M8 experienced opinions sought

[sm23221]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

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.

 

Same here. Tennis elbow got the best of me and I have since sold my Canon 1Ds Mark II. I believe toting the camera and a 300 f2.8 lens contributed to it. Love my M8 and I don't miss my Mark II at all. The M8 has changed the way I do photography. I haven't had any problems with mine to date and much prefer the photos that my M8 generates over any other camera.

[gdi]

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.

 

I took mine outside on a windy day once - no problems.

[Guest Walt]

And I took mine to a couple of dinner parties once - no problems.

[4season]

Rafael,

 

The future isn't digital: it's already here and it's totally mainstream! Film is now the "alternative process", but it may be another decade or two before it reaches maximum hipness

 

As a modern picture-taking instrument, the M8 is the best M-camera to date, IMO.

[rafael_macia]

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.

 

Carsten,

 

The 6 bit information is appreciated!

I will probably keep 1 MP (the .85),

I would keep the 35 'cron, as it is a black paint one, and looks perfect on the MP.

Your (and others), comments regarding the 90 Macro as not a great choice for the M8, I understand. It would end about 120mm ... too long for me.

I had the 75 'cron, but hated the focal length. Well not exactly.... I hated the frame corners on the MP for 75. Could never get used to them. ....Could use it now back since this thread convinces me to get an M8 ..... and on the M8 it would be nice.

 

Hey all ... thanks all for the wealth of opinions!

 

Rafael

 

ps. Gareth2 .... I don't have a 2mp camera. I don't have any digital camera yet.