New M8 thoughts

[Dan Jackson]

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Hi,

This is my first post but was wondering if any of you had any opinions on the following:-

 

1. I know that using an IR filter is desirable to get correct colour but is it also desirable from a sharpness point of view i.e. does filtering out IR help sharpness by filtering out the slightly out of focus IR image?

2. It seems that dust spots are more visible on images than with my 5D. Could this be because there is a thinner layer in front of the photosites so that they are more in focus - i.e. sharper edged and higher contrast?

3. There has been a lot of talk about the 35 summilux on the M8 and I just wanted to say that this lens draws beautifully and has more pleasant bokeh than any other lens I have used (not tried Noctilux). I have also had no problems with focusing. Just wanted to say this as it seems to have had a bad time recently!

 

Thanks, Dan

[wparsonsgisnet]

Hi,

This is my first post but was wondering if any of you had any opinions on the following:-

 

1. I know that using an IR filter is desirable to get correct colour but is it also desirable from a sharpness point of view i.e. does filtering out IR help sharpness by filtering out the slightly out of focus IR image?

2. It seems that dust spots are more visible on images than with my 5D. Could this be because there is a thinner layer in front of the photosites so that they are more in focus - i.e. sharper edged and higher contrast?

3. There has been a lot of talk about the 35 summilux on the M8 and I just wanted to say that this lens draws beautifully and has more pleasant bokeh than any other lens I have used (not tried Noctilux). I have also had no problems with focusing. Just wanted to say this as it seems to have had a bad time recently!

 

Thanks, Dan

 

Dan, welcome.

1. This has been asked and not answered. Some like the IR when they're doing b/w; that is, they remove the filter. I have not noticed a difference in my images other than color cast.

2. Most of the postings about dust have suggested that the 5D is *more* susceptible to dust. Don't know why you are seeing dust in you M8 images.

3. Great lens, isn't it.

 

Regards,

[Shootist]

Welcome to the forum and have fun with the M8.

 

1) I think my images are sharper with the filters. In fact I don't even test a lens until I have a IR cut filter for it. Others might have a different opinion.

 

2) You will find many dust spots on your new M8. But they really aren't dust! They are mostly oil spots from some type of lub used on the shutter mechanism.

I throughly cleaned my sensor on Thursday night for a small trip I was taking. On Sunday night I did a test shot and had many oil/dust spots on the sensor. I only took about 90 images from Friday to Sunday. This M8 is about 2 weeks old and only has about 750 shutter actuations. It will clear up sometime after 1000 shots.

 

3) Don't have one and probably never will. At least not until I am sure that the focusing problem other have posted about is cleared up.

[grduprey]

Don't know about the focus,as my images have no problem here, except when i blow the focus.

Have yet to see any dust or other dirt problems. I always dust around then lens prior to removing the lens to change it.

Love my 35 Pre-Asph 'Lux, no focus problems noticed.

 

Gene

[Jamie Roberts]

Dan, Welcome!

 

I shot for 5 months with no filters, and the camera was razor sharp in prints. It's still razor sharp with filters.

 

Sometimes new cameras get shipped with more dust than normal, so you should clean it and see how it goes. I think my 5d is the most susceptible to dust ever, but the sensor brush stuff takes care of it very well.

 

Wow! You have a 35 lux that works!! Me too! Now there's 2 of us, we can get Tim to get his fixed!

 

(just kidding Tim:)).

 

It is a spectacular lens--one of my favourites of all time

[ken_tanaka]

Hi,

This is my first post but was wondering if any of you had any opinions on the following:-

 

1. I know that using an IR filter is desirable to get correct colour but is it also desirable from a sharpness point of view i.e. does filtering out IR help sharpness by filtering out the slightly out of focus IR image?

2. It seems that dust spots are more visible on images than with my 5D. Could this be because there is a thinner layer in front of the photosites so that they are more in focus - i.e. sharper edged and higher contrast?

3. There has been a lot of talk about the 35 summilux on the M8 and I just wanted to say that this lens draws beautifully and has more pleasant bokeh than any other lens I have used (not tried Noctilux). I have also had no problems with focusing. Just wanted to say this as it seems to have had a bad time recently!

 

Thanks, Dan

 

I want to add my "welcome", Dan. Here are my responses to your queries and remarks, for what they're worth.

 

1. I've not noticed and difference in sharpness, better o worse, attributable to use of the IR filters. Focused areas seem razor-sharp with or without a filter.

 

2. I have not had significant dust issues with my M8 (nor with my 5D, for that matter). I cannot say that M8 dust specks appear significantly different than those on my Canons.

 

3. My 35mm 'Lux also is a winner. It was a superb lens on my M7 and continues that tradition, albeit with a clipped image area, on my M8. Its focusing is accurate and images are sharp.

 

Have fun exploring your M8.