Guest Ming Rider Posted November 26, 2011 Share #1 Posted November 26, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's just over 5 years since the M8 was released - the first Digital Leica M. Is it now time to forgive her quaint eccentricities, love her for the sexy lady she is and regard her as a modern Classic? Or is she destined to be the 'Poor' Man's Leica? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 26, 2011 Posted November 26, 2011 Hi Guest Ming Rider, Take a look here Do you now regard the M8 as a Classic?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
farnz Posted November 26, 2011 Share #2 Posted November 26, 2011 I prefer to look at my M8 as a very capable camera that allows me to shoot infrared when I choose. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 27, 2011 Share #3 Posted November 27, 2011 Just the last crop M i guess. The next APS Leica will be an EVIL probably. Oh well for the digital CL of my dreams... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianv Posted November 27, 2011 Share #4 Posted November 27, 2011 It's only 5 years old- in another 15 years, maybe regard it as a classic. Spent Thanksgiving at Jamestown and Williamsburg. Kept a Zeiss C-Sonnar on the M8 and a 35/1.2 Nokton or 8.5cm f2 Nikkor on the M9. Turned out to be a good two-body/3-lens combo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted November 27, 2011 Share #5 Posted November 27, 2011 I wouldnt regard it as a classic, but a great camera which started a platform for something thay came better afterwards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 27, 2011 Share #6 Posted November 27, 2011 At the young age of five: A Milestone. A Classic? To early to hang that moniker upon it, at least in absolute terms. In the hyper reality of digital camera-dom where cameras can have 6 month product cycles and the technology inside of them is an everchanging variable with no such thing as absolutes or forevers, it is very much a 'classic' but it is a strictly localized moniker in my opinion. My opinion? No. But I'll assauge my grief taking pictures with the dang thing! :-D Peace Richard in Michigan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 27, 2011 Share #7 Posted November 27, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sounds like fun Brian. I'm tripping over how to post images at the moment to M8 Photography thread, but intend to. Share a few if you care to. R. in Mi. It's only 5 years old- in another 15 years, maybe regard it as a classic. Spent Thanksgiving at Jamestown and Williamsburg. Kept a Zeiss C-Sonnar on the M8 and a 35/1.2 Nokton or 8.5cm f2 Nikkor on the M9. Turned out to be a good two-body/3-lens combo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianv Posted November 27, 2011 Share #8 Posted November 27, 2011 A few uploads from the M8 with C-Sonnar and M9 with Nikkor 85/2 here: Williamsburg and Jamestown, Thanksgiving 2011 - SeriousCompacts.com Gallery will be adding to it. Jamestown Settlement puts on demonstrations of food preparation as done by the 17th century settlers and Indians on Thanksgiving Day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 27, 2011 Share #9 Posted November 27, 2011 Looks like you had fun! Also looks like the backlighting was quite the challenge, as well! R. in Mi. A few uploads from the M8 with C-Sonnar and M9 with Nikkor 85/2 here: Williamsburg and Jamestown, Thanksgiving 2011 - SeriousCompacts.com Gallery will be adding to it. Jamestown Settlement puts on demonstrations of food preparation as done by the 17th century settlers and Indians on Thanksgiving Day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikP Posted November 27, 2011 Share #10 Posted November 27, 2011 It's just over 5 years since the M8 was released - the first Digital Leica M. Is it now time to forgive her quaint eccentricities, love her for the sexy lady she is and regard her as a modern Classic? Or is she destined to be the 'Poor' Man's Leica? 5 years in the digital world with a new firmware released - intact concept, all Leica glass work with it - for me - just to short digital lifecycles - yes this is a classic:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 27, 2011 Share #11 Posted November 27, 2011 Depends on the meaning that you assign to the word classic. If you mean as a camera that marked a turning point in Leica's history, of course, as a camera that remains desirable for far longer than its contemparies, yes , as a machine that can be used indefinetly, no. There will come a moment in time that the last M8 becomes irrepairable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikP Posted November 27, 2011 Share #12 Posted November 27, 2011 Depends on the meaning that you assign to the word classic. If you mean as a camera that marked a turning point in Leica's history, of course, as a camera that remains desirable for far longer than its contemparies, yes , as a machine that can be used indefinetly, no. There will come a moment in time that the last M8 becomes irrepairable. It would be interesting to understand if a "replacement kit" inside the mechanical shell would be possible many years from now....and thereby making the digital housing a "for ever machine". At least the thought has some sense - as the auto manufacture sells the stamping tools to à third party supplier when the new upcoming model is due for production. Mabe the demand is to low Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ming Rider Posted November 27, 2011 Share #13 Posted November 27, 2011 Using the automotive analogy, there is still a thriving business for the VW Camper Van for parts and tuning items and that was first built in the 50's. I don't see how the M8/8.2/9 can become irrepairable? Surely, in 20 years you'll be able to buy the components in Maplins? The technology used will be deemed 'quaint' and 'old boys' will repair them in their sheds (like film cameras). The M3 was 'complicated' and 'advanced' when it came out. There has been (in the last couple of years), an explosion of china/taiwan manufacturers offering items for it - original ideas as well as copies. To me it's a (modern) classic as it was the first of the breed, set the standard (is the M9 'really' that different?), has aquired an Up & Down price fluctuation in the used market place and (to quote Jaap), is still very much desirable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted November 27, 2011 Share #14 Posted November 27, 2011 I would say it is a classic. Its the first of its breed and, bar the many complaints, all of us who use one know what it is capable of. There´s a very special/exciting feeling when you choose to take it with you out on an assignment, can´t say that about many other cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted November 27, 2011 Share #15 Posted November 27, 2011 the first Digital Leica Mthe answer is in your question Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Murray-White Posted November 27, 2011 Share #16 Posted November 27, 2011 I had a bad case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) sometime ago, culminating in a rather furtive purchase of an M8 + a few lenses etc etc, sure I believed it was going to be the best thing since sliced bread but chronic GAS waits for no one..................or does it? I've regularly scoured eBay to satisfy my addiction, been tempted on occasions, made half hearted forays towards various things and nearly always, find myself thinking what would I want that for, my M8 takes better picture than that. Who would have ever thought that an M8 could cure GAS? that makes it a classic for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stateowned Posted November 27, 2011 Share #17 Posted November 27, 2011 i've seen and handled the white edition 275 pieces of the leica m8.. and it was something special i feel.. my regular black one feels less "classic" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfage Posted November 27, 2011 Share #18 Posted November 27, 2011 I'm sure it was a great camera but based upon what one can buy for the same price (NIB) today, there's no way I would buy one for over $2,000... or $3,000 for an 8.2 on ebay. It's 10mp. It's not full frame (APS-H). You can get a 5dM2 or D700 for 2 grand and change, NIB. And even if you're stuck on lenses, you can buy a cron 50 R for about 400 bucks, plus an adapter or Leitax converter for 100 bucks, so you're in to a 5D or 700 plus Leica glass for what people want out of an M8 with no lens. "silliness" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 27, 2011 Share #19 Posted November 27, 2011 Apples vs oranges again. If one wants a digital rangefinder the only choice is M8, M8.2, M9, R-D1, R-D1s or R-D1x. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ming Rider Posted November 28, 2011 Share #20 Posted November 28, 2011 I'm sure it was a great camera but based upon what one can buy for the same price (NIB) today, there's no way I would buy one for over $2,000... or $3,000 for an 8.2 on ebay. It's 10mp. It's not full frame (APS-H). You can get a 5dM2 or D700 for 2 grand and change, NIB. And even if you're stuck on lenses, you can buy a cron 50 R for about 400 bucks, plus an adapter or Leitax converter for 100 bucks, so you're in to a 5D or 700 plus Leica glass for what people want out of an M8 with no lens. "silliness" The question is not what's best, it's whether it's a classic or not ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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