lagrassa Posted October 7, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 7, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Aside from the obvious, a lens (is coded necessary or preferable?), I read about needing a UV/IR filter. Assuming that the camera is ready to go (battery, cables, etc), is there anything else I need? Sorry if this is too broad of a question, but want to know what I may be getting myself into here? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Hi lagrassa, Take a look here Considering Buying a Used M8 --- What Else Would I Need?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Nicoleica Posted October 7, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 7, 2009 Hi. Besides the items that you have mentioned already. (Especially the UV/IR-cut filter(s)) I would suggest at least one spare battery. I'd also suggest some variety of lcd screen protector, (Unless you are buying an M8.2), a good SDHC card reader, and a supply of cards. There are myriads of other goodies that you can add to your system later, but I think that about covers the essentials. One very useful item would be a good full or half-case. The Leica 'camera protector' is OK, provided you have the current version, but a Luigi case is much much nicer. Oh yes, one last thing. Check that you have the latest firmware installed, and upgrade it if you haven't. If the camera still has a very old version installed, you'll need to use an SD, not an SDHC card to do this. In fact, it's always an idea to keep a small SD card around for firmware upgrades anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted October 7, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 7, 2009 I find the M8 hand-grip indispensable. Also the neoprene case is good value and protective when put in a brief case or similar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstotler Posted October 7, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 7, 2009 a lens (is coded necessary or preferable?) There has been debate about coding/filter use being "necessary" or not. . . . There are many threads on this topic in the forum with varied points of view. Leica doesn't debate it. They code their lenses and sell filters. Here's a recap: * In the case of synthetic black-colored fabrics, an uncoded lens without filter will render the fabric in an awful purplish/brown. The sensor is picking up on Infrared light here, resulting in color shift. In most cases you can NOT fix this color shift from black to purplish/brown in postproduction without making other color choice sacrifices. * A similar situation with IR has been claimed for some types of leaves in landscape shots. (I've read that more than once.) I've personally seen a color shift in some skin tones. * General consensus for most situations is: Use coded lenses and the special UV/IR cut filters (the ones made for the M8, not just a normal UV filter). The coding tells the camera what kind of correction to apply to the filtered image, BTW. * Debate surrounds situations where it is claimed you can "get away with" not using the filters and not coding lenses. Opinions vary about the whys and compelling cases have been made for not need coding/filters for some focal lengths of lenses. (You can find them in the forum if you search.) Me? I don't want to chance it so I keep them on all of the time except when I'm shooting scenes with candles on a cake in a dark room or similar lighting situation where the filter introduces reflections into the image. * For B&W photography with the M8 (in-camera or later B&W conversion) neither coding nor filter is required--in fact you'd want to remove the filter. Thanks! Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted October 7, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 7, 2009 Ditto on the handgrip and the IR-cut filter. You might also download the trial version of Capture One from Phase One. Someone here can send you a raw image to play with. It take a few hours to learn to use this software, but you'll be pleased at the end. Other of course use Lightroom, if you have some experience with that sw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted October 7, 2009 Share #6 Posted October 7, 2009 You should make sure that you can use the license for Capture 1 originally sold with the M8. Even if you can use many other raw converters and post-processing programms, C1 gives good results you may be glad to have if you upgrade to a M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagrassa Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted October 7, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks so much for the replies and the input. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagrassa Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted October 7, 2009 Oh, another basic question out of ignorance: Are there "frame lines" visible in the viewfinder that correspond to the focal length of the lens attached? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted October 7, 2009 Share #9 Posted October 7, 2009 Yes, the lens will bring up the appropriate set of frame lines for the lens in use. These are displayed in pairs. If it helps, you can download the M8 or M8.2 manuals directly from the Leica website. No manual is as good as actually using the camera, but there is lots of useful information to be found within them. And there is always somebody here in the forum to help when needed too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugleone Posted October 7, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 7, 2009 I'm in the same position as the OP so this thread has been very interesting........ I was a Rolleiflex user in the film era, but have used a DSLR for the last couple of years. Unfortunately, I can number the good shots on the fingers of one hand! Part of the problem is that I don't really want 27 auto focus points and 200 menu options....... It seems that the various problems with M8 were mainly in the first 1500 or so cameras to be made. Does anyone know what th eserial numbers were, or how to find out please? Also, can one get the camera serviced in the UK to renew warranty? Thanks for all replies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted October 7, 2009 Share #11 Posted October 7, 2009 ... It seems that the various problems with M8 were mainly in the first 1500 or so cameras to be made. Does anyone know what th eserial numbers were, or how to find out please? Also, can one get the camera serviced in the UK to renew warranty? Thanks for all replies. I don't think this is much of a problem. If there were a problem with the camera you consider buying, then it has been fixed. Also, there may have been more smoke than fire. I have 2 of these beauties and they function very well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell Posted October 7, 2009 Share #12 Posted October 7, 2009 As an alternative to the grip, you might investigate one of the varieties of the Thumbs Up accessories. YMMV but for me, it's more compact, more secure and gives the camera the same handling characteristics as a film M. You can see pictures in another thread in this post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_panko Posted October 8, 2009 Share #13 Posted October 8, 2009 Just get a Leica 35mm lens with UV/IR filter and start taking pictures. You can decide on the other stuff later when bargains become available. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdLam Posted October 8, 2009 Share #14 Posted October 8, 2009 just start shooting and then figure out what you need. maybe you'll find out that there's a lot of accessories that you can do without, or do without for a while Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdb Posted October 8, 2009 Share #15 Posted October 8, 2009 Make sure and get SDHC cards. I love the Transcend...8 GB is plenty and they are quite inexpensive on Amazon...can get them with a nice little card reader as a package. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptarmigan Posted October 8, 2009 Share #16 Posted October 8, 2009 If its any help, I've been an M8'er for 2 months or so and have a 35 cron ASPH (uncoded) with UV/IR and a Thumbs Up CS EP 1. I use 8 gb Sandisk Extreme Class 10 SDHC cards. I also have an Artisan and Artist thin leather strap. When I get my 75 cron (next week) I will be getting a small bag though I haven't decided for certain which one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EarlBurrellPhoto Posted October 8, 2009 Share #17 Posted October 8, 2009 Aside from the obvious is there anything else I need? I wouldn't touch one without a factory warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell Posted October 8, 2009 Share #18 Posted October 8, 2009 I wouldn't touch one without a factory warranty. Strongly concur, especially since there is still little or no difference between the price of dealer/used and the Leica-guaranteed refurbs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted October 8, 2009 Share #19 Posted October 8, 2009 There has been debate about coding/filter use being "necessary" or not. . . . There are many threads on this topic in the forum with varied points of view. Leica doesn't debate it. They code their lenses and sell filters. Here's a recap: * General consensus for most situations is: Use coded lenses and the special UV/IR cut filters (the ones made for the M8, not just a normal UV filter). The coding tells the camera what kind of correction to apply to the filtered image, BTW. * Debate surrounds situations where it is claimed you can "get away with" not using the filters and not coding lenses. Opinions vary about the whys and compelling cases have been made for not need coding/filters for some focal lengths of lenses. (You can find them in the forum if you search.) Me? I don't want to chance it so I keep them on all of the time except when I'm shooting scenes with candles on a cake in a dark room or similar lighting situation where the filter introduces reflections into the image. * For B&W photography with the M8 (in-camera or later B&W conversion) neither coding nor filter is required--in fact you'd want to remove the filter. Thanks! Will What is this? Leica M8 Lens Codes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted October 10, 2009 Share #20 Posted October 10, 2009 It seems that the various problems with M8 were mainly in the first 1500 or so cameras to be made. Does anyone know what th eserial numbers were, or how to find out please? Also, can one get the camera serviced in the UK to renew warranty? Thanks for all replies. The serial numbers are all over the place. In any case, I would say that at this point all the troubled cameras have been updated and/or repaired with very few exceptions. You might ask for evidence of this when buying. You can also ask Leica what has been done to a camera with a specific serial number, I believe, although I have not tried this myself. You can send the camera in for a CLA (clean, lube, adjust) which will extend the warranty. It is not totally cheap, but well worth it for peace of mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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