M8 and DSLR

[woodda]

Is it practial to cary and use M8 and DSLR. Any suggestions and when, how to use carry and use both or is better for simplicity and weight to leave one at home.

P.S. I like all subjects (Nature, parties) and find Autofocus great for carefree children shots but mis the tactile M. Is there a half way house or way forward

I have an MP and D70. Unfortunately D70 has taken 15,000 vs 300 MP shots in last 18 months

I hope those with children will understand the above and have made their choices.

Many thanks indvance for your suggestions and experience

Regards

[magyarman]

Long you got enogh strong back you can to carry so many cameras what you like it. Except, you mast to make it choose. This I thing you are come to wrong place, Leica doesnt make it autofocus and nobody here gonna tell something is good other what Leica doesnt make it.

[carstenw]

It would help to know which DSLR lenses you carry. A clever split for those who used to carry a complete range of SLR lenses is to use the M8 with focal lengths up to about 90mm, and above that the DSLR. If you only carry one or two zooms, it doesn't make much sense to carry two systems, however.

[bsmith]

Originally Posted by carstenw

It would help to know which DSLR lenses you carry. A clever split for those who used to carry a complete range of SLR lenses is to use the M8 with focal lengths up to about 90mm, and above that the DSLR. If you only carry one or two zooms, it doesn't make much sense to carry two systems, however.

I have found a Canon 1Ds w/ 70-200mm and M8 w/ 50mm and shorter focal lengths a perfect travel setup.
I like the M8 for short, light, "fast" lenses,(21,28,35,50) they are easy to precisely focus at aperatures of 1.4, 1.0, especially at night and inside temples, hospitals, schools, etc.,... but for medium telephoto to 200mm, the speed of auto focus and IS is unbeatable in the SLR world . I travel with 1-1Ds, a canon 70-200 2.8L usm IS,a 1.4 extender, a canon 35mm 1.4 (in case the Leica breaks), and then a M8, 28 f2, 35 1.4, 50 Noct. It's a relatively light weight setup and very versatile.

[dugby]

Originally Posted by woodda

Is it practial to cary and use M8 and DSLR. Any suggestions and when, how to use carry and use both or is better for simplicity and weight to leave one at home.

P.S. I like all subjects (Nature, parties) and find Autofocus great for carefree children shots but mis the tactile M. Is there a half way house or way forward

I have an MP and D70. Unfortunately D70 has taken 15,000 vs 300 MP shots in last 18 months

I hope those with children will understand the above and have made their choices.

Many thanks indvance for your suggestions and experience

Regards

Darrell, I have been a long term RF and SLR user. And did cross to the dark side (...AF) for my wife-n-children's sake.

Shooting with a D2 and L1 now. Having recently used an MIII and M6, I can say that Leica has influenced the D3/L1 to have that metallic tactile feel that you get with an M6.

Go and hold a D3 and L1, I found I preferred the L1, not because of price. The L1 just seemed smaller and more subtle in the hands. It weird but the chrome of the D3 makes it look 20% bigger than the L1. The L1 has that beautiful black solid enamel paint found on the M series.

Images from the new Vario-Elmarit are very good considering it's not a prime. But this lens is not in the M league....but is close enough to see they have similar heritage and DNA with the traditional Leica "glow" in the image.

[johnastovall]

Sure for years I carried a Leica M3 and Zeiss Contarex at the same time. David Douglas Duncan when he was at Khe San carried over his flack jacket two Leicas (M3-D's) with a 50mm 1.4 Summilux and a 25mm Canon 3.5 and a Nikon SLR with a 200mm on it.

I look forward to when Leica get's all the problems sorted out carrying a product improved M8 and my Canon dSLR also at the same time.

[tom0511]

I like the combo M8 + D200.
D200 for heavy duty, fast action (where AF is needed), bad weather and Tele.
The size and the weight is fine too for such a camera.

The M8 for everything else.

I also have a DMR which I love but it does not see the light often even though the IQ is excellent.

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by magyarman

Long you got enogh strong back you can to carry so many cameras what you like it. Except, you mast to make it choose. This I thing you are come to wrong place, Leica doesnt make it autofocus and nobody here gonna tell something is good other what Leica doesnt make it.

There is nothing wrong with autofocus,in fact it is a wonderful thing, provided it can be switched off, Blasko, except, for me, that I don't like the camera making decisions for me. I like to determine the plane of focus myself, not some little goblin hidden somewhere in the camera.

Photography has three basic tools: Framing, Focus, Exposure. Everything else is derived from that. Taking away these basic tools is like taking away the brushes from an artist. It turns us from photographers into snapshooters.
That is not saying that autofocus or autoexposure has no place in our toolbox. Used intelligently they can be powerful. But dangerous as well, as they tend to switch off our brain....