farnz Posted November 28, 2011 Share #21 Posted November 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) 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 not about comparing whether it's better value for money etc than what can be bought today. For example you wouldn't say that an E type Jag is not a classic just because you can buy a Prius for a fraction of the Jag's price and the Prius is more economical etc. The E type Jag is just a classic. (Cross-posted with Ming Rider.) Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 28, 2011 Posted November 28, 2011 Hi farnz, Take a look here Do you now regard the M8 as a Classic?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Sp12 Posted November 28, 2011 Share #22 Posted November 28, 2011 I don't feel a digital camera can be a classic. Especially one without a full-frame sensor. It was a decent camera for its time and has fallen behind since then. The M3-M7/MP are classics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 28, 2011 Share #23 Posted November 28, 2011 Speaking as someone who has gone the route of adapting R lenses to EOS: It IS an excellent route to put R glass on an dSLR without the trials and tribulations of the DMR. BUT: It does not replace a Rangefinder because, by definition, it is an SLR. A photographer can't have the operational 'advantages' of an RF without using an RF Camera. (quote marks cuz the things an rf camera brings to the table aren't universally considered advantages - me: I'm in the big big advantages with an rf camp) Your route and option is entirely valid. Your economic arguments are also entirely valid. Others weigh those arguments and still make the decision to get an M8, M8.2, or if they have a really good divorce lawyer: get an M9. :-) Differences in life give the world it's spice and many wonders to enjoy. Peace Richard in Michigan 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...
Stateowned Posted November 28, 2011 Share #24 Posted November 28, 2011 i also do not understand why one would go for manual focus on a SLR.. the point in choosing the SLR, so it seems to me is to have autofocus. i agree that the Carl zeiss ZE or ZF.2 are great lenses and manual focus.. but if i would ever sell my leica set for DSLR again i would opt for quick AF lenses rather then continueing on MF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 28, 2011 Share #25 Posted November 28, 2011 i also do not understand why one would go for manual focus on a SLR... Gives me better focus control with a good split image focus screen but AF is useful as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oronet commander Posted November 28, 2011 Share #26 Posted November 28, 2011 i also do not understand why one would go for manual focus on a SLR.. Just try to focus fast lenses wide open relying only on AF, and you'll do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 28, 2011 Share #27 Posted November 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) i also do not understand why one would go for manual focus on a SLR.. the point in choosing the SLR, so it seems to me is to have autofocus. i agree that the Carl zeiss ZE or ZF.2 are great lenses and manual focus.. but if i would ever sell my leica set for DSLR again i would opt for quick AF lenses rather then continueing on MF. Because my SLR does not have autofocus perhaps? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted November 28, 2011 Share #28 Posted November 28, 2011 i also do not understand why one would go for manual focus on a SLR... Because in low light AF will hunt and often fail to find focus. There are times when AF is useful but this isn't one of them. I use exclusively (non-AF) R lenses on a Canon 5D Mk2 and I din't miss AF. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 28, 2011 Share #29 Posted November 28, 2011 "Classic" about digital cameras is imho a term that has yet to find a role of its own, while "historical milestone" is someway already "defined" for digicameras (and there are some); obviously M8 is an historical milestone in Leica history... btw, it is worth to point that Leica is the oldest photo-optical Company that still survives (and, as of today, survives well) in the digital age... M8 was surely decisive to allow this : M9 is still a bit young... but maybe one day we will be able to say "M8=comeback to survival / M9=comeback to success / MX=comeback to leadership... ;)" "Classic" imho can be applied to some digital devices... some computers... maybe some phones... the 1st iPOD maybe; fact is that "classic" generally refers to "still valued for using, notwithstanding age" (think of some cars : a Giulietta Spider I can assure is still VERY enjoyable): but USING is the great question mark in our field... and in digital in general... give a look to what can mean to try maintaining some old classic computers...http://www.hpmuseum.net/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianv Posted November 28, 2011 Share #30 Posted November 28, 2011 The M8 is a "Classic" camera in the sense that it provides us with a "classic user interface" to make pictures. It is an interchangeable lens rangefinder camera. Made in the 21st century, it provides "full backwards compatibility" with lenses made from 80 years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
theendlesshouse Posted November 28, 2011 Share #31 Posted November 28, 2011 In the same way the M5 is a classic yes. For me it will always represent an all time low in the Leica marketing machine. The M9 is the classic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 28, 2011 Share #32 Posted November 28, 2011 The M8, like the M3 and M5 before it, is an evolutionary dead-end. In each case the successor has been more usable and more commercially viable. I won't lament its passage to landfill. It is many things but it is no classic. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomv Posted November 28, 2011 Share #33 Posted November 28, 2011 The M8, like the M3 and M5 before it, is an evolutionary dead-end. In each case the successor has been more usable and more commercially viable. I won't lament its passage to landfill. It is many things but it is no classic. Regards, Bill Hmmm, I suggest a Porsche 356 is a classic, yet its successors are very much more useable and are definitely commercially more viable. The definition of a classic imo is not being commercially viable, but being highly desirable because of inherent uniqueness. Perhaps from the first day on. The first digital M should really be considered a classic. But this is only of interest if you own one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 28, 2011 Share #34 Posted November 28, 2011 Double Ditto on that Comment! +2 Just try to focus fast lenses wide open relying only on AF, and you'll do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 28, 2011 Share #35 Posted November 28, 2011 ... he slides the blade in cleanly between the ribs. The only question now is: Can he make it out alive after dispatching his target so efficiently! On a less snarky note: the flaws in the M8 have been flogged relentlessly and overflowed many a forum thread and posting. I own one. I acknowledge them. I've encountered many of them. I love my M8. It is my only realistic route into dRF. I cannot choose film for assorted reasons, the M9 is far outside my acquirability range let alone the affordability factor, and the Epson dRF is a quaint little branch in the history of rangefinders, but not sustained as an endeavour. Kind of makes the M8 flaws a take it or leave it situation and I chose take em. The gaining of an M Camera Operational Experience has been splendid and, on balance, outweighs the flaws in my eyes. :-) Is it a choice worthy for another? Not my problem cuz it's not my choice. :-) In the same way the M5 is a classic yes. For me it will always represent an all time low in the Leica marketing machine. The M9 is the classic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikP Posted November 29, 2011 Share #36 Posted November 29, 2011 ... he slides the blade in cleanly between the ribs.The only question now is: Can he make it out alive after dispatching his target so efficiently! On a less snarky note: the flaws in the M8 have been flogged relentlessly and overflowed many a forum thread and posting. I own one. I acknowledge them. I've encountered many of them. I love my M8. It is my only realistic route into dRF. I cannot choose film for assorted reasons, the M9 is far outside my acquirability range let alone the affordability factor, and the Epson dRF is a quaint little branch in the history of rangefinders, but not sustained as an endeavour. Kind of makes the M8 flaws a take it or leave it situation and I chose take em. The gaining of an M Camera Operational Experience has been splendid and, on balance, outweighs the flaws in my eyes. :-) Is it a choice worthy for another? Not my problem cuz it's not my choice. :-) Beeing around digital stuff as long as I can remember - spectrum 48k, commendor and forward - shooting all kind of Nikon, (D1, D70, D700), compacts, video, The interesting thing when I started to think about an M8 - reading the Leica forum - was all the publicitet of problems. Sensor, shutter, IR and so on. I felt really bad about it and my thoughts rested for one year or so. When I finally decided to buy an M8.....its really a greate little camera. Yes it is slow. Yes it is not digitally advanced. Yes it writes slowly to memory card. Yes its not full frame. But so what! Its just lovely at what it does - nothing more nothing less. Will never sell my AF system since my kids are into different sports. But when friends and family gather - its a joy to bring the M8 for the rendering of the glass and low light handling. Also the slowre shutter spreeds possible and so on. Its a rangefinder...... and a bit classic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianv Posted November 29, 2011 Share #37 Posted November 29, 2011 How many other 5 year old Digital cameras sell for 50% of their price when new? It's a good camera. The M9 is an evolution of the M8, same body, same mechanics, same family of processors, and the same family of sensors. Switching between an M9 and an M8 is about the same as switching between an M3 and an M2. Or between a Nikon S3 and a Nikon SP. But that is a different story. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fWord Posted November 29, 2011 Share #38 Posted November 29, 2011 i also do not understand why one would go for manual focus on a SLR.. For the sake of using manual focus lenses on an SLR of course! The Leica R lenses were most enjoyable when used on my Canon DSLR. They're of great quality as well and in many cases, more affordable than Canon's own lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 29, 2011 Share #39 Posted November 29, 2011 Beeing around digital stuff as long as I can remember - spectrum 48k, commendor and forward - shooting all kind of Nikon, (D1, D70, D700), compacts, video, The interesting thing when I started to think about an M8 - reading the Leica forum - was all the publicitet of problems. Sensor, shutter, IR and so on. I felt really bad about it and my thoughts rested for one year or so. When I finally decided to buy an M8.....its really a greate little camera. Yes it is slow. Yes it is not digitally advanced. Yes it writes slowly to memory card. Yes its not full frame. But so what! Its just lovely at what it does - nothing more nothing less. Will never sell my AF system since my kids are into different sports. But when friends and family gather - its a joy to bring the M8 for the rendering of the glass and low light handling. Also the slowre shutter spreeds possible and so on. Its a rangefinder...... and a bit classic There is also emmense truth in that old canard about rangefinders being less intimidating for subjects and making it easier for a photographer to just blend in to events in ways a 5DMKII with a 35f1.4L will not allow. There are many more routes to great images and scenes or events well captured than shots with sharpness that makes your eyes bleed or jaw dropping contrast or depths of shadow shadow detail. One of those routes is a fast lens wide open on a rangefinder being hand held in available light. :-) proved it again to myself at a recent dinner party, the images and moments literally made the host cry when she saw them. those fleeting moments were captured so much easier through my m8's viewfinder than peering through an slr's prism. the relationship with my companions was completely different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 29, 2011 Share #40 Posted November 29, 2011 +1 For the sake of using manual focus lenses on an SLR of course! The Leica R lenses were most enjoyable when used on my Canon DSLR. They're of great quality as well and in many cases, more affordable than Canon's own lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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