Black or silver?

[egibaud]

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any pictures of a silver body with a black lense please?

 

thanks,

 

Eric

[Maggie_O]

I prefer the silver as well. I get some old-camera comments, and people don't seem intimidated by it. The finish is also more durable, and black and silver lenses look fine on it. In fact, some silver lenses also look great on black cameras, if you are into that, but it is definitely different-looking. Pro cameras are almost all black, and I think that black pushes the M8 more into that direction, not necessarily a desirable condition.

 

This is part of my thinking- all black cameras, like my F3, say "Pro shooter, watch out!" even when wielded by an otherwise unremarkable-looking woman.

 

Originally, my only choice was black- the color seemed, on the face of it, more unobtrusive and, yes, more "pro" than the silver. But now I"m wondering if the silver, in the hands of a woman of a certain age, would be even more invisible and unintimidating. The point about silver looking like an inexpensive/obsolete camera is well taken here, especially since I'm no longer in the sort of physical shape that would let me beat off a thief with my camera. (The F3 was great for that!)

 

When I shot for papers, my black F3 got noticed more than the paper's silver OM-2, so my personal data points on camera stealth are pretty jumbled. I'd welcome more thoughts or experiences with shooting in public from y'all.

 

That said, I think I'm going to get the silver CV 35mm Ultron and an adapter for my first lens. (Thank you Sean Reid for guidance on that!) Thoughts on a second? My D-Lux 3 is usually at the "28mm" setting, FWIW.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Maggie i have been in Germany and New York with my M8 dangling around my neck. To be honest no one takes a second look because it looks small and more of a tourist camera compared to the big guns out there. I can tuck my M8 under my arm and no one can even see it. For me i don't really hide anything and sometimes will have 2 cameras strapped to me, it's more about attitude and how you carry yourself than anything else. Most people just ignore you which is just what i want anyway.

[Albert4321]

I start "wearing" my chrome M8 with the Luigi half case everywhere I go. Man, it is a chick magnet.

[Paul Hart]

I wish the silver M8s had the same fine, smooth finish as the silver MPs, but they don't. My first M8 was silver. My present one is black, and while it may not be as pretty, it's not as obtrusive.

[leicashot]

This is part of my thinking- all black cameras, like my F3, say "Pro shooter, watch out!" even when wielded by an otherwise unremarkable-looking woman.

 

Originally, my only choice was black- the color seemed, on the face of it, more unobtrusive and, yes, more "pro" than the silver. But now I"m wondering if the silver, in the hands of a woman of a certain age, would be even more invisible and unintimidating. The point about silver looking like an inexpensive/obsolete camera is well taken here, especially since I'm no longer in the sort of physical shape that would let me beat off a thief with my camera. (The F3 was great for that!)

 

When I shot for papers, my black F3 got noticed more than the paper's silver OM-2, so my personal data points on camera stealth are pretty jumbled. I'd welcome more thoughts or experiences with shooting in public from y'all.

 

That said, I think I'm going to get the silver CV 35mm Ultron and an adapter for my first lens. (Thank you Sean Reid for guidance on that!) Thoughts on a second? My D-Lux 3 is usually at the "28mm" setting, FWIW.

 

Maggie, I'd recommend the Zeiss 21mm or 25mm if you like shooting at 28mm and Leica lenses are not within your budget.

[Maggie_O]

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Maggie, I'd recommend the Zeiss 21mm or 25mm if you like shooting at 28mm and Leica lenses are not within your budget.

 

What about the CV 21mm or 25mm? I'm not talking about the CV 25mm "snapshot" that Sean reviewed, but the m mount RF-coupled one.

 

Also, I'd take suggestions where to look for more info (including price and where I could order from) on the Zeiss lenses.

[Shootist]

What about the CV 21mm or 25mm? I'm not talking about the CV 25mm "snapshot" that Sean reviewed, but the m mount RF-coupled one.

 

Also, I'd take suggestions where to look for more info (including price and where I could order from) on the Zeiss lenses.

Not sure you saw/read my earlier post. The CV 21 Skopar, M mount rangefinder coupled, is a GREAT lens. I bought mine at B&H Photo Video for $379 (NOTE that B&H is NOT a true CV importer).

I wouldn't bother with a 25mm, or 24mm, lens. Go right for the 21mm.

I have the Leica 24mm Elmarit ASPH and it is a great lens also but it is 8 TIMES the cost of the 21mm CV. Since getting the 21mmCV lens the Leica 24mm sits in the bag. I've even thought of selling it.

IMHO a good lens line up is 21, 28, 35, 50, 75 and if you want something more telephoto down the road a 135. Although you could get a 90 instead of a 75 and totally skip the 135. And if you want wider then the 21mm (28mm equivalent on the M8) then go for a CV 15 later.

My most used lenses are the CV 21, Leica 28/2.8 ASPH, 50 Cron and 75 Cron ASPH.

[wilfredo]

I went with Silver because it was the only one available when I purchased mine, and I'm actually glad now I went with the silver. I love the classic look especially with the Luigi half case.

 

 

Cheers,

Wilfredo

Benitez-Rivera Photography

[Maggie_O]

Not sure you saw/read my earlier post. The CV 21 Skopar, M mount rangefinder coupled, is a GREAT lens. I bought mine at B&H Photo Video for $379 (NOTE that B&H is NOT a true CV importer).

I wouldn't bother with a 25mm, or 24mm, lens. Go right for the 21mm.

I have the Leica 24mm Elmarit ASPH and it is a great lens also but it is 8 TIMES the cost of the 21mm CV. Since getting the 21mmCV lens the Leica 24mm sits in the bag. I've even thought of selling it.

IMHO a good lens line up is 21, 28, 35, 50, 75 and if you want something more telephoto down the road a 135. Although you could get a 90 instead of a 75 and totally skip the 135. And if you want wider then the 21mm (28mm equivalent on the M8) then go for a CV 15 later.

My most used lenses are the CV 21, Leica 28/2.8 ASPH, 50 Cron and 75 Cron ASPH.

 

Thanks for the info, Ed!

 

Do you need to use an external viewfinder with the CV 21?

 

After reading your post (and Sean's articles), I'm leaning towards the CV 21 (if it can be used without an external VF) and the CV 35mm 1.7 Ultron. I figure those would be good lenses for my European trip, which is now a month away.

[Shootist]

Thanks for the info, Ed!

 

Do you need to use an external viewfinder with the CV 21?

 

After reading your post (and Sean's articles), I'm leaning towards the CV 21 (if it can be used without an external VF) and the CV 35mm 1.7 Ultron. I figure those would be good lenses for my European trip, which is now a month away.

I find that if you use the WHOLE viewfinder of the M8 it is very close to a 21mm lens. I'm not a frame fanatic type of shooter, that one reason I like rangefinders, and do my croping in post. If I capture more then what I see inside the frame lines, and in the case of the 21mm more then I can see through the whole viewfinder window, that's good enough not to worry about missing something.

The only problem with the M8 is with some lenses it does capture a lot more then is seen inside the frame lines and at some focusing distances the area captured outside the frame lines is not equal.

[Maggie_O]

How cloe do you find the VF's FOV to be to the 21mm's FOV?

 

I like to "work around the edges," tho' not to the SLR fanatic's level, but a repeatable ballpark FOV is impoertant to my work.

 

Also, what about coding the CV m-mount lenses? Do I have time to have them milled by the Milich adapter guy and get them back by Sept, 15th? Is that even important?

[Albert4321]

I am new to RF and the framing troubled me at first. Good thing I read this forum regarding inaccurate frame line right before I took my then 2 days old camera to my wedding gig. Since I was aware of the problem, I tend to pt down a bit to (as suggested in one post) avoid cutting off the toe.

 

Checking the LCD once or twice to get you familiar with the frame coverage. Very repeatable. I have not checked the LCD for framing after my first 1st gig. With the M8, I don't normally check the LCD. Once or twice per location then shoot away.

 

I am still waiting for my WATE, and have no experience with any 21mm lens. I talked to Milich regarding remounting Zeiss ZM lens and coding, I need to take the frange off myself and send it in. I guess I need to put it back myself and re-code (paint) it. Since I am not the type of DIY kind of guy, I gave up. I am sure it is not difficult, but I heard story of to decide what to code to get the right correction, etc. and Milich mentioned that there may be slight chance of light leak for regonize the 15mm Zeiss lens. It is not rocket science, but I just don't want to deal with it, and get Leica lens and forget it. As I said before, buy cheap, buy twice.

 

I do have to say Milich is very helpful so email him to see if he can help you if you decide to go that route.

[delander †]

any pictures of a silver body with a black lense please?

 

thanks,

 

Eric

 

OK, here it is. No product shot quality I am afraid,

 

Jeff

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[Mauribix]

I have a Silver(chrome) one with me, and noticed just a fact...

While Greece and Italy were burning all along the coasts, me and my friend had our cameras on the neck....

My friend had a Black nikon Body... Under 40° of Sunny days, i always noticed a really high difference between our camera temperature.

My silver M8 always remained "fresh", sometimes his Black DSLR became really really hot...

Dunno if this happens on Black M8's too since they are metal-made, and i'm sure that no problem occured to my friend's camera, but maybe i could sweat more if i had to touch my M8 and find it HOT!

 

so i suggest silver!

 

it's so levely ... aged look...

 

regards

Maurizio

 

MAURIZIO BEUCCI.com - Official web site

[Mark Pope]

I originally wanted a black M8. However, the dealer I used had an ex-demo silver which was £300 less than list price. I agonised for all of 3 seconds. I have no regrets and I haven't really found the silver is any more obtrusive than my black M6.

If I ever bought a second M8 body (unlikely, but never say 'never'...) I would probably get another silver one, as it has really grown on me. It looks great with either silver or black lenses.

Cosmetics and obtrusiveness aside, I think Maurizio makes a valid point too, assuming you will be shooting in high temperatures.

 

Hope you enjoy your M8 as much as I'm enjoying mine. It's become my 'desert island camera'.

[Eoin]

On my way through Schipiol airport where I bought my M8 I had the choice of black or silver, I had resigned my self to silver beforehand on another dealers waiting list at the time but when faced with a choice of either I choose silver over black due to tiny marks that existed on the black showcase model. It had only arrived earlier that day yet there were slight scratches where people had obviously handled it with rings or something else.

I'm delighted to report I have not regretted my decision and while they are both the same camera, the silver has a slightly classier look IMO. Mine is wearing very well considering I don't take any special care of it.

[cornbarn]

I went through the same decision process as everyone else here and in the end chose silver. I suppose I will never know if I made the right decision but what I can say is that the silver finish appears to be very hard wearing and that the camera seems to be invisible. The second comment may of course be true of the black finish but I have noticed that nobody gives the camera a second look which is not the case if I'm carrying my D200.

[rwfreund]

Clearly the answer is "yes"

-bob

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Hallo,

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[chanyr]

I chose a silver M8. I agonized over the decision and went over many forum comments. After staring at many pictures including silver and black M7s I kind of decided that the silver one was the right one for me.

 

The M8 looks like a classic camera. To me, black cameras aren't pretty, they just look like a big black blob and black cameras are so common. To me visibility is not a problem. I think its better to get people to feel comfortable around you. Once they're comfortable, you can take shots of them as they really are, which is much better than trying to photograph them before they're comfortable or ready, besides, most of the time when you raise a camera, people already know that you're going to take their photograph. The other reason is that the black finish is not as durable.

 

I think you should have a look at them at a store. When I saw a silver M8 in real life, I just knew that it was the one. You'll know when you like it and can't stop looking at it LOL. .