Jump to content

Back to Solms, back to film...


valtof

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi dear LUF members,

 

After 6 months of my M8 intensive use, the camera triggered almost 19.000 times, I kept about 2.000 from which I consider 150 very good “keepers”. My M8 has worked flawlessly (very few bugs, banding effects, etc… especially since the latest firmware update). It has traveled a lot by bike (around 5.000 km or more), went to seaside, has received a glass of Champaign on top (since the power switch funnily became exactly harsh as it should be and I never encountered anymore unintentional switch to “burst” or “timer” position)…

So I might say, I’m very pleased and lucky with the M8, that the camera itself is really reliable and built in the Leica way, that is rock-solid. I won’t mention the image quality which is of course amazing.

Moreover, as its rangefinder is deficient since almost the beginning, that is wrong and inconsistent at infinity and vertically misaligned as well, I’m fed up with using my 2mm allen key every week and I think it’s really time to send it to Solms for a proper and definitive fixing. Until now, I couldn’t imagine being without my camera for several weeks. As many of you, I have become totally addicted…

There we are…

In the meanwhile, I’m planning to go back to film and get a regular 0.72 M6 body, not that buying a second M8 body is something I couldn’t afford (in fact, I can’t really these days), but going back to film is something that tickles me since I entered the M world by the digital door, yet another attitude toward making photos rather than only considering the backup purpose.

My dealer in Paris kindly lent me one for test purpose until next week. I did my first B&W roll yesterday and I must say I’m really enthusiast : no auto-mode, no immediate preview, almost no shutter sound and rewind… I didn’t see the results yet so I can’t make a definitive statement. I’ve given the roll to my lab. They have an interesting solution : dev + scan of all the shots (18 meg, Kodak HR500) for “only” 20 euros. I will get them tonight.

 

Does somebody here knows the Kodak HR5000 quality, is it good enough?

In fact, I imagine using this solution for general purpose and good-enough quality archiving in Lightroom and then making a better high res scan once I get some true keepers.

What do you think about it ? Another opinion and experience ?

 

Cheers

Link to post
Share on other sites

x
Guest guy_mancuso

19k in clicks is pretty good , i would say it's time for a tune-up. Hopefully it will be a short one. You realize you have to pay for processing now, what a bummer. LOL

Link to post
Share on other sites

I forgot to add a question regarding using the lenses with film.

As all my lenses are coded and have an IR/cut filter, I began shooting my first 2 rolls keeping the filter mounted as regard to front glass protection purpose, except for the CV12 (I got rid of the Milich adapter and 55mm Leica filter because I didn't know if it could produce more vignetting). My dealer told me it was silly to keep and IRcut filter and that it could lead to less quality. Is it true ? Colour and BW ?

Link to post
Share on other sites

You realize you have to pay for processing now, what a bummer. LOL

 

Indeed Guy, going back to film after so many years (I remember my Ekacta bodies and all my Carl Zeiss and Angénnieux gears...), will mainly lead to :

 

- making less photos :cool: ;

- changing rolls every 36 shots :confused: ;

- waiting for processing before seeing the results :( ;

- and of course spending extra money :mad: ...

 

But what a genuine pleasure, no ?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...