mattwardle Posted March 8, 2009 Share #1 Posted March 8, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all! I'm moving to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in a couple of weeks on a long term contract. I'm undecided as to which camp I should set up in, film or digital. I'm looking at investing long term into the M system, I miss my old M6, however I'm concerned about the image quality of the M8, and weather I should stick with what I know best and go back down the film route? I've also no idea how easy it is to obtain the likes of velvia etc in Saudi so this may play an important part! Cheers Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Hi mattwardle, Take a look here M8 or M7?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dpattinson Posted March 9, 2009 Share #2 Posted March 9, 2009 The image quality of the M8 is fine. There are things that you might complain about - but image quality is not one of them. (unless maybe you don't like the noise at 1250-2500iso, but in that case you'd like the noise in 2500iso film about the same). If you shoot velvia, then you're going to love 160iso on the M8 and you would never have worried about noise over 640iso anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest darkstar2004 Posted March 9, 2009 Share #3 Posted March 9, 2009 Of those two, M7. Otherwise, MP 0.72 Getting film & batteries in Saudi should be doable - B&H ships worldwide and you can order via their website B&H Photo Video | Digital Cameras, Camcorders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted March 9, 2009 Share #4 Posted March 9, 2009 Can't speak for the M8 - but the quality of the pictures here are pretty impressive. Film however has not all of a sudden become incompetent. Rather the opposite. Film keeps on getting better and better - particularly B&W. Film is better than it has ever been, so you can certainly choose either film or digital and enjoy quality technical results. Film in Jeddah? Batteries and memory cards in Jeddah? Don't know, but a quite important question. All the best. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taqi Posted March 9, 2009 Share #5 Posted March 9, 2009 Neither, MP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted March 9, 2009 Share #6 Posted March 9, 2009 Hi Matt, Welcome to the forum. The image quality of the M8 is in the same league as that of other manufacturers - most probably better. You can tell if an image was made on a Leica or not. You are moving to one of the more remote parts of the world, where much like here, it not only comes down to film availability, but also where to have it processed. There is only one lab in Namibia which can still do E6 processing - they also don't do this every day, they wait until they have at least 12 films for processing before they start the machines. As much as I love film and film exposure, this is an era that is drawing to a close (yes I know that film will always be around for a small group of enthusiasts, but it is getting more difficult to get (especially the more pro stuff like Velvia and Ilford Films) and have processed outside of the US and Europe). Buy the M8, it is a fine piece of equipment and enjoy using it. Please post some images for us to admire, it looks like a fascinating part of the world. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted March 9, 2009 Share #7 Posted March 9, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Almost forgot, When you buy the M8, do yourself a favor and buy at least 2 spare batteries and, I would say, 4 x 4mb SD cards. I suggest 4mb cards as these work 100% with the M8 and cost next to nothing nowadays. Once you get into the HC cards (8mb+) you can start running into problems with things like card readers, etc. So what if you have to change the card after 300+ images. You would have had to change film after maximum 36 exposures. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted March 9, 2009 Share #8 Posted March 9, 2009 First of all I would like to offer you my sincere condolences to you on moving to Saudi. Please consider that photography is not considered an art at all there. Further almost none appreciates to be photographed. Depending on your photos you do not want to get some of them developed by a Saudi. Thus go for digital. A M-camera is nice because of its size. Store a copy of your files on your laptop using truecrypt (search on google). Regards Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steich Posted March 9, 2009 Share #9 Posted March 9, 2009 Store a copy of your files on your laptop using truecrypt (search on google). But take care. In some countries (I think Saudi Arabia is among them) some crypto technologies are illegal... Regards Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattwardle Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted March 9, 2009 Thanks for the feedback guys. Im going to wait until I get to Jeddah to make my decision, only two weeks to go! I think the MP is a great suggestion, its my favorite M. My worry with the M8 is really to do with the longevity and investing in a camera that produces similar files to my Nikon D200, what I really want is that special M feel to the shots Ive really missed since selling my M6, so im biased to the film cameras, I just need to make sure its possible to get film and get it developed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Sprow Posted March 9, 2009 Share #11 Posted March 9, 2009 I have an M3, M7 and M8.2 and love them all. However, if I had to go to one M, it would be the M8. Has the fine M feeling and the resulting photos and prints are the best I've ever produced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattwardle Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted March 9, 2009 I have an M3, M7 and M8.2 and love them all. However, if I had to go to one M, it would be the M8. Has the fine M feeling and the resulting photos and prints are the best I've ever produced. Well Frank, tat just threw me! Im really keen to try an M8 and check out the results. I did try and demo one in the UK at the Focus camera event in Birmingham, however a rather stupid salesman from Jacobs wouldnt let me demo the camera unless I 'showed him the colour of my money'!. A swift email to Leica UK sorted him out. There is a Leica dealer in Dubai where I will be on business quite often, I may try out there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted March 10, 2009 Share #13 Posted March 10, 2009 Why not try to contact some local photographers or photo groups? I found a few below, as well as a piece on difficulties of photographing in Saudi. The Friends of Light site is in Arabic, but includes an interesting gallery. There will be a lot more photo stores in Dubai. Salams in Wafi Mall is one. (WAFI : Dubai shopping, souk, luxury hotel, restaurants and spa). Some friends have visited the Middle East and photographed extensively, but then they were on an organized tour. If you were to contact an official group, you may get helpful advice and it might also forestall any difficulties. Good luck! index Kukuphoto hany Musallam ãÌãæÚÉ ÃÕÏÞÇÁ ÇáÖæÁ ááÊÕæíÑ ÇáÝæÊæÛÑÇÝí The Taboo About Taking Pictures & Photographs in Saudi Arabia Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcraf Posted March 11, 2009 Share #14 Posted March 11, 2009 First of all I would like to offer you my sincere condolences to you on moving to Saudi. Please consider that photography is not considered an art at all there. Further almost none appreciates to be photographed. Depending on your photos you do not want to get some of them developed by a Saudi. Thus go for digital. A M-camera is nice because of its size. Store a copy of your files on your laptop using truecrypt (search on google). Regards Steve I agree, having spent some time in Saudi too. I would save your tax-free pennies and buy the mother of all M outfits when you return, based on an M8 or 8.2 (or any future digital M!). Get a decent digital compact to capture anything which you really wish to record out there; trouble is that any interesting stuff is in the towns and cities where you will easily be seen, and probably accosted and at the very least given a severe ticking off. So options for photography are limited. It would be very frustrating to have a nice M system and not be able to use it freely. Yes, I know that the UK police are getting a bit sensitive over photography in certain places spurred on by recent anti-terrorism laws, but Saudi is another story completely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjr Posted March 11, 2009 Share #15 Posted March 11, 2009 Neither ! Buy an MP..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiking Posted March 11, 2009 Share #16 Posted March 11, 2009 First of all I would like to offer you my sincere condolences to you on moving to Saudi. Please consider that photography is not considered an art at all there. Further almost none appreciates to be photographed. Depending on your photos you do not want to get some of them developed by a Saudi. Thus go for digital. A M-camera is nice because of its size. Store a copy of your files on your laptop using truecrypt (search on google). Regards Steve I would like to offer you my sincere condolences to yourself on talking such garbage. This is absolutely ridiculous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
walidsaad Posted March 12, 2009 Share #17 Posted March 12, 2009 i lived in Saudi Arabia for 6 months and you should not hesitate,take an M8 with you and avoid film .In any case avoid street photography unless you have a dslr with long telezoom.For other kind of photography i think you will not have problemsTry to enjoy your stay.! (heard that in Jeddah people are more open then in ryiad, were i stayed). W Saad. Lisbon,Portugal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
likea Posted March 13, 2009 Share #18 Posted March 13, 2009 Yeah, I'd be concerned about the weather too! Other than that, go with the M7. The M8 is a loser. If you want digital, get a full-frame Nikon D700. They don't need firmware updates and a blog full of whiners. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 13, 2009 Share #19 Posted March 13, 2009 The M8 is a loser No it isn't They don't need firmware updates Is the M8 the only camera that''s had it's firmware upgraded? The M8 firmware was been adding functionality. ...get a full-frame Nikon D700 I don't believe the D700 is a rangefinder. If the original poster had wanted a DSLR I'm sure he'd have asked about one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted March 13, 2009 Share #20 Posted March 13, 2009 I would like to offer you my sincere condolences to yourself on talking such garbage. This is absolutely ridiculous. I am open do convince myself. I luckily have not been forced to travel to Saudi but have worked and lived in the Middle East quite a bit. My comments are based on direct experience of friends (including arabs) who stayed there for month to years. All said they would never ever return to Saudi after return although some of them followed the track of money again. Regards Steve PS: I refer to the comments of WalidSaad who is more qualified looking at his name and is more in line with my comments than yours. Further as you address me from Germany I refer to the Auswärtige Amt which give following recommendation: "Besondere strafrechtliche Bestimmungen Das saudische Strafrecht ist die islamische Sharia mit den bekannten, ggfls. bis hin zu Prügel- und sonstigen Körperstrafen reichenden Strafsanktionen. Drogen- und Alkoholbesitz sind strafbar. Prostitution und homosexuelle Handlungen werden in Saudi-Arabien nach Ermessen des Richters mit Freiheitsentzug und/oder Stockschlägen bestraft; in schweren Fällen kann die Todesstrafe verhängt werden. Uneinheitlich angewendetes Fotografierverbot Wer fotografiert, muss zumindest damit rechnen, dass Kamera und Filme konfisziert werden. Ein ausdrückliches Fotografierverbot besteht in und um die beiden Heiligen Moscheen". Briefly states that the Saudi-arabic legislation is following the islamic sharia. Anybody taking photos is taking risks to get the gear confiscated. There is a photography ban which is not uniformly applied. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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