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M8 First Impressions - From someone you should not trust


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Got my M8 yesterday and while I've only clicked a few frames and downloaded a few photos here are my initial thoughts. I know nothing about cameras except that I like taking pictures and I have more money than brains. IF you can even call me an amateur, I've only been an amateur for a couple of years. I currently shoot with a Nikon D200 and a Canon EOS 20D, and a few other pocket cams.

 

Also, I am not a Leica guy. Never had one. Probably never even held one. Never touched a rangefinder before yesterday.

 

First off. I love the fit and finish of the camera. It's obviously not a toy.

 

It's a little tough to handle and take the bottom plate off without getting my fingerprints all over the LCD. In time I'll find a way to handle it, I'm sure. Or maybe I'm just afraid of dropping $5500 worth of hardware.

 

There is no LCD protector.:( Taking the bottom plate off to get to the SD card and battery is a little awkward for me. The battery brick is huge and my European connector came bent. I straightened it but still, it came bent. A lot. That being said, I'll probably never use it.

 

I had reservations about a rangefinder and having a camera with no auto focus. I found yesterday that I LOVE the rangerfinder and can manually focus a lot faster than I thought I could and that the resulting images were much sharper than I imagined (in JPEG). I think I like the results of this better than my D200 autofocus (for things that don't move).

 

I also found that it's much easier to get my hand or finger in the shot with a rangefinder. It's going to take some time and practice to not do that. I did it twice yesterday.

 

Images were clear and sharp. I took some stupid photos of colorful things laying around the house and mostly used Aperture Priority. The lens I have is the 50mm 2.0 that currently sells for around $1500. The colors were pretty much nailed in JPEG and the contrast and saturation were sweet. I bumped up in camera sharpening to medium high along with saturation.

 

I shot a few DNG's and of course the RAW images are softer. I haven't played around with the RAW enough to know if I like it yet or not.

 

I love the way the lens secures to the body and the weight and balance of the camera.

 

I need to learn a LOT more about this camera but my initial impressions are that it's very cool and I love the focusing and I really dig the images I took yesterday. Soon as I take a real outting I'll post a picture or two here with some more thoughts.

 

John

Okinawa Japan

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Happy that you like it John. DNG is not necessarily softer. You can adjust the sharpening slider in C1LE to your taste or set it in the preferences dialog to a preset.

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Hi John

 

I remember buying my first Leica rangefinder - an M2 - in December 1961 and spending hours playing with it in the way you describe - I think it was 24 hours before I even got around to inserting the film I'd been given by the shop I was so taken with the heft and quality. I'm sure that you will come to regard it as a natural extension of your arm and eye in due course, just like many others on this forum. No other camera is quite like an 'M'.

 

Welcome to the forum!

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I'm sorry to say it BUT You Are Hooked Now. Open your wallet and let the cash fly out.

 

Screen protector = ScreenPatronus.com Best $8+ you'll spend on Leica stuff.

 

Forget the fingerprints on the LCD but look out for prints on the 2 rangefinder windows, that is where I always get them. Don't ask me why because I always try to NOT put my fingers anywhere near those 2 windows. And I've been using a Leica M, on and off, for 35 years.

 

I use to get part of the strap in a shot when going portrait. Now I wear the strap over one shoulder, right, and under the other arm, left, and now don't have to worry about it.

Back in the day I didn't really worry to much about camera security so I'd just carry the camera with the strap in my hand and only when I needed both hand would I place it around my neck. In todays world I tend to be a bit more aware of what someone else might steal from me.

 

Good luck and take some great shots.

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What a splendid post

Hi John - I see the beginning of a love affair here - it's great to see someone being 'honest' (or is it 'self deprecating').

 

The camera is lovely, and I'm sure you'll love it. I should go ahead and buy:

 

16-18-21 tri-elmar

28mm f2.8

35mm f1.4

50mm f1.4

75mm f2

90mm f2

 

28-35-50 tri-elmar

 

you'll get them in the end, so you might as well just go ahead and bankrupt yourself!

 

seriously though, have fun, and let's see some results when you've got to grips with it.

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As long as you don't talk with your M8 you are still on a safe side.

Welcome to the club of "desesperate M8 owners" A never ending story, with a lot of emotions and money spending. True pation !

Enjoy...

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Ed,

 

You wrote: "Screen protector = ScreenPatronus.com Best $8+ you'll spend on Leica stuff."

 

I'm already on my second Patrunus screen protector in less than a month. Has anyone else experienced it peeling off? Yes, I cleaned the screen before placing the protector on it.

 

Thanks,

Wilfredo+

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