Another "M" Monochrome: DP2M bl/w photos please!

[noimmunity]

I was waiting for Gary to start this thread, but somebody has to do it! Monochrome conversions from the DP2M are incredible. I just don't think I've seen anything like it in terms of the grain and the tonality. The grain looks much less random to me, much more intrinsic to the image.

I'm sorry, I'm no pro, but the images speak for themselves.


Best bread this side of the Rhône by areality4all, on Flickr

真的是「百看不如一品」！

For the sake of comparison, here is a color rendition:


Color version of best bread by areality4all, on Flickr

[Richard G]

Forgive me, but what is a DP2M....?

[noimmunity]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Forgive me, but what is a DP2M....?

Hello. That would be a Sigma DP2 Merrill. Thank you.

[burancap]

SDP2M-15 by burancap, on Flickr

[mfogiel]

They look nice, however not as nice as this Merril sounds. This one sends shivers down my spine... :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2mnND2_ovQ

[GaryLH]

I can't open it from my iPad. Is this the grating noise video from Steve Huff during af from lens?

Gary

[noimmunity]

Originally Posted by GaryLH

I can't open it from my iPad. Is this the grating noise video from Steve Huff during af from lens?

Gary

That's the inimitable Helen Merrill singing "What's new?"

Marek (MFogiel) shoots a lot of black and white film and his accomplishments speak for themselves. But I think he might be giving a Foveon sensor a closer look, soon.

[GaryLH]

Originally Posted by noimmunity

I was waiting for Gary to start this thread, but somebody has to do it! Monochrome conversions from the DP2M are incredible.

Not the type of thread I would normally start. thanks for starting.

Yes the b/w conversions from this camera are really good.

Cheers
Gary

[GaryLH]

One of te bad for the DP Merrill series is that u cannot be in b&w mode when using raw+jpg. Other cameras like Fuji xp1 have no problem w/ this.

Anyway here are a couple from today. Camera was set or raw+jpg. Converted to b&w from the color ooc jpgs. Processed using aperture. Getting late so did not go thru the raw to tiff conversion, just used the ooc jpgs instead.

Gary

[noimmunity]

I love the second one...what are those? Hot water dispensers?


Le pont bonaparte by areality4all, on Flickr

[jsrockit]

Love that weathered dictionary.

[burancap]

SDP2M-14 by burancap, on Flickr



100% Crop of "flickerized" original JPG (grain added in SE)

SDP2M-14-100 by burancap, on Flickr

[burancap]

SDP2M-11 by burancap, on Flickr



100% Crop of "flickerized" original JPG (desaturated X3F only) ... can you spot the motorcyclist?

SDP2M-11-100 by burancap, on Flickr

[v_roma]

Originally Posted by noimmunity

The grain looks much less random to me, much more intrinsic to the image.

Did you mean more random? Not a sensor expert but, to me, it makes sense that the "grain" or noise pattern looks better with these cameras given the arrangement of the three color sensors per photosite as opposed to some artificial pattern of one color sensor per photosite that needs to be demosaiced. I think it is these artificial patterns and maybe the demosaicing process that result in less than pleasing/non-random noise patterns in typical Bayer sensors.

EDIT: Great photos

[GaryLH]

Originally Posted by noimmunity

I love the second one...what are those? Hot water dispensers?

They are olive oil dispensers. The women is sampling a bit before deciding which to buy. There are empty bottles on the side some place that the customer can fill.

Thanks
Gary

[GaryLH]

Jeff

U like to shoot the same type of pictures I do

The first one was best.

Gary

[GaryLH]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Love that weathered dictionary.

Thanks. It was sitting in display window of a bookstore in st Helena. Cropped to isolate other junk out of the picture.

Gary

[GaryLH]

Jon

Love the bridge shot.

Gary

[noimmunity]

Thanks, Gary, that's my favorite bridge over the Saône. I'm heading off to Auvergne for a week with the DP2 Merrill and a quiver of batteries. Hope to get some nice landscapes there!

[noimmunity]

Peyre Arse monochrome by areality4all, on Flickr


ancient lava route by areality4all, on Flickr


monchrome slope by areality4all, on Flickr

[noimmunity]

Kifaru Titanium Hunting/Backpacking Stove by areality4all, on Flickr

[fotomeow]

" One of te bad for the DP Merrill series is that u cannot be in b&w mode when using raw+jpg. Other cameras like Fuji xp1 have no problem w/ this. "
... and even a 7 year old RD1s can do this too. (just sayin')

[noimmunity]

Originally Posted by fotomeow

(just sayin')

Yeah, it is pretty lame. There are several things about the camera that are lame by current standards.

In fact, the whole point about this camera is that it breaks the rules with regards to standards. The images from this one body/lens combo can, in certain types of situations (which admittedly occupy a hugely important place in my photography) surpass or equal other combinations whose weight/price/size is exponentially higher than the DP2M.

I really think Sigma deserves credit for making this image quality available in this form factor at this price point. Incredible, actually.

[OlliL]

Originally Posted by noimmunity

Incredible, actually.

If it came from Cupertino, it would be "magical"

The DP2m seems really great, but I tried the DP1(s) three times and it drove me nuts tbh.
It was just slow and I'm afraid that the Merrill will bother me the same way.
Prices already dropped quite a bit in Germany so eventually I may get one on the used market, to give it a try.

Another question:
Does the camera make these noises, as seen in Steve Huff's video, while focussing? I asked, because I saw another video, where it wasn't really obvious.

Thanks

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by OlliL

Another question:
Does the camera make these noises, as seen in Steve Huff's video, while focussing?

Mine makes no noise at all. Now I'm seriously considering the DP1m.