Clandrel Posted May 30, 2011 Share #1 Posted May 30, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys, Been a long time user of Leica, and had to sell my Leica M9 and lenses due to some expensive fixing of our house. I need some new gear, but my budget is limited. I can get a M8 white edition package (brand new) including the 28 Elmarit for a fantastic price. The same price as a Canon 5D with the 50 1.2 lens. I am very indesicive... What would you do. I feel the Canon system is a bit too big, but at the same time, the M8 is "old". Any suggestions? /c Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 Hi Clandrel, Take a look here Leica M8 vs Canon 5D. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
mbray Posted May 30, 2011 Share #2 Posted May 30, 2011 I have had a Canon 5D for about five years but since I bought my M8.2, it has hardly been out of the cupboard. The light weight and quality of the Leica system have meant that I have taken it when the bulk of the Canon was just too much. The only time the Canon got used in the last six months was when doing some posed "show" shots for a musical - I thought that the flash performance was probably better and that the actors reacted well to what looks like a "proper" camera, as opposed to an "old fashioned" camera. Even so, I am actually considering selling all my Canon gear (a couple of L series lenses and 5D body) and getting a wide-angle Leica lens. Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted May 30, 2011 Share #3 Posted May 30, 2011 Are you talking 5D or 5D2? Both are highly competent cameras (I have both and the 50/1.2 and M8s) BUT I ALWAYS pick up the M8 when I go out rather than either of the Canons. I have the 50/1.2 and am debating whether the extra speed justifies it over the 1.4 especially as I don't find it particularly wondrous wide open (OTOH the 50/1.4 asph is stunningly good wide open). The white edition would have to be at an almost silly price for me to buy one - with limited funds I'd go for a dealer warrantied M8 and whatever lens I would most want as opposed to the white edition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clandrel Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted May 30, 2011 I agree with the white edition being unnecessary, but... The price I pay for it is lower than a used M8 (and the white edition is new), but I pay retail price for the lens. I was thinking about the 5D Mark II... /c Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 30, 2011 Share #5 Posted May 30, 2011 In that case just get it, the photographs it takes are the same as the standard M8, and you can always camouflage it with Gaffers Tape Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted May 30, 2011 Share #6 Posted May 30, 2011 I had a Canon 5D. After I bought my M8 I sold the Canon. Not just image quality - I preferred the Leica - but the fact that I prefer rangefinders to SLRs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platel Posted May 30, 2011 Share #7 Posted May 30, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys, Been a long time user of Leica, and had to sell my Leica M9 and lenses due to some expensive fixing of our house. I need some new gear, but my budget is limited. I can get a M8 white edition package (brand new) including the 28 Elmarit for a fantastic price. The same price as a Canon 5D with the 50 1.2 lens. I am very indesicive... What would you do. I feel the Canon system is a bit too big, but at the same time, the M8 is "old". Any suggestions? /c It all depends, if you need excellent low light performance, auto-focus, a great LCD screen and high resolution pictures, go for the 5D mk II. The low noise at high-iso values combined with the 50mm f/1.2 lens will let you take pictures in the dark as if it were day time! If you like range finders, a smaller camera, and don't care too much about low light performance, super high resolution images, and you don't mind a bad LCD screen, pick up the M8. I own both a Canon 1Ds mk III and an M8. Depending on what I shoot, I pick one or the other. Model photography: Canon Children: Canon Sports: Canon Macro: Canon Travel: Leica Street photography: Leica Every day use: Leica Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platel Posted May 31, 2011 Share #8 Posted May 31, 2011 Also don't forget that the 5D is a full frame camera and the M8 a 1.3x crop factor camera. This influences the depth of field and the overall look of the images. Some other stuff that the Leica doesn't have: Weather sealing, automatic sensor cleaning, visible ISO, EV, settings in view finder, easy EV correction, movie capability, long battery life, a more acceptable price for body and lenses. But then again, you buy a Leica with your heart, not your brain I'm saving for an M9 by the way Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted May 31, 2011 Share #9 Posted May 31, 2011 As the real life gain of the 5DII was video why not pick up a light use MkI S/H ? In the UK around £650 ? It is the glass that counts as that will live on not be replaced by the next incremental model. Can't be long for the MkIII anyway. As a "long time" Leica user you could sample the 5D for a while and re-sell without much loss if you didn't like it. Bought new it will plummet as the III comes out. I fancied a Nikon Digital. It may only be 4MP but is a pro body 8fps: the D2H with 3,000 on the clock was £260. That from £2400 in 2004. It is very different to the M8 but for that money I will keep it for school sports. I knew picking up a D700 was silly, still high S/H price (£1400) soon to be replaced etc.I have £1200 change towards Leica glass. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platel Posted May 31, 2011 Share #10 Posted May 31, 2011 As the real life gain of the 5DII was video why not pick up a light use MkI S/H ? In the UK around £650 ? It is the glass that counts as that will live on not be replaced by the next incremental model. For me the first thing I would change is not the 5D/ 5D mk II, but the 50mm f/1.4 instead of the 50mm f/1.2. The image quality of the 50mm f/1.2 is disappointing. I don't agree that the real gain of the 5D mk II over the 5D is only video. It's higher resolution, lower noise, sensor cleaning and a much nicer LCD screen. Here in Holland it wouldn't be hard to find a second hand 5D mk II for €1500,-. I don't expect that price to drop a lot with the introduction of the mk III. My choice would be 5D mk II with 50mm f/1.4 (or 35mm f/1.4L). Or the M8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted May 31, 2011 Share #11 Posted May 31, 2011 I have a 5d MkII and an M8. The 5D MkII with Leica R glass gets used where the M8 struggles: mainly macro and longer telephoto work. The rest of the time it's the M8 or film. For what I use it for, the 5D MkII is extraordinarily good - particularly macro photography - where Live View allows focussing on the LCD screen magnified up to 10x. I recently took the 5D MkII and 80/1.4 Summilux-R out for some street shooting and although it coped very well I was constantly conscious of the shutter scream. Perhaps I'm too used to the relative quietness of my M8, Hexar RF, and MP but I shall probably stick to those for street shooting in the future. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted May 31, 2011 Share #12 Posted May 31, 2011 I don't agree that the real gain of the 5D mk II over the 5D is only video. It's higher resolution, lower noise, sensor cleaning and a much nicer LCD screen. It's opinion, but the video sold it as a new feature the rest was incremental. Is a II worth the price of 2x I's ? (forgetting the video) Are we wandering OT for a Leica forum? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 31, 2011 Share #13 Posted May 31, 2011 We haven't compared the 5D to the X100 yet.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platel Posted May 31, 2011 Share #14 Posted May 31, 2011 Is a II worth the price of 2x I's ? (forgetting the video I thought so, I updated my 5D directly and never used the video function of the mk II. But it is opinion indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted May 31, 2011 Share #15 Posted May 31, 2011 It's opinion, but the video sold it as a new feature the rest was incremental. Is a II worth the price of 2x I's ? (forgetting the video) Are we wandering OT for a Leica forum? You can't forget the video - that's why I ought a MkII (and used it for tv work). The response to the video facility in the MkII caught Canon by surprise (I've talked to one of their reps here about it - he says it won't happen again). The 5D2 is an outstanding image making tool. And we're well off topic. As farnz illustrates the two sysems have very different roles capabilities. Much as I like and use my 5D2, I prefer and use in preference whenever possible, my M8. For me as a user the M8 wins usabilitywise in the 'enjoyable photography experience' hands down, but that's just my opinion;). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clandrel Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted May 31, 2011 I bought it! $4500 for the lot, including the lens. I think it's a great deal. This a brand new, unused kit. Now I'm lusting for a silver 50mm Summilux ASPH:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platel Posted May 31, 2011 Share #17 Posted May 31, 2011 Congratulations! You won't regret it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted May 31, 2011 Share #18 Posted May 31, 2011 Well done !! That's an expensive way to stop us pontificating Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosa Posted June 1, 2011 Share #19 Posted June 1, 2011 M8 vs 5D? It does't matter what I'd do. These are completely different cameras and completely different approaches to photography. So you need to ask yourself if you want "to rangefinder or to dslr." If you loved your M9, that could be a strong hint. The M8 is not the M9, but it's still a fine tool if you want to RF. (For some reason, I feel like using camera types as verbs today.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 1, 2011 Share #20 Posted June 1, 2011 For me the first thing I would change is not the 5D/ 5D mk II, but the 50mm f/1.4 instead of the 50mm f/1.2. The image quality of the 50mm f/1.2 is disappointing. The 50 1.2L is weather sealed; the 50 1.4 is not. Important consideration for some. Regarding quality of the 50 1.2L, results I've seen are anything but disappointing. A friend of mine, who also owns an M9 and 50 Summilux asph, has the 5DII and 50 1.2L. He took both systems to Iceland for a recent trip, and the large prints from the Canon were surprisingly (to me) good. This, by the way, is consistent with reviews and commentary by Sean Reid, who owns the 50 1.2L and who of course is also a Leica owner and admirer. This aside, my preference goes to the M (for my style of shooting), and I think the OP will love his M8. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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