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m8 or slr career


mangolarge

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Hi all,

I'm having trouble making up my mind on weather my first camera should be An slr or a leica m8. I do know the differences but never been able to afford an m8 or m9 but now I can afford an m8.

I hope to persue this hobby into a possible career, any pointers or advice would be greatly apriciated....thanks

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Hi all,

I'm having trouble making up my mind on weather my first camera should be An slr or a leica m8. I do know the differences but never been able to afford an m8 or m9 but now I can afford an m8.

I hope to persue this hobby into a possible career, any pointers or advice would be greatly apriciated....thanks

 

What line photography are you hoping to get into? a RF camera is suited really for certain type of photography, mainly candid-journalism, travel and some landscape. You get better value from slr in other type of photography.

If you are serious, you will need both if you can afford it, if not stick with slr.

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This can be a most satisfying hobby and from those I know, a most satisfying and challenging career. The camera is the tool and maybe you need to decide whether you are on a personal quest or a possible career path. For the latter there are formal training and education paths for the former choose a camera and the M8 is one possibility and just start taking photographs. Experience is a big part of this and if you can combine that with a discerning eye you are fortunate.

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Others have said it, but I'll say it my own way: once you've got the career part figured out, choosing a camera will be easy. You will just pick a camera that serves well for your subject matter, style, workflow, print size, etc. Until then, as long as it's a hobby, just pick a camera that you like and that is within your budget.

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Others have said it, but I'll say it my own way: once you've got the career part figured out, choosing a camera will be easy. You will just pick a camera that serves well for your subject matter, style, workflow, print size, etc. Until then, as long as it's a hobby, just pick a camera that you like and that is within your budget.

Well said! Identify your professional goal first. If time is not pressing, then by all means experiment with the M8. It is a great camera, fully capable of yielding professional quality results. But don't forget that you need a minimum of two or three lenses for the M8 and that will push up your budget.

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it's not clear from your post whether you're an experienced photographer who's never had his own camera, or a beginner, or whether you've used a rangefinder camera before.

 

If you're either a beginner, or if you haven't used a rangefinder camera before then I urge you to try a rangefinder before you commit to a M8 or M9. Rangefinder photography just doesn't suit some people and buying an M8 or M9 would be an expensive way to find out that it doesn't suit you.

 

Film rangefinder cameras are available very cheaply so I would urge you to pick one up and try it for a week or two and if it doesn't suit you then you can dispose of it at little cost and go the DSLR route. If it does suit you then there's a m8 or M9 in your future.:)

 

Pete.

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Hi all,

I'm having trouble making up my mind on weather my first camera should be An slr or a leica m8. I do know the differences but never been able to afford an m8 or m9 but now I can afford an m8.

I hope to persue this hobby into a possible career, any pointers or advice would be greatly apriciated....thanks

 

There are not many professional photographers who use an M8 as their ONLY system, even in this forum. It excels at certain things, but you will have much more flexibility with a DSLR. And really, you should be thinking in terms of total system cost, which includes lenses and a second body. Buying into Leica can be an expensive proposition.

 

John

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There are not many professional photographers who use an M8 as their ONLY system, even in this forum.....

 

John

Bear in mind that many professionals are too busy to declare their ownership of any particular camera. Several who do report in this forum have already upgraded to M9s, but M8s are fully capable of professional demands, but not in extreme applications such as big game hunting. The Leica R range excelled in those fields.

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Firstly thank you every one for your responces to my query below.

 

Im not an experienced photographer yet but am starting very shortly hopefully,

for years ive been wanting to do it but have alwys thought the phase will pass but it hasnt, and now ive got the time and possibly the money to start im going to do it.

my path is someting im not yet sure about but i guess ill find it when either i complete my course or after but as far as satisfaction goes i always see potential beautiful photos whether its colours,skin textures, portraits of people always catch my eye as well as imaginative fairytale woodland images.

career wise well obviously whatever pays well which im not to sure about but im thinking maybe mobile photography for family or individual portraits, venues and occasions, babies or whatever people like.

Im also guessing theres not much money in landscape photography just because not many people want to pay for that but like i say im not very sure so i dont really know.

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Buy a NIkon or Canon, your overall system costs will be much lower and that system can more easily be adapted to a wide variety of assignments.

The M8 is a wonderful tool, fully capable of professional results but in a fairly limited range of applications. Not a great option for just starting in photography when you don't have any idea of what type of photography you want to pursue.

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The best advice I have seen here is to take a close look at your shooting style and then decide what fits best. The price is not that different. An used M8 with a couple of Voigtlander lenses is about the same price as a D700 with a couple of high-end Nikon lenses.

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There are probably some pros who use nothing but M rangefinders but to say that they will be few and far between is something of an understatement. Go for an SLR until you know what you want to do and where you are up to. Buying an M8, whilst it may be very appealing, will impose substantial limitations on what you can do and if you are starting off such limitations are probably not a good thing!

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In all seriousness, I would lie down in a darkened room until this impulse passes.

 

You are contemplating a step into a very tough and competitive market and you are going about it entirely the wrong way.

 

When you have had enough lying down, get a blank pad of paper and consider:

 

1. Who is your customer going to be?

2. What do they expect and need?

3. How much can they afford?

4. What sells?

5. How much for?

6. When do they want it by?

7. Do I have an edge, or unique selling point?

 

Compelling event - budget - timescale. It is not rocket science.

 

Decide on the tool for the job after you have addressed the points above. You could sell photos taken with a Holga if there is a market need, and you are good enough.

 

Tools do not make the man - start at the other end of the equation and work your way to the right camera, not the other way around.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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  • 3 weeks later...
...

Film rangefinder cameras are available very cheaply so I would urge you to pick one up and try it for a week or two...

 

I would do this--sink or swim. I am glad I started with a rangefinder.

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