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M8 backup body/system


fursan

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I love the idea of the Olympus cameras. My first serious camera was an OM2n. However, I do not love the small viewfinders on the 4/3 system cameras. I wish they would fix that via increased magnification or something. Olympus also made a mistake in hindsight of making the sensor-to-flange distance too large, which means large lenses. With that small a sensor, they could have had a much smaller distance, and very compact lenses, more like the M.

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Now that I have lost my digital Canon Ixus 850is back-up to my son, my current back-ups are Leica IIF and/or Minox C. The Minox is becoming a bit of a dead loss as I cannot find anyone who develops B&W film for it now and I have to buy the film mail order from the UK when in France. 8 X 11 labs who used to offer an excellent postal service, now only do colour. There was someone in the UK in Hampshire, who I have used once, it was expensive, took 4 weeks and was rubbish. Anyone know anyone who develops and prints 8 x 11 mm B&W film?

 

Wilson

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I love the idea of the Olympus cameras. My first serious camera was an OM2n. However, I do not love the small viewfinders on the 4/3 system cameras. I wish they would fix that via increased magnification or something. Olympus also made a mistake in hindsight of making the sensor-to-flange distance too large, which means large lenses. With that small a sensor, they could have had a much smaller distance, and very compact lenses, more like the M.

 

Agree about the viewfinder but you do have AF so VF brightness may not be as critical as with MF systems. On the size of the 4/3 lenses they could be smaller but they are surprisingly light; perhaps the near equivalent of the M lenses in weight.

 

What really attracts me to the latest Oly 410/510 is that it's output looks the most "Leicalike" in colors and tonality than what I've seen from other manufacturers like Canon and Nikon. Really itching to give the 510 a try as a backup to the M8.

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What do/would you use as a backup for your M8?

 

R8/DMR plus 28-90 and/or 21/35 Vario-Emar(it). Worked very well on a recent tour of southern Germany & Austria.

 

I also have a Voigtlander Bessa R3a with a Nokton 40mm that I use when I don't want to risk one of my Leicas in a harsh environment (eg the hot, cramped, gritty, footplate of a working steam locomotive)

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My back up is my Epson RD1. Occasionally I just take the RD1 out - its still a good camera. IQ is as good as the M8 in prints up to 18 x 12 - don't shout at me I've done lots of experiments - blind tests with other observers - mind you my eyes might be failing :). Ultimately, the best back up is another M8.

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Guest tummydoc

I went through 2 defective M8s to get the third that's so far working. I don't yet trust it nor would I trust a second one to backup the first. Since I am an amateur and film is still available, I tuck a film Leica and a few 36-exp C-41 films in the bag.

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What do you guys think of the V-Lux1 as a back-up, and primary if you really need the tele-reach (420 vs 170 maximal 35 mm equivalent (135 on M8))?

 

Boen

 

Boen,

 

The V-LUX 1 is actually quite an impressive camera. As you noted it has a great reach (at least on the end) and I've been able to get some very nice images shooting RAW. The IS works very well too. You need to stay as close to the lowest ISO as you can, obviously, but it handles very well.

 

I had the Panny FZ50 before and had sold it and when we got the V-LUX for my wife, I did see a noticeable difference (better) in the how the firmware processes the jpegs (which is what she shoots.)

 

Cheers,

 

Simon

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Boen,

 

The V-LUX 1 is actually quite an impressive camera. As you noted it has a great reach (at least on the end) and I've been able to get some very nice images shooting RAW. The IS works very well too. You need to stay as close to the lowest ISO as you can, obviously, but it handles very well.

 

I had the Panny FZ50 before and had sold it and when we got the V-LUX for my wife, I did see a noticeable difference (better) in the how the firmware processes the jpegs (which is what she shoots.)

 

Cheers,

 

Simon

 

Panasonic seem to have a real problem with noise on their sensors. I and the family have had various Leica/Panas (D1, D2, Dlux1) or just Panasonics (FX8) and they have all had a noise problem to a greater or lesser degree. They have all broken down as well, some more than once. The noise on my wife's DLux 1 is dreadful at anything over 200ISO. Sony and Canon seem to do a better job in this respect. That amongst other things, put me off a Digilux 3.

 

Wilson

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What do/would you use as a backup for your M8?

 

I asked a similar question and decided on an used M6TTL (near mint) that was reasonably priced (compared to the M8) so I could use my M lenses. You can find that thread here if you'd like to see some more advice about things to consider:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/16541-backup-m8-appropriate-used-film-m.html

 

Good luck with your selection.

 

--Will

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