paul chiu Posted March 24, 2007 Share #1 Posted March 24, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) hello to all, happy to be a member here. i have used leica m3 and m6 throughout the 80's and until 1999, then digital with mainly nikon d1x and d2x since. in my closet are m lenses up to 1997; except the 50 noct and tri-elmar at the time. my questions where i'd love to share in your experience with the m8. 1. does the m8 feel about the same as a m6 in the hands, near your right eye, and held vertically? does it sound any different? 2. is there any need for lens upgrade (as my m collection is mostly 60's through 97) is the retrofitting with digital coding a must? 3. my dealer tells me that they have a black model with sn# 31090888, is this the one with the latest correction to the color troubles when the m8 was first released? 4. i do mostly available light with 35 1.4, it's always on my m6 when travelling. will i have any vignetting troubles with the 1.4 asph titanium version, circa 1996? 5. lastly, for any nikon or canon d-slr users, does the m8 requires dust cleaning more or less than the d-slrs? 6. what's your favorite printer with the m8 for color and b&w? 7. what's your favorite computer program for color and b&w? many thanks and i look forward to your advice and possibly a new m8 next month. paul what m8 will be use for: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 24, 2007 Posted March 24, 2007 Hi paul chiu, Take a look here last questions before buying m8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Shootist Posted March 24, 2007 Share #2 Posted March 24, 2007 1) Never used a M6 but it feels very close to the M3. It is deeper front to back but the same length. Yes is sound different. It has a motor to rewind/reset the shutter in the cocked position and it has metal shutter blades. 2) On wide lenses, 35 down, it is recommended. Do you HAVE TO HAVE them coded, No. You can have your lenses coded. Leica has a list of old, and current lenses that were not coded before they were shipped (IE before the though of coding came into existence), for about $125 US. 3) Seeing as mine ends in 0977 and I bought it in January. I'd say that one was produced fairly recently. 4)Don't know. I have never used any 1.4 lens on a Leica M. 5) I'm finding that the M8 needs sensor cleaning more often. I'm thinking the actual shutter on the M8 does not seal as well as those on my Nikon D200. I will clean the sensor on the M8 and then after 2-3 lens changes in a slightly windy, dust blown, atmosphere I'll notice dust spots on the images. 6-7) The one's I own. Printer, HP B9180, Program, I'm using PS CS2 with Adobe camera RAW, Lightroom (although I just started using that and don't really like it. I bought it so I could upgrade to a newer version in the future at a lower price when they finally make it into something I like) and Capture 1 LE (which comes with the M8) for those shots that have the magenta blacks (other then for that I'd nevr use it). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eronald Posted March 24, 2007 Share #3 Posted March 24, 2007 Hi Paul - 35/1.4 Titanium Asph works well at medium distance with minor focus shifts as you stop down. Get a 486 IR filter for each lens at the same time as the M8 or you will regret it. Edmund Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul chiu Posted March 24, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted March 24, 2007 Hi Paul - 35/1.4 Titanium Asph works well at medium distance with minor focus shifts as you stop down. Get a 486 IR filter for each lens at the same time as the M8 or you will regret it. Edmund hey ed, it's me from nikon dslr... i actually asked you questions on m8 there. about the ir filter. can u leave them on 24/7 for protection as well? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eronald Posted March 25, 2007 Share #5 Posted March 25, 2007 hey ed, it's me from nikon dslr...i actually asked you questions on m8 there. about the ir filter. can u leave them on 24/7 for protection as well? Hi Paul - I know it's you. Well Met ! It'll be a pleasure to see you here regularly ! Yes. The filters stay on permanently. And I mean it - tell your dealer he won't sell you the camera if he doesn't sell you all the filters you need with it. Lens coding is important mainly for the extreme wides, and is easily dealt with. BTW, you should not plan on using a single M8 for anything critical at present, the camera is not yet fully debugged, and quite a few have gone down in an unexplained way. However, the pictures are spectacular, often. People like this camera. I know you have a D200, and as I'm feeling particularly bitchy today I'll say that everything about the D200 is superb, specs and construction, except the actual image quality The M8 is a bit the opposite, it delivers extremely good pictures from a package that doesn't look promising on paper and is in fact feature-poor on the bells and whistles side (eg. no exposure +- correction button).. Edmund Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiajay Posted March 25, 2007 Share #6 Posted March 25, 2007 1. It's slightly thicker and considerably noisier. 2. Digital coding is not a MUST but recommended with wide angles to correct their vignetting. The wider, the more the need. 3. Don't know 4. Very slight 5. Yes it does. I find that dust on the rear of the lens is more likely to show as the lenses protrude into the body deeper than on DSLRs. 6. Either the Epson 2400 or 3800 7. Photoshop hello to all, happy to be a member here. i have used leica m3 and m6 throughout the 80's and until 1999, then digital with mainly nikon d1x and d2x since. in my closet are m lenses up to 1997; except the 50 noct and tri-elmar at the time. my questions where i'd love to share in your experience with the m8. 1. does the m8 feel about the same as a m6 in the hands, near your right eye, and held vertically? does it sound any different? 2. is there any need for lens upgrade (as my m collection is mostly 60's through 97) is the retrofitting with digital coding a must? 3. my dealer tells me that they have a black model with sn# 31090888, is this the one with the latest correction to the color troubles when the m8 was first released? 4. i do mostly available light with 35 1.4, it's always on my m6 when travelling. will i have any vignetting troubles with the 1.4 asph titanium version, circa 1996? 5. lastly, for any nikon or canon d-slr users, does the m8 requires dust cleaning more or less than the d-slrs? 6. what's your favorite printer with the m8 for color and b&w? 7. what's your favorite computer program for color and b&w? many thanks and i look forward to your advice and possibly a new m8 next month. paul what m8 will be use for: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 25, 2007 Share #7 Posted March 25, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) That serial number cannot be right, it has one position too many. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul chiu Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted March 25, 2007 Hi Paul - ........The M8 is a bit the opposite, it delivers extremely good pictures from a package that doesn't look promising on paper and is in fact feature-poor on the bells and whistles side (eg. no exposure +- correction button).. Edmund Ed, i know about the really no frills features, but as the only thing i do every other week with my m lenses is fondling and rotation for "greasing", the m8 should cure my m addition now dormant for 5 years during the d1x and 2x era. once the m8 was out, i knew my m addcition cannot be contained. at $4,799, it's not that much more than the d2x or that much more than the d200 (ok, i'm crazy off there...) i will get those ir filters. would b+w or heliopan ir's work as well? paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul chiu Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted March 25, 2007 That serial number cannot be right, it has one position too many. sorry, overtyping. 3109088 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 25, 2007 Share #10 Posted March 25, 2007 1. it sounds differently, but once one gets used to it, it is a rather nice,decisive sound. The feel is the same as any other M camera. 2. As a number of other posters already said, coding is very advisable on any lens shorter than 50 mm. 3. Judging by the number, the paint on it must still be wet. 4. That lens is just about perfect as a standard lens on the M8, although some posters have reported focussing problems. 5.Dust cleaning is slightly more frequent than on DSLR's, but a whole lot easier. 6.No opinion as I send my files to a pro lab for printing. 7.After opening in C1Le I find the files so good that PSE5 is more than sufficient for any corrections in my experience. I think CS2 or any other high-level program is overkill for everyday use. Lightroom is well spoken off, but I cannot feel any affinity for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markvm Posted March 25, 2007 Share #11 Posted March 25, 2007 sorry, overtyping.3109088 I received mine from B&H on Thursday the 22nd and the number is 3107793. I have no idea if mine is from the newer batches or not but, yours is certainly newer than mine.... Mine is also black. Mark Megerle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul chiu Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted March 25, 2007 I received mine from B&H on Thursday the 22nd and the number is 3107793. I have no idea if mine is from the newer batches or not but, yours is certainly newer than mine.... Mine is also black. Mark Megerle wow, yes, b&h, i got an email from them too but was gone when i got time to call. are you in nyc? if so, let's keep in touch. paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yadillah Posted March 25, 2007 Share #13 Posted March 25, 2007 The serial number of my camera is 3104369, and was told by Leica that it is one of the latest models with all the "fixes". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted March 25, 2007 Share #14 Posted March 25, 2007 hello to all, happy to be a member here. i have used leica m3 and m6 throughout the 80's and until 1999, then digital with mainly nikon d1x and d2x since. in my closet are m lenses up to 1997; except the 50 noct and tri-elmar at the time. my questions where i'd love to share in your experience with the m8. 1. does the m8 feel about the same as a m6 in the hands, near your right eye, and held vertically? does it sound any different? 2. is there any need for lens upgrade (as my m collection is mostly 60's through 97) is the retrofitting with digital coding a must? 3. my dealer tells me that they have a black model with sn# 31090888, is this the one with the latest correction to the color troubles when the m8 was first released? 4. i do mostly available light with 35 1.4, it's always on my m6 when travelling. will i have any vignetting troubles with the 1.4 asph titanium version, circa 1996? 5. lastly, for any nikon or canon d-slr users, does the m8 requires dust cleaning more or less than the d-slrs? 6. what's your favorite printer with the m8 for color and b&w? 7. what's your favorite computer program for color and b&w? 1. The M6 (non-TTL) definitely feels nicer. Thinner (around 4mm), and not as tall (about 3mm), and the shutter sounds much quieter when using the camera. I also prefer the leather on the M6 to the material on the M8. Having said that, I do prefer the shutter speed dial on the M8, and if you don't compare directly to an M6, the M8 feels great, and the shutter is very quiet when the subject is 2m away or more. It is still a quiet camera, just not as quiet as film Ms. 2. There is no *need* to upgrade, but the older lenses may somehow look less sharp with the M8, and the whole range shifts over by roughly one focal length in effect, so you may want to re-evaluate your lineup. I would recommend evaluating if you need a newer, extremely sharp lens or not. If so, pick the one which is most important to you. Warning: they are *really* sharp, and can seem too sharp at times. 3. ? 4. The 35 Lux Asph should not vignette noticeably on the M8. 5. The M8 requires less cleaning than the Canon 5D I had before. 6. I use an Epson R2400, but have little experience with other printers. This printer gives great results. 7. I like Lightroom, personally. Capture One is another favorite around here, and may have the edge on outright image quality, at least some of the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted March 25, 2007 Share #15 Posted March 25, 2007 3108268 and i got it from the a month ago. go figure ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul chiu Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted March 25, 2007 2. There is no *need* to upgrade, but the older lenses may somehow look less sharp with the M8, and the whole range shifts over by roughly one focal length in effect, so you may want to re-evaluate your lineup. I would recommend evaluating if you need a newer, extremely sharp lens or not. If so, pick the one which is most important to you. Warning: they are *really* sharp, and can seem too sharp at times. ... carstenw, is the softness of older lenses (on the m8) due to focus or simply that the newer models have better resolving power? thanks, paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sirvine Posted March 25, 2007 Share #17 Posted March 25, 2007 Someone will tell me I'm crazy, but I have no concerns about vignetting on the M8. This is because programs like Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw can easily adjust exposure in the corners to compensate with acceptable results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted March 25, 2007 Share #18 Posted March 25, 2007 Paul, the older design from the 60s and 70s generally are just not as well designed. Some of the technology, like mass-produced aspherical elements, just wasn't available to the designer back then. Still, even the older Leica lenses are great, so try out what you have before deciding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul chiu Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share #19 Posted March 25, 2007 Paul, the older design from the 60s and 70s generally are just not as well designed. Some of the technology, like mass-produced aspherical elements, just wasn't available to the designer back then. Still, even the older Leica lenses are great, so try out what you have before deciding. carsten, have you tried any from the 90s? 2 of my ASPH are from that period. paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted March 25, 2007 Share #20 Posted March 25, 2007 carsten, have you tried any from the 90s? 2 of my ASPH are from that period. paul The ASPH's are the same as what is being produced today, other then they are not coded. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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