Your M8 experience especially focusing, studio use

[Steve Ash]

I am new to this forum as I am currently a Canon user who got caught up by Leica marketing and some impressing photos taken with the Leica M8. To improve my own image quality from the technical point of view I was first thinking of upgrading to a Canon 5D or its potential successor. But for me there are mainly following reasons to buy an M8
instead

a) high image quality (at least on same level as good DSLRs) but

b) much smaller camera size compared to DSLRs ( at least when fast lenses are attached).
This gets more important as I increasingly face situations where the use of DSLRs is prohibited (although everybody else uses P&S cameras and mobile phones instead to produce most likely blurry pictures, sorry for this arrogant comment).

c) I increasingly avoid auto functions of my camera and like the concept of the M8 to set the photographic essentials only (aperature and shutter speed) and doing the creative part of the job by myself and not by a program.

Having this in mind I went to a Leica dealer today to have a closer look.
I enjoyed the handling in general but have concerns regarding my abilities to focus properly. Will I miss autofocusing although I curse on it quite often (sorry)? What about moving objects, e.g. running kids or sports? Is this no issue after some little experience? The dealer installed a 75mm lens and I had some difficulties to focus on the eyes at distance. I seldomly use high ISOs and telephoto lenses but the ability to focus properly with my potentially new camera should be there? What is your experience regarding "focusing learning curve"?

As I own some studio equipment (Hensel porty premium plus, lightformers etc) I also would like to get some feedback on usage of the M8 in indoor and outdoor studio environment aswell.

To practice and get some real hands on the camera the dealer will give me one demo camera next week. I keep you informed.

Regards
Steve

[harryzet]

never buy anyones problems