M8 experienced opinions sought

[rafael_macia]

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I am a 40 year Leica user. Right now I am flirting with the idea of an M8. I have 2 MP's with lenses, so I am somewhat hesitant listening to the complicated problems M8 users have. Problems far outweigh words of praise.

It is my uneducated guess Leica came out with a product too soon.

Am I wrong?

Does it make sense to ge an M8?

Is the M8 a step forward?

I am just interested in uncomplicated advice.

thanks!

Rafael

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[gmaurizio]

Yes it makes a lot of sense. I find that the M8 outresolves film, even when scanned with a drum scanner. If you are invested in lenses, and you consider that 250 rolls of velvia will pay for the M8... then there is little more to add.

Of course, it might be a bumpy ride, since there are some problems, that might or not affect you. The worst, in my opinion and experience, is the fact that some M8s (ours) were not accurately focusing our fastest lenses (F2 a bit, F1.4 more, F1.0 a lot). They fixed it. End of story.

As per words of praise, suffice it to say that it replaced a 16MP Hasselblad back without a hitch. Enough praise? I guess so.

Just spend the damn 5K and get over it!!!!!!!

[canlogic]

I have had mine since November of last year and have used it in the snow and rain. I have taken it on motorcycle trips and used it for a couple of weddings. I have not had any problems with it.

[Skip Heitzig]

Raphael,

 

I have used Hasselblad equipment for years and after using the M8 for the last several months I am greatly impressed. I'll never need to tote all that weight again! I just finished a project requiring significant enlarging of digital files to 20 by 30 inches and even 30 by 40 inches using the Leica files. I then compared them to enlargements made by the Haselblad and Leica is sharper and cleaner. No regrets here.

 

Skip H

[rafael_macia]

Much appreciation for all of your opinions and advice.

It has changed my view towards the "positive"

The way the M8 is described helps me understand it somewhat.

I would greatly welcome any other replies to my post.

 

thanking all,

 

Rafael

[M6J]

I had the same thoughs with you. I knew that internet amplifies the problems, I knew that most happy owners prefer to take pictures than write in forums, but I still was anxious. A month ago I decided that I should stop thinking about problems and buy the M8 that I want so much and IF and WHEN something happens then I will get it fixed under the warranty, period. So, last week my M8 finally arrived and now I am a happy sausage! :D

[carstenw]

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I have both M6 and M8, and although I prefer the feel of the M6, the M8 grabs most of my time. It is thicker front-to-back, taller, and of course, much more complicated. What it gives though is the simplest operation of any digital camera I have used, and great images.

 

The infrared sensitivity bothers me, but I have filter for my lenses, and so that is taken care of. The glitches in the current firmware which I experience are button presses showing the wrong image, scrolling going crazy and looping until I stop it, and zebra-stripes shown instead of an image while reviewing a shot (this seems to happen more with DNG+JPG). None of these three happen that often, and none are that serious, so I am patiently waiting for the firmware updates which fixes it.

 

Overall though, I must say that I have never enjoyed a camera so much. I would recommend that you become familiar with its quirks, accept them, and then buy one and enjoy it.

 

Which lenses do you have? You may have to shuffle your lineup a little to optimise it for having both film and digital Ms.

[Shootist]

It's a No-Brainer all the way. My M3 and my Nikon D200 have sat for months.

Run down to B&H today, oh it might be a jewish holiday today, or tomorrow and buy one.

You'll love it. and see if they have UV/IR filters to fit your most used lenses.

[Hacker]

Suffering from tennis elbow for so many months now forced me to switch to a lighter camera. I have previously read about all the bad stuff concerning the M8 and decided to wait for the M9, if it ever comes out. But I bit the bullet and bought the M8 and am enjoying it very much. So light and easy to carry around, and I find myself actually carrying the camera more even for non-essential outings.

 

There is a shortage of Leica UV/IR filters right now (e.g. E49), so unless you use a lens other than the 75AA or the WATE with the Milich adapter, your other lenses will work fine (some may need 6-bit coding for better results). Other than that, enjoy!

[stunsworth]

As has been said already, people will tend to post when they have a problem, but not post when they don't. It's a bit like working in a hospital and thinking that the entire world must be sick <grin>

 

I've had my M8 since January and haven't regretted it for a moment. In fact when Leica bring out their higher magnification model I'll consider a second one.

[luigi bertolotti]

Rafael, your question lacks an important info for giving you a simple response, and the info is "HAVE YOU ALREADY EXPERIENCED DIGITAL ?"

 

This is the basic issue... most of the problems I experienced in the last 5 months are not related to M8 in itself... are related to the fact that I switched from film (mainly M4) to digital, that is DIFFERENT, period.

 

Are you new to digital, and do you feel confident to switch from film ? : go by sure with M8, simply the most logical transition for a Leica M user; problems of M8 in itself are irrilevant.

 

Have you already experienced with Digital Point-and-shoots ? (I had a little with a cheap HP discarded by a friend); go with M8... it's a quality jump.

 

Have you already experienced with a good DSLR ? I haven't a serious advice by myself... never used them and don't like the gear... I'm biased... but trying to be objective... seems to me that DSLRs have something very good.

[rafael_macia]

I have both M6 and M8, and although I prefer the feel of the M6, the M8 grabs most of my time. It is thicker front-to-back, taller, and of course, much more complicated. What it gives though is the simplest operation of any digital camera I have used, and great images.

 

The infrared sensitivity bothers me, but I have filter for my lenses, and so that is taken care of. The glitches in the current firmware which I experience are button presses showing the wrong image, scrolling going crazy and looping until I stop it, and zebra-stripes shown instead of an image while reviewing a shot (this seems to happen more with DNG+JPG). None of these three happen that often, and none are that serious, so I am patiently waiting for the firmware updates which fixes it.

 

Overall though, I must say that I have never enjoyed a camera so much. I would recommend that you become familiar with its quirks, accept them, and then buy one and enjoy it.

 

Which lenses do you have? You may have to shuffle your lineup a little to optimise it for having both film and digital Ms.

 

Carsten,

 

I have a 28 Summicron (thank God!),a 35 'cron ASPH 50'cron, an most likely llllI will have a 90 Macro (trading a 50 Elmar and $500) ..... i think that's good .... for the (new

but not with 6 bit Macro)

(The dealer told me 6bit is not needed above 50 Is that true?)

 

anyway,

I am really really enjoying all the replies!

Rafael

[hankg]

The 28-35-50 set you have is perfect for the M8. Unless you have need of the better close in performance of the 90/4 macro I'd wait for the 75/2.5 Summarit which on the M8 is like a 100mm lens which might be as long as you want to go on the M8.

[rafael_macia]

Rafael, your question lacks an important info for giving you a simple response, and the info is "HAVE YOU ALREADY EXPERIENCED DIGITAL ?"

 

This is the basic issue... most of the problems I experienced in the last 5 months are not related to M8 in itself... are related to the fact that I switched from film (mainly M4) to digital, that is DIFFERENT, period.

 

Are you new to digital, and do you feel confident to switch from film ? : go by sure with M8, simply the most logical transition for a Leica M user; problems of M8 in itself are irrilevant.

 

Have you already experienced with Digital Point-and-shoots ? (I had a little with a cheap HP discarded by a friend); go with M8... it's a quality jump.

 

Have you already experienced with a good DSLR ? I haven't a serious advice by myself... never used them and don't like the gear... I'm biased... but trying to be objective... seems to me that DSLRs have something very good.

 

Luigi,

I do not own a digital camera. My digital experience (if you can call it that) is not with shooting. , but having my 4x5 work (Linhof) scanned and, working on it in Photoshop.)

As I market my work via stock agencies, I know digital is the future. It seems to be quicker and less time consuming. Scanning (the 4x5's are done on an Imacon), I do 35 with a very good Minolta 5400 II but it takes forever.

I think about an M8 because I am always a Leica person. (I wish I knew what to do about digital for 4x5! .... but that is not for now too $ .....

I would not feel confident to let go both the MP's maybe keep one and an M8 ...

I realize now that problems appear more often than praise, because this is a problem solving forum ... so to speak

sorry to go on

thanks

 

Rafael

[luigi bertolotti]

Well Rafael, I understand you are a pro... I'm not... I think we have different needs and expectations; but I think that if you carry on your work with 2 MP... sell one and buy an M8 seems to me at all logical. Compliments, anyway : I have always appreciated people that works with 4x5"...

[carstenw]

Carsten,

 

I have a 28 Summicron (thank God!),a 35 'cron ASPH 50'cron, an most likely llllI will have a 90 Macro (trading a 50 Elmar and $500) ..... i think that's good .... for the (new

but not with 6 bit Macro)

(The dealer told me 6bit is not needed above 50 Is that true?)

 

anyway,

I am really really enjoying all the replies!

Rafael

That is a nice lens set. The 35 Cron Asph is a little contrasty on the M8, so you might want to check that it works as you want it to. If not, you could swap it out for either a 35 Cron IV or a 35 Lux Asph, or even an older 35 Lux. The 28 Cron is great. If you use the 28 Cron a lot on your film cameras, you might want to consider a 21mm lens. Voigtländer makes a nice one, but it is only f/4. The Leica and Zeiss lenses are more expensive, but have f/2.8. At the tele end, I would recommend considering a 75 instead of a 90. I have both 75 Lux and 90 Macro and use the 75 much more. I am considering getting a 75 Cron, which can go comparatively close, thus sometimes avoiding the need for a macro lens. f/4 is really quite slow, especially with a 90mm focal length, where you need more speed for stable pictures.

 

The 6-bit coding does three things: places the focal length in the EXIF (but not aperture), corrects for vignetting, and if an IR filter is used, corrects for a cyan colour cast in the corners. The last two are not problems with 50mm and up, and I found that even the 35 Cron Asph (which I also used to own) didn't really need it either. The 35 Lux Asph does, however, probably because of its wider front element and larger aperture.

[Photoskeptic]

Carsten, I recently bought a 35 'cron ASPH and it is working just fine. I don't find it too contrasty yet. Could be under brighter sun conditions, but we've been cloudy as of late and everything has been copacetic.

[GarethC]

If you have 2 MP right now, why wouldn't you buy an M8, it is 10.3 MP? lol

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[michael_b_elmer]

Much appreciation for all of your opinions and advice.

It has changed my view towards the "positive"

The way the M8 is described helps me understand it somewhat.

I would greatly welcome any other replies to my post.

 

thanking all,

 

Rafael

So, Rafael, you asked for it! I am myself a Leica owner since 47 years (and a user since 52).

I have had all sorts of Leicas ranging from my fathers m3, my own first iiib, CL, m4-p, m6, m6 ttl, Flex I, SL2, R3, R4, R9, DMR, Minilux, CM, Digilux Zoom, Digilux 4.3, Digilux 2 and many others.

 

If you are used to M-cameras, you will love the M8 for its versatility and quality - It's a digital M. All you have to do is to decide to take the (difficult) transition from analogue to digital and the change from darkroom to lightroom. Having done that you will not look back - at least I haven't and I have sold all the analogue Leicas and lots of lenses I had when I bought the M8 just to try and get as up to date a range of lenses as possible (I keep my newest R-lenses for possible use on a coming digital R10).

 

Take the plunge, man- and good luck!

 

Michael

[cme4brain]

I am a 40 year Leica user. Right now I am flirting with the idea of an M8. I have 2 MP's with lenses, so I am somewhat hesitant listening to the complicated problems M8 users have. Problems far outweigh words of praise.

It is my uneducated guess Leica came out with a product too soon.

Am I wrong?

Does it make sense to ge an M8?

Is the M8 a step forward?

I am just interested in uncomplicated advice.

thanks!

Rafael

 

 

Take the plunge! I am an amateur photographer with more money for hobbies than my wife would like, and I have not regretted owning the M8 one day. I have not had a single problem with mine! I use all Voigtlander lenses and for my level of photography, that is fine. I may get some of the new Summarits after Sean Reid reveiws them!