Pedro Posted December 12, 2008 Share #1 Posted December 12, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I had an M8 for a year and I loved the camera. However, I had focus problems with the camera / with my two lenses. Tired of sending back lenses to be repaired and wanting a FF sensor - I sold the Leica and the lenses and got a Nikon D3. The D3 is a superb camera and my family loves my photos better than the ones I was getting with the M8. I agree that e.g. for landscape and ultra low light, the D3 delivers much better results. Even so - I keep missing the Leica. Leica Ms are a superb object (very special look and feel) and - I cannot describe it but I am sure about it - photographs, particularly street & portraits, have something special that makes than stand out from the crowd of standardized point-and-shoot or dslr cameras. Question is - how frequent are problems with M7 or MP? Should I expect the same technical malfunctions, namely with focus, I was getting with the M8? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 12, 2008 Posted December 12, 2008 Hi Pedro, Take a look here I miss my M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted December 12, 2008 Share #2 Posted December 12, 2008 M7s and MPs don't have the focus issues that the M8 does Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted December 12, 2008 Share #3 Posted December 12, 2008 M7s and MPs don't have the focus issues that the M8 does Sorry Andy, I would like to change your senctence: M7s and MPs don't have the focus issues that the M8 did have Regards Steve PS: Go for an M8.2 or late M8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atournas Posted December 12, 2008 Share #4 Posted December 12, 2008 MP cameras (M6 Classic as well) have no focus issues--they have no problems of malfunction at all. I've been using an M6 Classic since 1998 with not a single problem. Same flawless operation with a very early MP model I use. As a matter of fact, that dependability is one of the great virtues of mechanical M and R cameras, that is, going out to take pictures without worrying that the camera may let you down. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 12, 2008 Share #5 Posted December 12, 2008 The focus issues you mention are due to focus shift in the lenses as you stop down - as I understand it the problems mostly relate to certain lenses. It is evident in the M8 and other digital cameras - the sensor isn't very forgiving. This isn't an issue with film however - focus shift might still occur but won't be noticeable on film. Treat yourself to a nice film M, go on its Christmas after all! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ndjambrose Posted December 12, 2008 Share #6 Posted December 12, 2008 Sorry Andy, I would like to change your senctence: M7s and MPs don't have the focus issues that the M8 did have There's nothing different about an M8.2. Focus-shift is a characteristic of the lens and so occurs in all models of the M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted December 12, 2008 Share #7 Posted December 12, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Pedro, welcome back to the dark(room) side I can only echo what has been said. On any M Leica I have ever used, focus is snappy and clear. For pure pleasure I would recommend an M2 with just 35/50/90mm frame lines - shoot and be happy. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted December 12, 2008 Share #8 Posted December 12, 2008 Bill is right, much wisdom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted December 12, 2008 Share #9 Posted December 12, 2008 I've not had any problems with my M6 or M7. I don't shoot *tons* of pictures. Probably about 100 rolls a year. I've had the M6 for about 3 years. I bought it used off of ebay. Never did a CLA on it. It's been great. The M7 I got in the middle of this past summer, so I've had it for about 5 months. Put about 40 rolls through it. Not had to change the battery, not had any focus problems, etc. I did make sure to buy one (used) that had the upgraded DX reader. There has only been a handful of shots that I missed focus on. The only glaring one was of a person, shooting with a 50/1.4 at pretty close range, wide open. I think the person or I moved a bit too much and I didn't realize when I took the shot. I've shot enough with that lens now, wide open at close range, that I know it's not a focusing issue but a movement issue for that one photo. Most of my fuzzy pictures are the result of slow shutter speeds. So to some up, for me, knock on wood, I've not had any problems with my Leicas, the focus performance is better than mine, but I'm only a moderate shooter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DuquesneG Posted December 12, 2008 Share #10 Posted December 12, 2008 I had an M8 for a year and I loved the camera. However, I had focus problems with the camera / with my two lenses. Tired of sending back lenses to be repaired and wanting a FF sensor - I sold the Leica and the lenses and got a Nikon D3. The D3 is a superb camera and my family loves my photos better than the ones I was getting with the M8. I agree that e.g. for landscape and ultra low light, the D3 delivers much better results. Even so - I keep missing the Leica. Leica Ms are a superb object (very special look and feel) and - I cannot describe it but I am sure about it - photographs, particularly street & portraits, have something special that makes than stand out from the crowd of standardized point-and-shoot or dslr cameras. Question is - how frequent are problems with M7 or MP? Should I expect the same technical malfunctions, namely with focus, I was getting with the M8? You sound like a digital guy. Do you intend to take digital pictures of the negs you make with that M7 or MP (some call it "scanning")? If so, do you have the skills to make your digitized film photos have that "something special that makes them stand out". If you've based your expectations on enlarger/wet-darkroom prints you've seen, that's a more critical issue than the possibility of focus issues...which, BTW I (and many others) have never had with their M8s. The M8 can be adjusted to be free of focus issues (and in fact, I suspect that as time went on, Solms learned how to do it in final assembly, because most of the focus issues were reported in the older # bodies). Maybe you should think about getting another M8, perhaps a late # demo, or even an M8.2. There are good reasons to go back to film, but a bad experience with one M8 mis-focusing doesn't seem like one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted December 12, 2008 Share #11 Posted December 12, 2008 The focus issues you mention are due to focus shift in the lenses as you stop down - as I understand it the problems mostly relate to certain lenses. It is evident in the M8 and other digital cameras - the sensor isn't very forgiving. This isn't an issue with film however - focus shift might still occur but won't be noticeable on film. Treat yourself to a nice film M, go on its Christmas after all! I'm puzzled, why would focus shift not be noticeable on film compared to an M8 ? Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted December 12, 2008 Share #12 Posted December 12, 2008 I don't think it's as noticeable because film was a depth that digital doesn't - film is thicker than a digital sensor. Quite prepared to be told I'm wrong <grin>. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted December 12, 2008 Share #13 Posted December 12, 2008 I don't think it's as noticeable because film was a depth that digital doesn't - film is thicker than a digital sensor. Quite prepared to be told I'm wrong <grin>. I think this is true. Also it's harder to 'pixel peep' on film, and its certainly more difficult to instant review your focus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boy_lah Posted December 12, 2008 Share #14 Posted December 12, 2008 i just got my M8 used from a good friend who bought it when it first came out - pretty much first batch. I've not noticed any focus shift in my normal shooting but i do shoot at very low shutter speeds and some 'fuzz' is normal. Just curious - how would i test for this focus shift? and is this repairable? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lotw Posted December 12, 2008 Share #15 Posted December 12, 2008 never had any focusing problems with my M8 since it's back from the adjustment service in Solms. Going back to film is an idea, but I think you are already very accustomed to digital, more than you may realize. I recently bought a film M again, but scanning is a difficult and/or expensive thing to do when you expect real good results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted December 12, 2008 Share #16 Posted December 12, 2008 Just curious - how would i test for this focus shift? and is this repairable? Focus shift is a characteristic of some lenses. As the lens is stopped down the point of focus moves - usually backwards. To test for it focus on something wide open and take a shot. Repeat several this stopping down the lens between shots. The most notorious lens for focus shift it the Noctilux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikFive Posted December 12, 2008 Share #17 Posted December 12, 2008 Sorry Andy, I would like to change your senctence: M7s and MPs don't have the focus issues that the M8 did have Regards Steve PS: Go for an M8.2 or late M8 So all M8´s changed over night? :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest noah_addis Posted December 12, 2008 Share #18 Posted December 12, 2008 Neither of the M8 cameras I've used have had any focus problems, but neither have my M6ttls or MPs. This includes the 35 'lux asph which is often said to be a problem lens on the M8. I did extensive testing with both my M8 and the one I borrowed to test before I bought mine. The only focus problems I had with either camera was when I blew the focus. In my controlled tests, the results were spot-on. I hate to mention this for fear of being branded as anti-film (which is crazy since I love film, have four M film bodies and spent all day scanning tri-x negs) but if you're used to the convenience of digital, I wonder how much you'll actually shoot with an M film camera if you need to process, scan and/or print it. It does take a time commitment. Though in my opinion, it is worth it if you're not under tight deadlines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted December 12, 2008 Share #19 Posted December 12, 2008 All the hallmarks of classic Leica withdrawal Poor chap Take this thread with a glass of fine red wine: I Love My MP Add a roll of Kodak Ektar 100 You'll feel a lot better in the morning Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted December 12, 2008 Share #20 Posted December 12, 2008 I love the MP had it for 5 years.. Super camera.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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