firststream Posted March 27, 2008 Share #121 Posted March 27, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Steve your in my face and your being insulting. I do know what I am doing. I don't need the snide remarks on top of it. Fair enough C'mon Guy - Steve had the funniest line of the month with that one! By the way, I'm 50 - with grey hair. Today at the barber's (two weeks after M8 purchase) my clippings were white. Maybe Steve is on to something... ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 27, 2008 Posted March 27, 2008 Hi firststream, Take a look here Leica M8 - Would you buy it now?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest guy_mancuso Posted March 27, 2008 Share #122 Posted March 27, 2008 Well there is a D3 that looks even better but that is going back to being big and like to avoid that myself. The d300 is a nice little camera and can do some things the M8 cannot do. I just get called on to do a lot of different things and getting harder to be M8 only. That is just the reality of it. Actually rather not spend the money on it to be honest. It really is a matter of buying time until Leica comes out with a DSLR that will hit me on all cylinders. Hopefully the R10 will prove to be it but waiting a year is just something i am finding very hard to do at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 27, 2008 Share #123 Posted March 27, 2008 I ought to add that although I have no grey hair that isn't because I have no hair at all. I may not have as much as when I was 20 - and some seems to grow in the strangest places (ears, why? What's the point?) - but I ain't no Michael Stripe! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted March 27, 2008 Share #124 Posted March 27, 2008 C'mon Guy - Steve had the funniest line of the month with that one!By the way, I'm 50 - with grey hair. Today at the barber's (two weeks after M8 purchase) my clippings were white. Maybe Steve is on to something... ;-) The M8 gave me the damn grey hair. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted March 27, 2008 Share #125 Posted March 27, 2008 I ought to add that although I have no grey hair that isn't because I have no hair at all. I may not have as much as when I was 20 - and some seems to grow in the strangest places (ears, why? What's the point?) - but I ain't no Michael Stripe! Well it's all about your genetics i guess . The weird thing they say it comes from your Mother , go figure that one out. I can't. Let's not talk about the ear hair. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker Posted March 27, 2008 Share #126 Posted March 27, 2008 I bought an M8 exactly 7 months ago but will not buy a second M8 (I usually use 2 bodies for convenience). The camera is the only production digital RF currently and it is more of not having any other alternative [the RD1(s) is not in production any more] than anything else. I find it absolutely ridiculous that the cost of my UV/IR filters exceed the cost of a new M8 body. I love the portability of the M8, and would have missed many family shots (primary purpose of the camera) simply because I would not have carried a DSLR due to the weight and inconvenience. But for indoor shooting where I need a longer reach, the M8 is not the right tool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveB Posted March 27, 2008 Share #127 Posted March 27, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'd buy the M8 again in a minute. It's the simplest, and easiest to use digital camera I've ever had. The images are killer. Besides, how else can I explain all the lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted March 27, 2008 Share #128 Posted March 27, 2008 Okay let's get back to the question at hand . The real question about if you would buy it now comes in many parts. If you look at the industry and the changes that have come about since Nov. 06 the industry has changed. Nikon is back in the game in a big way D3 and d300 proving to be very good and new lenses that truly are stellar in quality. Canon comes out with a 23mpx 1dsMKIII. Sony coming out with a another 24 mpx in the market. Than you have Pentax, Sigma , Olympus and others as well. I know I am forgetting someone but the point being there are a lot of good choices lately. Nikon takes Zeiss lenses too. I have 2 coming but than there is also the Mamiya 645 with lens and 22 mpx back for under 10 k that is pretty darn nice. Jack just got one, so reality is there is a lot of competition than there are rumors floating on a 16mpx 5dII from canon, rumors on a Nikon and a 23 MPX 23 mpx D3x and lets not forget the D400 rumor 16 mpx FF. I know there are even RF rumors floating. Makes you think a little. Entry into a Leica system is no cheap alternative to the industry. Many will cost less than a M8 as a system overall and get more function . Leica needs to raise the bar a lot to compete. Not to say I don't love the M8 like many others and i would buy it again but there is a big BUT out there for many Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakley Posted March 27, 2008 Share #129 Posted March 27, 2008 I find it absolutely ridiculous that the cost of my UV/IR filters exceed the cost of a new M8 body. Good Lord! How many did you buy? The most expensive one I can find is $194; you'd have to buy more than 25 of those to pay for a new body. I only have four, and I got two of them for free.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakley Posted March 27, 2008 Share #130 Posted March 27, 2008 Leica needs to raise the bar a lot to compete. I think part of the point is that Leica isn't trying to compete. It looks to me like the company is trying to build a profitable business by differentiating rather than competing. They produce very expensive point&shoots (via Panasonic) and thus avoid competing with Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony, and Canon (except at the very top end of Canon's range). They produce 4/3 DSLRs and thus avoid going head-to-head with Nikon, Canon, Sony, and Pentax. They produce a DRF, and thus avoid competing with anybody. The profit-by-differentiating strategy has been very successful for Cosina (both in its Voigtlander line and in its branded lens partnerships); it could conceivably be successful for Leica too, but they've got to do a much better job of execution than they've done with the M8 (and especially fix the quality and service issues), and they also have to find some niche to exploit at the lower-priced end of the market IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrivers Posted March 28, 2008 Share #131 Posted March 28, 2008 At one time in history, the Leica camera was the best that money could buy. I have used them since the early 60’s. I waited for two years to get the M8. I got a new M8 with a US warranty. The thing was bad right out of the box. The battery was stuck. I got a new replacement and the sensor was dirty right out of the box. I may come to like this thing but my first impressions are that Leica has a serious quality control problem. I would not buy a used one because if it has any problem the cost to fix it would be high. You may want to rent one for a week to see if it lives up to your expectations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grduprey Posted March 28, 2008 Share #132 Posted March 28, 2008 I have had mine for over a year now and would not get rid of it for anything. A fantastic camera. Not one problem what so ever. I own only one coded lens, the 28 Elmarit Asph. IR Filters, I use them on my lenses, but many do not use them at all. They are only needed for about 10% of the time. My choice to buy them and forget about them being on the lenses. My M8 is my main camera and take it every where with me. I gave the wife the D200, and my Film Leica's, both M & R get very little use. Would buy another in a minute if I could afford it. Gene Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptomsu Posted March 28, 2008 Share #133 Posted March 28, 2008 If I would not have had an almost complete M System, I doubt that I would have bought into the M8 a year ago and I would definitely no longer o o today, as there are much more options around (Nikon, Canon etc). I am not saying that I do not love the M8, I really like it, but for the money you have to pay for 1 body and 2 lenses (even if you can get used ones) you are able to get a full functional high quality DSLR set. And even FF options are increasing every month. Leica needs to top cameras like D3 or 1DSMKIII or the coming Sony FF etc. in order to be able to make real business. But even under these circumstances it will be difficult, because Leica needs to be more expensive (small series, manufactured in Germany etc). So given all this, I would not buy an M8 now agin. Maybe an M9 FF if available. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker Posted March 28, 2008 Share #134 Posted March 28, 2008 Good Lord! How many did you buy? The most expensive one I can find is $194; you'd have to buy more than 25 of those to pay for a new body. I only have four, and I got two of them for free.... And what will I do with the filters once the successor has the IR issues fixed? Leica has a real conundrum to solve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markgay Posted March 28, 2008 Share #135 Posted March 28, 2008 I'd rather be left with a few UV/IR filters compared with all those Nikon DX lenses you can't port to a Nikon D3. As to a FF M9, careful what you wish for. It could involve an extensive redesign, upsetting traditionalists, or a kit of new lenses (retrofocus, allowing for all kinds of exif data/ automated settings). I'm very happy where the M8 is right now. I'm very fortunate to be able to afford it - and I'm enjoying it while I have no more pressing needs for the money. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 28, 2008 Share #136 Posted March 28, 2008 And what will I do with the filters once the successor has the IR issues fixed? Leica has a real conundrum to solve. Either sell them, or leave them on the shelf. The problem will come if you have an M8 which needs them, and an M9 which (maybe) doesn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSL Posted March 28, 2008 Share #137 Posted March 28, 2008 I'd rather be left with a few UV/IR filters compared with all those Nikon DX lenses you can't port to a Nikon D3. As to a FF M9, careful what you wish for. It could involve an extensive redesign, upsetting traditionalists, or a kit of new lenses (retrofocus, allowing for all kinds of exif data/ automated settings). I'm very happy where the M8 is right now. I'm very fortunate to be able to afford it - and I'm enjoying it while I have no more pressing needs for the money. Mark Who told you you can't port DX lenses to the D3? You need to check the specs. You lose pixels, but you still can shoot comfortably at ISO 6400. I always thought it was dumb to buy DX lenses anyway, but for those who have them it's not a lost cause. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Ortego Posted March 28, 2008 Share #138 Posted March 28, 2008 I dove into the M8 about six months ago without any prior RF knowledge. Thus far, I’m still learning and so the ratio of keepers’ is pretty low. Admittedly, I had second thoughts soon after the holidays, and I’ve concluded the camera with my two new Leica lenses is more expensive than I can really justify. Still, I will stand by it although I’ll digress from the frenzy as much as possible. In short, its impossible to ignore the capabilities of other camera systems that cost thousands less. Regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danyves Posted March 28, 2008 Share #139 Posted March 28, 2008 I find it absolutely ridiculous that the cost of my UV/IR filters exceed the cost of a new M8 body. But for indoor shooting where I need a longer reach, the M8 is not the right tool. ???? How many filters do you have? What indoor sort are you shooting ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rweisz Posted March 28, 2008 Share #140 Posted March 28, 2008 Really! Even if you go overboard and buy all Leica brand filters, at average $125 each, it's take 44 of them to equal the cost of an M8 let alone exceed it. Even if you bought a used M8 for $3500 that's 28 filters. Totally incredible, unless you a)have a major case of OCD and carry multiple spare filters, or b)are a Leica collector and have a major case of OCD and insist on having a filter on every lens you own even if you're not shooting with it at the time. And yeah, where are you shooting indoors that demands somthing longer than a 135 (180mm equivalent)? Trying to do head and shoulders portraits of stage players from the nosebleed balcony? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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