M8 for a spare body, make any sense?

Last year I sold all my photographic equipment and started to shoot with M9. I started with M9 and 35 lux, then I got the 50lux and the 24elmar. Now I am having the opportunity to buy an M8 body in a very good condition at very fair price. Around 1000 euros. I am thinking to take it as a spare body, having in mind that I can use the lenses I have alternatively due to the crop factor of the M8's sensor. Is it make any sense or it is better to save money in order someday later to buy another used or new lens? thank u vey much for any reply

I've wondered this myself being an M9 owner.

For me, the buggeration of having to switch filters has been enough for me to say no so far. Added to which, I would want one body with a 35 and the other with a 50. This of course won't work using a 35 and a 50 due to the crop factor.

Interestingly, I've chosen an X100 as my second body, leaving me to keep to a 50 on the M9 which is my favourite FL on that camera.

Hope this helps

Thank you Steve for your respond, it helps;-)

Ian Matthew said:

Thank you Steve for your respond, it helps;-)

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No problem.

I think the difficulty in choosing a second body, comes in part from the fact that the M9 is such a good camera. I needed a second body to compliment the M9 for things like weddings where I need good low light capability for inside the church and at the reception, and also the need for fill-flash occasionally. Hence my choice of the Fuji.

What's worth bearing in mind, is that different bodies will produce files with a different feel to them. Something to be aware of if you choose to shoot an event using the two cameras.

Strangely, I always felt my M8 produced a sharper image than the M9 despite using the same lenses. And yes the M9 is calibrated correctly.

Good luck with your choice

I went through the same process as yourself with same lens choice also.

I went on a trip to Egypt last year and wanted to have a backup body but I found the M9 was so good I didn't use the M8 .

Instead have sold the M8 and recently purchased a used MP which I really love using and I feel it complements the M9 when I feel the urge to use film and provides an excellent backup with no filters needed and focal length being the same.

Of course the X100 looks like an interesting option at this point of time and what almost sold me on it was someones comments recently that it produced very similar images to the Canon 5DMKII and the 35mm F1.4 which was one of my favourite lenses on the camera I had before moving to Leica.

I must say that after changing to the Leica my photography style has changed and I have re-enthused my passion for photography.

Kind regards Ross

Has never been a problem for me, as I generally have always used at least a protective UV, or in the case of my Nikkor lenses, a Nikon Clear filter on my lenses anyway. Therefore, using a Leica UV/IR filter on a Leica Lens, I use with my M8.2 isn't a problem for me, at all --- especially, since without the need to use an IR filter, I would have a UV filter on the lens, in most instances anyway.
--
BRJR ....(LOL, some of us are quite satisfied as Hobbyists ..)

BRJR said:

Has never been a problem for me, as I generally have always used at least a protective UV, or in the case of my Nikkor lenses, a Nikon Clear filter on my lenses anyway. Therefore, using a Leica UV/IR filter on a Leica Lens, I use with my M8.2 isn't a problem for me, at all --- especially, since without the need to use an IR filter, I would have a UV filter on the lens, in most instances anyway.
--
BRJR ....(LOL, some of us are quite satisfied as Hobbyists ..)

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Fair point. I've recently started shooting without fiters for the first time, hence my comment

Ian Matthew said:

Last year I sold all my photographic equipment and started to shoot with M9. I started with M9 and 35 lux, then I got the 50lux and the 24elmar. Now I am having the opportunity to buy an M8 body in a very good condition at very fair price. Around 1000 euros. I am thinking to take it as a spare body, having in mind that I can use the lenses I have alternatively due to the crop factor of the M8's sensor. Is it make any sense or it is better to save money in order someday later to buy another used or new lens? thank u vey much for any reply

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If I could buy a used M8 in good condition for 1000 euros, I'll be all over it. The cheapest price I've seen for one is around 1700 euros.

I'm trying to find one reasonably priced, and sell my M6 to help funding it (no money to buy a M9), but 1000 Euros??. That's a steal. Where do you find those bargains?.

Ian Matthew said:

Now I am having the opportunity to buy an M8 body in a very good
condition at very fair price. Around 1000 euros.

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That's a great price. Good condition usually commands about 1700 euro.

--
LJL

Javimarcelo and LjL, this is the second time that this happens in front of my eyes. Before 2 weeks a friend of mine bought a very nice M8 same price. I live in Greece. It is difficult to find one but the price is 1000-1200 euros for used M8. Of course if you buy from a privateer not from a store. if you buy from a store price goes 23% plus, which is around 1500 max, again better than one you quote... Probably I will buy it. Kind regards to you both and thank you for taking time to make your helpful comments

Yannis

steveleicaman said:

Strangely, I always felt my M8 produced a sharper image than the M9 despite using the same lenses. And yes the M9 is calibrated correctly.

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Steve yes, I had the same surprise too. Before I decide to go with Rangefinder a friend gave me an M8 for some days in order to try it. When I moved to M9 I noticed that M8's photos were sometimes sharper than M9's. I believe that this has to do with the fact that M8 uses the best part of a lens (due to crop factor)

Kind regards

RossFun said:

I went through the same process as yourself with same lens choice also.

I went on a trip to Egypt last year and wanted to have a backup body but I found the M9 was so good I didn't use the M8 .

Instead have sold the M8 and recently purchased a used MP which I really love using and I feel it complements the M9 when I feel the urge to use film and provides an excellent backup with no filters needed and focal length being the same.

Of course the X100 looks like an interesting option at this point of time and what almost sold me on it was someones comments recently that it produced very similar images to the Canon 5DMKII and the 35mm F1.4 which was one of my favourite lenses on the camera I had before moving to Leica.

I must say that after changing to the Leica my photography style has changed and I have re-enthused my passion for photography.

Kind regards Ross

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Ross, Steve,

I find my self not happy with tha result of low lighting shooting. I love low light and I love to take photos during the night. When I am sleepless or have extra energy, I take my camera and I am going down town;-) For these conditions, just recently I experiment with an M7 and 1600 and 3200 films. The result was awesome to my eyes. I believe that one analogue body is must have too if you like low lighting shooting. Of course there is D700 and many other dslr's capable for 3200iso and much more, but I find my self hooked with leica lenses...
(And of course you have to wait sometime in order to see your photos...)

Kind regards

Ian,

I always intended to sell my M8 during the inevitable long wait for the M9. In the end of the day I am glad I did not. I like to travel with both bodies, 16/18/21, 28mm f2.8, 35mm f2 and 50mm f2. I do confess that the M8 was relegated to second place but having had to have my M9 repaired after an accident still having the M8 was a God send. At the price you are being offered the M8 for, I would jump at it.

Burky57 said:

Ian,

I always intended to sell my M8 during the inevitable long wait for the M9. In the end of the day I am glad I did not. I like to travel with both bodies, 16/18/21, 28mm f2.8, 35mm f2 and 50mm f2. I do confess that the M8 was relegated to second place but having had to have my M9 repaired after an accident still having the M8 was a God send. At the price you are being offered the M8 for, I would jump at it.

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Burky I totaly agree. Tomorrow I will ...jump. Thank you;-)

totally.
my spare is the m8.
--
Irakly Shanidze
http://www.shanidze.com/en

Irakly Shanidze said:

totally.
my spare is the m8.

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Thank you Irakly

Ian Matthew said:

Ian Matthew said:

Strangely, I always felt my M8 produced a sharper image than the M9 despite using the same lenses. And yes the M9 is calibrated correctly.

Click to expand...

Steve yes, I had the same surprise too. Before I decide to go with Rangefinder a friend gave me an M8 for some days in order to try it. When I moved to M9 I noticed that M8's photos were sometimes sharper than M9's. I believe that this has to do with the fact that M8 uses the best part of a lens (due to crop factor)

Kind regards

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I'm not so sure. If that were the case, then I would expect the centre of an image from the M9 to be as sharp as the centre of an image from the M8. But they are not. I noticed it straight away when I moved to the M9. But I think the M9 is a more 'complete' camera.

I shoot mainly B&W.

My main body is a M8.2.
I always shoot with two bodies
I choose a film M as a second body most of the time.

I pick my body/ lens pairings, to add to each other.

I mostly use a 50 f1 on the M8.2 and a 35 Lux on the film body.

I have a third lens, depending on the expected in the bag - mostly a 15 Heliar, when enough light and tight quarters is expected, a 90 Cron pre ASPH, when head/ shoulder portraits are wanted (beautiful on film) or a 135mm for reach or details.

Sometimes, when I expect things, to go quick, I just put the third lens on a third body (classic M6 - very light weight, small).

I shoot the M8.2 up to ISO1250.

I shoot exclusively Kodak TX400 @ 3200 in D-76 or when out of stock Neopan 400 at same speed and developer.

I scan my negatives and develop all images in Adobe Lightroom/ Photoshop.

I print up to 13x19 with a Canon 9500 or bigger in cooperation with a local lab (also pigment ink prints).

I love the M8.2 - I shoot all lenses without filters.
The M8.2 just works.

Any M8 for just 1.000 EUR is a steal - not only as a backup body.
It has the same pixel pitch as the M9, so files are as detailed.
You can easily print 13x19 without any issues at best quality (closeup looking).

You could tryout IR photography and otherwise just use it as an B&W camera, if the IR color issues bug you.

The M9 of course has an edge above ISO 1250, does better colors and does wide angle - other than that, the M8 is the same high quality, reliable tool.

A M8 as a backup is clearly superior to any other camera as M9 backup, as it looks, smells and feels like an M9.

All operations are the same (don't nitpick about minor differences), which is extremely important for fluid shooting. I hate, when having to stop for a moment and think, as the second body has different operation.

--
http://www.teknopunk.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teknopunk/