advice that might help me get the
> most
> > (the best !) out of my M8 !
> > > >
> > > > JM
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Leica Users Group.
> > > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Leica Users Group.
> > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
>
> --
> https://tinamanley.photoshelter.com/index
> https://pbase.com/tinamanley
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information