Cruewell Posted January 12, 2007 Share #1 Posted January 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) After reading different reviews and getting plenty information from members of this forum on the M8, I was almost convinced to get one. I finally went today to an old and respected photo store in Madrid and asked (yet again) to see one. While I played with it it felt once more heavy, completely unergonomic (if there is such a word), clumsy, outdated, not to mention the fact that I had to focus manually using a system totally alien to me! So I went and ordered a black one! Much to my regret, they just had the one on display and said I'd have to wait some 15 days to get it. But hell, big deal, I am expecting the M8 to last me a lifetime! I know I sound too optimistic, but I am now using a 5 MPX Olympus E-1 (which i'll keep as a backup) and quite happy with it, so the M8's 10 MPX are way more than I need for my amateur work. And I'm going to get my hands on my own Leica! It's such a great feeling! I don't know how to express how I felt as I played with the camera in the store and knew I'd have one. It reminded me of al old archer I once met: after trying all the gadgety, high tech bows available, he had finally decided he wanted to go back to an old longbow, the most basic and primitive type of bow which took archery back to the Middle Ages! At that time I could not understand this guy, but today I totally sympathised with him. Except the M8 is to me a combination of the best of the recent history of photography with very excellent contemporary technology. See? I knew I would not be able to explain how I feel! But it's a wonderful, amazing feeling overal. Thanks all for your help! PS- The camera is of recent production so it will have whatever flaws were fixable fixed from factory, and I'll order the IR filters asap. Now I've got to learn also how to use those profiles listed in the forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 12, 2007 Posted January 12, 2007 Hi Cruewell, Take a look here I did it!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest WPalank Posted January 12, 2007 Share #2 Posted January 12, 2007 Jose, as another Neuer Benutzer waiting for his black M-8, congratulations! Mine is supposed to arrive in about 14 days as well. Which is cool, as my lenses are in New Jersey getting coded. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrism Posted January 13, 2007 Share #3 Posted January 13, 2007 Congratulations! What did you pick for a lens? Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted January 13, 2007 Share #4 Posted January 13, 2007 Yes congratulations Jose, I'm sure you'll question your sanity many times between now and then, but once your M8 arrives and you have a little time to explore it's charm, you'll know you have picked the right tool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruewell Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted January 13, 2007 I'm afraid I'll keep questioning my sanity until I master such an awkward machine! I come from an all-auto world, unfortunately, so it will take me a while to learn again how to focus manually. At least I don't have to pulll a manual winder after every shot, or I'd be the slowest photographer South of the North Pole. At the shop I was given a choice between Tri-Elmars 16-18-21 f/4 and 28-35-50 f/4, and Emarits 21 f/2.8 and 24 f/2.8. I did not know -ignorant me- I would need one of those external rangefinders for any lens below 24 mm, and since I didn't want any more gadgets for now, that narrowed the choice to the 28-35-50 f/4 or 24 f/2.8. I shoot a lot using the equivalent to a 28 mm. lens, so I went for the Elmarit 24 f/2.8 as my first ever Leica lens (equivalent roughly to 31-32 mm it should suit me quite well). It's not awfully expensive -for Leica standars- and I think f/2.8 should be enough, given the M8's excellent behaviour up to ISO 640. Curiously, there was zero choice for second hand wide angle M lenses -but they did have a lot of telephoto ones- so I had to buy it new. Right now I've no idea what kind of lenses I may need in the future, time and many shots taken will tell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 13, 2007 Share #6 Posted January 13, 2007 Congartulations on a great camera- and an even greater lens. the 24 is one of the Leica Legends. Erwin puts starts his description of the lens with " Sometimes in a design all things come together". If you want to complement it with a longer lens consider the Summilux 75. This is my daily use set. Imo as good as it gets Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruewell Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted January 13, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Jaap, nothing between the 24 and 75? Would the 75 be good for portraits? I've been using automatic cameras and zoom lenses for so long I feel like I'm learning photography again from step one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 13, 2007 Share #8 Posted January 13, 2007 Of course it would be nice to have somthing in-between the 24 and the 75. I have both the Summicron 35asph and the Tri-Elmar long. It depends on how much you want to spend. but a two-lens combination starting with the 24 is always a bit akward. I guess the Summilux 50asph might be a stellar choice as well.... However, I like the classic character of the Summilux 75. The reason I mentioned it is because I think the 24 and the 75Lux have the most Leica-like character (whatever that may be)of all lenses in the current lineup. Come to think of it , add an old Summarit to the set for those dreamy-flare fifties-type shots... Decisions-decisions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
egibaud Posted January 13, 2007 Share #9 Posted January 13, 2007 Much to my regret, they just had the one on display and said I'd have to wait some 15 days to get it. Hi, ¿¿¿¿15 days???? which shop? I have been waiting for mine for 4 weeks in Barcelona. mándame mensaje privado si quieres Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Flatline Posted January 13, 2007 Share #10 Posted January 13, 2007 A 75 on an M8 becomes a 110 or more. It becomes a pretty tight frame. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodda Posted January 13, 2007 Share #11 Posted January 13, 2007 A 75 on an M8 becomes a 110 or more. It becomes a pretty tight frame. Not sure you are correct I calculate 75* 1.33 as 99.75.... have I missed something 21 *1.33 as 27.93 Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Flatline Posted January 13, 2007 Share #12 Posted January 13, 2007 You're right, my math skills are useless. Nonetheless, be aware that on longer lenses the crop factor starts mattering quickly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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