jelderfield Posted February 1, 2007 Share #1 Posted February 1, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) So, I'm doing some early planning and costing for the M8 which I plan to get in late spring, early summer. I'm trying to think of all the things I MUST have to start shooting when I pull the trigger and the camera actually arrives. I already have lenses, photoshop, and a card reader. Things I figure that are basic needs that I must fill: IR Cut Filters for lenses, SD cards, sensor cleaner, new external hard drive for back ups, extra battery, and screen protector. Software, I guess a raw convertor and maybe the alien skin blowup software. I will probably have my 28mm, F2 coded prior to getting the camera. I'd appreciate any thoughts on things I might be missing other than the camera itself. Thanks, Jonathan Jonathan Elderfield Photography Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 1, 2007 Posted February 1, 2007 Hi jelderfield, Take a look here Basic Needs for new M8 shooter. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
peterv Posted February 2, 2007 Share #2 Posted February 2, 2007 Jonathan, your list looks quite complete to me. Maybe an extra hard drive for back up on a different location? I always keep at least 3 copies of every photo... Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJL Posted February 2, 2007 Share #3 Posted February 2, 2007 Jonathan, The M8 ships with a copy of Phase One C1LE as the RAW converter, and it does a nice job, especially with some of the profiles done by Jamie Roberts and Edmund Roland. If you already have Photoshop CS2 (at least), you will have ACR (Adobe Camera RAW) with it and there will be an update for it next month when Adobe release Lightroom (also an app to consider). I would suggest taking a look at RAW Developer also (free demo downloadable), as it looks like one of the better converters to me at this point. I agree with Peter about having extra back-ups. Beyond some other nice to have things, like another bag (see the very long thread on that discussion), you might also want to think about upgrading the strap at some point. The Leica strap is good, but not that great for extended and comfortable use. Add in a nice new microfiber cleaning cloth and you are pretty set to go. Have fun when you get it....it may take several days to wipe the grin off your face also. LJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trs Posted February 2, 2007 Share #4 Posted February 2, 2007 And yes, get the screen protector. I just noticed I have some tiny scratch already on mine. I noticed it when I was packing last night to send it to NJ. -tanka Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted February 2, 2007 Share #5 Posted February 2, 2007 So, I'm doing some early planning and costing for the M8 which I plan to get in late spring, early summer. I'm trying to think of all the things I MUST have to start shooting when I pull the trigger and the camera actually arrives. I already have lenses, photoshop, and a card reader. Things I figure that are basic needs that I must fill: IR Cut Filters for lenses, SD cards, sensor cleaner, new external hard drive for back ups, extra battery, and screen protector. Software, I guess a raw convertor and maybe the alien skin blowup software. I will probably have my 28mm, F2 coded prior to getting the camera. I'd appreciate any thoughts on things I might be missing other than the camera itself. Thanks, Jonathan Jonathan Elderfield Photography Hi Jonathan Not sure if you are using Mac or PC. If MAC you should invest in Raw Developer from Iridient, Leica User Forum. At $99 this is a raw processor that is fully the equal of C1 Pro albeit getting there from a differing perspective. But the final color is as good as it gets, and if you have special needs,Brian Griffeth, the owner (he is Iridient) will do his best to respond to those needs and usually with pretty spectacular results. Please, I am not affiliated with Iridient nor Brian. I just know a great product when I see it and at 1/4 the price of C1 pro, my standard for several years, it is really worth looking in to. As to lenses, it is of course based on your particular shooting style. I am a big fan of both the Leica 24 Elmarit and the 28 Cron as standard lenses for the M8. All of these are very capable lenes and with the ability to go to ISO equivalent of 2500 a stop or two of difference from the very fast Leicas is less important now. However having said that my next favorites are the 35 and 50 Luxes. Super sharp and fabulous bokeh! Then we get to the Noctilux which to me is important not so much for the extra stop but for the bokeh which can be superb. After that your choice......75 or 90 APO/ASPH? Totally up to your desires as both lenses are absolutely state of the art when it comes to Image Quality (IQ!). I lean toward the 90 just because it gives me that little extra reach and as I see it with no optical compromises compared to the 75 Cron. I guess if you cut through it the Leica system is based upon a very capable body and the world's best lenses for the 135 format. So Identify your needs and just pick the body and lenses which gets you where you need to go. WOW.......that we would have such choices with either Nikon or Canon. lets hear from you when you have done your own evaluations and come to some conclusions! Respecfully Woody Spedden Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelderfield Posted February 2, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted February 2, 2007 Woody, the lens kit I have is: 35mm F2.0 (my main lens which I use about 80% of the time), 50mm F2.0 and 28mm F2.0, and finally the 21mm F4 Voightlander. I imagine I'll be using the 28mm most on the M8 when I get it - to get the 35mm feel on my film bodies. It's a great lens. My one concern is the 21 and the fact that it isn't codable. I really like the lens but will worry about cyan corners. Eventually, I might get a 90mm but probably will do the voightander for cost reasons as it's a length I don't need that much. For the time being I'll be interested in using the 50mm lens as a 67mm. Thanks for your reply, Jonathan Jonathan Elderfield Photography Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted February 2, 2007 Share #7 Posted February 2, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I suggest the 1.25 magnifier and a grip. I would suggest a second M8, but I didn't have the sense to save enough money for this so can't honestly recommend it. In my case, I keep 3 copies of my diginegs -- ONLINE -- one version of which is offsite. My take on it is that backup to CD or DVD is too risky. A scratch and you have NO backup. Harddisks are the appropriate place for images. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelderfield Posted February 2, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted February 2, 2007 Bill - I was thinking about one copy - the original on the G4 harddrive, and then one set each on 2 external harddrives - I guess I'll keep one of these offsite. I was thinking about online too, do you have a recommendation for online storage. If I don't do online then maybe one set on dvd's. Thinking about the 1.25 magnifier for the 50mm to be 67mm on the M8. Jonathan Jonathan Elderfield Photography Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted February 2, 2007 Share #9 Posted February 2, 2007 Jonathan, it sounds like you've already got 3 copies and that they're online. I keep a copy on the C-drive of my windoze machine and 2 more on external firewire/usb drives. I keep the magnifier on the camera all the time, even when using the 24mm lens. It makes focusing a whole lot easier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted February 2, 2007 Share #10 Posted February 2, 2007 ... My one concern is the 21 and the fact that it isn't codable. I really like the lens but will worry about cyan corners ... QUOTE] Jonathan, there is a thread here from which you can learn how to code your own lenses with a Sharpie. Not permanent, but doesn't hurt the lens and gives you the benefit of the coding. You will, of course, need version 1.10 of the software to use the coding (it's coming). I wanted to comment on your 35mm lens. I used to have an f1.4 non-asph and it is so flare-prone that I moved up to the asph version. Going asph on the f1.4 version of the 35mm was night-and-day improvement. Getting rid of the flare gave all the expected benefits: better definition and color saturation, more contrast, and more picture-ness, that is, the pictures exhibited more of what I call the "roundness" of images from Leica lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craftsman Posted February 2, 2007 Share #11 Posted February 2, 2007 One of the most important thing that your going to need that I don't think anyone mentioned, is a second body as a back up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted February 4, 2007 Share #12 Posted February 4, 2007 Woody, the lens kit I have is: 35mm F2.0 (my main lens which I use about 80% of the time), 50mm F2.0 and 28mm F2.0, and finally the 21mm F4 Voightlander. I imagine I'll be using the 28mm most on the M8 when I get it - to get the 35mm feel on my film bodies. It's a great lens. My one concern is the 21 and the fact that it isn't codable. I really like the lens but will worry about cyan corners. Eventually, I might get a 90mm but probably will do the voightander for cost reasons as it's a length I don't need that much. For the time being I'll be interested in using the 50mm lens as a 67mm. Thanks for your reply, Jonathan Jonathan Elderfield Photography Jonothan I am confused my friend I sent my chrome silver 21 2.8 elmarit lens to Leica N.J. where it was coded properly for M8 use. I have used it extensively since it's return and it works perfectfly. Where did you hear that you could not code this lens? Only ask because it it is BS. It codes just fine and you will be taking the images of your life.Hope this makes life easier for you Wish I knew where some of this s....t comes from! Sincerely Woody Spedden Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted February 4, 2007 Share #13 Posted February 4, 2007 My Leica 21mm is coded also from the factory. I bought it coded Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted February 4, 2007 Share #14 Posted February 4, 2007 Jonathan was talking about the Voigtländer 21mm f/4. Jonathan, you can try coding it as a Leica 21mm. See the link in my signature. It isn't permanent, but it should be interesting to see if it works. Does it have enough area on the bayonet mount to draw on? Which frameset does it bring up? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted February 4, 2007 Share #15 Posted February 4, 2007 Jonathan was talking about the Voigtländer 21mm f/4. Jonathan, you can try coding it as a Leica 21mm. See the link in my signature. It isn't permanent, but it should be interesting to see if it works. Does it have enough area on the bayonet mount to draw on? Which frameset does it bring up? thanks Carsten Guess it was me who was confused. Given the issues with cyan surround, which is at its worst with the very wides, I would suggest getting a Leica 21 unless leica finally gives in, listens to Sean, and allows us to manually select which lens we are using. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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