Leica M Monochrom. B&W Camera

[AcadieLibre]

Leica has recently come out with the Leica M Monochrom camera that is for B&W photographers. I have bad hearing a lot about if camera companies should do this. I am not sure if it is needed but I am going to hold my opinion on it until I can actually see the results from one. What do others think do we need B&W digital cameras?

[Marko]

Do we need a sepia camera as well? This camera costs 8 thousand dollars.
I could get 4-5 kick-butt lenses with that cash AND 24 beers.
No thank you, I'll just switch to the monochrome setting for free. I am very happy with the quality BW I get from my existing camera.

[AcadieLibre]

I also meant what if others say Canon, Nikon, etc. were to follow in their path? I have always thought Leica were overpriced but I am talking about the general idea of manufactures making cameras optimized for B&W?

[Marko]

Cameras are blind and brainless, how optimized could it be?
Why would we ever need this from leica, canon, nikon, etc?
If you are loaded with cash and have no photography knowledge and hate reading any type of manual...then i guess i see a touch of the logic.
Necessity is the mother of invention...I just don't see the necessity so I guess I don't 'get it' then.
people have been producing exquisite BW digitally for years using existing digital cameras that also....for the same price, shoot in colour.
As a status symbol only....THAT, I get.

[AcadieLibre]

I agree I get great B&W photos with my current set up but they can give you better B&W by changes in how it processes images it is something I would be curious about and if they end up being very close I would pass but if they gave a better B&W image would be something to consider but it would have to be a HUGE difference to bother with.

[Marko]

I guess until we see the comparative output, this conversation is just speculation....
But it's not magic, it's still just a camera... and we'll still need to bring the data into our computers... we'll still need to balance the curves in the file.
I'm not a gambler - but if I were, I'd bet heavy against the usefulness of this camera...

[AntZ]

My first instinct is with Marko. With some of the exceptional B&W images I've seen from colour digitals, how much better can a B&W specific camera be? Especially when you consider how forgiving B&W is compared to colour. I've redeemed many an average image by converting to B&W to cover up poor contrast, noise, and even blur.

[AcadieLibre]

I am not sure if it works is my opinion and until I see them in print I am staying on the fence and not convinced one way or the other. When I shoot B&W I think in it and shoot it to be a B&W photo. From what I think I remember about sensors that once you use colours you need filters and it "Supposedly" makes a difference and until I see the prints I am in the air about it. Could be just snake oil as far as the human eye goes but a slight chance it does give a wider range of grey scale leaves me hoping.I have not used my digital camera in 6 or 7 weeks now I been shooting a lot of film I far prefer the range I get on it.

[Andrew]

Think of a camera with no Bayer Array and software averaging its four filtered pixels. A Phase One or D800E in which EVERY pixel counts towards the final project. You could get some rather large and stunning B&W prints from that setup. I personally would like to see some results and can imagine using it quite well myself. Ansel, eat your heart out!