suraj.saigal@gmail.com Posted January 18, 2007 Share #1 Posted January 18, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been using Nikon SLRs/DSLRs for about 10 years, for a wide range of photography, from wildlife and landscapes/architecture to portraits and street photography. Now, with my interest in wildlife photography slackening, I'm seriously considering switching to the M8. I've read everything there is on the internet on the camera, which seems to be, more or less, the perfect camera for my needs. There are three issues, though, that have stopped me from taking the leap: (1) Dust. Is the absence of dust/weather sealing as big an issue as it appears on this forum? Is it easy to clean the sensor filter if dust gets through? Does anyone have any experience using the camera in a highly dusty environment like India's, where I live? (2) Maintenance. It might be too early to ask this, but will this camera require much maintenance? None of my Nikons have ever had to go in for servicing, but I'm concerned that if something were to go wrong with the M8, getting it serviced in Germany would be difficult from India (customs and the bureaucracy here are a nightmare). Is it fair to assume that it prove as sturdy as earier Ms -- and require relatively little or no servicing? Any opinions on this? (3) Should I wait? After selling off most of my equipment, I'm left with a Nikon FM3a and a normal lens. I also have a film scanner. Is this the right time to jump systems entirely, or is it better to invest in a couple of Zeiss lenses for F mount, shoot and scan film, and wait for the M9? I would really appreciate any feedback/thoughts/experiences on these issues. Thanks, Suraj Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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tom0511 Posted January 18, 2007 Share #2 Posted January 18, 2007 Answers in the text... (1) Dust. Is the absence of dust/weather sealing as big an issue as it appears on this forum? ++IMO the dust issue has not much to do with weather sealing and is appearant in all digital cameras with switchable lenses. Is it easy to clean the sensor filter if dust gets through? ++No but I am a allways a little afrai I damage something Does anyone have any experience using the camera in a highly dusty environment like India's, where I live? ++I dont (2) Maintenance. It might be too early to ask this, but will this camera require much maintenance? ++The first batch had to be sent in and overall I would assume that the risk /need for service with a digital camera is higher vs a mechnical. Why? Because the M8 has electronic and mechnical parts which good be faulty. None of my Nikons have ever had to go in for servicing, but I'm concerned that if something were to go wrong with the M8, getting it serviced in Germany would be difficult from India (customs and the bureaucracy here are a nightmare). Is it fair to assume that it prove as sturdy as earier Ms -- and require relatively little or no servicing? Any opinions on this? ++My opinion is that you can keep your film Nikon so if the M8 would have to go to service you have an alternative to use. (3) Should I wait? After selling off most of my equipment, I'm left with a Nikon FM3a and a normal lens. I also have a film scanner. Is this the right time to jump systems entirely, or is it better to invest in a couple of Zeiss lenses for F mount, shoot and scan film, and wait for the M9? ++I think it depends if you like to shoot film or to shoot digital. Another alternative would be a weathersealed digital SLRlike the Nikon D200 (which I use beside my M8) I would really appreciate any feedback/thoughts/experiences on these issues. Thanks, Suraj Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tranquillity Posted January 18, 2007 Share #3 Posted January 18, 2007 Hi Suraj, You have put your finger on the practical problems inherent in the modern all-electronic digital cameras. Yes, repair – for electronic cameras - will be an issue, especially so in India. Once outside the warranty period, any repairs one might be unlucky enough to need, will be hard to get and maybe even prohibitively expensive. This is as true for Leica as any other brand. Your basic mechanical M3’s will outlive all current electronic cameras, and can still be serviced competently here in India. I would not worry about service; the pace of digital progress (if this is progress!) would render today’s wonders into obsolete curiosities within a few years. Can you seriously imagine using any of today’s digital cameras after say five years? Buyers of an M8 would most likely be shooting several hundred rolls of film per year and thus expect to “consume” the M8 before it needs service. Regarding dust and weather protection: The M8 should have been designed to be an all-weather workhorse. Many “lesser” DSLR’s are leaps ahead in this regard. Please consider the type of photography you do. Most Leica M users tend to have 2 or at most 3 favourite lenses. But if you expect to use a large variety of lenses, and change them frequently, it would be hard to beat say a Nikon D200+zoom for practical balance of convenience, quality and cost. Instead of buying Zeiss lenses for your Nikon - I would get an used Leica M (M6 should be most handy because of the meter) and get used to the "Leica way of doing it". It really is very different from any SLR. If you get hooked onto the M way then consider going digital M. As for waiting – patience is always rewarded. I personally shoot B/W film in my Leica M3 and for the occasional digital stuff use a Kodak point-shoot-zoom throw away when kaput thing. I’ve just stocked up on film, lots of film, lots and lots of film… Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giulio Zanni Posted January 18, 2007 Share #4 Posted January 18, 2007 Suraj, the only idea of being in India with an M8 makes me drool. Dust problem: just stick a 28 summicron on it an don't change the lens, or get one of those "invisible dust" sensor cleaners (clean the sensor only when you start noticing that dirt affects your pictures); maintenance: assuming that your M8 would need maintenance, shipping to Germany from India would not be much different than shipping it from other parts of the world: all the important interventions will be done in Germany anyway. On the other hand, enjoy the M8 and the fantastic photo opportunity that you have in India. Giulio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagarwal Posted January 18, 2007 Share #5 Posted January 18, 2007 or get one of those "invisible dust" sensor cleaners Surely you mean Visible Dust sensor cleaners? Agree with you about the chance to photograph in India. Far more likely to run out of storage space than to run out of things to shoot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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