gfspencer Posted September 5, 2013 Share #1 Â Posted September 5, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a Leica M8 and four Leica lenses. I also have a Canon 6D with a few L lenses and a Panasonic GX1 with a few decent Panasonic lenses. Â My wife and I are getting ready for a trip to Germany. This is the first time that we have been back together since I was stationed there in the mid-80's. (Old, retired Army Chaplain) We will be visiting the places that we visited back then and I want to come home with a lot of pictures. Hence my dilemma. Do I take the M8 and risk it quitting on me or do I play it safe and take the 6D? (I can carry the GX1 as a backup for either camera.) Â I bought the M8 new just before the M8.2 came out. All four of my lenses are coded. The M8 only has about 1,600 actuations. The M8 has never failed me. The combination of my M8 and a Leica lens produces amazing photos. A M8 and 4 lenses is remarkably easy to carry. Â The 6D is a great low light performer. It has a GPS so I can pinpoint my shots. Canon cameras don't fail too often. (At least I have never had one die.) While not as good as Leica glass the Canon L lenses are quite nice. A Canon 6D is small when compared to other Canon cameras but when paired with a few L lenses you can easily carry a backpack full of gear. Â I realize I am talking to a biased group but what would you do? In my mind there is nothing like taking a Leica back to the "home country" but I don't want it to die on me while I'm there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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jip Posted September 5, 2013 Share #2 Â Posted September 5, 2013 If you think the M8 gets you the best pictures, then take that... if you only dare use it on unimportant jobs, then sell it. Â Don't worry about it failing 1600 actuations is nothing, just bring the M6 with you as a backup? Â I've had a M8, M8.2 and M9, and now M9-P and none of the cameras failed me and I have 12* more actuations on just the M8 alone! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doolittle Posted September 5, 2013 Share #3 Â Posted September 5, 2013 You really need to exercise the shutter button on that M8! Â Of course bring it. The GX1 is the ideal back up. Just make sure you know the SD-Cards you are bringing work fine on the M8. A spare Leica brand battery would be no harm too. Â Gute Reise! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 5, 2013 Share #4 Â Posted September 5, 2013 Yes M8 + GX1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 5, 2013 Share #5 Â Posted September 5, 2013 M8 + phone as backup... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted September 5, 2013 Share #6 Â Posted September 5, 2013 M8 + phone as backup... Â Or a phone with an M8 backup? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfspencer Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share #7 Â Posted September 6, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Or a phone with an M8 backup? That would work! Â OK. I'm going to take the M8, the GX1 and my iPhone. Â doolittle, I actually have 4 extra M8 batteries. Don't ask. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Lss- Posted September 6, 2013 Share #8 Â Posted September 6, 2013 Do I take the M8 and risk it quitting on me or do I play it safe and take the 6D? Consider selling the M8 if you can't trust it. For me, it's the obvious choice for travel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted September 6, 2013 Share #9 Â Posted September 6, 2013 When I travel anywhere by plane it's the M8.2 for me. My M8 never let me down, either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoism Posted September 6, 2013 Share #10 Â Posted September 6, 2013 +1 for M8 and GX1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fursan Posted September 6, 2013 Share #11 Â Posted September 6, 2013 Prudence is necessary. Any equipment ( any ) can fail. Â Persons get sick or worse too. Â But that does not warrant a paranoid attitude towards the M8. The chances are it shall not fail on this trip. Â Take a backup to carry on taking pictures of the places that you want to enjoy and remember . Â The M8 does take glorious pictures.!! Â Good luck and best wishes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iforum Posted September 6, 2013 Share #12 Â Posted September 6, 2013 Get someone else to take photos for you that way the decision is not yours to make:cool: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted September 7, 2013 Share #13 Â Posted September 7, 2013 Have you looked at Canon's new FF primes such as the tiny 40 and the 24 USM IS? The later has come down enormously in price recently and both have got really strong reviews. Just seems to me that those lenses are a natural partner to the smaller 6D body and could significantly change the balance of this question as you clearly like the 6D. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enboe Posted September 7, 2013 Share #14  Posted September 7, 2013 Almost factory fresh, I have 12K cycles on my M8 shutter - all is well.  I would recommend testing the SD cards you intend to take as they are the biggest source of grief for me. Once you find cards your camera likes, you're all set.  Eric  P.S. You always could use this opportunity as rationale to pick up a film body, you know, just as backup. Set a $1K budget, and you'll be able to recover your monies later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 7, 2013 Share #15 Â Posted September 7, 2013 ...I would recommend testing the SD cards you intend to take as they are the biggest source of grief for me... They should not. You might wish to format them with SD Formatter (https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/) in the first place. Once suffices generally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted September 7, 2013 Share #16 Â Posted September 7, 2013 Take your 6D! Â And send your M8 to me. Â Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted September 7, 2013 Share #17 Â Posted September 7, 2013 If you want to to travel light: the M8 with the GX-1 as backup. Small chance that you lose all your pictures from your SD-card if the M8 would stop, but why would it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted September 7, 2013 Share #18  Posted September 7, 2013 Almost factory fresh, I have 12K cycles on my M8 shutter - all is well. I would recommend testing the SD cards you intend to take as they are the biggest source of grief for me. Once you find cards your camera likes, you're all set.   Lexar did it for me on the M8! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_panko Posted September 8, 2013 Share #19 Â Posted September 8, 2013 When travelling with an M8 I have found that hanging the camera by a ring connected to the right side strap loop so that the ring slides on a continuous shoulder strap makes it a pleasure to carry the camera. It is always neatly tucked under my left arm and ready to swing up for a picture. Best of all in bad weather the camera hides under my jacket. Â You can make a simple slider strap using 1 inch webbing and a key ring. Â I also try to avoid carrying an extra lens to reduce dust entering the camera during a lens change. I pick one lens for the day and stick with it. A cleaning kit for use at the hotel is good back up planning too. Â Why don't you shoot with the M8, give the second camera to your wife to take her pictures and use the iPhone for shots that can be easily sent home to family from any wifi location? Â That's the best combination, in my opinion. Â Dont' forget adapters for power. Â Enjoy your travels. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfspencer Posted September 8, 2013 Author Share #20 Â Posted September 8, 2013 They should not. You might wish to format them with SD Formatter (https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/) in the first place. Once suffices generally. How is this different from formatting an SD card in your camera?? Â Thanks in advance. Â By the way, I have used various SD cards in my M8. Once in a while I get a message that the card will not work but I format the card in the camera and it works fine. Â Lately I have been keeping cards for the M8, the GX1 and the Canon separate but just in case I always format in the camera before I start taking pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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