Got my M8

[deltoid1]

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Got it yesterday along with the 50mm 'lux. First impressions, small, but doesn't feel light. I do know that the M8 with the 'lux Is actually as light as my Canon 5D body alone. But the combo actually feels heavier than my 5D with a 50mm 1.4 attached. I think it's a combination of the weight concentrated in a smaller package, as well as the hard lines of the M8. Anyway, I am pleased by the small size of the M8 with lens.

 

Getting used to the rangefinder is coming along. Hard to get use to the frame lines at first. Also, focusing isn't always easier on a rangefinder either I find. Not all subjects have the larger lines that make a rangefinder easier. But again, that too I am getting used to it. I definitely see the advantage of using a magnifier.

 

I am so impressed with the quality of the 50 'lux. Quite amazing even wide open. With the the 5D I found myself never going wider than f2.8 with the 50mm 1.4 because I didn't like the hazy dreamy quality. With the lux I feel perfectly confident shooting at 1.4. No problems. And it is quite the equalizer to the M8's worse high ISO performance.

 

I find myself using manual exposure often, particular when shooting at IOS 640 and higher. At those ISO's, I like to expose slightly to the right, with the arrow and the center dot lit simultaneously. I don't understand why the camera can't show shutter speeds in the finder when shooting manually. Just seems it would take a circuit. For 4700, why not? What SLR system uses an optial view of the aperture ring in the finder? I forget. Anyway, seems like Leica could have designed that into the system years ago, but I guess that wasn't deemed important. Would have required that the aperture ring be in the same spot on each lens. I guess it was too much of a compromise. At any rate, I enjoy the manual settings, and I appreciate teh half stop detents for apertures and shutter speeds.

 

Well, that's it for now. I'll post some images later.