burbank@ntnation.com Posted July 4, 2007 Share #1 Posted July 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello all-- Everyone was so kind when I posted earlier that I thought I'd pass another question by the board: I am renting a Leica M8 with a 28mm summicron for one week starting Friday... I'm quite excited at the prospect of trying one out for myself, and seeing the quality of the images it produces. I will be taking it, along with all my Nikon gear (D200, D70, assorted lenses, etc.) on vacation to a barrier island off the coast of New Jersey, and my intention is to play with it the entire week, alongside my existing equipment, and try to see the "Leica M8 difference". (As an aside, and for background, what I'm looking at the M8 for is to become my primary "street shooter" -- a compact, light, alternative to carrying around one of my Nikon bodies and a lens. Mostly what I would be shooting would be street scenes, some architectural elements, and of course, my kids By way of further introduction, I'm an amateur, not a pro, but I'm very comfortable with digital workflow and somewhat comfortable with non-AF shooting -- in fact, to some extent, really looking forward to not having AF and controlling the shot much more). If I can "see" the difference that the M8 gives me, then I intend to buy one If not, then at least I'll have educated myself on what it's like to shoot with an M8. So, my question is: anyone have suggestions for things I should try, things I should watch for, etc.? Thanks for any ideas/suggestions! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 Hi burbank@ntnation.com, Take a look here I have an M8 for a week...any suggestions?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Shootist Posted July 4, 2007 Share #2 Posted July 4, 2007 Don't put your middle finger of your right hand in from of the rangefinder window and keep all fingers off the glass of both the rangefinder and viewfinder windows. Check it all the time and clean those windows. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tashley Posted July 4, 2007 Share #3 Posted July 4, 2007 Hello all-- Everyone was so kind when I posted earlier that I thought I'd pass another question by the board: I am renting a Leica M8 with a 28mm summicron for one week starting Friday... I'm quite excited at the prospect of trying one out for myself, and seeing the quality of the images it produces. I will be taking it, along with all my Nikon gear (D200, D70, assorted lenses, etc.) on vacation to a barrier island off the coast of New Jersey, and my intention is to play with it the entire week, alongside my existing equipment, and try to see the "Leica M8 difference". (As an aside, and for background, what I'm looking at the M8 for is to become my primary "street shooter" -- a compact, light, alternative to carrying around one of my Nikon bodies and a lens. Mostly what I would be shooting would be street scenes, some architectural elements, and of course, my kids By way of further introduction, I'm an amateur, not a pro, but I'm very comfortable with digital workflow and somewhat comfortable with non-AF shooting -- in fact, to some extent, really looking forward to not having AF and controlling the shot much more). If I can "see" the difference that the M8 gives me, then I intend to buy one If not, then at least I'll have educated myself on what it's like to shoot with an M8. So, my question is: anyone have suggestions for things I should try, things I should watch for, etc.? Thanks for any ideas/suggestions! Put the Nikon gear on eBay before you go ;-) Seriously, here's a stream of consciousness list: borrow the 'official' grip too if you can. One battery should get you through a day or more but maybe carry a spare. Format the memory card in camera. Borrow an IR filter for the lens and make sure you have it selected in the menu. In the first few hours, try shots at all ISO: I find that there's something about the grain/noise structure of 1250 that can make architecture shot in poor light or dusk look very romantic. Shoot 1250 and 2500 in bars and restaurants at night and look in B&W. Shoot RAW only. Have a sensor cleaning kit with you. Hope it rains - the M8 is wonderful at sucking colour out of drab light and its ability to hold detail in shadows and to resolve very fine detail right to the edges makes it amazing at turning wet, dull scenes into subtle, glorious images. Set hyperfocal to 2 stops mroe restricted than the lens suggests but use it from the hip and shoot intimately. Borrow a CV15 and gasp at the results. Enjoy! There. Told you it would be stream of consciousness! Happy 4th July Tim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted July 4, 2007 Share #4 Posted July 4, 2007 Check it all the time and clean those windows.......................sure go ahead and do that, but try not to jump. . There. Told you it would be stream of consciousness...... all a bit unco there:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertwright Posted July 4, 2007 Share #5 Posted July 4, 2007 also try shooting at iso160 very underexposed in a contrastly lighting situation, and then later in post pull the exposure up in raw, you will see a remarkable amount of noiseless shadow detail-first example is no adjustment in Lr, second is +1 and a few other tweaks-sort of like HDR.(CV15mm) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbegibson Posted July 4, 2007 Share #6 Posted July 4, 2007 Snip.... Borrow an IR filter for the lens and make sure you have it selected in the menu. ....snip Tim Tim, You're assuming the lens he rented is coded? Robbe Gibson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tashley Posted July 4, 2007 Share #7 Posted July 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Snip.... Borrow an IR filter for the lens and make sure you have it selected in the menu. ....snip Tim Tim, You're assuming the lens he rented is coded? Robbe Gibson I am indeed and I should have made that clear! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_b Posted July 4, 2007 Share #8 Posted July 4, 2007 Take the M8 for a walk, no other kit, and enjoy . . . . . It is so much better than having a DLSR plus heavy lenses in a bag on your back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedi996sps Posted July 4, 2007 Share #9 Posted July 4, 2007 Hi, Am absolutely new here. I ditched my Nikon and medium format and picked up my M8 with 50mm noctilux on saturday and havn't been able to put it down. 2 things that i am sure i am not the 1st or last to do....forgot to take lens cap off AND momentary pause when i half depress shutter button waiting for the autofocus to kick in..duh My advice...buy it and enjoy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
burbank@ntnation.com Posted July 4, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted July 4, 2007 Snip.... Borrow an IR filter for the lens and make sure you have it selected in the menu. ....snip Tim Tim, You're assuming the lens he rented is coded? Robbe Gibson Yes, the lens is coded... and I also requested an IR cut filter and will have one of those too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
burbank@ntnation.com Posted July 4, 2007 Author Share #11 Posted July 4, 2007 Thanks everyone for their feedback so far.... I especially liked the suggestion to put all the Nikon gear on ebay Seriously, though, I am trying to have reasonable expectations for the M8 to give it a fair try. The other subject I shoot a lot of is sports, and I am expecting that the M8 won't work for that (action is too fast, I think, to do manual focus). So my strategy would be to sell one of my Nikon bodies, and keep the other for that. I HAD been given the option of taking a 50mm summicron.... would that have been a better choice? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordfanjpn Posted July 4, 2007 Share #12 Posted July 4, 2007 AND momentary pause when i half depress shutter button waiting for the autofocus to kick in..duh I never would have admitted it before, but I'm glad to see I'm not the only one! Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordfanjpn Posted July 4, 2007 Share #13 Posted July 4, 2007 The other subject I shoot a lot of is sports, and I am expecting that the M8 won't work for that (action is too fast, I think, to do manual focus). So my strategy would be to sell one of my Nikon bodies, and keep the other for that. I'm keeping my D200 (I sold a D80, 2 D40's and a D40x). It's too good a camera to get rid of, and it will perform in situations that the M8 can't handle. However, I haven't touched the D200 since I got the M8. Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrc Posted July 4, 2007 Share #14 Posted July 4, 2007 Main thing with a rented camera is, don't drop it. JC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted July 5, 2007 Share #15 Posted July 5, 2007 Excellent idea to hire one. Just enjoy it - and the trip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwf Posted July 5, 2007 Share #16 Posted July 5, 2007 Take pictures. Lots of pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted July 5, 2007 Share #17 Posted July 5, 2007 Please tell us, what your outcome was after your week with the M8. Mind you, it takes some time to fully utilize the potential of LEICA-M-photography. So do not give up too soon. It will - most likely - bring your photographic capabilities to a new level. Enjoy ! Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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