rwchisholm Posted October 13, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 13, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello! Long time forum lurker, first time poster... As a die-hard Canon digital SLR user, I took the advice of many on the camera forums and read everything available about the M8 before taking the plunge and purchasing. Needless to say, my wife, who loves my photography and, therefore, tolerates the price of the digital Canon gear/lenses, was less than pleased with the initial Leica investment. So, we went to the pumpkin patch with the kids today as our first real test of the M8. I shot the Leica with a 28 elmarit and she shot the 5D with a 50 1.4 prime and a fill light. Now, I can shoot the heck out of the 5D, and we have many a gorgeous pic on the walls at home/internet to show. My wife is no slouch either. And I have a host of canon primes, some L's, some just revered primes (like the 50 1.4) that make gorgeous photos. Needless to say, I expected beautiful pics from the Canon and I was HOPING for a few usable shots from the M8, but with the manual focusing and lack of fill, I was not optimistic. After we got home, my wife set up in the digital darkroom (she's a graphic designer by trade, so LR and PS3 are home to her). I ran a few errands and returned to the sounds of the printer running. She wanted to print some for the walls, as we are continuously updating photos on various walls of the home. Anyway, my wife, who hadn't really warmed to the Leica yet, yelled from the office and told me that I had "to see these pictures!" She had done a few in black and white, both from the 5D and M8, as well as a color print from each. The difference in the printed files was, frankly, shocking. The M8 files were outstanding! The contrast, the level of detail, the colors (in the color prints). Granted, we shot at different focal lengths, but we were both shooting at f 6.3-f 8, and we are definitely not novices at post-processing -- We know how to get the Canon files to look pretty darned good! Well, what can I say? We are definitely happy about the M8! Even more surprising, most of my photos on the M8 were in sharp focus, dead on. Now, if I can just convince her that a few more lenses are in order... --Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 13, 2007 Posted October 13, 2007 Hi rwchisholm, Take a look here Joined the M8 Family!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bradreiman Posted October 13, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 13, 2007 Rob-Welcome to the fray! I loved reading your little experience. You'll probably be buying your wife an m8 before you get those new lenses-ha. I just bought my partner one and boy is she pleased. Look forward to seeing some of your posts in the photo forums...Brad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
newyorkone Posted October 13, 2007 Share #3 Posted October 13, 2007 Welcome... I would normally say that you'll love it but it sounds like you already do. Congrats! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6J Posted October 13, 2007 Share #4 Posted October 13, 2007 Welcome in the Leica family Rob! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted October 13, 2007 Share #5 Posted October 13, 2007 Rob--welcome Glad you like the camera so much! Your surprise at the high quality of printing mirrors mine every time I make a print from an M8 file. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fursan Posted October 13, 2007 Share #6 Posted October 13, 2007 Welcome Rob. Hang on to your wallet, though! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arminw Posted October 13, 2007 Share #7 Posted October 13, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Good luck with your M8 Rob. I am glad to hear you had such a successful outing and wish you many more fantastic shots and prints .... Armin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted October 13, 2007 Share #8 Posted October 13, 2007 Welcome! Your experience mirrors mine fairly closely, except that I was already planning to sell the 5D when I bought the M8. I did compare them for a while, but I stopped using the 5D fairly quickly. Can you sell a token 5D lens, to make it easier to convince your wife that you need another M lens? I would recommend a portrait lens. The M8 does wonderful portraits. You might be able to find a 75 Lux for a decent price, or if that is still too much, then a pre-Asph 90 Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted October 13, 2007 Share #9 Posted October 13, 2007 Welcome to the forum and the Leica M family. I had a similar experience back in 1972 when I developed the first roll of B&W film from a M3 and 50 Cron I had barrowed from my place of work. I bought that camera and lens the next day when I came into work and have had an affair with Leica M cameras and lenses ever since. As others have pointed out "Hold onto your wallet". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 13, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 13, 2007 A Warm welcome to you ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelikan1931 Posted October 13, 2007 Share #11 Posted October 13, 2007 get a grey card, you will need it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnguyen Posted October 13, 2007 Share #12 Posted October 13, 2007 Glad to hear about your Leica M8 experience. The canon 50mm f1.4 is a good lens but not as contrasty as 50mm f2 Summicron R or M for that matter. You can get an leica/eos adapter and start doing direct comparison between Canon L lenses and Leica R lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LichMD Posted October 14, 2007 Share #13 Posted October 14, 2007 Rob, welcome to the forum and to the M8 tribe. Great story, thanks for sharing, mirrors mine and many of us here on the forum. Get ready for the lens lust, it should start hitting you.......now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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