Hammerhai Posted February 23, 2012 Share #1 Posted February 23, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello all. Well, I finally did it. I bought a used M8 to go along with my older film body Leica's. Problem is, I know very little about digital photography and need your help. Are there any must have accessories? Or, any advice that you may give? For example, what is the best SD Card for the M8? Do I need an extra battery? Is there a computer program (PhotoShop, etc.) that is better than others; especially in regards to Leica? I have a 28 Summicron and 50 Summicron, which equates to having a 35 and 75 on the M8 right? Simply, as you look at not just your M8, but everything that you have bought to make it perform at its peak, I would like to know what those items are. And, naturally, would be greatly appreciative of any and all responses. Lastly, I apologize if this is a "duplicate" post, but did not find another thread that I thought fit my question. Thanks again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 Hi Hammerhai, Take a look here Must Have M8 Accessories & Other Questions. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted February 23, 2012 Share #2 Posted February 23, 2012 Welcome. I guess there is only one of your questions that will get an unanimous answer: get a spare battery! On all the rest you will get conflicting answers. I suggest you start reading the forum but more importantly shooting the camera to get a feel for what works for you. A good place to start is the M9 FAQ. There is much of interest for M8 owners in there as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzwave Posted February 23, 2012 Share #3 Posted February 23, 2012 Wellcome to M8 Club, you need good speed SD card (SanDisk Extreme/Ultra,Lexar Proffesional,Kingston) ,I always shot RAW (DNG), so need bigger capacity > 8GB . Software for post processing. I recommend LightRoom, good feature and user friendly.You can find free LR Preset (workflow) in internet. regards Ronni Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbealnz Posted February 23, 2012 Share #4 Posted February 23, 2012 Welcome as well. You will love it, I am sure. I bought one, to test the water, and am selling already, got the M9. The M8 is a fantastic camera. Get an I/R filter to fit your 28, if there is one thing the M8 does well it is I/R photography. Try it, you'll be a believer. Battery? Yes get a spare, I did. Lightroom for me as well. Gary Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammerhai Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share #5 Posted February 23, 2012 Awesome! Thank you so much for the help so far. I will definitely take all your suggestions to heart. I hope to see you all out there doing what we love... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimofnyc Posted February 23, 2012 Share #6 Posted February 23, 2012 One of the most useful accessories I have for my M8 is the "Thumbs Up" from Match Technical match Technical Services Home Page I think it really helps to get a better grip on the camera. I can shoot one handed with it. But no mater how I hold the M8 I always wrap the neck strap around my wrist a few times just to have some extra insurance should things get out of hand... Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Bill Posted February 23, 2012 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) "Do I need an extra battery? " Probably. When the battery goes dead, it goes quickly. "Is there a computer program (PhotoShop, etc.) that is better than others; especially in regards to Leica?" Not that I know of. Many here use Lightroom; I use Aperture and am satisfied. "I have a 28 Summicron and 50 Summicron, which equates to having a 35 and 75 on the M8 right?" Not quite; 50x1.3 = 65, not 75. "Simply, as you look at not just your M8, but everything that you have bought to make it perform at its peak, I would like to know what those items are." You MUST have IR cut filters for your lenses. I like the Thumbsup, but it's not essential. I also have a Billingham Hadley Pro bag with which I'm very pleased. If you search you will find many "bag" threads with the same -- and other -- recommendations. And I bought the Leica tabletop tripod and a small ball head (careful -- there are at least two, one of which doesn't fit), mostly because I just wanted it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted February 23, 2012 Share #8 Posted February 23, 2012 Welcome to the M8 Community, +1 for getting Lightroom Being a novice coming into digital, I would go the LR route because the control names and what you do with them will likely be more intuitive. eg: fill light, exposure +/-, etc are easier to wrap around than indoctrinating into the ins and outs of curves, levels, and etc in Photoshop. I dearly love my Photoshop, but I've used it since 2.0. LR is much more intuitive for adjusting images, even for me. +1 for getting a Fast and HighGrade Memory Card Jazzware's list of model names looks great to me. +1 for getting an 8GB Card because... +1 Bilion to Using Just DNG while you are shooting with your M8. DNG's files are bigger and roomy memory cards will let you shoot a lot of pictures, fast cards will prevent the card from being a slow down as you shoot, and the M8 will process your shots and get them onto the memory card faster when shooting DNG Only. FYI: It is my considered opinion that you will enjoy shooting with your M8 the most by always shooting DNG Only. The jpeg image files generated In Camera by the M8 are compromised piles of yuck which are only appropriate a small range of situations. The unfortunate price of getting these yucky images 'in camera' is that you will be bogging down the camera's computer and bogging down your you experience along with it. + Infinity to a Spare Battery! No electrons means no shooting pictures and it's not worth losing the ability to shoot when you pull the camera out because the batter pooped out, forgot to be charged, shooting all day and wore it out, the list goes on and on. Think of Buying a Spare Batt as equivalent to buying spare rolls of film 'just in case'. :-D OEM Batteries are preferable for a couple of reasons, but aftermarket batteries aren't without economic merit. I shoot with aftermarkets: they're what came with my used M8 actually. I've seen little reason to upgrade, but I'm not an Oracle of Batteries either :-) I could make many more comments, but this post is long already. Sincerely Richard Ward Wellcome to M8 Club, you need good speed SD card (SanDisk Extreme/Ultra,Lexar Proffesional,Kingston) ,I always shot RAW (DNG), so need bigger capacity > 8GB . Software for post processing. I recommend LightRoom, good feature and user friendly.You can find free LR Preset (workflow) in internet. regards Ronni Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JMF Posted February 23, 2012 Share #9 Posted February 23, 2012 Congrats ! Yes, you'll need an extra battery and IR/UV filters, hand coding the lenses. You could use Cornerfix, a free software available on internet. I used it with success with a 21 Elmarit to get rid of the harsh cyan vignetting before I bought the coder kit. And yes, you definately will appreciate a thumbs up. I prefer the Thumbs Up #3 as it's longer/wider and fits well with the Leica Hand Grip. I use a magnifier x1,25 with my 50 Summicron and 90 Elmar. And a soft release to complete the list ! Hope this helps, cheers, Jean-Marc. 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/173336-must-have-m8-accessories-other-questions/?do=findComment&comment=1935295'>More sharing options...
Hammerhai Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share #10 Posted February 24, 2012 So, in summation: Computer Program: Lightroom (Sounds like this Mac user will like its intuitiveness.) Extra Battery (OEM brand) IR/UV Filter (Leica brand) SD Card: ScanDisk Extreme/Ultra or Lexar Professional > 8GB Things that make life that much better: Soft Release Thumbs Up Case Thanks again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted February 24, 2012 Share #11 Posted February 24, 2012 Hello Hammerhai, Welcome to the Forum. Don't forget: There is no end of places you can find to put a small solid table tripod w/soft, non-marking slippers which has a large ballhead, a cable release & a rigid lens hood for each lens. The lens hoods more for protection from inadvertant impact & damage rather than simply for flare suppression. Even w/ no place solid to hold it on or against, against my chest it gives me +2 Stops of stability. Don't forget to use the cable release. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 24, 2012 Share #12 Posted February 24, 2012 There have been issues with Sandisk cards. No problem with my Transcend class 10 8GB cards. Also B+W (Schneider) UV/IR filters are cheaper but as good as Leicas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 24, 2012 Share #13 Posted February 24, 2012 For the battery I would strongly advise original Leica ones. Third party ones are variable in quality and very often give problems with the camera thinking they are empty when they are in fact full So, in summation: Computer Program: Lightroom (Sounds like this Mac user will like its intuitiveness.) Extra Battery (OEM brand) IR/UV Filter (Leica brand) SD Card: ScanDisk Extreme/Ultra or Lexar Professional > 8GB Things that make life that much better: Soft Release Thumbs Up Case Thanks again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted February 24, 2012 Share #14 Posted February 24, 2012 Spare batteries and UV/IR filters. Beyond that I'd say its personal preference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efix Posted February 24, 2012 Share #15 Posted February 24, 2012 Two items that I've come to love: 1) The Leicagoodies Sling. It attaches to the side of your M8, in place of or in addition to a strap. Slide it over two fingers, and you can comfortably carry and operate your M8 all day. I find it much nicer than a wrist or neck strap. 2) The 9days mini soft release. Hardly larger in diameter than the shutter button itself, it makes pressing the shutter easier and a much nicer experience. I wouldn't want to be without it anymore. (It seems they don't offer this particular version any longer.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clook Posted February 24, 2012 Share #16 Posted February 24, 2012 28mm, 50mm, Capture One, Spare Battery and Whi-bal card covers all bases for me. Used this combo for nearly 4 years with two bodies, M8 & M8.2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted February 24, 2012 Share #17 Posted February 24, 2012 I use the Leica handgrip and a wrist strap. The grip makes carrying the camera in one hand feel much more secure. Other than that as has been said, filters, and a spare battery. Like Jaap I use Leica ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted February 29, 2012 Share #18 Posted February 29, 2012 For me it is Thumbs up Finger sling (homemmade with suede and ring) like this but home made Get your SLING for the Leica M! Small bag so you never leave without your camera (with spare battery, cloth for cleaning the prints off the veiw finder and possibly another lens) I prefer to choose before I go UV/IR filters Cleaning accessories (blower, lens cloth and a dust brush) 2 of 4Mb cards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted February 29, 2012 Share #19 Posted February 29, 2012 PS if you look on the Leica site you will get the exact focal length then multiply by 4/3 The 28mm is nearer 38mm, the 35mm is nearer 47mm, the 50mm can close to 69mm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted February 29, 2012 Share #20 Posted February 29, 2012 uv/ir filter if you want proper colors. B+W 486 is the type from B&H photo.One for each lens. Photoshop if you want to learn it. It does everything LR does and more, but you must put in the time to learn. I could not live with out photoshop. CS6 will be out soon. The raw processing engine of LR is the same as the raw processing of PS CS. But LR has no photoshop functionality. Unfortunately cost is 3x. But if you are buying into Leica, cost should be no object. That would be like worrying how much gas your Ferrari burns. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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