what should I do with my US$ 6000 ?

[alexr]

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Well i never thought i would laugh so much on a day like this. The M8 "purple people" as the ultimate example of the Leica glow! Fantastic.

Years ago I remember being called in by a photoeditor, who was "concerned" about a rather lovely, imo, velvia I had given him. He told me the image seemed to have some strange "glowing fault" he had never encountered in other photographer's work....I could not stop laughing then too.

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[WestCoast]

WestCoast, have you tried an M8, or are you going by other people's results? I have one, and I find your statements don't match my experience. Yes, the magenta issue does need solving. I will grudgingly accept a filter for that. Firmware does need updating for the readout timing issue. But even so, with the camera as is, the results are great, much in excess of any P&S and even a bit nicer than my 5D.

Carsten,

I do not currently own an M8 - that order is on indefinite hold until Leica resolves the sensor issue.

 

I'm purely going by the ever-growing number of images people have posted on this forum (and also on other forums) that show the magenta cast and banding problems. Does your M8 not have any of these problems at all?

 

As for the filter solution - should that even be an acceptable option for a $6000 camera?

 

Out of curiosity, has anyone posted any full-sized unprocessed M8 and 5D sample images for comparison? I'd be quite keen to see how they compare in various lighitng situations.

[earleygallery]

ah yes, it just the famous 'Leica colours'

[skimmel]

Would anyone consider the digilux 3 to use for the next year or so, while waiting on the M8? I realize that this adds money if you then also buy the M8, but also gives more time to save up again. (Of course, the digilux isn't even out yet, but judging from the Panasonic, looks like a pretty nice camera to me.)

[carstenw]

Carsten,

I do not currently own an M8 - that order is on indefinite hold until Leica resolves the sensor issue.

 

I'm purely going by the ever-growing number of images people have posted on this forum (and also on other forums) that show the magenta cast and banding problems. Does your M8 not have any of these problems at all?

 

As for the filter solution - should that even be an acceptable option for a $6000 camera?

 

Out of curiosity, has anyone posted any full-sized unprocessed M8 and 5D sample images for comparison? I'd be quite keen to see how they compare in various lighitng situations.

WestCoast, I just meant let's leave the judgement of how bad the problem itself is to those who can actually judge, ie. current owners. Yes, there is a problem, no it is not nearly so bad (overall, specific instances can be bad) as all the uproar here would have you believe. The postings here are taking on their own life, with each post firing up the next poster...

 

I do not like filters. I used to use filters, then I stopped. Still, I love the camera, and the results are fantastic, so if a filter fixes it, I will use a filter. I just ordered a B+W filter to try it out. The streaking and other issues are currently being dealt with by Leica. We just need a statement on the magenta issue, and then we need to wait and see, rather than fanning the flames.

[brunom]

Gerry

 

No such thing ! I mentioned it as it would be a bit impractical for someone in Tenerife to 'up sticks' and move to Amarica, which would have wiped out any profits made.

 

All that for a camera ! glad I've still got my MPand CL

 

Bruno

[SteveYork]

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I would give Leica a little time to figure this stuff out. Unless you're on a waiting list you probably wouldn't be able to get one for 6 months or so. And if they don't have it figured out in 6 months, well...film is still plenty available.

 

But no way, no how, ain't going to happen, would buy a M8 now, with these reported problems.

[WestCoast]

WestCoast, I just meant let's leave the judgement of how bad the problem itself is to those who can actually judge, ie. current owners. Yes, there is a problem, no it is not nearly so bad (overall, specific instances can be bad) as all the uproar here would have you believe. The postings here are taking on their own life, with each post firing up the next poster...

 

I do not like filters. I used to use filters, then I stopped. Still, I love the camera, and the results are fantastic, so if a filter fixes it, I will use a filter. I just ordered a B+W filter to try it out. The streaking and other issues are currently being dealt with by Leica. We just need a statement on the magenta issue, and then we need to wait and see, rather than fanning the flames.

Ok, I understand what you are getting at. And you are right; 'fanning the flames" doesn't help anyone in this case, but when someone (like the original poster of this thread) asks whether they should spend $6000 at this stage, what do you say to them?

If you tell them to buy the camera and then it performs poorly you get blamed.

If you tell them not to buy then existing owners get upset and defensive.

A no-win situation really.

I guess I'm just disappointed and somewhat frustrated that these issues exist at all and I have to vent this somewhere.

My wife doesn't really care, so unfortunately some of it ends up in forums - sorry guys!

Anyway, everyone's aware of the problems and now we must wait for Leica's response.

In the meantime, I'll look forward to seeing some nice, high-res M8 images. Post away people!

[Guest stnami]

the kitchen

[Guest umb]

Hi,

 

I have been saving money for THE big day, the M8 reaching the market.

 

and now, I have the money, I have my wife convinced and I am left with an M8 purshase stuck in a magenta limbo!!!!

 

what would you do?

 

1- buy an M8 anyway and cross fingers for a firmware / IR filter solution?

 

2- wait for the solution and they buy a fine tuned M8 ?

 

3- buy something else such as a Canon D5 ?

 

4- use the money to refit my home kitchen?

 

Thanks for your help and advice.

 

Eric

 

If you choose Leica because you aim for the best picture quality, I suggest solution #3. And spend the $2000 you saved on the body in Canon L-primes, such as the 1.4/24mm or the excellent 1.4/35mm. There are no wide-angle Summiluxes for the digital M body anymore, because through the crop all these lenes have been converted to standard or telelenses. Thus Canon 5D ist THE ONLY camera that allows you to shoot with a wide angle lens in low light conditions using the powerful 1.4 apperture that gives you the beautiful bokeh M8 and other crop-cam users will miss forever.

 

Here's a sample:

 

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[batmobile]

DOF is a major issue with cropped sensores and I thought often important in some street shots. A problem with selective focus is, erm, a problem.

 

I cannot fathom how Leica came to release this camera with a flaw so obvious that they cannot have been unaware. Very odd.

 

I also cannot fathom why people rush out to buy a brand new product (and a very expensive one) such as this without waiting to see what glitches turn up first...especially with Lecia not exactly having a long run of digital products...that said, this problem should never have been exposed to the public but dealt with long before release.

 

I am not a digital fan (have eos 350D), but would not even contemplate the money on a M8 until this issue was totally sorted (and not fudged). It is hard enough to justify Leica prices wihout purple suits! Buying at such a price in spite of known flaws and in teh absence of a proven solution is plain nuts IMO.

[reddawn]

If you choose Leica because you aim for the best picture quality, I suggest solution #3. And spend the $2000 you saved on the body in Canon L-primes, such as the 1.4/24mm or the excellent 1.4/35mm. There are no wide-angle Summiluxes for the digital M body anymore, because through the crop all these lenes have been converted to standard or telelenses. Thus Canon 5D ist THE ONLY camera that allows you to shoot with a wide angle lens in low light conditions using the powerful 1.4 apperture that gives you the beautiful bokeh M8 and other crop-cam users will miss forever.

 

Nice capture! (which lens did u use?)

 

Actually the more I think about what you just said, the more sense it makes. I'm already a Canon DSLR user so I'm very familiar with the clean high ISO files they create, the autofocus is very good even in low light, and the L primes are not that far off the mark from Leica lenses. Maybe one does lose a bit at the edge, but it's a good tradeoff from magenta blacks and light streaking.

 

Now I love my film M + lenses to bits, but the 5D has got to be in contention for THE available light camera to own, especially when coupled with the 24f1.4L, 35f1.4L, 50f1.2L and the 85f1.2L

 

However, it's a SLR which lacks the rangefinder experience, so I don't think it will go down too well with some folks here

[Guest umb]

Nice capture! (which lens did u use?)

 

Thank you. It used the 1.4/35mm at full aperture, 1/160sec, ISO setting was 400. I frankly think you can live with what you loose at the edge with this lens (no photoshop except mild sharpening was applied).

 

Here's a 100% crop if you care:

 

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[Guest stnami]

..sadly the M8 a quote taken out of context and put into context

the old adage that its the photographer who is entirely responsible for the quality of the image, not the camera...In this case it is entirely right for the workman to blame his tools, especially when that tool costs so much!

after all it is a camera

[pemayeux]

Nice capture! (which lens did u use?)

 

Actually the more I think about what you just said, the more sense it makes. I'm already a Canon DSLR user so I'm very familiar with the clean high ISO files they create, the autofocus is very good even in low light, and the L primes are not that far off the mark from Leica lenses. Maybe one does lose a bit at the edge, but it's a good tradeoff from magenta blacks and light streaking.

 

Now I love my film M + lenses to bits, but the 5D has got to be in contention for THE available light camera to own, especially when coupled with the 24f1.4L, 35f1.4L, 50f1.2L and the 85f1.2L

 

However, it's a SLR which lacks the rangefinder experience, so I don't think it will go down too well with some folks here

 

Exactly. I own the 5D with the 24-70L. It produces very nice images. But the thing is obnoxiously large. When I walk around with it I feel like my fly is unzipped. Plus I tend to visualize easier looking through the rangefinder.

[k_g_wolf ✝]

>> Eric

 

 

in case your kitchen can wait for a while, try No. 1 or 2.

 

Get the camera now or in a few weeks and trust the LEICA-Co. to find a solution for the current M8- problems. A LEICA will be in your hands for years, so would be a kitchen, but you can´t take photographs with a sink ...

 

 

 

Best

[Guest umb]

Exactly. I own the 5D with the 24-70L. It produces very nice images. But the thing is obnoxiously large. When I walk around with it I feel like my fly is unzipped. Plus I tend to visualize easier looking through the rangefinder.

 

I feel a bit like you about size and weight of the 5D but on the other hand I consider it an advantage of being noticed while taking pictures (see sample above). Thus I don't care about the shutter sound of a DSLR.

[clayh]

Suprisingly, I found the M8 to have about the same level of shutter noise as my Canon F5. It is an entirely different set of sounds, but seemed to have about the same ability to attract attention. It is not loud per se, but really mechanical sounding as the shutter winds after each shot. Neither is anywhere near as quiet as an M7.

 

I feel a bit like you about size and weight of the 5D but on the other hand I consider it an advantage of being noticed while taking pictures (see sample above). Thus I don't care about the shutter sound of a DSLR.

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[reddawn]

Thank you. It used the 1.4/35mm at full aperture, 1/160sec, ISO setting was 400. I frankly think you can live with what you loose at the edge with this lens (no photoshop except mild sharpening was applied).

 

Here's a 100% crop if you care:

 

very impressive!

 

I'm thinking of a full frame 5D to complement a M8 (if and only if the issues are fixed). It will, I think, be a dream combo...

[reddawn]

Exactly. I own the 5D with the 24-70L. It produces very nice images. But the thing is obnoxiously large. When I walk around with it I feel like my fly is unzipped. Plus I tend to visualize easier looking through the rangefinder.

 

I agree with the size issue, that's why I shoot extensively with my M6 + lenses as well And yes, the rangefinder and SLR experiences are distinctly different.

 

But MAYBE it's also a state of the mind.....

 

Whenever I find myself giving the excuse that my Canon gear is "too big" for sensitive work, I remind myself that many endearing and sensitive documentary photos had been shot with SLR gear in the hands of competent photographers, noise and size notwithstanding. One of the most notable examples, James Nachtwey, a Canon shooter whom I have had the pleasure to meet in person, gave up on his Ms long ago and continues to produce superlative work with his "big and bulky" digital EOS bodies...