patashnik Posted February 29, 2008 Share #1 Posted February 29, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) OK, this is gonna be one of those annoying newbie M8 posts. Sorry about that. I'm one of those guys who've spent hours bitc***g and moaning about the M8 and the superiority of a dSLR. Now, don't shoot me - I have a Leica M6 with three lenses (35mm Summicron ASPH, 50mm Planar, 15mm Voigtlander Super-Wide Heliar) - and I love it. Totally love it. On the side, I have been nurturing a tiny affair with a Canon 40D and the EF 35mm f/1.4L and EF-S 17-55mm IS. Great camera, great lenses. Don't use it. I have to admit to myself that I'm simply not the guy who straps on a backpack filled with dSLR gear and go out "shooting". Rather, I like to keep my camera in my bag, and pick it up on a whim, shoot ten frames and put it back. Somehow, a four pound dSLR setup is not the way to go. So, enter the M8. I could pretty much sell my current dSLR gear and pick up an used M8 (would have to add some cash, but that is OK). But used or not, we're talking $4000 for a digital camera here. So, before splurging, I just have a couple of questions for you M8 owners. 1) Any regrets? I mean, do you ever feel like it was not worth it? 2) Coding: From what I've read, this mostly is an issue with wide angle lenses? I don't care about EXIF info, I can solve that "problem" using tags in Lightroom. Any reason why the 35mm and 50mm shouldn't work "straight out of the box"? 3) The IR thing. Yes, I know. How much of a deal is it? I would prefer not having to permanently attach UV/IR filters on my lenses, but is there any way around it? Lastly, all pep-talk is appreciated. And to think that it all started with a post I made to the old Leica Camera forum about getting a Leica Minilux a couple of years ago... This Leica stuff sure is addictive... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 Hi patashnik, Take a look here Leica M8 - Would you buy it now?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
JHAG Posted February 29, 2008 Share #2 Posted February 29, 2008 I just bought it. 3200 $ brand new (special promo). Delighted, no regret at all. Will use also its IR capability for easy IR photography. Used it with a Noctilux, a Summilux 35 and a 21 ASPH none with coding : no problems so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
patashnik Posted February 29, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted February 29, 2008 $3200?!? Blimey, that is one h*** of a good price! Would love to find one like that Thank you for those reassuring answers, just the thing I "need"... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted February 29, 2008 Share #4 Posted February 29, 2008 Buy it - you won't regret it. And if you do it will be your responsibility. I think its a wonderful camera. and so is my M2. M4-P, MP; Rolleiflex T; 2.8F Planar; 2.8 F Xenotar; 3.5 F Planar; 3.5 E Xenotar; 3.5t; Rolleicord Vb. etc ... get my point! Buy it and enjoy it.. PS My Voiglander Vito B is great but rubbish in the wrong hands! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 29, 2008 Share #5 Posted February 29, 2008 Use the "Search" function here. But set aside a weekend if you do... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dseelig Posted February 29, 2008 Share #6 Posted February 29, 2008 Well if your 35 is your most used lens you will need a 28 or 25 . Low light is a low shutter speed handheld affair . 1250 is not very good but 640 iso is fine. Def not in the low light category of the 5 d. Buy it used for 380-0 or so do not buy it new as it is just too overpriced. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted February 29, 2008 Share #7 Posted February 29, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) PS My Voiglander Vito B is great but rubbish in the wrong hands! A "fault" common to all cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted February 29, 2008 Share #8 Posted February 29, 2008 Yes - no regrets whatsoever buy and enjoy, warts and all. You only live once. 99.8% of all camera owners do not know or appreciate the difference and are happy with something else, something 'better & cheaper', which is fine. Maybe it is 99.9%. If you like the idea that you are one of 0.1% then go for it. It will not be perfect, and 2 years from now it will be outdated by your mobile phone in megapixels BUT take one picture and see for yourself. Buy a lens as old as you are in the 2nd hand shop, click.... and your first picture looks like this: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
egabes Posted February 29, 2008 Share #9 Posted February 29, 2008 I love the convenience of this camera but I am still more comfortable with my M6 for some reason. The only thing that still bugs me is the fact that I need a filter on my lens to shoot someone in a black shirt indoors. A lot of people on this board are amazing photographers who truly have incredible post production skills. I unfortunately am not one of them. With that said, it's still a ton of money but the good out weighs the bad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pekem Posted February 29, 2008 Share #10 Posted February 29, 2008 Don't buy the M8! And then regret it for the rest of your life. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vertekijker Posted February 29, 2008 Share #11 Posted February 29, 2008 You'll have the best of two worlds - the high quality optics that you know from your analog set-up and the advantages of digital. Can't be beat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayerische Posted February 29, 2008 Share #12 Posted February 29, 2008 Why not? And Yes, I would buy it now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted February 29, 2008 Share #13 Posted February 29, 2008 Hi, of course all of these issues have been extensively discussed throughout the forum and elsewhere. Regarding should you get one, look at your quote regarding having your M6 outfit. There's your answer. Get an M8, you will love it. Currently the prices are better as people consider whether to hold out for a possible future upgraded model. Upgrade the firmware to the latest when you get it. The AWB improvement is striking. Coding. your 35 can be coded of course. Certainly not essential. Buy the camera, shoot it the way you shoot and you can decide. I just got the same lens (uncoded) to use with my new M8 and I see no problems whatsoever with what I have shot so far. Coding is recommended from 35 to wider. My 50 is coded, but that length reported in the EXIF is hardly a deal breaker IR. The times that the problem arises have been painfully discussed ad nauseum. Put the filter on and forget it's there. Most of the time you won't need it. Leica will send you two free IR filters when you buy the M8. Get a 39 for your 35 asph. Your Planar is an unusual filter size at 43mm. If you get the 46 and say a stepping ring for that one lens, you will be all set for many Leica lenses, plus both 21's and the 28 if you are looking at getting a wide from Zeiss. Of course, if you plan to invest in a 24 or 21 from Leica then you might want to ask for the larger size needed. Personally I ordered the sizes for what I have now. OK, this is gonna be one of those annoying newbie M8 posts. Sorry about that. I'm one of those guys who've spent hours bitc***g and moaning about the M8 and the superiority of a dSLR. Now, don't shoot me - I have a Leica M6 with three lenses (35mm Summicron ASPH, 50mm Planar, 15mm Voigtlander Super-Wide Heliar) - and I love it. Totally love it. On the side, I have been nurturing a tiny affair with a Canon 40D and the EF 35mm f/1.4L and EF-S 17-55mm IS. Great camera, great lenses. Don't use it. I have to admit to myself that I'm simply not the guy who straps on a backpack filled with dSLR gear and go out "shooting". Rather, I like to keep my camera in my bag, and pick it up on a whim, shoot ten frames and put it back. Somehow, a four pound dSLR setup is not the way to go. So, enter the M8. I could pretty much sell my current dSLR gear and pick up an used M8 (would have to add some cash, but that is OK). But used or not, we're talking $4000 for a digital camera here. So, before splurging, I just have a couple of questions for you M8 owners. 1) Any regrets? I mean, do you ever feel like it was not worth it? 2) Coding: From what I've read, this mostly is an issue with wide angle lenses? I don't care about EXIF info, I can solve that "problem" using tags in Lightroom. Any reason why the 35mm and 50mm shouldn't work "straight out of the box"? 3) The IR thing. Yes, I know. How much of a deal is it? I would prefer not having to permanently attach UV/IR filters on my lenses, but is there any way around it? Lastly, all pep-talk is appreciated. And to think that it all started with a post I made to the old Leica Camera forum about getting a Leica Minilux a couple of years ago... This Leica stuff sure is addictive... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
psss Posted February 29, 2008 Share #14 Posted February 29, 2008 just bought my second m8..demo with warranty 3900... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekku Posted February 29, 2008 Share #15 Posted February 29, 2008 I bought mine two months ago and had now problems with the camera. I´m very happy with it and have not used my Canon Ds1mkII since then. The picture quality is excellent, comparable to mkII (depending on the lens used). I have a 21/2.8 Elmarit Asph, 28/1.9 CV Ultron, 35/2,5 Summarit, 50/1.4 Summilux Asph and 75/2.5 CV Color Heliar. The coding of the CV lenses is not a big deal, I did it myself with a marker and it works fine. UV/IR filter is protecting your valuable lens from scrathes. There are many things on the M8 I would like to change, but there is no alternative on the market now with this picture quality on a digital RF. You can always wait for a better product, but then you will never buy one. I´m still going to keep my mkII for wet conditions and where you need zooms and tele. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted February 29, 2008 Share #16 Posted February 29, 2008 Clearly, this thread is going to cost you some money. Even with the problems I experienced initially (3 cameras died) and the uncertainty of what my ordeal will be if I need to send my M8 in for servicing, I have zero regrets and love using the camera as much or more than any I've ever owned. That includes many years with a full blown Nikon system from the F2AS/MD2 through the D2x, followed by 4 years of a fairly complete Canon system (5Ds and several lenses), and Ms from the M3ds. I still have a couple of M6s and an M7 but rarely use them because I like the M8 so much. I do use, and like very much, the Canons for a lot of my paying work--but my strong preference is the M8. Image quality is excellent at low ISOs and I love using a rangefinder. Then, of course, there are the lenses!!!!! Filters: No big deal Coding: I've coded everything from the 24mm through 90mm, in part so I can leave the lens detection menu selection on for "Coded with UV/IR." For lenses 35 and wider, it is definitely advisable in order to not get the cyan edges. I also feel coding will enhance resale value, if I ever do sell one, but I don't know that I'd code all my lenses now with the current price structure. It seems a bit exhorbitant. I would likely skip it for anything longer than 35mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted February 29, 2008 Share #17 Posted February 29, 2008 In answer to your question, no I would not buy one now, the reason being I already have one and love it to bits . Seriously though, if you have a M6 the 3 lenses and enjoy using it so much, where's the problem. true it's not a dSLR and selling your 40D and EF lenses will remove that system from the equation, can you live with that?. I did and I have only one regret, the loss of my beloved EF 85L which I can't seem to duplicate in Leica. The UV/IR is no longer an issue for me, the initial thought of placing filters on lenses never really sat well, but re-considering the fact 16 months later it was more my own reluctance to the idea rather than the fact in principal. In fact given the price of the lenses I think I'd have put some sort of filter on the front just for protection. As for the colour of the UV/IR, I can't see it when I'm taking pictures and have become so used to seeing the pink filter it doesn't even register with me. With regard to the requirement of filters and coding, your 35 will require coding to fully eliminate the cyan shift in the corners, either do it yourself or perhaps use Sandy's CornerFix application if you choose not to code. The 50 shouldn't be a problem. I use my 90 filtered without coding and my 85 Rex without filters but I'm mainly shooting B&W's with it. But in general it's easier to have everything filtered so as you don't have to keep going into the menu to enable or disable the function in the menu. The only other thing I can say is the camera it's self is almost perfect now, I've become so used to RF photography that to hold a dSLR and a sizable zoom feel almost alien to me. I find my images need almost no post processing other than crop and slight sharpen. And most importantly I find I tend to want to grab the camera going out the door rather than have to force my self to take the camera as I did with the bulky SLR system. The joy of being in control of my photography rather than being an element in the automated SLR approach has brought back so much personal satisfaction. Yea I'm happy and broke! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
patashnik Posted February 29, 2008 Author Share #18 Posted February 29, 2008 Wow. Thank you all for taking the time to entertain this sorry guy, I'll be looking for one as soon as the dSLR gear is sold. Hopefully I'll find something around $4000-4200. And point taken on the filters, I guess I have to learn to stop obsessing about these things :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 1, 2008 Share #19 Posted March 1, 2008 I've had my M8 for just over a year. Would I buy another today if I needed to? Certainly, without a second's thought. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpStart Posted March 1, 2008 Share #20 Posted March 1, 2008 I only bought it in November, and I own an impressive list of DSLR's. I would buy it again, and I would buy it now - despite all the moaning going on here. I am keeping only 2 cameras. The first is the M8, and the second is my Nikon D3. The M8 would be my most used camera, while the D3 is my wildlife camera. Best decision I ever made. DBK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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