DP3m for B/W only, anyone?

[mujana]

At the moment I'm using my Dp3M in b/w (display set to b/w). Ofcourse shooting raw, I can always see images in colour afterwards whenever I like, but at the moment I prefer keeping all in monochrome.

This is a whole new experience and I really like it! Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous. I also can see clear differences between SPP handling those raw files and DXO PL handling the Tiffs from those raw files. SPP shines in rendering, as far as I'm concerned .

Anyone else same experience?

For colour work I still have my other camera, but sometimes (like today), I only bring my "monochrome" Sigma Merrill.

Maybe someday…a Leica Monochrom….who knows.

 

[xpatUSA2]

At the moment I'm using my DP3 [Merrill] in b/w (display set to b/w). Of course shooting raw, I can always see images in colour afterwards whenever I like, but at the moment I prefer keeping all in monochrome.

This is a whole new experience and I really like it! Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous. I also can see clear differences between SPP handling those raw files and DXO PL handling the Tiffs from those raw files. SPP shines in rendering, as far as I'm concerned .

Anyone else same experience?

For colour work I still have my other camera, but sometimes (like today), I only bring my "monochrome" Sigma Merrill.

Maybe someday…a Leica Monochrom….who knows.

Out of interest, do I understand that you are not using SPP's Monochrome Mode with it's three-channel layer mixer?

As to the Leica, I'm often tempted but never had the money.

 

[mujana]

At the moment I'm using my DP3 [Merrill] in b/w (display set to b/w). Of course shooting raw, I can always see images in colour afterwards whenever I like, but at the moment I prefer keeping all in monochrome.

This is a whole new experience and I really like it! Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous. I also can see clear differences between SPP handling those raw files and DXO PL handling the Tiffs from those raw files. SPP shines in rendering, as far as I'm concerned .

Anyone else same experience?

For colour work I still have my other camera, but sometimes (like today), I only bring my "monochrome" Sigma Merrill.

Maybe someday…a Leica Monochrom….who knows.

Out of interest, do I understand that you are not using SPP's Monochrome Mode with it's three-channel layer mixer?

I do use the Monochrome mode. I don’t think I can use the dp3m as a Leica Monochrome that doesn’t deliver any colour at all. When I read straight from card in SPP, they show in Monochrome mode. I like that…no distraction from any colour. Ofcourse I can go to “color” tab and see those images in colour.
So basically it’s the change of display to b/w…and opening files in SPP automatically in monochrome. Thereby completely eliminating colour in my workflow. Surprisingly not tempted at all to see the colour version of those images.

As to the Leica, I'm often tempted but never had the money.

I had the money, but I didn’t dare to change to Monochrome only…that’s what I would do. (I would have to sell my other camera to pay for such a Leica). No other cameras…only 1 Monochrome Leica. Quite a step…still is. But maybe a possible Q3 monochrome can seduce me.

 

[xpatUSA2]

At the moment I'm using my DP3 [Merrill] in b/w (display set to b/w). Of course shooting raw, I can always see images in colour afterwards whenever I like, but at the moment I prefer keeping all in monochrome.

This is a whole new experience and I really like it! Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous. I also can see clear differences between SPP handling those raw files and DXO PL handling the Tiffs from those raw files. SPP shines in rendering, as far as I'm concerned .

Anyone else same experience?

For colour work I still have my other camera, but sometimes (like today), I only bring my "monochrome" Sigma Merrill.

Maybe someday…a Leica Monochrom….who knows.

Out of interest, do I understand that you are not using SPP's Monochrome Mode with it's three-channel layer mixer?

I do use the Monochrome mode. I don’t think I can use the dp3m as a Leica Monochrome that doesn’t deliver any colour at all. When I read (straight from card), or import the raw files into SPP, they show in Monochrome mode. I like that…no distraction from any colour. Ofcourse I can go to “color” tab and see those images in colour.
So basically it’s the change of display to b/w…and opening files in SPP automatically in monochrome. Thereby completely eliminating colour in my workflow.

Good to hear!

Perhaps you know that the Merrill top layer is best quality because the photodiodes are "pinned" as opposed to the other two layers.

However, the middle layer's spectral response is much closer to the CIE luminous efficacy curve and thereby could look better to the eye tone-wise, especially foliage.

Not saying you should do any of the above of course ...

 

[Scottelly]

At the moment I'm using my DP3 [Merrill] in b/w (display set to b/w). Of course shooting raw, I can always see images in colour afterwards whenever I like, but at the moment I prefer keeping all in monochrome.

This is a whole new experience and I really like it! Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous. I also can see clear differences between SPP handling those raw files and DXO PL handling the Tiffs from those raw files. SPP shines in rendering, as far as I'm concerned .

Anyone else same experience?

For colour work I still have my other camera, but sometimes (like today), I only bring my "monochrome" Sigma Merrill.

Maybe someday…a Leica Monochrom….who knows.

Out of interest, do I understand that you are not using SPP's Monochrome Mode with it's three-channel layer mixer?

I do use the Monochrome mode. I don’t think I can use the dp3m as a Leica Monochrome that doesn’t deliver any colour at all. When I read (straight from card), or import the raw files into SPP, they show in Monochrome mode. I like that…no distraction from any colour. Ofcourse I can go to “color” tab and see those images in colour.
So basically it’s the change of display to b/w…and opening files in SPP automatically in monochrome. Thereby completely eliminating colour in my workflow.

Good to hear!

Perhaps you know that the Merrill top layer is best quality because the photodiodes are "pinned" as opposed to the other two layers.

However, the middle layer's spectral response is much closer to the CIE luminous efficacy curve and thereby could look better to the eye tone-wise, especially foliage.

Not saying you should do any of the above of course ...

I never shoot my SD Quattro H in monochrome mode. Maybe I should try that next time I go out shooting. Maybe I should try shooting in monochrome for a few days (or a whole month). I've been thinking about getting a filter for shooting IR photos. I need to take out my IR-blocking filter to clean my sensor anyway.

 

[Luuk de Weert]

...Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous...

That's precisely why I love monochrome; your relationship to what you observe changes, focusing less on the recognizability of objects and more on the quality of the entire composition. I wrote a short article on my website about my love for the Merrill sensor as a fully-fledged monochrome alternative.

https://luukdeweert.nl/index.php/2025/03/12/licht-light/

 

[xpatUSA2]

...Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous...

That's precisely why I love monochrome; your relationship to what you observe changes, focusing less on the recognizability of objects and more on the quality of the entire composition. I wrote a short article on my website about my love for the Merrill sensor as a fully-fledged monochrome alternative.

https://luukdeweert.nl/index.php/2025/03/12/licht-light/

I had a Praktica MTL-3 for many years before digital, luuk ...

 

[mujana]

At the moment I'm using my DP3 [Merrill] in b/w (display set to b/w). Of course shooting raw, I can always see images in colour afterwards whenever I like, but at the moment I prefer keeping all in monochrome.

This is a whole new experience and I really like it! Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous. I also can see clear differences between SPP handling those raw files and DXO PL handling the Tiffs from those raw files. SPP shines in rendering, as far as I'm concerned .

Anyone else same experience?

For colour work I still have my other camera, but sometimes (like today), I only bring my "monochrome" Sigma Merrill.

Maybe someday…a Leica Monochrom….who knows.

Out of interest, do I understand that you are not using SPP's Monochrome Mode with it's three-channel layer mixer?

I do use the Monochrome mode. I don’t think I can use the dp3m as a Leica Monochrome that doesn’t deliver any colour at all. When I read (straight from card), or import the raw files into SPP, they show in Monochrome mode. I like that…no distraction from any colour. Ofcourse I can go to “color” tab and see those images in colour.
So basically it’s the change of display to b/w…and opening files in SPP automatically in monochrome. Thereby completely eliminating colour in my workflow.

Good to hear!

Perhaps you know that the Merrill top layer is best quality because the photodiodes are "pinned" as opposed to the other two layers.

However, the middle layer's spectral response is much closer to the CIE luminous efficacy curve and thereby could look better to the eye tone-wise, especially foliage.

Thank you.

Using the "Color Mixer" in SPP Monochrome tab. I presume that's what you mean (?).

However, not able to use "Tone Curve" (not in Monochrome tab and not in Color tab).

Not saying you should do any of the above of course ...

Always glad to get soms advice.

 

[mujana]

...Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous...

That's precisely why I love monochrome; your relationship to what you observe changes, focusing less on the recognizability of objects and more on the quality of the entire composition. I wrote a short article on my website about my love for the Merrill sensor as a fully-fledged monochrome alternative.

https://luukdeweert.nl/index.php/2025/03/12/licht-light/

Thank you Luuk! Nice read and agree!

 

[xpatUSA2]

At the moment I'm using my DP3 [Merrill] in b/w (display set to b/w). Of course shooting raw, I can always see images in colour afterwards whenever I like, but at the moment I prefer keeping all in monochrome.

This is a whole new experience and I really like it! Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous. I also can see clear differences between SPP handling those raw files and DXO PL handling the Tiffs from those raw files. SPP shines in rendering, as far as I'm concerned .

Anyone else same experience?

For colour work I still have my other camera, but sometimes (like today), I only bring my "monochrome" Sigma Merrill.

Maybe someday…a Leica Monochrom….who knows.

Out of interest, do I understand that you are not using SPP's Monochrome Mode with it's three-channel layer mixer?

I do use the Monochrome mode. I don’t think I can use the dp3m as a Leica Monochrome that doesn’t deliver any colour at all. When I read (straight from card), or import the raw files into SPP, they show in Monochrome mode. I like that…no distraction from any colour. Ofcourse I can go to “color” tab and see those images in colour.
So basically it’s the change of display to b/w…and opening files in SPP automatically in monochrome. Thereby completely eliminating colour in my workflow.

Good to hear!

Perhaps you know that the Merrill top layer is best quality because the photodiodes are "pinned" as opposed to the other two layers.

However, the middle layer's spectral response is much closer to the CIE luminous efficacy curve and thereby could look better to the eye tone-wise, especially foliage.

Thank you.

Using the "Color Mixer" in SPP Monochrome tab. I presume that's what you mean (?).

Yes:

However, not able to use "Tone Curve" (not in Monochrome tab and not in Color tab).

Can't help with that - I use SPP 5.5.3 for Merrill X3Fs. Never downloaded SPP6.

 

[mujana]

At the moment I'm using my DP3 [Merrill] in b/w (display set to b/w). Of course shooting raw, I can always see images in colour afterwards whenever I like, but at the moment I prefer keeping all in monochrome.

This is a whole new experience and I really like it! Totally different way of looking and seeing. Light, structures, dark, shadows, etc. And the tonality of those files is absolutely gorgeous. I also can see clear differences between SPP handling those raw files and DXO PL handling the Tiffs from those raw files. SPP shines in rendering, as far as I'm concerned .

Anyone else same experience?

For colour work I still have my other camera, but sometimes (like today), I only bring my "monochrome" Sigma Merrill.

Maybe someday…a Leica Monochrom….who knows.

Out of interest, do I understand that you are not using SPP's Monochrome Mode with it's three-channel layer mixer?

I do use the Monochrome mode. I don’t think I can use the dp3m as a Leica Monochrome that doesn’t deliver any colour at all. When I read (straight from card), or import the raw files into SPP, they show in Monochrome mode. I like that…no distraction from any colour. Ofcourse I can go to “color” tab and see those images in colour.
So basically it’s the change of display to b/w…and opening files in SPP automatically in monochrome. Thereby completely eliminating colour in my workflow.

Good to hear!

Perhaps you know that the Merrill top layer is best quality because the photodiodes are "pinned" as opposed to the other two layers.

However, the middle layer's spectral response is much closer to the CIE luminous efficacy curve and thereby could look better to the eye tone-wise, especially foliage.

Thank you.

Using the "Color Mixer" in SPP Monochrome tab. I presume that's what you mean (?).

Yes:

However, not able to use "Tone Curve" (not in Monochrome tab and not in Color tab).

Can't help with that - I use SPP 5.5.3 for Merrill X3Fs. Never downloaded SPP6.

Thank you again!

I use SPP 6.9.0.

Maybe someone else?

 

[Luuk de Weert]

I think the tone curve can only be used with Quattro files, this is SPP 6.8.0











--
Cheers, Luuk

Luuk de Weert

For me, photography is more of an attitude than an act. I learned myself photography at the age of 15 with the help of books and magazines in the 1970s and have been an avid amateur ever since. My first equipment consisted of a Praktica L camera with a Meyer-Optik Domiplan 50mm. lens and a...

www.flickr.com

 

[mujana]

I think the tone curve can only be used with Quattro files, this is SPP 6.8.0

Didn’t know that, but explains it all. Thank you again

By the way…wonderful images on your Flickr page!