Discovering My Final Goodbye to Film Photography
In a surprising turn of events, renowned photographer Sebastian Oakley, known for his dedication to film photography, has decided to make the switch to digital monochrome cameras. This shift comes after a regrettable incident during a family camping trip, where the film in his 1965 Leica M2 tore, ruining a potentially perfect photograph.
Oakley, who has spent his spare time capturing street and documentary photography with either a Leica M-E or Leica M2, found himself contemplating the merits of digital photography during the trip. However, he left his digital camera at home, choosing to stick with film. The ruined photograph from that morning now lives only in his mind.
The film journey of this Nikon user, who is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science and a Master of Arts in Publishing, has come to an end. Oakley, who has experience in 35mm, medium, and large-format photography, is now ready to fully embrace digital photography again.
For photographers transitioning from film and seeking the best dedicated monochrome digital cameras, the Leica M11 Monochrom is unmatched in quality. This camera, regarded as the finest monochrome digital camera available, fully embraces black-and-white photography by stripping away color capture and autofocus capabilities. It offers stunning black-and-white results on a 60MP full-frame sensor, making it the ideal choice for those who appreciate the purity of monochrome imaging.
However, the Leica M11 Monochrom is a niche and expensive option that focuses solely on stills without video features. For those seeking a more accessible monochrome camera, Ricoh is expected to release a monochrome variant of its popular GR IV compact camera later in 2025. This camera, while not yet released, is anticipated to be more affordable and compact than Leica's option, maintaining Ricoh's reputation for high-quality street cameras.
Other high-resolution digital cameras like the Sony A7R V or Fujifilm X100VI do not offer dedicated monochrome sensors but could be used for black-and-white work via post-processing. However, these are not dedicated monochrome cameras and retain color capabilities.
In summary, for film photographers wanting a pure black-and-white digital experience, the Leica M11 Monochrom currently stands as the best option. Ricoh's forthcoming monochrome GR IV promises a more accessible option soon. Oakley, who has been a member of Nikon NPS and BEWA for several years, is set to join the ranks of digital monochrome photographers with a digital Leica camera that carries a monochrome soul.
Oakley, formerly a dedicated film photographer, now ponders the advantages of digital photography, having left his digital camera at home during a camping trip.
His film journey reaches an end, and he prepares to embrace digital photography fully, shifting away from the Nikon cameras he's used in the past.
For photographers transitioning from film to digital monochrome, the Leica M11 Monochrom offers unmatched quality, eliminating color capture and autofocus capabilities.
As a niche and expensive option, the Leica M11 Monochrom is not for everyone. Ricoh is expected to release a more affordable monochrome variant of its GR IV compact camera later in 2025.
