Back up to M8

[giulioz]

Ok, the fact that my M8 is gone for upgrade gives me time to think and unfortunately spend money. I am looking for a back up to the M8, in case it stops working or something when I am in the middle of nowhere as I use to do once a year (last year it was Kashmir, the year before Cambodia attending VII workshops). I cannot really justify another M8 nor I would like to stretch to an R-D1 (which I owned and got really frustrated about it). I have a Sony T9, but I don't consider it as a serious tool, apart from shooting my son on the beach. Maybe I should have kept the Sony R1 instead of selling it when I ordered the M8. Would the V-1 fit the bill? Or should I consider the even cheaper FZ50? Honestly, I would like something more compact like the D-Lux 3 but then I hear that is pretty useless on high iso settings.

Thanks, Giulio

[wparsonsgisnet]

Giulio, now that I have the M8, I am trying to figure out how to buy a second one. A second choice that occurs to me is the Epson RD-1. It also uses the magical Leica lenses that I prefer.

[george]

The only true backup would be another M8.

But a D-Lux 3 is a pretty good camera - for "normal" ISO settings. And it is much smaller than the M8 and has a pretty good anti-shake system.

I would consider it as a backup but your needs may be different.

[Woody Campbell]

I agree with George. After Guy M's adventures when his first M8 died on the eve of an assignment I decided to buy a second M8. In terms of travel load this economizes in terms of only one kind of battery, charger, lenses, memory card, etc.

It also means that I can send one M8 back to Solm for the fix, holding onto the second until it comes back.

[Eoin]

Hi Giulio,
Apart from the obvious "once you use a M8 nothing else will come close feeling" a second M8 seems over the top for a backup used once a year. I picked up a panasonic LX-2 almost the same as the D-lux 3. Nice little camera, the menu/controls are a little fiddly to use manual exposure but it works very well below ISO 200.

Let me put it this way, if I was in the field and my M8 packed up, I figure I could bring home some very acceptable images from the LX-2. Better than coming home with a dead M8 and nothing to show for it.

[giulioz]

You are probably right Eoin, I will look into the LX2 as well.

Thanks, Giulio

[sean_reid]

Giulio,

You mentioned that you became frustrated with your R-D1 but that's exactly what I use as a backup camera to the M8.

Cheers,

Sean

[charlesphoto99]

An M8 would be the only true backup - but don't forget there's a legacy of cameras that share the same lenses etc as the M8 - the M3-M7. A good M6 can be picked up for around $1200, and a roll of 35mm film can, in a pinch, be found just about anywhere in the world (though for freshness and selection bring some with). Also one can then have the best of both worlds: with a film back up, in those certain situations one needs it, a 21mm or 24mm is just that - truly wide. And also have the ability to shoot with Tmax 3200. For me, I look forward to travelling with my M7 and an M8 (once I can afford and readily available). B&w in the M7; color w/the M8. The M6 is maybe an even better choice as it's not so battery dependent.

[wattsy]

I agree with Charles. In the short term I am happy to use one of my M7 bodies (and a brick of film) as the back-up to my M8. The M7 takes up little room, uses the same lenses (albeit with different FOVs), and has a virtually identical user interface. Longer term, I will probably lean towards getting another M8 but I am not in any hurry to acquire another 'work in progress', however good it currently is. I will wait and see how things pan out with the M8 (I have a feeling that a significantly amended model may be quietly released at some point during the next 12 months) before committing to buy another.

[andym911]

For something completely different, and reliable backup go for a used Nikon F3 with 28mm and lots of TRI-X....then you are set for anything! Set you back maximum $400,00

cheers
andy

[tashley]

I have exactly the same problem and I can't bear the thought of going back to my 5D as backup - that is now relegated purely to long lens/extreme high ISO/macro work.

My LX2 is a great carry around but it's a fall back, not a backup.

I'm trying to source a second M8 at the moment (getting close) but if I fail I'll take a second hand M7 and deal with the whole film thing.

The M8 is so exceptional that in my view nothing else will do while mine is getting fixed!

Tim

[giulioz]

The point is that, even if I owned M6s and M7s in the past, I have gone completely digital and cannot see myself anymore with the bottom plate of an M6 between my teeth while I am struggling with loading a roll of film in the camera. So, if I buy another digital camera I could use it beside the M8, otherwise I would use a film camera only if there were really nothing else available. That's is why the M8 to me is so great: I could go back to the M, without having to go back to film.

Giulio

[jaapv]

I convinced myself the only reasonable possibility was to buy a second M8. Now that I have it the reasoning has evaporated, but the pleasure remains

[jlancasterd]

Giulio

I don't have an M8 (yet!) but I do have an R8+DMR and carry a Digilux-2 as a back-up. The big advantages of the Digilux are that it is (a) light and (b) gives very good results given its pixel count. It is also (c) reasonably cheap secondhand - Ffordes have 3 boxed examples for sale at £650-£750. Incidentally, they also have a used Digilux-3 (mint-) at £1,500.

[B&W]

Originally Posted by sean_reid

Giulio,

You mentioned that you became frustrated with your R-D1 but that's exactly what I use as a backup camera to the M8.

Cheers,

Sean

So do I. I did plan to sell the R-D1 but I still love to use it and it still amaze me, so I'll keep it.

[giulioz]

I won a FZ50 + 1GB SD for 420 euros on evil-bay. I think I got a good deal, and if not happy with the camera I could always sell it for about the same price. Now that I saved some money I could also consider adding an LX2.... :-)

[cnguyen]

Another back up to consider is the Dlux 3 - i shoot it using Jpegs and the results are very leica like . Besides that an M8 will do. I wouldn't get Epson RD-1 since Epson is getting ready to walk away from it anytime now.

[jrc]

How about a Pentax K10 with three pancake lenses?

[rvaubel]

My Rd1 will serve as my M8 backup. Its perfect for B+W and I love that cool dial. On other really good thing is the rewind level where silence is golden. The shutter can be rewound very slowly and quitely

Rex