Giulio Zanni Posted January 9, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted January 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ok, the fact that my M8 is gone for upgrade gives me time to think and unfortunately spend money. I am looking for a back up to the M8, in case it stops working or something when I am in the middle of nowhere as I use to do once a year (last year it was Kashmir, the year before Cambodia attending VII workshops). I cannot really justify another M8 nor I would like to stretch to an R-D1 (which I owned and got really frustrated about it). I have a Sony T9, but I don't consider it as a serious tool, apart from shooting my son on the beach. Maybe I should have kept the Sony R1 instead of selling it when I ordered the M8. Would the V-1 fit the bill? Or should I consider the even cheaper FZ50? Honestly, I would like something more compact like the D-Lux 3 but then I hear that is pretty useless on high iso settings. Â Thanks, Giulio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 Hi Giulio Zanni, Take a look here Back up to M8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wparsonsgisnet Posted January 9, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted January 9, 2007 Giulio, now that I have the M8, I am trying to figure out how to buy a second one. A second choice that occurs to me is the Epson RD-1. It also uses the magical Leica lenses that I prefer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
george + Posted January 9, 2007 Share #3 Â Posted January 9, 2007 The only true backup would be another M8. Â But a D-Lux 3 is a pretty good camera - for "normal" ISO settings. And it is much smaller than the M8 and has a pretty good anti-shake system. Â I would consider it as a backup but your needs may be different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Campbell Posted January 9, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted January 9, 2007 I agree with George. After Guy M's adventures when his first M8 died on the eve of an assignment I decided to buy a second M8. In terms of travel load this economizes in terms of only one kind of battery, charger, lenses, memory card, etc. Â It also means that I can send one M8 back to Solm for the fix, holding onto the second until it comes back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted January 9, 2007 Share #5 Â Posted January 9, 2007 Hi Giulio, Apart from the obvious "once you use a M8 nothing else will come close feeling" a second M8 seems over the top for a backup used once a year. I picked up a panasonic LX-2 almost the same as the D-lux 3. Nice little camera, the menu/controls are a little fiddly to use manual exposure but it works very well below ISO 200. Â Let me put it this way, if I was in the field and my M8 packed up, I figure I could bring home some very acceptable images from the LX-2. Better than coming home with a dead M8 and nothing to show for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giulio Zanni Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share #6 Â Posted January 9, 2007 You are probably right Eoin, I will look into the LX2 as well. Â Thanks, Giulio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 9, 2007 Share #7 Â Posted January 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Giulio, Â You mentioned that you became frustrated with your R-D1 but that's exactly what I use as a backup camera to the M8. Â Cheers, Â Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted January 9, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted January 9, 2007 An M8 would be the only true backup - but don't forget there's a legacy of cameras that share the same lenses etc as the M8 - the M3-M7. A good M6 can be picked up for around $1200, and a roll of 35mm film can, in a pinch, be found just about anywhere in the world (though for freshness and selection bring some with). Also one can then have the best of both worlds: with a film back up, in those certain situations one needs it, a 21mm or 24mm is just that - truly wide. And also have the ability to shoot with Tmax 3200. For me, I look forward to travelling with my M7 and an M8 (once I can afford and readily available). B&w in the M7; color w/the M8. The M6 is maybe an even better choice as it's not so battery dependent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 9, 2007 Share #9 Â Posted January 9, 2007 I agree with Charles. In the short term I am happy to use one of my M7 bodies (and a brick of film) as the back-up to my M8. The M7 takes up little room, uses the same lenses (albeit with different FOVs), and has a virtually identical user interface. Longer term, I will probably lean towards getting another M8 but I am not in any hurry to acquire another 'work in progress', however good it currently is. I will wait and see how things pan out with the M8 (I have a feeling that a significantly amended model may be quietly released at some point during the next 12 months) before committing to buy another. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted January 9, 2007 Share #10 Â Posted January 9, 2007 For something completely different, and reliable backup go for a used Nikon F3 with 28mm and lots of TRI-X....then you are set for anything! Set you back maximum $400,00 Â cheers andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tashley Posted January 9, 2007 Share #11 Â Posted January 9, 2007 I have exactly the same problem and I can't bear the thought of going back to my 5D as backup - that is now relegated purely to long lens/extreme high ISO/macro work. Â My LX2 is a great carry around but it's a fall back, not a backup. Â I'm trying to source a second M8 at the moment (getting close) but if I fail I'll take a second hand M7 and deal with the whole film thing. Â The M8 is so exceptional that in my view nothing else will do while mine is getting fixed! Â Tim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giulio Zanni Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share #12 Â Posted January 9, 2007 The point is that, even if I owned M6s and M7s in the past, I have gone completely digital and cannot see myself anymore with the bottom plate of an M6 between my teeth while I am struggling with loading a roll of film in the camera. So, if I buy another digital camera I could use it beside the M8, otherwise I would use a film camera only if there were really nothing else available. That's is why the M8 to me is so great: I could go back to the M, without having to go back to film. Â Giulio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 9, 2007 Share #13 Â Posted January 9, 2007 I convinced myself the only reasonable possibility was to buy a second M8. Now that I have it the reasoning has evaporated, but the pleasure remains Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlancasterd Posted January 9, 2007 Share #14  Posted January 9, 2007 Giulio  I don't have an M8 (yet!) but I do have an R8+DMR and carry a Digilux-2 as a back-up. The big advantages of the Digilux are that it is (a) light and ( gives very good results given its pixel count. It is also © reasonably cheap secondhand - Ffordes have 3 boxed examples for sale at £650-£750. Incidentally, they also have a used Digilux-3 (mint-) at £1,500. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&W Posted January 10, 2007 Share #15  Posted January 10, 2007 Giulio, You mentioned that you became frustrated with your R-D1 but that's exactly what I use as a backup camera to the M8.  Cheers,  Sean  So do I. I did plan to sell the R-D1 but I still love to use it and it still amaze me, so I'll keep it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giulio Zanni Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share #16 Â Posted January 10, 2007 I won a FZ50 + 1GB SD for 420 euros on evil-bay. I think I got a good deal, and if not happy with the camera I could always sell it for about the same price. Now that I saved some money I could also consider adding an LX2.... :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnguyen Posted January 10, 2007 Share #17 Â Posted January 10, 2007 Another back up to consider is the Dlux 3 - i shoot it using Jpegs and the results are very leica like . Besides that an M8 will do. I wouldn't get Epson RD-1 since Epson is getting ready to walk away from it anytime now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrc Posted January 10, 2007 Share #18 Â Posted January 10, 2007 How about a Pentax K10 with three pancake lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvaubel Posted January 10, 2007 Share #19  Posted January 10, 2007 My Rd1 will serve as my M8 backup. Its perfect for B+W and I love that cool dial. On other really good thing is the rewind level where silence is golden. The shutter can be rewound very slowly and quitely  Rex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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