lucianboboc Posted December 5, 2015 Share #1 Â Posted December 5, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Guys i want to buy my first Leica camera, i can't afford an M240 so i was wondering if an M8 is a good choice being that this model is affordable. I would like to know if this is a good choice? I saw it has very bad ISO, it is possible to take pictures in low light without a tripod? Also are the Leica cameras good in general? I've understood you can no longer repair an M8 if something is broke. Thanks in advance and i'll wait for your opinions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 5, 2015 Posted December 5, 2015 Hi lucianboboc, Take a look here M8 good choice for a first Leica?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted December 5, 2015 Share #2 Â Posted December 5, 2015 Hello, Good or bad buy, it's you alone can make decision. Â What kind of photo you want to take with your first Leica ? Â Beeing the first digital Leica M, the M8 is "old technology" with some problems that you could live with or without. Â People (include myself) who use their M8 for a while have addressed those problems. Some accepted the troubles and some people move on to a modern replacement. Â The lens you will use with M8 is important too: keep in mind the crop factor 1.33. Â The price is so low that even if something which is to be repaired would not be economically fair. So if you buy one, one kind of "money lost" in case of big repair. It's repairable by Leica, only LCD screen is not replaceable. Â However, I use it along with other M digital or not: it's a real M that can take good photos. M8 is even better than the others in my IR photos. Â Arnaud Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 5, 2015 Share #3 Â Posted December 5, 2015 +1. Be prepared to struggle vs noise in PP if you intend to shoot at more than 640 iso and IR-cut filters are mandatory for color works but if you accept such compromises, you will get one of the vey best image quality money can buy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arno_nyhm Posted December 5, 2015 Share #4  Posted December 5, 2015 M8 delivers extremels good pictures from IS0 160 and acceptable pictures from ISO 320 to 640. everything above might as well be calles experimental but ist still useable.  if these numbers are not enough for you to judge about the M8 yourself, do yourself a favour and keep your fingers off the M8 or leica M in general. watch out for d-lux or v-lux instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sultan of Swing Posted December 5, 2015 Share #5 Â Posted December 5, 2015 Here's a shot at ISO 1250 with the M8. Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 5, 2015 Share #6  Posted December 5, 2015 Assuming you only want a digital camera then the M8 is about the cheapest option you have for a camera with interchangeable lenses, although you could also buy a Leica T (APS-C sensor).  I saw a very cheap M8 recently but it was being sold as seen by a dealer on commission basis. Given that most faults will be probably be uneconomical to repair I kept my credit card in my wallet. If the screen fails it can't be repaired for any cost, but Leica would offer a part exchange against a newer model (or at least they were doing so).  I'd consider one being sold by a dealer with a 12 month warranty.  I guess it really depends on what you intend to use the camera for and with which lens/es. If it will do what you want then go for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucianboboc Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share #7 Â Posted December 6, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you for all the answers, i think the photo above looks good at ISO 1250, works for me. I would use it for trips, city breaks, street photography in general. As for the lenses i would get a 35mm, maybe Zeiss. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sultan of Swing Posted December 6, 2015 Share #8 Â Posted December 6, 2015 The photo above was taken with the Zeiss Planar 2/50. My second lense is the VC Ultron 2/28. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucianboboc Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share #9 Â Posted December 6, 2015 What about indoors? In medium light conditions do you need a flash for M8? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sultan of Swing Posted December 6, 2015 Share #10 Â Posted December 6, 2015 It was indoors and medium light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 6, 2015 Share #11 Â Posted December 6, 2015 1250 iso is too noisy in my experience, at least at the default settings of my raw converter (C1). Â 640 iso can do it but i need f/1.4 to avoid motion blur generally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted December 6, 2015 Share #12 Â Posted December 6, 2015 Sultan's shot above is an excellent example of what can be achieved with the m8? LR is capable of reducing noise; occasionally I use Noise Ninja. With dealer backing, not 'sold as seen', I think you would have a very use able camera, capable of rewarding phone photography. Â Consider getting a coded 28mm lens which equates to 37mm in full-frame. That would leave scope for adding a longer lens if desired. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted December 6, 2015 Share #13 Â Posted December 6, 2015 As i don't use flashes, my M8.2 is of little use indoor above f/1.4. I prefer more modern cameras like M240, Fuji X-E2 or even my little Lx100 (Pana clone of the D-Lux 109) which can be used easily at 1600 (Lx100) or 3200 iso (M240, X-E2). YMMV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2015 Share #14 Â Posted December 6, 2015 ... Â Today I would decide against a purchase of a used M8. The main reasons are the crop factor and the UV / IR filters with color images. After Leica ensures for some time the exchange of defective sensors, a used M9 or M-EÂ seems to be more practicable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 6, 2015 Share #15 Â Posted December 6, 2015 And over double the price.... Â The OP can afford the M8 so presumably it's an M8 or another type/brand of camera for him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted December 6, 2015 Share #16 Â Posted December 6, 2015 1250 iso is too noisy in my experience, at least at the default settings of my raw converter (C1). Â 640 iso can do it but i need f/1.4 to avoid motion blur generally. I never change ISO but leave the camera set at base ISO (160 on the M8) and adjust exposure in post. This works well for me and by doing so I can more selectively adjust and minimise noise better - depends on your way of operating though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2015 Share #17 Â Posted December 6, 2015 And over double the price.... Â The OP can afford the M8 so presumably it's an M8 or another type/brand of camera for him. Â Right, but also for the M9 and the ME prices fluctuate depending on the state of preservation and the sum of shutter actuations. There are also price differences according to whether one buys from stores with guarantee or take over much more risk by buying from private. Certainly prices for used older digital M cameras will continue to fall with tje presentation of the M-240's successor -Â if one still can afford some time to wait. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted December 6, 2015 Share #18 Â Posted December 6, 2015 Â Right, but also for the M9 and the ME prices fluctuate depending on the state of preservation and the sum of shutter actuations. Â The M8 has proved to hold its value surprisingly well especially if compared with other expensive cameras of similar age which are now worth considerably less than the M8 still is. Prices will fall but they seem to do so rather more slowly than might be expected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sultan of Swing Posted December 6, 2015 Share #19 Â Posted December 6, 2015 I prefer to take photos and not to wait. The TO asked if the M8 is a good choice for the first Leica. I say of course it is unless there are some better Leicas on the market. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2015 Share #20 Â Posted December 6, 2015 The M8 has proved to hold its value surprisingly well especially if compared with other expensive cameras of similar age which are now worth considerably less than the M8 still is. Prices will fall but they seem to do so rather more slowly than might be expected. Â That may be right for cameras from other manufacturers. Unfortunately, I can not confirm that for my M8.2 within the second hand market for digital Leica-M-cameras. Every time it has been offered to a dealer in the past two years to fund partly an upgrade to a used M9(-P), it was worth less. Meanwhile it seems to be a better solution to keep the M8.2 as a back up camera. But these are just my personal experiences with dealers in my area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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