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Sean Reid's positive/ constructive review


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Sean other than being a rangefinder( no disrespect to Epson) what is there that Leica brings to digital thatis new anddifferent or that others have overlooked? Then again it is free for anyone to answer as well

 

 

 

 

 

 

it's ok Gareth^

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Sean other than being a rangefinder( no disrespect to Epson) what is there that Leica brings to digital thatis new anddifferent or that others have overlooked? Then again it is free for anyone to answer as well

 

it's ok Gareth^

 

Hi Imants,

 

That's a really interesting question. One of the most important things it brings relates to it's file quality which I, unfortunately, can't discuss in any detail yet. While being about the same size as previous Ms, I think that it brings us the digital version of the "Texas Leica" and I'll be talking about that a lot more in the next article. For those who don't know the term, "Texas Leica" is the slang name for Fuji's medium format rangefinder cameras. I worked with several of them in the 1980s.

 

The most important thing it brings, though this is now well-known, is the continuation of the M7 into the world of digital capture. Photographers who are eager to try the M8 should certainly play with an M7 somewhere if they've never done that. Of course there are differences but the camera most like the M8 (in use) is the M7.

 

Among digital cameras that actually have a shutter sound, it's one of the quietest. The other is the Oly E-1. The built quality is higher than most digital cameras and there's not a lot of plastic used.

 

You've already seen the comparisons to the R-D1 in my review.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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Texas Leica! That's exciting!

 

Read Sean's reveiw.

 

His only critisms: poor Exp. Comp. and ISO ergonomics. Lack of weather seals.

 

While these are real shortcomings, the imperfect M8 sounds like, for many of us, it will be the best camera ever made (if it is as reliable as we would expect from Leica.)

 

With OUTSTANDING image qualtiy. If as good as the DMR it will be very, very good. It's reasonable to think it will be better.

 

Best,

 

Mitchell

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Texas Leica! That's exciting!

 

Read Sean's reveiw.

 

His only critisms: poor Exp. Comp. and ISO ergonomics. Lack of weather seals.

 

While these are real shortcomings, the imperfect M8 sounds like, for many of us, it will be the best camera ever made (if it is as reliable as we would expect from Leica.)

 

With OUTSTANDING image qualtiy. If as good as the DMR it will be very, very good. It's reasonable to think it will be better.

 

Best,

 

Mitchell

 

Hi Mitch,

 

Yes, the digital Texas Leica idea is exciting. I was working on pictures this past weekend where the M8 really would have been the perfect camera for me.

 

You gave a good summary of the weaknesses as I see them: digital controls design and lack of weather sealing (although we'll see how the M8 does in snow and rain). The other weakness, which follows, can be easily remedied. The body design puts the control wheel in a bad position for someone like myself (my palm ends up on it). With the grip mounted, however, the body fit me very well.

 

BTW, I've just been looking through some M8 files made with the 28/2.8 - it's really an outstanding little lens. I want one.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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I don't own a 5D but have used one extensively and think its an incredible camera for the price. It is the only DSLR that has made me consider going that route. I can't afford to get an M8 and a D5 so, for now, I will make do with my R-D1 until my saving allows an M8!

 

Yoowzers, the 5D is almost as pricey as the M8... thank goodness I didn't fall for the myth! :eek: :eek: :eek:

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BTW, I've just been looking through some M8 files made with the 28/2.8 - it's really an outstanding little lens. I want one.

 

I am very interested in that lens. I would like to read a review of it as soon as possible, on film or digital sensor (R-D1, M8).

 

How is the fingerprint of that lens?

 

R.

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Yoowzers, the 5D is almost as pricey as the M8... thank goodness I didn't fall for the myth! :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

Albert,

 

Please do me a favor and don't bring the Canon bashing into this thread. *Please*

 

We're talking about the M8 here and I emphatically do not want to get into the Canon debate that you feel so passionately about.

 

OK?

 

Sean

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Originally Posted by sean_reid

 

And, Mitch, do the Texas Leicas go to ISO 2500? No, they do not! <G>

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

Well if you use pushed Tmax 3200, yes you can use that in the fabulous Texas Leica (I have one!)

 

"pushed"? Isn't 3200 faster than 2500 in SLC then? :D :D :D I was going to say the same thing anyway, except with Delta 3200.

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Well if you use pushed Tmax 3200, yes you can use that in the fabulous Texas Leica (I have one!)

 

Cool, which one do you have? I must confess that I didn't know that they started making TMZ in 120/220 format. I haven't used one of the big Fujis since 1988. I checked B&H and didn't see it. Where do you find TMZ in that size?

 

The fastest MF film I've seen is the Iflord Delta 3200 B&W film which has a native ISO 1250. I imagine it could be pushed easily to 2500 since Ilford touts it as an ISO 3200-capable film.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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Seems to me the M8 is almost exactly the same size as a Digilux 2, a little wider and looking at both that and the R-D1, there's noticeably more space to the right of the screen for the ball of your thumb. The D2 has the screen offset as far left as it will go, the R-D1 has the "rewind knob" instead of the thumb wheel and a smaller screen, both making space.

 

Does sound like the grip is going to be pretty much essential which makes me wonder how usable the half case is as an alternative.

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Yoowzers, the 5D is almost as pricey as the M8... thank goodness I didn't fall for the myth! :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

Try to get your facts right Alfie, so often you state as fact what you would like to be the truth rather than the reality itself. In the UK the 5D is about £1900, the M8 £2900. That's a £1000 difference. I wouldn't describe that as 'almost as pricey' myself.

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Guest guy_mancuso

Mark I am not a case person per say for camera's but that half case does look pretty darn functional. let's go out on a limb here and just assume this sucker is going to be hard to hold, we lost the crank and for nothing else was a good hold on. i love hand straps like on the DMr but since there is not one unless custom made than let's explore the alternates the grip with bottom plate looks like the first thing i would get , but it is good for your fingers and not your thumb , ( have to imagine holding this) which is on the back but no real support. now the half case you get grips in front and in back for your thumb. maybe better overall, but than you just added bulk. personally i would tend to lean to the grip , just because it really has not changed the camera overall size.

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At this point, for me, most of the questions that can be answered prior to release have been answered.

 

It's hard for me to see why I wouldn't want and love this camera.

 

Now I must buckle down to the hard work of....waiting. (Yuck)

 

Best,

 

Mitchell

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