Nikon D90 vs. M8 vs M6 vs. X1

first off, I own a d90. I recently also purchased a digilux 2. I am looking to buy a combination of the M6 and X1 OR the M8 alone.

what I'd like to know:
Do leica film m cams produce better images than consumer dslrs like my D90?
Is the X1 worth buying compared to the M8?
is the M8 a joke as i've heard of it called that in a few blogs?

I suppose that's all. I am just so zealous to get a rangefinder.

bcwright said:

is the M8 a joke as i've heard of it called that in a few blogs?

Click to expand...

which blogs are those?

Elliot H said:

bcwright said:

is the M8 a joke as i've heard of it called that in a few blogs?

Click to expand...

which blogs are those?

Click to expand...

I can't seem to find the site I read it from but the author was writing about the M system and history. When writing about the M8 he said something like, let's pretend the m8 never happened. All the reviews I read said the M8 is a great camera, but that one remark started to draw me away from getting one.

bcwright said:

first off, I own a d90. I recently also purchased a digilux 2. I am looking to buy a combination of the M6 and X1 OR the M8 alone.

what I'd like to know:
Do leica film m cams produce better images than consumer dslrs like my D90?
Is the X1 worth buying compared to the M8?
is the M8 a joke as i've heard of it called that in a few blogs?

I suppose that's all. I am just so zealous to get a rangefinder.

Click to expand...

-In your case, go for a Fuji disposable film camera to compare against your D90, that or go ask the blogger the same questions...

'I am what I am and that's all I am' Popeye 1960. Favorite famous Hollywood celebrity. Don't have time for the rest.....

Ikeepem said:

-In your case, go for a Fuji disposable film camera to compare against your D90, that or go ask the blogger the same questions...

'I am what I am and that's all I am' Popeye 1960. Favorite famous Hollywood celebrity. Don't have time for the rest.....

Click to expand...

You're saying I should give up any ounce of control (digital or not) and get a 5 dollar camera with which has two controls, flash and the shutter? I don't think so, sorry.

You seem to really want a rangefinder, the x1 is not a rangefinder.

Image results with similar lens on the m8 up to higher iso are pretty similar, x1 has better high iso than the m8 based on comparisons i've seen specifically at l-cam-forum.com

h00ligan said:

You seem to really want a rangefinder, the x1 is not a rangefinder.

Image results with similar lens on the m8 up to higher iso are pretty similar, x1 has better high iso than the m8 based on comparisons i've seen specifically at l-cam-forum.com

Click to expand...

Yes, I do. My biggest predicament though is whether I should get an M8 alone or the M6 with the X1. The issue is money. So really, I'm questioning if I should skip the film Idea or not.

In my experience, the best pictures comes from the X1 over the M8. I have used both cameras and now i only use the X1. The reason for that is the great size versus image quality, it is a camera that is easy to stuff in your everyday bag, and it is fun shooting with, despite of the lack of real manual fous.

So I would buy a X1 and a M6 or a M9. The M8 does not qualify for its expensive price tag.

If you're happy shooting and processing raw, i'd say get a 2nd hand M8.2. i don't know about the States but there are plenty around in the UK, I'd be surprised if 2nd models weren't widely available in the states. I saw a couple today with only around 200 shutter actuations. If you only want to shoot jpeg, I thought the M8's jpeg engine to be not very good, certainly not as good as the X1's or even the D-Lux 4's.

If, a few months later you find rangefinder isn't for you, then you can sell it and still get a reasonable price

bcwright said:

first off, I own a d90. I recently also purchased a digilux 2. I am looking to buy a combination of the M6 and X1 OR the M8 alone.

what I'd like to know:
Do leica film m cams produce better images than consumer dslrs like my D90?
Is the X1 worth buying compared to the M8?
is the M8 a joke as i've heard of it called that in a few blogs?
I suppose that's all. I am just so zealous to get a rangefinder.

Click to expand...

I'd rather say X1 is a joke of a camera, and M8.2 is a much better deal.
There are some at Adorama, selling with 2yr Leica warranty.

If you're into creative photography, there's nothing better than that -- well, apart from M9 which costs $3K-$4K more. Few a few of Zeiss or Voigtlander lenses (that cost a fraction of Leica's heute couture glass) you're about to have a fun of your life.

I owned an M8. I now own an M9. The M8 is a wonderful camera especially when coupled with 35 and 50mm lenses. Don't miss out on the film experience unless you absolutely have to. However, when push comes to shove, I would go for the M8 and as much glass as possible.

Ask Amy (drabbit). I'm pretty sure she owns both the M8 and the X1 (M8 and 8.2 share the same sensor)

steveleicaman said:

I owned an M8. I now own an M9. The M8 is a wonderful camera especially when coupled with 35 and 50mm lenses.

Click to expand...

What aspects are good about it?

Don't miss out on the film experience unless you absolutely have to.

Are the advantages really worth it with scanning time etc?

bcwright said:

h00ligan said:

You seem to really want a rangefinder, the x1 is not a rangefinder.

Image results with similar lens on the m8 up to higher iso are pretty similar, x1 has better high iso than the m8 based on comparisons i've seen specifically at l-cam-forum.com

Click to expand...

Yes, I do. My biggest predicament though is whether I should get an M8 alone or the M6 with the X1. The issue is money. So really, I'm questioning if I should skip the film Idea or not.

Click to expand...

The M8 will cost about $2,000 + lens
Total=$2,500-$3,000+

M6 is $1,000 + lens
X1 is $2,000
Total= $3,500-$4,000

It seems you are forgetting that the M6 and M8 need a lens. Remember that the lens is more important than the camera itself if you are talking about film cameras. Some would argue the same for digital.

Buy an M8 and a lens. You can sell them if you don't like them. If you try it and wish you were shooting full frame and on different film stocks you'll know you need an M6 instead. If you wish you were shooting with your camera held out in front of you while autofocusing, get an X1.
--
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tysoncall/
Twitter:Clancycoop

I've just bought a joke with an elmarit 28mm ver III attached.
A big joke worth 2400 euros.

I don't understand what you are looking for, undecided among a film rangefinder, a large format compact and a digital rangefinder.

None of the mentioned cameras is a joke, including the D90. As a matter of fact, they are in four different categories, and you are supposed to choose the category before looking for the camera!

But this is not compulsory: if you just want to own a rangefinder, get the dearest you can afford. It makes a good value when you are going to re-sell.

The X1 is not a rangefinder, and you can find a used M8 for the same price. Giving it can use the same lenses of an M6, guess which is the best choice...

I don't have any doubt an X1 can take better photographs than an M8 in certain situations; other large format compacts can too, but you'll miss the viewfinder and the choice of critically fine lenses.

Take into account also that proficiently using a rangefinder is not a point and shoot affair. If you continuosly jump from a point and shoot style (without any offense, that's the macro-category of the X1) and a true rangefinder (digital or film), you are going to be disappointed.
--
http://www.onreb.net

No text.

It's in the original post. In my post it has a polemic value.

From a different point of view, we can agree that the red logo has a value unrelated to the actual material (or materic?) value. Nonetheless, one can't give credit to a misterious blogger who's attributing a personal value to what is history in photography...

From an entirely different point of view, I'm practising my written English, cause the original question is not worth an answer at all.
--
http://www.onreb.net

It seems that everyone has been offended by the joke reference in the OP, and as a consequence few have addressed both main questions, which I would like to hear. How do the X1 and the M8 compare, and how does the IQ these cameras and M film cameras compare to the D90.

Anyone have the latter kind of experience?

I think to have addressed all the questions.
Let's sum it up again: you can't compare a digital P&S to a digital rangefinder.

You can't compare (easily, need thousands of pages and philosophers too) film to digital.
You can't compare a modern digital DSLR to a rangefinder.

You can compare some results, taking into account only the sensor characteristics. Or to see what the same lens produces on film and on sensor, in the case of Leica (I'd say only with M9, to be precise).

Or you may have simplistic answers, some saying the D90 sensor is better, some saying the M series sensor is better. Cause there too there is a "philosophical" choice.

Want megapixels and low light capabilities? Want superior contrast and definition?

Want them compact or like best large? Care at the lens quality? Care at the value your stuff maintains over the years?

My opinion? every camera around has enough quality to print good and sellable images. Except for the requirements by large online agencies, that are commercially and consumeristically driven.

"IQ comparison" is highly subjective, and I'm sure this forum is far from such pixel-peeping way of life.
Or, at best, you can have an answer like this:

X1 IQ is better than any other compact, M8 IQ is better than any modern DSLR except perhaps the first Kodak, M9 IQ is just superior.
M≤6 IQ is out of discussion.

Michael Everett said:

It seems that everyone has been offended by the joke reference in the OP, and as a consequence few have addressed both main questions, which I would like to hear. How do the X1 and the M8 compare, and how does the IQ these cameras and M film cameras compare to the D90.

Anyone have the latter kind of experience?

Click to expand...

First, sorry I'd forgotten about his mention of the m8 being a joke, I follow.

Second, I'm not sure about the assertion the m8 has better iq than modern dslr as a blanket statement. Different iq, but not better...one has to quantify whether sharpness, iso performance, contrast, color, etc are the defining characteristics, and take into account some of the m8 shortcomings.

I think obviously a rangefinder is a different camera, but I'd be hard pushed to say it has better iq than a 7d (sticking to crop comparisons as it doesn't compete with ff) with l glass...it wouldn't win on iso, color and contrast could be similar on lens, as would sharpness..but at the end the images would look different.

People buying leica aren't doing so to compare charts, that's clear..there are two ways of determining superiority.. Charts and opinion of results.

I think all the cameras listed are probably great, I onlyown one of them, but own a few other cameras outside of the listed choices (gf1, 7d, dl3, had and sold dl4)

I have an M8, an M6 and I had an X1 ( although I'll have one again tomorrow once its delivered) and I had a D90 for about 6 months.

image quality for the pixel peeper would have to go to the M8 with the X1 coming a close second and the D90 some way behind.

for the non-pixel peeper the prints from the M6 are IMO the best by quite a way.

the Leica look? no just the film look

Michael Everett said:

It seems that everyone has been offended by the joke reference in the OP, and as a consequence few have addressed both main questions, which I would like to hear. How do the X1 and the M8 compare, and how does the IQ these cameras and M film cameras compare to the D90.

Anyone have the latter kind of experience?

Click to expand...

--
http://racketshots.co.uk/racket/

http://bbphotochallenge.com