Newbee: What should I order????

[wwulfsohn]

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I am new to Leica and the M8. I am in the process of selling my Canon Mark II 1DS and several L lenses. Now what to buy???:

 

First a bit about my personal use of the camera. I am an amature who takes walk around shots: family, portait and travel tourest and normal nature shots.

 

So now my questions:

 

1) Black M8 versus chrome

 

2) Which lenses. My thougts were to get a 21, 50 or 65 and 90. I aaume I do not need any external rangefinder attachment for these lenses. But which ones should I buy? It seems like I would loose out if I did not get a low f especially on the 21 (early morning landscapes) and 90 ( low depth of field portratis).

 

3) New/used? I would rather do it right with the lenses although I am not opposed to used lenses (let me know if you have any for sale!).

 

3) How about cases - which to buy?

 

4) Any other key accessories to buy (beyond memory cards) such a extra battery, filters or grips?

 

5) Where to buy my cameral, lenses and other stuff?

 

 

Thank you!!!!!!!

 

Bill

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[enboe]

O.K., so you're moving from DSLR to Rangefinder. I'll give my opinions on the rest of your questions, but first an unsolicited input:

 

0) Have you tried a rangefinder for a month first? It's a huge difference. I love the dickens out of my Leicas, but know they are not for all purposes, hence I also keep a DSLR around. So, for an uncolicited suggestion, how about finding a nice, clean M6 and 50mm Summicron. This will set you back $1600 or so, but the Summicron will carry forward into your M8 kit, and you'll get 80% of your money back out of the M6.

 

Now for your questions:

 

1) Black M8 versus chrome: Black for covertness, chrome for retro-appeal. I chose chrome. Chrome is slightly more durable, but this is way down the list.

 

2) Which lenses. My thougts were to get a 21, 50 or 65 and 90. I aaume I do not need any external rangefinder attachment for these lenses. But which ones should I buy? It seems like I would loose out if I did not get a low f especially on the 21 (early morning landscapes) and 90 ( low depth of field portratis).: 24/50 would be a very powerful set. 24 is the widest for framelines in the viewfinder. This would give you effectively a 32+67 in 35mm-speak, a lot like the 35-70 zooms, but without the zoom. You'll give up the long end, but that's not the strength of a rangefinder. I tell people rangefinders are for conversational distances.

 

3) New/used? I would rather do it right with the lenses although I am not opposed to used lenses (let me know if you have any for sale!). : Over half of my collection has been purchased used. If you can inspect the lens in person, assure no scratches, fog, mildew, dents, etc, and that the diaphragm closes and opens smoothly with well-defined clicks, plus no oil on the blades. With this check-out process, you're pretty safe, as the designs are robust and simple, but also high-precision. As for any for sale, check the for-sale section in this website.

 

3) How about cases - which to buy?: Love my Foggs and my Billinghams. Domke and Crumpler make decent products for a lot less money too.

 

4) Any other key accessories to buy (beyond memory cards) such a extra battery, filters or grips?: Leica UV/IR cut filter for each lens.1 or 2 extra Leica batteries. 2GB memory cards. Memory card reader. Capture One Pro (preferred) or Adobe Lightroom (acceptable). Adobe CS3. Some decent photo printer, although you can start cheap with an Epson R260 or equivalent.

 

5) Where to buy my cameral, lenses and other stuff?: Reputable Leica USA dealer. There are many that sponsor this site and can be linked from the top of the page.

 

 

Have fun.

 

Eric

[gesper]

You also might want to think about switching to the Leica M8 Forum, which is a subset of this one. Lots of previous threads covering all of your questions, and a lot of activity from current M8 owners.

[Iron Flatline]

I like chrome, gives it an older "don't bother stealing me" look. Some people think that all black is more stealthy, but to me it looks like any other camera in that case. Covering the Leica sign with black tape may have been cool in the 60s when people knew what Leica was, but nowadays only the words Canon and Nikon will get the camera stolen.

 

If you were to get a single lens, think about getting either a 28, or a 35.

 

New.

 

Cases by Luigi. Check out Leicatime.com.

 

Can't suggest where to buy until you fill out your profile so the rest of us know where you're from. It makes everyone's life easier.

[guy]

I am new to Leica and the M8. I am in the process of selling my Canon Mark II 1DS and several L lenses. Now what to buy???:

 

First a bit about my personal use of the camera. I am an amature who takes walk around shots: family, portait and travel tourest and normal nature shots.

 

So now my questions:

 

1) Black M8 versus chrome

 

2) Which lenses. My thougts were to get a 21, 50 or 65 and 90. I aaume I do not need any external rangefinder attachment for these lenses. But which ones should I buy? It seems like I would loose out if I did not get a low f especially on the 21 (early morning landscapes) and 90 ( low depth of field portratis).

 

3) New/used? I would rather do it right with the lenses although I am not opposed to used lenses (let me know if you have any for sale!).

 

3) How about cases - which to buy?

 

4) Any other key accessories to buy (beyond memory cards) such a extra battery, filters or grips?

 

5) Where to buy my cameral, lenses and other stuff?

 

 

Thank you!!!!!!!

 

Bill

 

Some immediate thoughts:

 

For your landscape work and for street portraiture, you need a wide angle lens. The 21 would be great for the landscapes but it's very wide for portraiture! Maybe 24 or 28 would be better? I'd second Iron's point that if you were to have just one lens, go for the 28. Second lens? The 50 lux is very good indeed for portrait work (I think) though some people prefer longer still. If you're going longer, budget £26 for a viewfinder magnifier and get it from Hong Kong via eBay. (Or spend £200 on the Leica equivalent...!)

 

I'd buy new. The camera does have a history, and if there's some trouble with your model, a new one can be exchanged at your dealer or sent to Germany for adjustment. I don't know how this would work if you bought second-hand. I'd be wary.

 

Cases: depends entirely whether you want something that matches the classic appeal of the camera (Billingham et al) or not (LowePro, Crumpler et al). Worth trying them out with the camera and extras in your hand so you can be sure it all works well for you. Nothing more irritating than needing to get a bit of kit in a hurry and not being able to access it.

 

I'd put in a vote for the Leica grip as a necessity. It makes handling the camera way easier: you can grip it in one hand without that unnerving sense that you're one clammy-handed moment from dropping it.

 

If you're feeling well-heeled, consider getting a case for the camera (in addition to a camera bag into which to put the camera, lenses, batteries etc). Worthwhile protection. Luigi makes nicer ones than Leica, in my opinion, and they're very customisable. Look for his LeicaTime website.

 

Spare battery and cards, of course. Card reader for attachment to your computer – much better than tethering the camera. I think Lightroom is better than "acceptable": for a keen amateur (like me, and you) I think it's excellent, and you'd be advised to try it for a while before buying Photoshop CS3 at some ridiculous multi-hundred-pound price. I do have both, but only because I had PS anyway; and I'm getting away 99% of the time now with using LR for all editing, while PS gathers virtual dust.

 

Yes you need a good printer! Both Epson and HP do ones with multiple-black inksets, which carry several shades of grey as well as black. I'd really recommend one of these if you do any black-and-white work, since they produce excellent monochrome and toned images and handle your colour snaps too. I have the Epson R2400 and for my purposes it's excellent. HP are by some accounts even better now. Certainly consider getting an A3 model so you can print some shots to frame nice and big!

 

Finally, if you buy a black camera, black gaffer tape to black out the M8 and Leica logos and recreate that funky 60s vibe. And if you buy a silver camera, silver gaffer tape...

[luigi bertolotti]

I am new to Leica and the M8. I am in the process of selling my Canon Mark II 1DS and several L lenses. Now what to buy???:

 

First a bit about my personal use of the camera. I am an amature who takes walk around shots: family, portait and travel tourest and normal nature shots.

 

So now my questions:

 

1) Black M8 versus chrome

 

2) Which lenses. My thougts were to get a 21, 50 or 65 and 90. I aaume I do not need any external rangefinder attachment for these lenses. But which ones should I buy? It seems like I would loose out if I did not get a low f especially on the 21 (early morning landscapes) and 90 ( low depth of field portratis).

 

3) New/used? I would rather do it right with the lenses although I am not opposed to used lenses (let me know if you have any for sale!).

 

3) How about cases - which to buy?

 

4) Any other key accessories to buy (beyond memory cards) such a extra battery, filters or grips?

 

5) Where to buy my cameral, lenses and other stuff?

 

 

Thank you!!!!!!!

 

Bill

 

1) The one you like more - only aesthetic issue

2) Depends A LOT on budget : supposed you were accustomed to the wide range provided by reflex , I'd suggest you 4 lenses 2 originals + 2 Voigtlander (and a fine lineup would be 15CV 21L 35L 75CV or 21CV 28L 50CV 90L ... but hundreds of possibilities depending on your habits & money). Were you accustomed to zooms ? there is a fine multifocal WA (16 to 21) very very costly...

3) Used Leica lenses are often a good choice, expecially to fill some little "void" into an existing set... but if you are new to Leica, better to wait to understand well the Leica user market: there are literally DOZENS of lenses, ranging from years '50s to '00s you can make a real good use on M8...(you can use also lenses of the '30s... but this is a "special taste"...) but better to wait, inform, understand etc... is a complex (and FASCINATING...) issue.

4) Cases ? I'm Italian... and incidentally my name is Luigi ... not related to Crescenzi of Rome... but I've never seen something nicer than Luigi's cases...

5) UR/IV FILTERS FOR ANY LENS; a second battery, and maybe the grip if you are accustomed to it (I have not, but see hereby that many people likes a lot to use it).

 

6) Nothing to say about where to buy in US ... a good specialized dealer you can reach easily in my opinion is better... but don't know absolutely how is your personal situation about.

[Eoin]

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Coming from Canon myself, a 1DII, 5D, 16-35, 24-70, 70-200, 24L, 35L, 85L. I opted to cut out some of the least used focal lengths I had but rarely used. I bought many M lenses 21, 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, tried them all and picked the most usable focal lengths for my current style of shooting with the rangefinder as opposed to my style shooting with SLR.

 

I've settled on a 28 Summicron f:/2.0 Asph smooth tones & slightly wide, 50 Noctilux low light unique fingerprint & 50 Summicron lighter than the Nocti and yet to decide on the 90 Summicron pre asph super lens & cheap or 85 Summarex with it's unique fingerprint. I sold the 21 as it was rarely used, 35 Summilux as it was neither wide enough or narrow enough yet the most superb lens I've tried and 75 Summicron as it's just too perfect and a little stark.

 

If I were buying lenses, I'd buy 2nd hand from a trusted source, less to loose if you discover it's not what you want/need and try to sell on.

 

Cases, I rarely use them now, if out for the day, one lens on the camera and the other in the jacket pocket along with a spare battery and SD cards. I do however have a Billingham Hadley Pro for when I'm traveling and it's an excellent small bag big enough for the M8 flash & 4 lenses.

I also have a Leicatime case for the M8 which I love the feel of the camera when holding it inside the case, the only PIA is having to remove the case & bottom plate for SD/battery changes. When not using the Leicatime I also have the grip. I bought the grip before the Leicatime case but if I had the case first I would not bother with the grip.

 

I use the Sandisk 2Gb II's the ones which snap in half and can be plugged into the USB port directly, ease of use, 100% reliable, no need for a card reader or need to find the card reader.

 

Chrome v Black, the eternal question, for me chrome was the easy choice for wear and tare, but my heart desired black at the time. I'm glad now I stuck with chrome, strange how things change.

[Shootist]

I like Chrome better but I have both. I recently got a chrome 50mm Lux and it does look good on either black or chrome M8.

Chrome seems to be harder, better wearing.

Lenses, The viewfinder has frame line for 24, 35, 50, 75 and 90. I suggest you go for the 24 instead of the 21, there are no frame lines for the 21mm lens but if you use the whole viewfinder it covers it pretty good. Then a 35, 50, 75 (you wrote 65 but I take it that was a type-O) and 90 (If you can afford all of those and IF you can find them). New or Used, Well that is up to you. I recently dumped some, not all, of my older lenses and bought new. Leica or other maker lenses, again that is up to you. I have all Leica lenses except the 21mm. That one is the CV color skopar M-Mount and it is great.

 

Yes extra batteries. The M8 girp makes holding and using the camera easier. Filters, You will need IR cut filters for all your lenses. Get a viewfinder magnifier. I have the Leica one but other are happy with aftermarket brands.

Cases, I don't use them on any camera I have ever owned, YMMV.