BLeventhal Posted October 31, 2011 Share #1  Posted October 31, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) About four months ago I posted one of those... "thinking about an M8" thread. In the end, I walked away. Enter late October and a clean (but clearly used) M8 was in a local shop. I took a few test shots w/ a 90mm tele-elmarit (old/ skinny black), and processed the images in Capture One & CS5...  Two days forward... Looks as if I own them. My M8 has a litlle more than11,000 actuations, and was owned & shot by a salesman @ the shop. With a 90 day warranty & a good relationship with the store, I'm pretty happy... hope this little experiment works out, as I think my lovely wife won't forgive me if it doesn't ;-).  BTW, I'm a pretty serious nature shooter in MN, (US) and will be playing with the M8 as a field camera to be used along side my 5D-2. If you're curious about mywork and how things progress as I enter the world of rangefinders, check out my blog.... http://Http://bruceleventhal.blogspot.com  Thanks for all the forum tips about life w/ a digital Leica, Bruce Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 Hi BLeventhal, Take a look here A new chapter.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Clive Murray-White Posted October 31, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted October 31, 2011 Well done - if you wear glasses you'll need a diopter, I have the Elmarit 2.8/90 and enjoy it a great deal, though I doubt if you'll be using it for Birds in Flight too often, that's probably best left to auto focus on the 5D-2, but landscapes that will be another story - enjoy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted October 31, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted October 31, 2011 Hi Bruce, it does NOT surprise me a bit that you found a 90 elmarit to your liking, I have an R mount one I use on an EOS SLR that is stunningly scrumptious. The Leica M mount (rangefinder) and R mount (SLR) Ninety Elmarits used identical optical designs (iirc) for quite awhile, if for the whole run of the R SLR line. If you have a black 90 elmarit (again iirc) we have optically duplicative lenses. It is a design that is considered to be nearly apochromatic and I wouldn't argue with anyone asserting that proposition either. Â Please post some images in the M8 Photography Thread if you might be so inclined. If you acquire any Old Glass... we have a thread for that here, too. Â I am still a M Photography Newb so I don't have much advice to give on any operational fronts. Well, other than: M8s are a heck of a lot slower in operation and computationally than just about any canon dslr! Â Also, don't overlook both the Voigtlander (Cosina) lenses, the Zeiss M offerings, or taking a flyer on some of the older screwmount lenses. LTM lenses, with the right adapter plates, they turn functionally into M mount lenses and with some adapters are fully codable. Note: buying Russian rangefinder lenses is called Russian Roullete for a reason so just like with any form of gambling, keep it cheap, keep it fun, and have limited expectation of easily winning a lot in the bargain ;-). Â Sincerely Richard in Michigan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted October 31, 2011 Share #4  Posted October 31, 2011 ...I took a few test shots w/ a 90mm tele-elmarit (old/ skinny black)... You mean an Elmarit 90/2.8 1st version (# 11129) i guess. The 2nd version (# 11807) as well as the "fat" and "thin" Tele-Elmarits (# 11800) have no vulcanite covering and are shorter. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/165217-a-new-chapter/?do=findComment&comment=1831457'>More sharing options...
BLeventhal Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share #5 Â Posted November 1, 2011 My lens is a newer vintage... no vulcanite and a more "modern" knurled focusing ring. I believe that it is a tele-elmarit (but not tele-elmarit M). The lens reminds me of my old 90mm Tele-elmar C that I owned with my former Leica CL (used it quite a bit in the mid 90's)... the last Leica camera I owned. Â What is even more exciting is the 35 f2.5 Voightlander lens my dealer took in. It's in better shape than my camera, came with the hood and filter... $350. Â Does anyone know how to 6-bit code this lens? Â I hope to shoot the gear this weekend and will share once I see something that I like. cheers, bruce Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted November 1, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted November 1, 2011 Match Technical produces a kit that allows a 6-bit code to be imprinted with a black marker. The kit includes a template, marker, and guide to select the proper code. Â Or you can send the lens to one of several shops that offer to machine the 6 place code holders into the bezel and fill with white or black paint to complete the code. Â Leica will also machine the sequence into Leica lenses mfg. before the 6-bit introduction, but this is an expensive option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 1, 2011 Share #7  Posted November 1, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) My lens is a newer vintage... no vulcanite and a more "modern" knurled focusing ring. I believe that it is a tele-elmarit (but not tele-elmarit M). The lens reminds me of my old 90mm Tele-elmar C that I owned with my former Leica CL (used it quite a bit in the mid 90's)... Then it must the so-called "thin" Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 is it? If so, great little lens indeed. I have been carrying it for decades all over the world. Better get a good hood for it as in tends to flare a lot when shooting against the sun or other light sources. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/165217-a-new-chapter/?do=findComment&comment=1831583'>More sharing options...
BLeventhal Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share #8 Â Posted November 1, 2011 My tele-elmarit 90 came with a hood & cap that sits inverted on the hood... Makes the camera and body less discreet than I want..., but now w/ the 35 Voight, the M8 is nearly invisible, especially when compared to my 5D mkII & 300 f2.8 IS ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 1, 2011 Share #9  Posted November 1, 2011 Must be the metal hood # 12575 which is still sold with the current Macro-Elmar 90/4. It is efficient and takes little room in reversed position, even when using a filter. Otherwise, there is a rubber hood which was sold with the "thin" Tele-Elmarit in the seventies (hood # 11250 + hood ring # 11251 & hood cap # 11252). Only problem is it accepts Series 5.5 filters only. Also there is the rubber hood of the Elmar-C 90/4 you referred to above (hood # 12517 + hood cap # 14191). Can be screwed onto the IR-cut filter of the lens if any (below on the right). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/165217-a-new-chapter/?do=findComment&comment=1831837'>More sharing options...
BLeventhal Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share #10 Â Posted November 1, 2011 Thanks for the images. That's my lens and I have an older version of the hood on the left. The glass is clean, but the barrel has some paint loss. I paid $495 for the pair... Seemed like a reaonable price for a semi-modern lens. Â Regards, bruce Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted November 1, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted November 1, 2011 The TELE ELAMRIT 90 is a very fine lens. I have owned 5 different copies of this lens. They are excellent portrait lenses, with beautiful, clean colors & a pleasing oof area. The dof wide open can be tricky, but when it works, it's very pleasing. Since I prefer to use my Summilux 80 with my DMR whenever possible, I find it easier to purchase a copy for the T-E 90 for use for specific work where I think it gives a cleaner, more concise image, with a deeper dof at 2.8. I find that the lens just lingers in repose most of the time so I just sell it, mostly for what my costs were & sometimes a bit more. Â I'm probably talking out of school, but the R90 for use with R8 film cameras or with the D3 (which becomes a 180mm 2,8) is also an extremely fine lens. I like it's rendering even better than the M version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLeventhal Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share #12 Â Posted November 7, 2011 Sad day... Â After using my "new" M8 to do some landscape photography I made a discovery that forced me to return the camera and lens. Â Shooting at iso 160, I found a line that ran down the middle of the frame along the vertical axis. The line was visible in the blue sky. I tried processing the files in Capture One, Aperture 3.x, and Photoshop CS-5. It was not the typical "green or red line" common to the camera, but it seemed to be a line that divided the sensor in half. To the left of the line, the image was slightly under exposed (.1 stop or so), but just enough that it made for a strange output. This was visible wherever a contiguous tone was present. Â If I were a street shooter I'd probably never notice nor care, but as a landscape shooter where skies and water are often key elements in my images, this was a big deal. Â Yesterday was one of the hardest "gear days" for me as I sheepishly returned the camera and lens that I have wanted to use and own for so long. Â So until I find an M9 that I can afford (and convince my wife that I should own ) I guess I'm done with Leica RF bodies for now. Â Sadly yours, bruce Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 7, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted November 7, 2011 Awww Bruce! That's an awful experience. Hope to see you back here before to awful long. Â RLW Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 11, 2011 Share #14  Posted November 11, 2011 Sad day... After using my "new" M8 to do some landscape photography I made a discovery that forced me to return the camera and lens.  Shooting at iso 160, I found a line that ran down the middle of the frame along the vertical axis. The line was visible in the blue sky. I tried processing the files in Capture One, Aperture 3.x, and Photoshop CS-5. It was not the typical "green or red line" common to the camera, but it seemed to be a line that divided the sensor in half. To the left of the line, the image was slightly under exposed (.1 stop or so), but just enough that it made for a strange output. This was visible wherever a contiguous tone was present.  If I were a street shooter I'd probably never notice nor care, but as a landscape shooter where skies and water are often key elements in my images, this was a big deal.  Yesterday was one of the hardest "gear days" for me as I sheepishly returned the camera and lens that I have wanted to use and own for so long.  So until I find an M9 that I can afford (and convince my wife that I should own ) I guess I'm done with Leica RF bodies for now.  Sadly yours, bruce The shop needs to send the camera in for a sensor/motherboard replacement anyway. I would make a deal with them for the repaired camera if I were you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted November 11, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted November 11, 2011 The shop needs to send the camera in for a sensor/motherboard replacement anyway. I would make a deal with them for the repaired camera if I were you. Â +1 The M8 is a great camera, no it isn't full frame, but so what? Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 11, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted November 11, 2011 +1 on that suggestion JAAPV Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 11, 2011 Share #17 Â Posted November 11, 2011 +1 The M8 is a great camera, no it isn't full frame, but so what?... Sure and tiny 90s like Tele-Elmarit or Macro-Elmar make me rediscover the 135mm (more exactly 120mm) FoV thanks to the M8. I've never used 135mm lenses that often before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted November 11, 2011 Share #18 Â Posted November 11, 2011 Sure and tiny 90s like Tele-Elmarit or Macro-Elmar make me rediscover the 135mm (more exactly 120mm) FoV thanks to the M8. I've never used 135mm lenses that often before. With the crop factor, my old 135mm lens behaves like a 180mm lens on the M8, perfect for ground to air aircraft photography! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 12, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted November 12, 2011 With the crop factor, my old 135mm lens behaves like a 180mm lens on the M8, perfect for ground to air aircraft photography! Not too bad for marine either (M8.2, Elmarit 135/2.8, 6MB file). http://tinyurl.com/7eewkub Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLeventhal Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share #20 Â Posted November 12, 2011 Thanks for the advice... I am still wishing that the camera was with me. The M8 is the first camera that I have thoroughly enjoyed since selling off my Contax SLR's to move into digital. Â I am considering the sale of my Canon 5D2 to put towards an M9... Though I would happily give another M8 a try if I could find one that has been serviced and under warranty. I shoot too much to have to worry about a camera that might fail... I think, with all of the reported sensor issues, one must own two M8's if they shoot as much as I do. Sadly, this would require a $4800 investment, and thus the sale of of my current gear to fund a pair o bodies & the three lenses I would need. Â I will try again when the right gear crosses my path. Regards, bruce Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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