This is not a test: M8 on the job + positive discoveries.

[fotografz]

Had a family portrait assignment yesterday. Mom, Dad, 6 week old baby Grace, Boxer dog named Lucy ... a new born and a young dog ... yes, I am a glutton for punishment.

After a week of grousing and test shots, and more grousing, it was time to put up or shut up. This client lucked out because I used them to put the M8 through it's paces and subsequently shot far more images than I would normally for a job like this.

Used three cameras: M8 with M90AA & M50/1.4 ASPH; DMR/9 with 90AA, R21-35, R28-90; Mamiya RZ Pro-II/Aptus75 digital back with 180/4 VSF and 90/3.5.

Lets focus on the M8 performance.

Quicker and more spontaneous than the DMR/9. I had absolutely no problem with the controls on this camera. Switching ISO and compensating exposure was just as fast as with my Canon 1DsMKII once I got the routine down. Obviously, compensating the DMR is easier with the +/- control falling under your left thumb.

Shot the M8 in studio conditions along with the other cameras using a Microsync transmitter because it is so small and better fits the more demure size of the M camera. Then moved to available light work with the M and R ... (the lumbering RZ remained on the camera stand in the studio).

Over-all, he most usable files came from ... ta-da ... the M8 ! Mostly because it was so spontaneous in use and I got more relaxed snaps. File quality was the equal of or better than the DMR. Obviously the best file quality came from the 33 meg 645 sized sensor of the Aptus ... but just for the more posed stuff.

Interesting discovery: I converted a few M8 files into B&W ( not because I had to, but because I wanted to for emotional impact). I usually use Gradient Mapping when doing a lot of these ...or Channel Mixer. But on occasion I've resorted to Channel Splitting to see what the green channel provided. When doing that, the Blue channel has always been an useless throw away. Not with the M8 ! This was the best channel on the few shots I converted to B&W. IR sensitivity? Remains to be seen by further investigation.

Had some M8 IR blacks in the shoot but easily selected and corrected. Over-all the M8 shots were "snappier" right out of the camera than those from the DMR in the same light using the same lens (M90/2AA & R90/2AA). Batch tweaks of my DMR files brought them up to snuff.

Conclusion. It's a keeper awaiting Leica's fixes to make it a true M for low light work ... but it has value beyond that for me ... it proved itself on the job.

I have over a hundred Keeper files from this job, here are a few I've gotten to so far. I hope Sean's wedding went well and I am VERY anxious to see his M8 results since I have one coming up.

[andybarton]

Black and magenta in the same shot, there, Marc? I see you like living dangerously

These are an interesting foil to the current undertone with respect to the M8. "I have over a hundred Keeper files from this job" says it all, IMHO.

Thanks for posting.

[blovitch]

Excellent work...

I have three Weddings in December, and I am keen to bring the M8 to bear. At least one of these has expressed an interest in exclusive Monochrome work, so this should suit the M8 quite well (not filters here)

I used the M8 photographing the Memorial Service yesterday. Some good shots, but all of the Naval Uniforms came out purple.

Top job.

Well done.

Thanks for posting.

-Tim

[gumshoecamus]

this is really interesting marc
I did some portraits for an art book recently, all reproduced FF or larger on o/size A4. I used two cameras for each subject: a canon 5D + 50/1.4 and an epson R-D1 + lux 35/1.4 or 50/1.4. although the canon captures much more resolution and has very good noise performance, the R-D1 shots were always much much better.
I thought about why. the lux lenses helped, because the lower R-D1 resolution was offset by better accutance, tone and microcontrast. also the R-D1 files seems to respond better to slight curve and colour adjustment.
but mostly it is because of the physical cameras: the R-D1 looks crude and cute to the subject, it is small and just 'clicks' now and again, and I guess I find it much easier to control. the canon, for all its considerable strengths, whirrs (unless I manually focus) and looks like a weapon. in all the canon files the subjects looked uneasily at the camera. in the R-D1 files they don't seem to notice it. maybe they are picking up on my feelings.
anyway, that's why I sold my 5D -- it made great images, but I will never love it.
dave

[k_g_wolf]

Wonderful images indeeed !

Very good work, I like each one of your shots.

Finally somebody who is able to exploit the goodies of the M8. That´s what I would have liked to see days before.

Keep shooting ...

Best

[gumshoecamus]

btw
that picture of the child is stunning

[Jamie Roberts]

I've been travelling this week to see clients, not shoot (in Atlanta right now, with a cold, ecch).

But I brought the M8 with me and went shooting yesterday. Even though I have nothing color managed here, I agree with Marc: absolutely a keeper--no doubt about it (and the profile tweaks I've made have killed the magenta black problem so far).

[overgaardcom]

The first is really something special.

[Stevez4]

Wonderful images. I'll be taking delivery on my M8 Friday. Can't wait to shoot with it.

Stevez

[scott kirkpatrick]

Originally Posted by Jamie Roberts

But I brought the M8 with me and went shooting yesterday. Even though I have nothing color managed here, I agree with Marc: absolutely a keeper--no doubt about it (and the profile tweaks I've made have killed the magenta black problem so far).

Are you shooting with the 486 filter and then using the DMR's profile (which would be about right for a Kodak chip with better protection from IR), or did you leave the filters behind?

scott

[danielt]

Hi Marc,

Wonderful images, specially #1

Cheers

[guy_mancuso]

Great Stuff Marc . Mine goes into service tonight, PR job but a good test for it. No IR filter I am assuming

[B&W]

#1 is brilliant...

The black t-shirt in #2 looks a bit strange

[frc]

This gives people hope.
Looking foreward to have the M8 in my hands, and get equaly good results.
In my photography I do not have the choice of light you have, things are backlit, lightsources in the frame and more rubish you would like to aviod.
When a sensor fix is accomplished this is my cam.

BTW appealing images.


Fr.

[fotografr]

Nice work, Marc, and very encouraging indeed.

[sean_reid]

Hi Marc,

Thanks for the post. I came back from this weekend shoot with a fever and some computer problems I need to sort out before I can load and convert the wedding files. Having looked at them on the camera LCD, however, they look very promising. Will start a thread on them when I get the computer sorted out and conversions done. Both cameras had lenses with the 486 filters mounted.

Cheers,

Sean

[harmsr]

Marc,

Nice compositions.

Are the skin tones and lip colors true to reality? Are the dog collar and leash truly magenta or were they black? Did you use an IR cut filter, and if so which one? What Raw processor and profile did you use?

Thanks,

Ray

[fotografz]

Thanks all ... yeah, I kinda like the first one also. I'm going to play with it some more and see if I can get get better tonality from the file. This was one from just the blue channel that I mentioned in the above initial post.

First you gotta give them what they paid for ... then slip in a few for yourself when you can : -)

Agree that the t-shirt looks a bit off in #2. Needs to be darker.

Sean, looking forward to your experiences and any tips you picked up while shooting a wedding. Same with you Guy.

Other M8 shots I came across while working. Gotta adjust how I make B&Ws with this camera.

[Peter41951]

Very nice photographs, Marc. Do you use jfi's b&w toolkit?

[fotografz]

No, just PS.

I still need to work out how to maximize these M8 B&W conversions. I think that when shooting for B&W, ISO 160 should be avoided. It produces that waxy digital look IMO (BTW, don't pay any attention to the close up of the Mom and Baby because I applied an effect to it).

I found the same to be true with the DMR. ISO 100 is fine for color stuff, but I hate it for B&W conversions. ISO 400 is what I use on the DMR, and I think this M8 camera may be better at 640 for B&W.

All in the learning curve.