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Another M 8 Sighting!

abrewer

By abrewer
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abrewer

abrewer

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...this time in Cincinnati.

 

Fella's, this camera is beautiful. It's an M down to every detail. It feels just plain good to hold, and is ever-so-slightly larger than my MP but nearly even-steven in weight and balance with the 24/2.8 lens (as shown here). Its finish is a shade of gray lighter than my black paint, and the "Vulcanite" is a silky smooth texture with nice grip to it.

 

I couldn't tell anything about image quality from the viewing screen, other than the camera has a really neat multi-image display with enlargement capability (in addition to the single view, with or without histogram).

 

One thing noted by me: a constant stream of interested, serious photographers marching in off the street (on a pretty fall day) to get a look at the new Leica. It must be very encouraging to Leica to see this kind of response here in the Midwest.

 

Despite my enthusiasm, my credit card stayed in my pocket today. Not this year, but maybe next Christmas....!

 

:)

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

 

(Images Below) Frank Z. from Leica demonstrates the absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous Leica M 8 to customers at Provident Camera on Seventh Street in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday. Photos with MP/50mmASPH on Ilford XP2; developing/processing to CD by Provident Camera.

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abrewer

abrewer

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The way people are dying to get these things you probably could have doubled your money.

 

Oh, how true Brent! How true!

 

:)

 

Unfortunately, this M 8 is the rep's demo camera and is not for sale.

 

They expect inventory to begin coming into the stores early next month.

 

I'm certain Provident won't mind if you pay now and take delivery when the camera arrives.

 

Which leads me to a question that might be even more interesting: if I did bring this camera home today, what would you give me for it?

 

:)

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

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billh

billh

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Which leads me to a question that might be even more interesting: if I did bring this camera home today, what would you give me for it?

 

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

 

I'd consider giving you William's M5, if you can talk him into giving it to me.

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bobrudolph

bobrudolph

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Hello Alan,

I saw the same M-8 at Provident Camera today, a very impressive

unit. The Leica rep allowed me to use my own SD card and shoot a few photos, I choose B+W JPEG plus RAW. I did not have any

luck opening the RAW files in Aperture, probably because I don't

don't know how that process works quiet yet. Maybe better luck in

PS-2, we'll see.

Bob

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abrewer

abrewer

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I'd consider giving you William's M5, if you can talk him into giving it to me.

 

LOL!

 

:D

 

You mean this old thing???

 

;)

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

 

 

(Photo by Bill H)

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Bob Ross

Bob Ross

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[quote name=abrewerIts finish is a shade of gray lighter than my black paint, and the "Vulcanite" is a silky smooth texture with nice grip to it.

Thanks.

 

Allan[/quote]

Hi Allan,

You are the first one, that I have read, to give a good comment on the Vulcanite and that is encouraging to me, since I don't care for using the grip.

Thanks,

Bob

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abrewer

abrewer

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Hi Bob!

 

I think the light-tack feel of this new surface material on the M 8 is going to surprise and please people when they finally get it in their hands.

 

I have small to medium hands and it was very comfortable for me to hold the camera. The grip is aided by the M 8's superb balance, with both the 24 above and the 50ASPH, and also the tri-elmar I slipped on it for awhile.

 

I'll tell you something else: no one that came into the shop and handled the camera during the two times I was there today ever said the slightest thing negative about its feel and the finish of the body in this regard.

 

If Bob Rudolph's still on here maybe he will comment about it. He's got bigger hands than I. I'd be interested to hear his take on this.

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

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bobrudolph

bobrudolph

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Hello again,

This photo was taken with the demo M-8, I believe with the 28mm lens.

This is the non adjusted JPEG file nothing done to the image.

I printed a 8.5in X 11in and am impressed with the way the camera renders the light. The lighting in Provident Camera is

overhead fluorescent. This was auto WB. The light reflecting on the fabric of the gentlemans jacket is very nice to my eye.

Alan, I was at the shop at noon. Sorry I missed you.

Bob

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abrewer

abrewer

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Alan, I was at the shop at noon. Sorry I missed you.

 

Damn!

 

If I'd known you were going I'd have met you there. By Noon I had just left, and was only right around the corner on Walnut Street at Nicholson's Tavern with a perfect pint of Tetley's and fish 'n' chips under way!

 

:)

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

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davidmires

davidmires

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Hello again,

This photo was taken with the demo M-8, I believe with the 28mm lens.

This is the non adjusted JPEG file nothing done to the image.

I printed a 8.5in X 11in and am impressed with the way the camera renders the light. The lighting in Provident Camera is

overhead fluorescent. This was auto WB. The light reflecting on the fabric of the gentlemans jacket is very nice to my eye.

Alan, I was at the shop at noon. Sorry I missed you.

Bob

Hi Bob,

I just ordered the 28 2.8 ASPH, and I'm on the list at my dealer for a M8. I am very interested in seeing this combination at work. Would you be willing to email the file to me?

Cheers, David.

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Bob Ross

Bob Ross

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Alan and Bob,

I thought the "feel" of the camera was excellent, I like the size,

the weight, the grip of the cover most of all.

I really think Leica has hit a home run with this one.

Bob

Thanks for confirming Allan's comments, Bob, and thanks for the B&W JPEG. I have been wondering if some of the slippery vulcanite comments were due to the early sample models being overly handled and if one fresh out of the box would be more like you described.

Thanks again,

Bob

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abrewer

abrewer

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I've got to revive this thread by mentioning that Bob Rudolph printed the jpeg above out at 8.5 x 11 for me and I have it here at home now.

 

The innate sharpness and fidelity of the tones/contrast, under poor lighting conditions in the store, is simply remarkable. The variety of gray tones and the details in the man's coat are reproduced in stunningly accurate rendering.

 

If I hadn't been in the place myself, and seen how drab the light was, I'd never imagine this impressive little camera could achieve such a feat.

 

Congratulations Leica on this superb new M.

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

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