M8 - really worth it?

[sharookh]

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Folks -

 

Although I have been seriously considering purchasing an M8 I'm a bit confused by all the information flying around the place vis-a-vis: IR, banding, more recently - artefacts in jpeg, etc....

 

I have three beautiful lenses for my M6 and therefore felt the M8 would be a natural buying proposition. I'm fully aware that new cameras are never perfect, (I've been through that route with my superb D2X) - but then again, this is Leica!!

 

Your views would be most welcome so that I can close this issue once and for all and go head on. Whilst on the subject, is the new update version 1.09??

 

Best

 

Sharookh

[xrogers]

Banding can happen, but isn't common, and the worst of it is already fixed. The remainder is to be addressed in firmware, but only time will tell if that actually will happen. The group opinion seems optimistic (but maybe that's colored by perception because I'm optimistic about it). I don't have any real advice, but can say that for me it is an uncommon problem easily outweighed by the camera's superb image quality in the vast majority of shots.

 

IR is either a plus (for some black and white shooters), a small minus that can be addressed with profiles (I think for many), or a significant minus (for people who need accurate color, and can't afford to toss some shots because the color is off).

 

If IR is a problem for you, it is fully addressed by adding filters to your coded lenses, which again, some people consider a significant problem. Many people who said they'd never use filters now do, and are happy with their results. Some refuse to consider the camera because of the filters. If you don't care about filters, this is a non-issue for you (other than filter cost---Leica will give you two with your M8 purchase). If using a filter on a Leica lens is against your religion, you need to consider this issue.

 

Jpgs from any camera are a bucket of compromises. I haven't noted any terrible jpg problems with the M8, but then I rarely shoot jpg. I can tell you that the raw files from this camera are amazing, the camera is faster shooting raw only, and actually, that I couldn't care any less about its jpg quality. If out of camera jpg quality is important, see what other jpg fans say.

 

The camera does most things extremely well, some things okay, and a few things poorly. I think it is a great camera, and worth every penny. If you enjoy the Leica M, and like digital, you may be surprised by how much you like the M8.

 

Clyde Rogers

[Fotomiguel]

Hello!

I completely agree with Clyde Rogers. The M8 is so great. For me Photography is a bit like fishing: I go for a walk and I shoot. Most of the times I don’t get good pictures and sometimes (almost never) I get something that I like. Now…. The important thing is that even the normal or bad pictures are nice to observe, crop and analyze if they are M8 pictures!

Cheers

[bnelson]

The camera does most things extremely well, some things okay, and a few things poorly. I think it is a great camera, and worth every penny. If you enjoy the Leica M, and like digital, you may be surprised by how much you like the M8.

 

Clyde Rogers

 

I will ditto Clyde's remarks.

 

I also have a Nikon D200 and the Nikon forums are filled with complaints about all types of issues. People there are constantly doing focussing tests, sending cameras back for quality issues, and other items not dissimilar to what is being discussed here.

 

Many people, myself included, have chose the digital route in general and the Leica M8 route specifically (acutally I also have a R9/DMR but I'm using the M8 most all the time).

 

No it's not perfect, but I love the look of the images from the camera. I expect all aspects of owning a M8 will be better in the future as Leica addresses these issues plus some we will find in the future.

 

One thing I think we all forget is film itself was not perfect either. The difference is you had to risk the whole shoot hoping for proper focus, exposure, lighting, etc..

 

I for one usually on had a very few shots on an entire role which satisfied me and that was without blowing the image up to a view we now routinely use as 100% in Photoshop.

 

So to me the M8 is not perfect, but neither is my Nikon D200, or the Leica M4P film camera I still occassionally use.

 

Bill

[lars_bergquist]

-----

 

One thing I think we all forget is film itself was not perfect either. The difference is you had to risk the whole shoot hoping for proper focus, exposure, lighting, etc..

 

I for one usually on had a very few shots on an entire role which satisfied me and that was without blowing the image up to a view we now routinely use as 100% in Photoshop.

 

So to me the M8 is not perfect, but neither is my Nikon D200, or the Leica M4P film camera I still occassionally use.

 

Bill

 

I'll second you, Bill. Film was certainly not perfect. Remember halation? Remember scratches? Remember having only two (or at most three) "white balances" and having to change film to change them? Remember the feeding problems? And if you did your own developing -- remember the drying marks and the dust that tended to embed itself in the wet emulsion? Remember the spotting of the prints?

 

Not to speak of the glass plates ...

 

The old man from the Age of Roll Film

[grober]

As soon as I purchased my first Nikon film scanner five years ago, the die was cast that eventually I'd have to have the Leica M-digital. Available color photofinishing only continues to decline in my area, so digital is all the more mandatory.

 

For me, this level of investment in photographic tools need to pay for themselves, so I'm not at all happy with the added MANDATORY investment imposed on my by Leica in the form of IR cut filters (yes, I know they'll give me two of the five that I must have). I am also not doing joyous backflips over the fact that since I purchased the M8 from the very first wave to reach the USA, the camera has actually spent the last five weeks out of my hands as it sojourns to and from Germany for a factory re-fit.

 

And I still need to buy more SD cards, another battery -- if I can find one first! -- and a handgrip. There's also the steep learning curve regarding all the computer manipulation one must do with the actual raw output of the camera.

 

But, despite all this grumbling, as attached as I am to the Leica M-style of shooting and given my considerable investment in Leica glass, the M8, even with all its teething problems, is a no-brainer.

 

-g

[lightpainter]

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definitely yes, at least for people who already own M lenses; after just a couple of days I can say that this camera has encouraged me to do a lot of experiments I would not have taken with my analogue M system; the reason is quite simple: the process of trial, error and improvement has radically been shortened, and the pictures here in the forum and all over the net show the quality of this camera

[Iron Flatline]

I own a full-frame sensor Canon 5D with several of their pro L lenses. The Leica M8 is a very different beast. Is it worth it? Depends on what you want to shoot. But if you already own lenses and have enjoyed working with a Leica M camera, the answer is "probably yes." I don't think they're situationally exchangable, they're just different kinds of cameras.

[larry]

Sharookh,

 

The M8 is not a perfect camera, but it makes sense to get one if you enjoy using your M6 and already own three lenses. The magenta problem and the current battery shortage

have been the only irritations for me. But both of those should be resolved soon.

 

As others have noted, shooting film presents much greater challenges than the relatively minor quirks of the M8. And by the way, welcome!

 

Larry

[carlos diaz]

I don't think they're situationally exchangable, they're just different kinds of cameras.

 

Well put my friend! I could not agree more..............

CD

[george +]

With your background in cameras and your understanding of technical issues; YES it is worth it!

[Cruewell]

Sharookh,

 

I can't offer any hands on experience and unlike the pros here, am more the Fotomiguel kind of photographer, but I started a thread very similar to this one a few days ago, when I was full of doubts about the camera, and now am waiting anxiously for my M8 to arrive! And I had zero M lenses to begin with!

[wilfredo]

Sharookh,

 

I initially protested the manner in which this camera was introduced to the market, and personally feel Leica could have done better with the pricing but after having taken the plunge and making the purchase I don't think I've ever been as excited about using a camera as I have been about the M8. This camera is becoming an extension of myself. I can't seem to put it down, and I have no regrets about taking the plunge and making the purchase (and this is coming from someone who is not a professional or earns a six figure salary). I've shot a variety of themes in the last three weeks that I have owned the camera. I'm including some favorites here.

 

Cheers,

© Wilfredo Benitez

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[sharookh]

Folks -

 

Just to let you know that I've gone ahead with the purchase and put in my order. The inputs you've given me have been extremely focused and most useful. I presume the new firmware version is 1.09.....

 

Best

 

Sharookh