Contemplating an M8

I am having a difficult time deciding on selling my Canon 20D and all my canoon lenses, and getting an M8...tough choice I have the usual 50 1.4, 70-200IS f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, and 10-22mm. Selling these will raise enough money for an M8....but Will I miss the times i need fast focus?

Also, I wish M8 was full frame....would have been perfect!

I have been primarily shooting with a M7, and once in a while, when I am being lazy about developing film, or need fast focus action, i use my Canon....which is the only reason i am hesitating...

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http://www.tonyforberg.com

http://www.tonyspad.com

If it helps, the only time I've touched my 5D since I got the M8 was when the M8 was away for 'the fix' and as soon as it returned I reverted. I told myself I'd keep the for telephoto and action work but in fact I find myself just not doing that stuff! So I might sell the 5D after all...

Tim

napoleonesq said:

I am having a difficult time deciding on selling my Canon 20D and
all my canoon lenses, and getting an M8...tough choice I have
the usual 50 1.4, 70-200IS f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, and 10-22mm. Selling
these will raise enough money for an M8....but Will I miss the
times i need fast focus?

Also, I wish M8 was full frame....would have been perfect!

I have been primarily shooting with a M7, and once in a while, when
I am being lazy about developing film, or need fast focus action, i
use my Canon....which is the only reason i am hesitating...

--
http://www.tonyforberg.com

http://www.tonyspad.com

Click to expand...

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Gallery: http://tashley1.zenfolio.com/
Blog: http://timashley.wordpress.com/

Thanks for the feedback....am really getting the same thoughts...certainly nice not carry the bulky camera gear around when i am travelling...just my leica

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http://www.tonyforberg.com

http://www.tonyspad.com

I've been thinking about an M8 myself, but it would be in addition to my Canon gear. I love RF's, and the idea of a truly professional but mostly manual (and light) digital camera is supremely appealing. That said, I've been put off by the M8 mishaps I've been reading about here and elsewhere for the last several months. For a $1,500 camera I can live with a few problems, but I'm a PITA customer (as well as impatient), and at $5,000 (plus another chunk of change for a couple of lenses), I think I'd have blown my top had I bought an original M8. I know I'd have a fit waiting months for filters that I hadn't planned to use in the first place....

I shoot mostly with a 10-22EF on my 20D, so an M8 with a good wide angle seems like a perfect fit. Add to that the fact that I've wanted a Leica since I bought my original Minolta SRT-101 as a teenager and it seems like a match made in heaven. I can't seem to get past the hiccups issue, though.
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Don

Canon 20D, 10D, Elan 7
Olympus OM-1
Various lenses

I had:
D200
70-200 f2.8
17-55
100 macro
18-200
2 flashes
other lenses

I bought the M8 first, but I sold all the Nikon gear around a month ago - I haven't had a second thought about it.

If you like shooting with your M7, then it seems to me that the M8 is a real no-brainer (and don't worry about the full frame - you'll soon get to grips with that - possibly you'll need to buy the little CV 15mm)

best wishes and good luck
--
Jono Slack
http://www.slack.co.uk

Hi Tony,

sold a 5D and 7 canon lenses and am totally delighted with my M8. The CV lenses are quite under rated if you need to buy in a bit at a time but do not assume they are low quality. i had 28,35 50 in leica and replaced them with CVs and am quie happy.

I do have a tri elmar and 21 asp. for convenience as a walk about but when the light is not there i'm really pleased with the CVs.

consider that most mediocre rf glass is better than most high end slr glas due to design constraints.

but what to do with my LARGE empty bags?? And the extra aspirin i had from lugging the canon gear.

I kept a Kodak SLR/c and 2 lenses for architectural work i still do but on the next job will try my M8 and 15mmCV if all goes well the SLR/c and 2 more lenses go. aarrgghh more big empty bags!

I don't think you'll have focus issues unless you're doing true fast action and sports.

I don't miss full frame and think the M8 does much better than the full frame 5D and about neck in neck with the Kodak, but SO MUCH eaier and more versatile.

re telephoto, somehow, in retrospect, i pushed that. if i go into my near 40 years of work 90% of it was the equivalent of 35, 50, 90

i'm more free and less constrained with fewer lenses believe it or not .

i don't think you'll ever look back if you go m8.

kindly

bill

Awesome feedbacks...thanks alot!

One quick question, as I have not read the posts here much...the new M8s as being shipped now...do they still require that filter to take care of the purple or magenta fringing issue, or did they correct it with new shipments?

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http://www.tonyforberg.com

http://www.tonyspad.com

Hi Tony

napoleonesq said:

Awesome feedbacks...thanks alot!

One quick question, as I have not read the posts here much...the
new M8s as being shipped now...do they still require that filter to
take care of the purple or magenta fringing issue, or did they
correct it with new shipments?

Click to expand...

it isn't about fringing - it's about infra red reflecting materials - so that black synthetic fibres tend to come out purple.

Most cameras have an IR filter to take it out, but the fact that Leica lenses are very far from telecentric (i.e. the light doesn't hit the sensor at rightangles) means that a stronger IR filter on the sensor means colour casts at the corners. I guess there may be a way around it one day . . .

Still, depending on what you're shooting. . . .

1 it's not relevant with black and white - in fact, some thing that the IR sensitivity improves black and white.

2.I don't think it's very relevant for Landscapes . . . at least, my filters haven't come yet, and I'm 4,000 shots in, without one spoiled yet!

But it isn't about fringing - there's not much of that around.

best regards
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Jono Slack
http://www.slack.co.uk

Don't fall for that one - you travel with the same or even greater weight. To get just what I have with the 5D plus 24-105 zoom I need an M8, filters, finders, magnifiers, grip, CV15, Elmarit 24, Lux 35, Lux 50 and 90mm f2. Phew.

But what is key to me is there's less weight around my neck!

Tim

napoleonesq said:

Thanks for the feedback....am really getting the same
thoughts...certainly nice not carry the bulky camera gear around
when i am travelling...just my leica

--
http://www.tonyforberg.com

http://www.tonyspad.com

Click to expand...

--
Gallery: http://tashley1.zenfolio.com/
Blog: http://timashley.wordpress.com/

Hi Tim

I've definitely lightened things up. walkabout with the tri-elmar and maybe throw one other lens in my pocket.

my full kit is heavy, cv15, leica 21 asph, 28 and 35 cv ultron, 50 nokton tri-elmar and 90, ....but the bag is smaller and i actually take less with me.

even if i did the same with my Kodak SLR/c and one walkabout it is 3x4x the size and twice the weight.

when i travel i'll likely take the whole kit but carry less when shooting.

bill

I took the opposite path: Sold my M7 and lenses and bought the D200. I haven't thought twice about my choice and would do it again in a heartbeat.

First, I wanted digital, recognizing the pluses and minuses of the switch. Yes, carrying a battery of lenses is a drag, but the options and quality of photos outweighed the negatives. For one, I don't do much street photography.

Compare the quality of photos posted in the Nikon forum with those posted here.

I was in Tokyo in October and was able to see and try the M8. A very nice camera, indeed - but not exactly diminutive or discrete. Afterwards, the various problems and issues came to the light. Frankly, to spend that kind of money for a seriously flawed camera body makes absolutely no sense to me. Many users talk about the work-arounds and about the highly valued Leica lens (the latter is true), but if there are problems with the sensor... The entire camera is only as good as its weakest link.

Marketing is a wonderful thing. Leica has done a fine job marketing its name and its red dot to the point that many are willing to spend over $10K (including lenses) to get pictures that are not as good as those obtainable with the cheapest Nikon SLR and lens at almost a tenth of the cost. Go figure! Much of the postings by M8 owners seem like a feeble attempt to justify the unjustifiable - all testimony to brand identity and first rate marketing.

By which I mean, you pick the tool that most suits your purpose. IQ not being the be-all and the end-all.

You say the M8 is not diminutive or discreet. Maybe. But it's a damn sight more so than any current DSLR (even the newer, smaller ones - partly because of the size of the standard lenses).

jafleming3 said:

Compare the quality of photos posted in the Nikon forum with those
posted here.

Click to expand...

Regarding IQ, and quality in general look here:

http://homepage.mac.com/tashley1/venice07/

Then tell us that the cheapest Nikon would produce better IQ. If all your points were true, Magnum photographers like Constantine Manos would not be using the M8, would they?

http://inmotion.magnumphotos.com/essays/color.aspx

jafleming3 said:

Much of the
postings by M8 owners seem like a feeble attempt to justify the
unjustifiable - all testimony to brand identity and first rate
marketing.

Click to expand...

Absolute rubbish.

Best,

Rob

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Oxford, UK
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmhodnett

You sir are really an unusual poster. I say this since it's been a while now since we have read such unkind and untrue remarks from a visitor who owns a Nikon DSLR.

Tell you what, please post this on your own Nikon SLR foum. I 'm sure you will get rebuffed even there. SoI on this forum will not even bother to point out the falseness of your statements, rather I will let your own do it for me.
--
Artist Eyes

Dunno how to explain it fully, but ya know... Gimme an M with a 35summicron and thats about all I need for the vast majority of what I do.

I 'spose an M8 with 28Summicron would be the same.

Less is definitely more.

I sit here and look at EOS stuff... and say... this is just so wrong. But, till I get into something digital M... It'll have to do.

--
Livin' the blues, one note at a time

People choose particular camera for their need, and they made decision on either one system, or more than one system, more than one format.

I believe there are many users have M8 and Canon and/or Nikon at the same time, I think one can love more than 1 camera system.

BanderSnatchReverb said:

Dunno how to explain it fully, but ya know... Gimme an M with a
35summicron and thats about all I need for the vast majority of
what I do.

I 'spose an M8 with 28Summicron would be the same.

Less is definitely more.

I sit here and look at EOS stuff... and say... this is just so
wrong. But, till I get into something digital M... It'll have to
do.

--
Livin' the blues, one note at a time

Click to expand...

--
Khun_K

If you do a lot of sports photos then you would need the 20D and the longer lenses. I'm keeping my 1D Mk II just for those times, which are rare nowadays.

Last night my wife and I were having dinner in a quaint Italian restaurant, very dimly lit, and the owner started playing the mandolin. One of the patrons came up to take pictures with a DSLR with a flash mounted on top and it really looked out of place and a little obnoxious. But he was having a good time and was pleased. I had my MP and took a couple of shots at about f/15. I felt invisible and didn't interfere with the performance.

--
Way