New to Leica (M8)

[Robinyuill]

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Just got myself a great 2nd hand mint M8 and Summarit 35mm lens, really happy now but have a couple of "newbie" questions.

1. Recommended flash units and can they be used off camera with a sync cable?

2. Case or cover to keep the body in good condition?

3. Cover for the review screen?

4. Can Capture One LE and Aperture live happily together on a Macbook?

Thanks in anticipation and forgive the newbie questions, just excited about the new camera!! Robin.

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[wstotler]

1. SF24D and SF58 for TTL. Nikon SC-28 cord. Put a strap on your flash so it can dangle from your wrist when you focus. From personal experience, recommend you not use a flash until you have all other aspects of shooting with the M8 down cold.

 

2. Luigi half-case with hanging flap. Superb. There are cheaper options, but the Euro is way down--take advantage.

 

3. Number 2 solves this issue.

 

4. Yes. Recommend using Aperture overall. File management plus non-destructive image tinkering. Save Capture One for the most critical of photo developing (stuff you'll be enlarging). Debates raged on this. I prefer Aperture over C1 and Lightroom because it eliminates many, many cumulative hours of post-processing and file management nonsense over time with only a smidgen of quality loss. (Of which, much is debatable.) Watch the tutorial videos at Apple--that's an hour well-spent.

 

These are my opinions, other members' opinions will differ.

 

If it's not on your list, get a Thumbs Up.

 

Cheers and welcome,

Will

 

P.S. That Summarit is a nice lens--it's tiny and felt good. From the Web marketing I never expected it to be so compact. Share your Flickr account when you get some shots up so we can have a look.

[Jeff S]

As Will says, many opinions.

 

I don't use a flash.

 

I don't use a case or cover.

 

I use LR.

 

(And, I don't use a Thumbs Up)

 

Different strokes...whatever works for you is what's important. And, you won't know what works for you until you try it. So, I suggest sticking with your one lens, nothing else, and just shoot, shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. In the meantime, your camera will still look fine and you'll be on your way to figuring out what you're missing, if anything, for your subject matter and style of work.

 

Oh, and any of these software packages...Capture One and/or either LR or Aperture (for file management) will serve you fine as you get going. Each one keeps improving with every iteration.

 

Jeff

[Carl E]

I sold my DSLR (which had a built-in flash) and got my M8 about a year ago (no flash) and I have never looked back. One of my user settings on my M8 is set up with auto-ISO (up to ISO 640). With this functionality and the renowned Leica/Zeiss image quality at full aperture, I have never needed flash. Get a soft release button and you will be able to manage without a flash, too.

 

Best regards,

[epand56]

I use no flash either

 

Have a Luigi's half case with removable flip that I sometime use (when feeling snob )

 

Use a static screen protector that in more than two years of use have no scratches yet.

 

Use neither a Thumb-up nor a hand grip.

 

The M8 is far more stronger than one could think. Fear no more and go out shooting.

[schmolinski]

I agree with wstotler.

I also bought a SF24D. To be honest, it doesn't really take advantage. I rarely use it, I better would have spend the money for a luigy case or somewhat else.

Although I have lots of experience with shooting flash with Canon, it is totally different with a Leica!

At the beginning I would say all you need is already available (cam & lens), perhaps some literature for ragefinder cams is useful, and understanding the viefinder signs >.< and their meaning...

Enjoy your new toy! It's wonderful.

[jaapv]

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The SF24 is nice as fill-flash

[Jamie Roberts]

Ok, the first recommendation is to use Google to search for answers to all your questions, which have been answered many times. Try putting your questions into the search box but restrict the Google search to the l-camera-forum.com site by doing this:

 

[query] site:l-camera-forum.com

 

so, for your flash question put this into Google:

 

flash M8 site:l-camera-forum.com

 

You'd be amazed at how well that works, and how many posts there are!

 

Anyway, I use Canon and Nikon and Metz flashes, in manual mode, on my M8 and M9. Yes, a Nikon flash synch cable will work (as will a Canon, come to that). Pocket Wizards also work very well (I don't like hanging the flash around my wrist, personally).

 

All of those flashes work very well with the digital Ms, though the latest SB900 from Nikon has some mount issues. If you're serious about creating good light with a flash (and not just blasting flash around) you need one with a bounce head so you can feather and control light size and direction; all three manufacturers mentioned make great ones.