Leica M246 = 4x5 View Camera

 

Here is an interesting comparison showing the sharpness detail between a Leica M246 Monochrom and a 4x5 view camera that I did recently at Powers Creek. The pictures were made a couple of days apart, as the 4x5 was a fair amount of weight to carry. 

 The view camera is an Ebony RW45 model. I used a Fujinon 180mm ƒ9 lens stopped down to ƒ32 at around 4 seconds exposure time. For film, I used Ilford FP4+ rated at ISO 125 and developed in 510-Pyro developer. I processed the film in a tray for 17.25 minutes using the semi-stand method (60 sec of agitation to begin and then once at the 10-minute mark). I scanned the negative in a Microtek ArtixScan F2; it came out at about 24 inches at 300 dpi. I downsized it a bit to match the digital file. 

For the Leica M246 Monochrom, I had a Voigtlander Skopar ƒ2.2 lens stopped down to ƒ16 at 1 second. I shot two frames and stitched the two together, so I would have the same 4:5 aspect ratio as the 4x5 view camera. I processed the images in Adobe Camera Raw and then into Photoshop. The finished images measure nearly 20 inches wide at 300 dpi. About the size of a 16x20-inch print. 

Thanks for looking! -Gary 

Here is a a mini review I did on the Leica M246: Leica M246 Mini review