Reflections on the M8

[Carl]

Hello!

Last friday I went over to Copenhagen (which is just a 30 minutes ride by train over a bridge from where I live in Sweden) to a demonstration of the new Leica models in the store Photografica. I had been looking forward to that day for over a week since I saw that the demonstration would take place.
I came rather late to the store, but there were still lots of people there, drinking wine and testing the new models. Just like most of the other people I was mainly interested in the M8 and when it finally was my turn to try it I.....felt a bit disapointed.
Don't get me wrong here, the Leica M8 is truly an amazing camera. It felt as genuine as every M-model and that was just what I liked but what also what made me a bit disapointed.
Here's the thing. I own a Leica M6 and this M8 felt almost exactly as my M6. Which is amazing, but when you walk around for one week and look forward to try a new camera that then appears to be almost exactly as the one I own....do you get my point?

In all case, Leica have made exactly what I wanted them to do. It's a real M-model!

Carl

[gravastar]

Yes, I had the same reaction a few days ago.

I took the camera from the rep, used it for a few minutes, handed it back and said " What is there to say, it's an M Leica".

I'd previously been following various discussions about the camera so there was nothing new to learn except to actually handle one

Bob.

[marknorton]

My feeling when I first handled the M8 was one of relief - that Leica had been true to their word and produced a real M. I would have been diappointed if it was different...

[TimF]

FWIW, those forum members who've not had the opportunity to handle the M8 yet, and live within reach of London, might be interested to know that a certain Leica dealer in Pied Bull Yard is having a special "preview day" on Friday 3rd November (9:30am to 5:30pm).

Sadly I can't get there, but thought you guys might like to know if unaware.

[Simon Larbalestier]

Sounds like The Classic Camera - good set of people working there.
top notch used equipment as well.

That said i like the guys in Aperture on Museum street too.

[PeterJWhite]

No. Quite frankly I don't get your point. The whole "point" of the M8 is to be able to create digital files with a tool that functions as close to identically as possible to most other M Leicas. Since Leica seem to have accomplished this, I can't think of any reason to be disappointed. When I get my M8, if it doesn't behave very much like my M4, only then will I be disappointed

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by Carl

Hello!

but when you walk around for one week and look forward to try a new camera that then appears to be almost exactly as the one I own....do you get my point?


Carl

Bob

[bindrar]

Originally Posted by Simon Larbalestier

... That said i like the guys in Aperture on Museum street too.

And good coffee with free wifi access to the internet :-) I havent tried their food yet though. Its my "always visit spot" when I am in London. And I vote for Classic Camera too.

[Morten Grathe]

I also felt it is quite similar to its film-brothers. However it is somewhat fatter. Not prettyer, but it handles better.

[TimF]

Originally Posted by bindrar

I havent tried their food yet though.

Then you definitely should do. The Chow Mein is great.

[elgenper]

Originally Posted by Carl

Hello!

... I was mainly interested in the M8 and when it finally was my turn to try it I.....felt a bit disapointed.

Carl

Tjenare, Carl...

I´m afraid I am another one who just don´t understand your reaction. I had the opportunity to handle the M8 last Wednesday here in Stockholm, and I loved it! It was just like my good old M2 (now retired but still fully working). The feel, the solidity, the no-nonsense controls were all there. No rewind lever, and simple auto exposure were about the only things changed (plus the monitor and buttons on the back, but these could be left alone while shooting in the traditional style). HCB could have picked one up and gone out shooting without even looking at the manual.

The great disappointment that day was the Digilux 3... I am a very happy owner and user of the Digilux 2, and the new one was a shock: big, ill-balanced (with the "kit lens"), and with an extremely small and murky viewfinder (yes, I even prefer the EVF of my D 2). Sorry, I´m just not interested. The M8, however.....

[Carl]

I think that some people have misunderstand my post. I wrote it with a touch of irony when I used the word "disappointed".
Of course I wasn't disappointed of the M8, what I meant (but maybe didn't put out so clear) was the fact that it really felt like a real M-model.
Sorry for the misunderstanding and my little "joke".

Carl

[kamilsukun]

Originally Posted by elgenper

Tjenare, Carl...

The great disappointment that day was the Digilux 3... I am a very happy owner and user of the Digilux 2, and the new one was a shock: big, ill-balanced (with the "kit lens"), and with an extremely small and murky viewfinder (yes, I even prefer the EVF of my D 2). Sorry, I´m just not interested. The M8, however.....

Unfortunately, D3 does not seem to be a replacement candidate for D2 owners at all. What we have read so far have no indication of any sort. Leica must have addressed D3 for new buyers only. Anticipating they will forgive the unsimplicity of the camera in favor of owning a Leica. Actually D3, from what we have read so far seems to be exactly the opposite camera of what Leica has intended a camera to be. A camera is not a Swiss knife. It is (and must be) the scalpel of a surgeon. It is a pity that Japanese camera manufacturers are treating camera design as they did with HiFi equipment and their remote controls.

Regards,
Kamil Sukun

[wparsonsgisnet]

Originally Posted by Carl

I think that some people have misunderstand my post. I wrote it with a touch of irony when I used the word "disappointed".
Of course I wasn't disappointed of the M8, what I meant (but maybe didn't put out so clear) was the fact that it really felt like a real M-model.
Sorry for the misunderstanding and my little "joke".
Carl

Carl,

I felt no such misunderstanding. I am expecting my M8 in a couple of weeks and expect to be disappointed in exactly the same fashion. Seconds after that, I expect to have to change my pants.

I am SO ready for this camera.

I am an M user -- exclusively -- beginning in 1970. I started with an M4 that had a 50mm f2.0 DR lens on it. I bot this rig used, for more than a new Nikon reflex with 50mm lens cost. What a wonderful investment it is! I now own an M6 pre-ttl as well. I still feel that the M4 is smoother than both M6 models. I have not used an M3, M5, M7, or MP, however.

I have owned and used: a nocti, a 35mm f1.4 non-asph, the latest 50mm f1.4 non-asph, and the 135 with the goggles. I currently own a recently acquired 24mm f2.8 asph (thank you Sean!), a 35mm f1.4 asph, a 50mm f1.4 asph, the magic 50mm f2.0 DR, a 75mm f1.4, and a 90mm f2.0.

In the past few years, I ordered a D2 as soon as it was announced, and then bot the Canon G5 to get my feet wet with digital while waiting. Based on my experience with the 35mm f1.4 non-asph (WAY too much flare) and the replacement asph version, I ordered the 50mm f1.4 asph as soon as it was rumored to be announced. And, I ordered the M8 as soon as it was announced.

I'm sitting by the phone now, waiting for the dealer to call. It's cheap at the price. In fact, I'm already anticipating missing the zoom on the D2 and thinking how useful a second M8 body would be! Think Virtual Zoom.

Regards to all

[elgenper]

Originally Posted by Carl

I think that some people have misunderstand my post. I wrote it with a touch of irony when I used the word "disappointed".
...
Carl

Of course, Carl; I clearly understood your intent. However, this thread had already evolved towards a general discussion of the M8 "feel", and as too often is the case, I couldn´t resist venting my own point of view .

I did quote you, as the thread starter, and as the one that gave it quite a (deliberately) absurd take-off. Obviously I saw your irony, and of course I´m not seriously arguing against it.

Fun thing: most likely we both handled the same specimen, demoed by the same guy (he was the Danish Leica rep, who covers all Scandinavia), just days apart. That nose print on the monitor was mine; I´m left-eyed...