Quintavius Posted April 13, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted April 13, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've recently made the switch from digital back to film photography and I have come to a bit of a crossroads with my Canon 5D Mk II. I have a passion for film and I love the way a rangefinder feels in my hands. The only time I pull my Canon off of my shelf is when I shoot a paid event or a model who requires more photos than rolls of film I will shoot in a day. My main workhorses are a Mamiya C330F and a Mamiya 645 Pro TL. I've been debating on selling my 5D for a Leica M8 so that I still have a digital camera and can use my film Leica lenses. I know that the Leica M8 isn't the full frame 18mp monster that the M9 is but megapixels aren't a huge deal to me as the largest my prints will be (at least for now) are 24x36. I mostly shoot models (lifestyle, beauty, and nude) and street photography. I'd like to have a camera to carry with me everywhere and still use to shoot my models with the convenience of digital and image quality of my 5D with the portability and discretion of a rangefinder for street photos. Any opinion on what I should do? Â Â Thanks for your help! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 13, 2012 Posted April 13, 2012 Hi Quintavius, Take a look here Is the M8 right?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dchalfon Posted April 13, 2012 Share #2  Posted April 13, 2012 Ok, so this is the leica forum and we are supposed to say: yes buy leica, drop canon  I've been using the m8 for almost 3 years now and never regretted selling my canon. I just can't say it is a camera that i carry everywhere, everyday. For that purpose i have an olympus epl3 with the wonderful little panasonic 20mm pancake.  On the plus side of the m8, you will use the same lenses of your film leicas, so less investment in glass, since you will be dropping the canon.  Just remember that one of the weakest points of the m8 is its high iso. Don't go over than 640, while the 5d is a low light beast. This can be decently worked around if you happen to own fast leica glass. Summilux or even noctilux.  I also don't need super large prints, and that's why i will only upgrade my m8 when the m10 arrives, and even so not in a hurry. The m8 is really a great camera, with all its over-discussed limitations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted April 13, 2012 Share #3 Â Posted April 13, 2012 The M8 is a fantastic camera, and will produce stunning prints in the size range you indicate. It's sensor has the same pixel density as the M9 (in a 1.3x crop), so unless you are wanting to take advantage of wide angle lenses the M8 is more than capable. Using UV/IR filters is an unfortunate but necessary part of the M8 ownership experience, especially if you change lenses between other M mount camera bodies, but this for me was not a deal breaker. Â I enjoyed my M8, and only sold it when I purchased an M9. If you enjoy the rangefinder shooting experience, and it sounds like you do, then either camera will serve you well. Â Good luck!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 13, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted April 13, 2012 Many here own multiple systems, including a DSLR along with their digital M. These are different tools, optimized for different needs, even though there of course can be much overlap in use. Â Ideally you should keep both, but if finances are a consideration, then the M8 will certainly meet your light rangefinder needs. I have a couple of M8.2s, buying the second one in lieu of an M9, without regard to cost. So clearly I don't think the M8 is inferior, particularly for one who doesn't print extremely large. Of course optimal prints require far more than the camera, but it seems you're experienced in that regard. Â Sounds, too, as if you have film M experience; otherwise I'd suggest renting or getting a loaner first. But, if you enjoyed the film M experience, the transition will be seamless. Filters are a non-issue for me, as I used them in the film days anyway. Put on once and ignore. And one adjusts to the crop factor quickly, especially someone like you who already uses different formats. Â Just buy from a reputable dealer with warranty in case there are issues. You are probably aware that the M8 can also be found with upgrades (1,2 or all 3) and the price varies accordingly. Personally I favor the M8.2, but the M8 pics will be the same. Â BTW, I'm thinking about adding a 5Diii to my gear, in part to have a bad weather camera with easier tele capability. Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonearabiapix Posted April 13, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted April 13, 2012 Looks like you answered your own question. Â One thing to keep in mind is that the M8 has a top shutter speed of 8ooo, nice when outside and need shallow dof. And the benifit if 25o sec. flash sync. Although I do prefer the M8.2. Â I only use my 5Dll for weddings, along with my M8, and when I need large "ppf", pixels per face, for large groups. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintavius Posted April 13, 2012 Author Share #6 Â Posted April 13, 2012 Thanks everyone! All of you bring up good points! I'm going to go this morning and get my hands on the M8 to get a better feel for it. As I've expressed to my wife, who i'm sure is tired of hearing about either of these two cameras, I don't LOVE my Canon. It's an amazing camera that does everything that it does very well. But I just don't love it. I don't see the passion in my digital photos that I see in my film work. Part of this is because unless I'm shooting a model who I'll be doing a TON of Photoshop on, I dread picking up that giant beast of a camera. Holding a Leica, on the other hand, is like gripping the steering wheel of a Porche 911. You just know that when you touch the gas pedal (or shutter button) that you are in for an experience like no other. I just hope that I'm not making a dramatic trade off with a smaller sensor and half the pixel count. My two main concerns with switching are the low light capabilities as my fastest Leica lens is an f/2 (not slow by any means but it'd be nice to have a SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4) and color rendering. From what most people have told me after I've told them that I want to make the switch, the M8's colors aren't as rich and bold as the 5D Mark II. While this can be fixed in lightroom/photoshop, I don't want it to turn into a huge issue. My regular clients are used to bright, bold colors when I shoot digital. That being said, I have seen some flat out breath taking photographs taken with the M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 13, 2012 Share #7 Â Posted April 13, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) In the end, it's just a camera. If the M8 suits your work, fine; if not keep what you have and move on. Default import settings in LR are easily adjusted. Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbray Posted April 13, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted April 13, 2012 I have a 5D which I use for low light work, specifically school play publicity shots, where parents like to see their little darlings in action - the Canon does this well at 1600 ISO with an f4 lens. There is also the reaction to the Canon with a big lens and flash gun that this is a "proper camera" i.e. what they see news photographers using. The M8 is just not so capable for this kind of work, unless you can get really close (not usually possible in a packed school hall). However, I am only keeping the Canon for that one type of job, and possibly some action sport work (big lens, predictive auto-focus). On the other hand, the M8 now does 90% of my other work (mainly landscape and street work) with a Sigma DP2S for use on trickier mountain routes (not risking M8 + 35 Summilux there!). The colours are wonderful on both the small cameras without the overblown reds from the Canon. Plus the weight and size. I used to use a big Billingham bag for the Canon and now use their smallest bag for the M8 and three lenses and add-ons. More often that not, it's one lens. Your comments about Photoshopping pictures are interesting - most of the time, I do very little to any picture taken on the Leica, but tend to do more tweaking on the Canon. I see no reason not to have different cameras for different jobs - it is just a tool and the eye is what counts..... (spot the cliche). Just sometimes, one goes to pay for another! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikP Posted April 13, 2012 Share #9 Â Posted April 13, 2012 Canon and Nikon will complement the M8/M9 rather then replace. Â I believe you will very naturally grabb different housing for different situations. Â Try to have two systems for a period of time? Â Regards Erik Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ming Rider Posted April 14, 2012 Share #10  Posted April 14, 2012 A discrete camera for street? Better see what this guy has to say  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntran1986 Posted April 17, 2012 Share #11 Â Posted April 17, 2012 I'm sorry for hijacking your thread, but I didn't want to start a new one that is so similar. I am also thinking about purchasing an M8. I am ok with every part of the M8 except for the re-occurring statements regarding failing shutters, sensors, and banding. With that said, am I correct in saying that buying a second hand M8 from anyone other than a reputable dealer would be too much of a risk? The last thing I want is to drop 2k on the camera and 4 weeks later send it in for a $500-1000 repair. Also, if what is said is true, does anybody have suggestions of dealers who offer warranties in either the Boston or New York City area? Â Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikP Posted April 17, 2012 Share #12 Â Posted April 17, 2012 Just find a refurbished from a dealer and enjoy. Â Don't worry to much - its a great tool. Â // Erik Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.