chrism Posted December 26, 2006 Share #1 Posted December 26, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Michael Reichmann has posted his further thoughts on the M8: http://luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/leica-M8-take2.shtml Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 26, 2006 Posted December 26, 2006 Hi chrism, Take a look here Luminous Landscape - M8 Take 2. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
John Maio Posted December 26, 2006 Share #2 Posted December 26, 2006 I'm of two minds about the M8. After spending a week with my original review sample, I bought one, and have had no regrets whatever. More on this in a moment. The other side of the coin is that I have to hesitate to recommend an M8 purchase to anyone who is looking for a hassle-free digital camera. Only someone who is an experienced M Leica shooter, and who also is experienced with digital, will likely be comfortable dealing with some of the issues that an M8 owner will face. This isn't a dissimilar situation to that faced by medium format digital owners, who have to contend with things like lens cast calibration. If you "get it", and can work with and around the problems, then you'll reap the rewards. If you find this kind of thing a hassle, then the M8 is likely not for you. Seems to me this sums up his entire article. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted December 26, 2006 Share #3 Posted December 26, 2006 That...and his comment that if he could only have one camera it would be the M8. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted December 26, 2006 Share #4 Posted December 26, 2006 + his closing remark ... "But in the end, as I wrote initially a couple of months ago – the only way you'll take the M8 away from me is from my cold dead hands." I'm still buying mine... Best Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 26, 2006 Share #5 Posted December 26, 2006 I think he is right - it is not a camera for anybody who is not either experienced in both digital capture and the M system, or as an alternative- willing to enter on a steep learning curve. But I ask, what is new? Is not the essence of the M8 that it is the antithesis of slick and flaw- and soulless digicams? Otherwise I could just as easily buy any high-end Canon, Nikon or whatever product. Plenty of those around. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveEP Posted December 26, 2006 Share #6 Posted December 26, 2006 If I was told today that I could only use one camera and one lens for the rest of my life, what would it be? As regular readers know I own and shoot regularly with some pretty high-end gear, including a couple of Hasselblad H2/H1 bodies with a Phase One P45 back, Linhof 679 system, as well as a Canon 1Ds MKII, a Canon 5D, and a mess of lenses for all of them. But, even being aware, as I obviously am, of all of the issues with the M8, I would almost certainly choose it and the 28-35-50mm Tri-Elmar as my one camera, one lens choice. The reason? Simply a special combination of image quality, size, and versatility. This is also a pretty important part though ..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnastovall Posted December 26, 2006 Share #7 Posted December 26, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I think he is right - it is not a camera for anybody who is not either experienced in both digital capture and the M system, or as an alternative- willing to enter on a steep learning curve. But I ask, what is new? Is not the essence of the M8 that it is the antithesis of slick and flaw- and soulless digicams? Otherwise I could just as easily buy any high-end Canon, Nikon or whatever product. Plenty of those around. You left of "less" after "flaw." He maybe right but that was not the digital M Leica need to produce at this time. They need a product which was going to be opening up market share to them not pushing it in an smaller niche market. I really don't care if my camera has a soul or not. I do care that it does what I expect it do and lets me focus on my art. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinb Posted December 26, 2006 Share #8 Posted December 26, 2006 It would like that Reichmann reviewed the DMR too. He seems to like the M8 very much so a DMR review sure would be interesting to read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbegibson Posted December 26, 2006 Share #9 Posted December 26, 2006 The publicized issues with the M8 are digital in nature, but if it were 10 years ago, I probably would not have recommended an M over an SLR to a film shooter just because the whole 'rangefinder' methodology is so different. Some people take to it and others 'don't get it' or it doesn't fit their style of working. Just the multiple frameline thing drives some people nuts. I stand by my prediction that there will be quite a bit of slightly used M equipment for sale in a few months. Robbe Gibson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 26, 2006 Share #10 Posted December 26, 2006 You left of "less" after "flaw." He maybe right but that was not the digital M Leica need to produce at this time. They need a product which was going to be opening up market share to them not pushing it in an smaller niche market. :D You missed my "-" I don't think it would make any sense for Leica to build something that would be in direct competition with the giants - they simply lack resources to withstand them. Even a hint at a price war would kill them off. They needed to carry their own concept forward into the future - and that they did. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 26, 2006 Share #11 Posted December 26, 2006 I stand by my prediction that there will be quite a bit of slightly used M equipment for sale in a few months. Robbe Gibson You may well be right there - it depends on the number of people who bought into the wrong dream.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgmoore Posted December 26, 2006 Share #12 Posted December 26, 2006 That...and his comment that if he could only have one camera it would be the M8. Actually, that would be one camera and one lens "If I was told today that I could only use one camera and one lens for the rest of my life" His lens choice is the TE, rangefinder equivalent of a zoom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted December 26, 2006 Share #13 Posted December 26, 2006 I'm pleased to see the re-emergence of the parking lot shot which I think was the first published shot of green blobs, though it was only up for a short time until someone leaned on him to take it down. Perhaps the "Take 3" will include the new banding problem identified by Furrukh as a light source moves off-frame. Just begs the question - again - of how much testing was done and how much notice was taken of the testers who were brave enough to voice their dissent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotomiguel Posted December 26, 2006 Share #14 Posted December 26, 2006 the only way you'll take the M8 away from me is from my cold dead hands. /Michael Reichmann I’ve only had a M8 twice in my hands, and I almost died when the owner took it away from my hands. For me the M8 is a dream come true. I’m still waiting for my brand new M8. Perhaps before next year… Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted December 26, 2006 Share #15 Posted December 26, 2006 Actually, that would be one camera and one lens "If I was told today that I could only use one camera and one lens for the rest of my life" His lens choice is the TE, rangefinder equivalent of a zoom Yes, I know, thank you. I helped edit that article. The TE, fortunately, is far from being a zoom. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted December 26, 2006 Share #16 Posted December 26, 2006 . I stand by my prediction that there will be quite a bit of slightly used M equipment for sale in a few months. Robbe Gibson Actually, I predict the price of used M lenses will go up and used M8s will be scarce. Let's check back in June and see how things turned out. Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlenz Posted December 26, 2006 Share #17 Posted December 26, 2006 Michael Reichmann has posted his further thoughts on the M8:Leica M8 Take 2 Chris The noise in his ISO 2500 shot pushed three stops has an interesting pattern, both axes. Alternating light and dark. When I get home next year (;->), I'll have to see if my dSLRs have anything of this nature. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlenz Posted December 26, 2006 Share #18 Posted December 26, 2006 I probably would not have recommended an M over an SLR to a film shooter just because the whole 'rangefinder' methodology is so different. Robbe Gibson Absolutely! RF's are not for everyone, especially if all one can do is everything auto. This is a camera for manual photogs, requires camera craft. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted December 26, 2006 Share #19 Posted December 26, 2006 I thought this was a great and fair article. As some of you know, I've been very critical of the launching of this new M camera and I don't apologize for that, however, I am warming up to the M8, primarily because of the B&W images I've seen posted on the Photo Forum, People section. I have to say that in general these images surpass any B&W digital images I have seen and now I find myself giving second thoughts to the purchase of an M8, even with all the issues, I may just go for it. Those images to me speak louder than any technical arguments. Cheers, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamann Posted December 26, 2006 Share #20 Posted December 26, 2006 Hmm..lots of issues. I am sure these will be ironed out as the year progresses. For now I will stick with my R system and look into an M4 or M6 ...for quiet discrete shooting..in film Digital is showing itself to be as complex and interesting as film, this will be interesting how these things are eventually resolved. Thanks for sharing, excellent article Regards, Leicamann Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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