M8 as a back up to am M9?

[newtoleica]

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I know:

1.3 Crop

1 stop less good noise

Need for filters

Older camera (so need to find one still in warranty)

BUT might make a practicable alternative to another M9 (which is NOT an option!)

 

Anyone else doing this?

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[wda]

There is no reason why your proposal would not work provided you can live with the framing disparity issue. Both cameras handle in an almost similar fashion otherwise.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Brendan,

 

Welcome.

 

You might want to read all of: M9 and M8: practical difference?

 

On the M9 Forum as we speak.

 

People are pretty much discussing exactly the question/s you are bringing up.

 

Why not look in?

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[farnz]

Brendan,

 

You've listed 4 disadvantages yourself so you're aware that it will be a compromise at best. Imho an M7 would provide a better back up for an M9 than an M8 would because you would solve all 4 of your disadvantages and its smaller and lighter than an M8.

 

Disclaimer: I shoot with an M8, which I very much enjoy and will keep at least for IR photography when I eventually decide that there's enough advantage in a M9, Mn, Mwhatever to justify the cost gap, but I doubt that I would consider my M8 as a back-up for the reasons you've listed.

 

The advantages to consider are that they will share the same lenses, vf's, cases, grips, straps, SD cards and batteries. And photographer.

 

Pete.

[shootinglulu]

Hi Brendan. I liked my M8 very much. I Loved the 35 Lux (that i sold you!) on it. I like that fl, so when i got the M9 i needed the 50 Lux. So getting the M8 gives you more flexibility with the 35. If i needed a backup i wouldn't hesitate to get am M8, the files from it are lovely.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Brendan, my M8 is my backup for my M9.

 

Acquiring one is certainly less expensive than a second M9. When you get your M10, you can sell the M8.

[luigi bertolotti]

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"Backup" is a concept that I keep, in my mind, separated from "Second Body" ... and my idea is that the "backup" of a M9 (or M8 in my case) is a film Leica M, be it M3 or M7 or wahtever else. If you simply like to have 2 digital bodies, M8 is probably the smart way to go, provided you have a lens set that justifies the use of 2 bodies with no significant hassles due to the need of UVIR filter(s) on M8-mounted lenses.

[Ecar]

M8 works for me as a backup to the M9.

Biggest annoyance is remembering to pack the UV/IR filters when travelling.

However, I tried using it as a "second body" alongside the M9 and found it somewhat confusing.

[newtoleica]

Many thanks to all for your replies.

Shootinglulu, the 35 Lux is simply wonderful for environmental portraits and close in street work on my M9, although I also now have a 50 Lux.

I am talking about a back up rather than a second body, as I prefer to swap lenses rather than cameras.

Regards

[SJP]

I think the M9 makes a nice backup for the M8 although it is a pain to have to crop all the images to get the M8 standard:D

[arminw]

I also use my M8 as a back up to the M9, but also as a second digital M camera . There is reason why you can't do that , all you have to remember is the crop factor and / or adjust your distance to the subject . Not that I have ever needed the back up but it's there .

[bocaburger]

Right now my M8 is my primary M camera (and probably will remain so much longer than I anticipated, since it looks like it will be a long time before M9 demos/refurbs are readily in supply). If and when I ever get an M9 I will surely keep the M8 as a backup (given how little I can get for it compared to what it cost me), but if I owned an M9 I'm not sure I'd go out and pay $2K for a used M8 as a backup. My M8's backup is a DLUX-3, which so far I haven't had to use once. If I was buying a backup today, either for an M8 or M9, I think I might be looking at one of the Olympus Pen series, used, plus an adapter. As a second body I don't think I'd shoot an M8 behind an M9. Undoubtedly at some point I'd forget to take the IR filters off and on lenses <50mm and that would spell a major post processing headache for me.

[peera1197]

I use M8&M9 together ,35 Lux on M9 for most purpose and 50 Cron on M8 for portrate and closed detail (example flower,something far away);I don"t like to change during taking photo.Anyway with lens that focal length more than 35mm putting UV/IR filter cause no color shift problem.

[BRJR]

 

.... Anyone else doing this?

 

1. Yes, and depending on what I am going to do, sometimes my M8.2, is either my backup Leica-m or my second Leica-m when shooting with my Leica M9. My Leica M8.2 didn't stop functioning well, just because I purchased an M9. They're both nice cameras and that's why I now have one of each.

 

2. Coming from a Nikon DSLR Background, just two years ago, the 1.33X Crop factor of the M8 or M8.2 sensor is not a problem for me; as with my Nikon DX DSLR Bodies (and, I still have 3 of them: 2, D80 Bodies and 1, D300 Body; and gave my two D200 Bodies along with a couple of Nikkor lenses to a couple of brothers, and my D50 Body, along with 2 Nikkor lenses to a nephew, when I purchased a Nikon D3 & D700 full-frame Bodies), I was using camera bodies, that had a 1.5X Crop factor ---- and, I sometimes prefer this sort of feature when using some of my lenses, especially my longer focal length lenses. When out with both the M9 & M8.2, you'll likely see that I have my longer focal length lens on the M8.2 and my widest lens on the M9, and that I've selected them from my collection in a way that will minimize or prevent me having to change lenses.

 

3. Similarly, the UV/IR filter thing was never a problem for me with my M8.2, as I tend to use "protective" UV or in the case of my Nikkor lenses, Nikon Clear Glass filters on my lenses anyway (yes, I am aware of the filter controversy & will certainly deal with that should I ever have a problem -- so far I haven't; and, I do like the added measure of protection from using my filters & the lens hood, that neither provides alone). Therefore using a Leica UV/IR filter on Leica Glass I used on my M8.2 was, and still is somewhat a non-issue and non-inconvenience for me.

[jaapv]

Yes, I have M8 backup to my M9, but I will use the M8 for IR shots and as a camera to take when there is a chance of damage to the camera, like on the beach or sailing, especially on salt water.

[Double Negative]

I'm keeping my M8 in part, for just this reason; a backup to the M9.

[Mark D]

I'm keeping my M8 in part, for just this reason; a backup to the M9.

 

Same here!

[newtoleica]

Well I got my M8 from the forum. £1400. met the chap in London to hand over. looks to be working fine and cosmetically excellent.

it comes to Greece tomorrow with the M9.

nice camera, I like the little frame counter window, wish they hadn't dropped this with the M9.

I might well be tempted to use it rather than just keep it as a backup.......

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Guest Like an M9]

I have sold my 35 Lux and bought a Leica X1 as backup for my M9!