M8 vs D2X

[JumpStart]

Hi all, I'm new here, so forgive any mistakes.

I just received an M8 this afternoon with the new 28mm lens.

We produce instructional guides to digital cameras, and we are considering doing one for the Leica. One of my best dealers has loaned me an M8 to evaluate. I am aware of all the issues, but I still wanted to see what this camera can do.

We have a still life set up in the studio with hot lights and we decided to do a side by side shoot out.

Basically we chose ISO 640 and auto everything else. The D2X was outfitted with Nikons 17-55 2.8 lens - about $2K worth of glass.

Essentially, shot RAW and broght both into CS2.

As expected the magenta was there, and the white balance could have been better. What surprised us was how sharp the Leica was over the Nikon, and how much depth there was to the Leica in comparison.

I really want this camera, and will put an order in to my dealer for it. While I want a wide angle lens, I'm wondering if anyone could recommend a lens that would allow me to shoot product shots - things like cameras and accessories that we use all the time.

I also wonder if the non Leica lens manufacturers like VOIGHTLAND who I understand make a lens to mount on M series cameras olso offer the quality the genuine product displays

Thanks

DBK

[mike prevette]

The only thing I can really speak of is the quality of some of the voigtlander lenses (15mm,28mm 1.9, 40mm) and the ziess 21mm. I have found them to be *optically* superb when compared to SLR lenses, and very close when compared to leica. In some cases giving me more favorable results than the harshness of some of the leica glass. For the price they are nothing short of amazing. Build quality is very good again, but not quite leica quality. Also far superior to there slr brethren. If your used to modern SLR glass you are in for a treat with all these lenses.

_mike

[ptomsu]

Originally Posted by JumpStart

Hi all, I'm new here, so forgive any mistakes.

I just received an M8 this afternoon with the new 28mm lens.

We produce instructional guides to digital cameras, and we are considering doing one for the Leica. One of my best dealers has loaned me an M8 to evaluate. I am aware of all the issues, but I still wanted to see what this camera can do.

We have a still life set up in the studio with hot lights and we decided to do a side by side shoot out.

Basically we chose ISO 640 and auto everything else. The D2X was outfitted with Nikons 17-55 2.8 lens - about $2K worth of glass.

Essentially, shot RAW and broght both into CS2.

As expected the magenta was there, and the white balance could have been better. What surprised us was how sharp the Leica was over the Nikon, and how much depth there was to the Leica in comparison.

I really want this camera, and will put an order in to my dealer for it. While I want a wide angle lens, I'm wondering if anyone could recommend a lens that would allow me to shoot product shots - things like cameras and accessories that we use all the time.

I also wonder if the non Leica lens manufacturers like VOIGHTLAND who I understand make a lens to mount on M series cameras olso offer the quality the genuine product displays

Thanks

DBK

I would go ro the ASPH 2/28 - I have this lens and it is far superior to all I know in that area - from Leica as well of course from other manufacurers.

Peter

[marknorton]

That of course is why we're here - hoping the M8 will harnass the optical quality of probably the best range of lenses in the world. The D2x is a fine camera and the 17-55 is one of their better efforts but (ignoring the fact it's a zoom), a Leica M lens it is not.

When fixed, the M8 should produce image quality which leaves other cameras gasping. But, auto-focus image stabilised panning shots with a 340mm lens and 8 fps, easy-peasy for a D2x, will leave the M8 looking a little lacking. Horses for courses, as they say.

[Jamie Roberts]

Originally Posted by ptomsu

I would go ro the ASPH 2/28 - I have this lens and it is far superior to all I know in that area - from Leica as well of course from other manufacurers.

Peter

Peter--I'm curious. I have the new 28 2.8 APSH Elmarit--and despite the fact it's not as fast as the 2.0, it's awfully good. I mean, I just keep putting it back on the camera! Have you tried it?

[Jamie Roberts]

Originally Posted by JumpStart

Hi all, I'm new here, so forgive any mistakes.

I just received an M8 this afternoon with the new 28mm lens.

We produce instructional guides to digital cameras, and we are considering doing one for the Leica. One of my best dealers has loaned me an M8 to evaluate. I am aware of all the issues, but I still wanted to see what this camera can do.

We have a still life set up in the studio with hot lights and we decided to do a side by side shoot out.

Basically we chose ISO 640 and auto everything else. The D2X was outfitted with Nikons 17-55 2.8 lens - about $2K worth of glass.

Essentially, shot RAW and broght both into CS2.

As expected the magenta was there, and the white balance could have been better. What surprised us was how sharp the Leica was over the Nikon, and how much depth there was to the Leica in comparison.

I really want this camera, and will put an order in to my dealer for it. While I want a wide angle lens, I'm wondering if anyone could recommend a lens that would allow me to shoot product shots - things like cameras and accessories that we use all the time.

I also wonder if the non Leica lens manufacturers like VOIGHTLAND who I understand make a lens to mount on M series cameras olso offer the quality the genuine product displays

Thanks

DBK

Besides medium format stuff, the M8 is the sharpest digicam I've ever seen to date, and that includes the Canon 1ds and 1ds2 as well.

[scott kirkpatrick]

Originally Posted by JumpStart

I really want this camera, and will put an order in to my dealer for it. While I want a wide angle lens, I'm wondering if anyone could recommend a lens that would allow me to shoot product shots - things like cameras and accessories that we use all the time.

I also wonder if the non Leica lens manufacturers like VOIGHTLAND who I understand make a lens to mount on M series cameras olso offer the quality the genuine product displays

Thanks

DBK

I have heard wonderful things about the Voightlaender (usually abbreviated CV for Cosina-Voightlaender) Nokton 50/1.5, and the one that I have is consistent with what I had heard. There's a picture of the bride's boquet shot with this lens in Sean Reid's M8 review chapter 4.

If you want a lens for product shots with the M8 that is inexpensive while almost as sharp and contrasty as anything available for $2000 more, that is where I would start. Contact Steve Gandy at Cameraquest.com and you will have one in 1-2 days. Almost all of the CV lenses come in a Leica thread mount, and you must purchase an M adapter which indicates the correct framing lines to the M8, but Cameraquest handles that.

scott

edit: [HINT] the Nokton 50/1.5 takes a 52 mm IR filter, which is available in Germany but hard to find in the US. It is not one of the sizes that Leica expects to supply.[/HINT]

[carstenw]

Well, the 'h' comes and goes and everyone seems to spell it differently, so I decided to look it up:

Voigtlaender - Home

If you have no access to umlauts, the proper way is to replace the ä with an ae, but lots of people simply use an 'a', which is fine too.

FWIW.