Jump to content

Three Years And Counting


fotografr

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

This month will mark the 3rd anniversary of owning my M8, which is the longest period I have kept and used any digital camera since purchasing my first one in 1999. Over the last 11 years, I've gone through about seven or eight Nikon models, six Canon models (still using the 5D MkII) and 5 Leica and Panasonic P&S models (including the Digilux 1 and Digilux 2 which weren't exactly P&S cameras). The longest time period I've stuck with any of those cameras is about 18 months and the only reason I've replaced them is that successors came along with significant enough improvements that I felt it was necessary to upgrade. Nothing against the M9--it's a fantastic camera--but I'm still satisfied enough with the image quality, functionality and durability of the M8 to continue using it for the foreseeable future. As fast as things have been moving with digital technology, for the M8 to still be producing images that stand up to anything else* out there after three years is quite a testament. Just my 2 cents for today.

 

*Up to 640 ISO

Link to post
Share on other sites

x

I had a Canon 300D (rebel in the states), 20D and 5D. I bought my M8 just over three years ago (about 3 years and two weeks to be preceise <grin>).

 

Using a rangefinder again felt like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes. I sold my final dSLR - the 5D - late last year. Haven't missed it one bit.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

+2

 

I even prefer the quality from my M8's to my 5D MKII...

 

 

Same.

 

 

Last few weeks I was shooting 5D 2 for a job that mostly took 70-200 and 24 Ts, and iso 2500. After developing 3000 pictures shot in all conditions (available ight, flash heads, daylight) and making 400 for a customer, I retuned to shooting my M8, and the first thing to notice was the file quality. Shadows. Clarity.Detail- three things that pop out as soon as, without thinking, you see M8 files after being used to Canon files.

Link to post
Share on other sites

... As fast as things have been moving with digital technology, for the M8 to still be producing images that stand up to anything else* out there after three years is quite a testament. Just my 2 cents for today.

 

*Up to 640 ISO

 

Thank you for the post. I love reading about people's genuine opinions - the 2 cents.

 

I've been lovin' my M8u for almost 3 weeks, but I can see myself writing a post like yours in 3 years. Before getting it, I was craving an M9 but could not take the waiting list - I originally bought my used M8u as a stop-gap, but now I am more than OK waiting things out and I'm in no hurry to change. Not being a pro, I don't need the extra pixels and the crop factor does not bug me at all. The extra ISO would be nice and, yeah, the UV/IR filters can be a bit of a pain ... but I can definitely wait.

 

Alberto

Link to post
Share on other sites

Mine will have been with me for three years the first week in March. No regrets and about 17.000 frames. Shure, I'd like the full frame of the M9 and be able to loose the filters, but I'm not sure I want it enough to spend all the money. Skip the M9 and save up for the next generation is what I'm thinking at this point. I did spend about a quarter of the cost of an M9 on the M8 upgrades in the summer of last year and in a sense that timing was lousy. But now that things are as they are, I continue to enjoy my M8.

 

Carl

Link to post
Share on other sites

well, only 18 months or so here, about 15,000 frames - and still loving it.

The 5D went to my son (who already had my 20D) and .... what shall I say?

The shooting style of the M8 is so different, and the quality of the pictures is superb.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Two years and counting. Without any doubt the best camera and lenses I've ever had.

I switched to the digital coming from years of Contax G1 and 2 film cameras. The Leica M8 is my first digital camera and looking at its pictures, I don't regret film.

Not much interested in the M9. Still have to learn how to get the better off my M8.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for this post, forografr. I only have mine for a few month now and it has been my first "real" (non p&s) camera. Looking at the prints, which are more important to me that 100% crop an a computer screen, I get the impression that there will be no need to replace it for many years to come :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

More than three years since January and I forgot its anniversary...

 

In my defense it is my (never used) backup camera since September 09.

 

Anyway, good to know it is there, just in case.

 

It never failed me since the first firmware upgrades.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Almost 2 years on my M8. No problems and I've really taken it everywhere with me.

 

My 5dII is 13-months old and it is rarely used by me. My wife loves it. I would like to have the M9, but I'm happy with the M8 and I don't see a huge reason to upgrade other than the usual reasons given on the forum. Having said that, knowing myself, I'm sure I'll buy it this summer once it becomes available in a dealer's store and I can pick it up and hold it. It will be an impulse buy and I'll feel terrible for days about being so weak. :D

Link to post
Share on other sites

Almost 2 years on my M8. No problems and I've really taken it everywhere with me.

 

My 5dII is 13-months old and it is rarely used by me. My wife loves it. I would like to have the M9, but I'm happy with the M8 and I don't see a huge reason to upgrade other than the usual reasons given on the forum. Having said that, knowing myself, I'm sure I'll buy it this summer once it becomes available in a dealer's store and I can pick it up and hold it. It will be an impulse buy and I'll feel terrible for days about being so weak. :D

 

I have a feeling this exact scenario will be repeated MANY times ... :D.

 

However, the M8 will make the wait much more tolerable.

 

Alberto

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm at not quite a year with an M8, and I've touched my D300 perhaps once in that time (for macro work).

 

I'm happy with the M8 quality, and especially with the combination of that quality and the classic Leica M compact and convenient package.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Brent, thank you for a timely post. I have 2 M8s. Going on to 3 years now. After the initial

teething problems, i have fallen in love with the darned thing. My d700 is better at somethings. But when I reach for a camera, instinctively it is one of the M8s.

 

They have travelled with me in the cold and rain. Climbed to 5800mts. have weathered the

snow. became sick in the heat and dust I have subjected them to..but when I see the

files, it brings a smile to me face and a joy to my grandchildren.

 

Them and the Lenses, I will have them as long as they will have me.

 

Regards.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...