Reading mode: Light Dark

M8 review posted.

Go to last post
Personally, just buy looking at the pictures posted here and experiencing the "3D-depth". I have difficult understanding that the camera didnt get a higher image review. The image quality i see from the leica is just outstanding and though i dont own one I thing it should have received a better judgement on that part. But I think Phil did a good part on describing the qualities of the camera.
 
an interesting read - could not believe I saw dust bunnies in several of the pics (top centre in landscape mode).

--
Phil A
FCAS Member #100
http://www.pbase.com/philinnz
 
Much of that "image quality" comes from the superb lenses, and I wasn't reviewing them. I marked it down for the reasons I gave; the UV/IR issue and the poor in-camera processor.
hvh said:
Personally, just buy looking at the pictures posted here and
experiencing the "3D-depth". I have difficult understanding that the
camera didnt get a higher image review. The image quality i see from
the leica is just outstanding and though i dont own one I thing it
should have received a better judgement on that part. But I think
Phil did a good part on describing the qualities of the camera.
Click to expand...
--
Phil Askey
Editor, dpreview.com
 
I wish Canon made a rangefinder with 1D Mk III's sensor that takes Leica lenses...

Seriously, at about half the price, M8 would be a great camera, but for a body that costs nearly $5K, Phil's rating is quite fair.
 
Thanks for this review.. I've been waiting for it ever since the M8 was available. I began potography with a RF and hope to purchase an M8 in the near future.

I found your review to honest and very comprehensive. The most important thing you said in your review was that the M8 had "turned" you.. and the mention of connection with subject.. and the "different way of shooting".

I own and use a 5D and a 20D and many of my DSLR shooting brothers simply have no clue why anyone would desire a rangefinder... maybe now they will rethink their suggestion the the Leica M8 is neck bling for status seekers. It is a finely crafted tool for the serious photographer.

Regards,
--
Jim Radcliffe
http://www.boxedlight.com/dlux3
http://www.image36.com
http://www.oceona.com

The ability to 'see' the shot is more important than the gear.
 
Phil

Not really covered in your review but something I noticed very obviously with the 2 AA less cameras I own (SD9 and 14n) is aliasing at the resolution limits.

The 14 suffers bad moire and colour aliasing "twinkles". The SD9 has its does of jaggies and stripy patterns on tiled roofs.

Sampling theory says this is inevitable without some kind of bandwidth limiting filter. It ought to be a particular problem with super sharp prime lenses.

Do you have any comments on what you saw in this regard?
thermal1 said:
As a lifelong Canon fan looking for a little more quality, I'll be
reading this review with interest.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thermal/
Click to expand...
--
Galleries and website: http://www.whisperingcat.co.uk/mainindex.htm
 
With no AA filter then obviously it's a risk, but in 90% of everyday shots I took what you got in reality was just lots of very fine detail and no noticeable artifacts.
DMillier said:
Not really covered in your review but something I noticed very
obviously with the 2 AA less cameras I own (SD9 and 14n) is aliasing
at the resolution limits.

The 14 suffers bad moire and colour aliasing "twinkles". The SD9 has
its does of jaggies and stripy patterns on tiled roofs.

Sampling theory says this is inevitable without some kind of
bandwidth limiting filter. It ought to be a particular problem with
super sharp prime lenses.

Do you have any comments on what you saw in this regard?
thermal1 said:
As a lifelong Canon fan looking for a little more quality, I'll be
reading this review with interest.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thermal/
Click to expand...
--
Galleries and website: http://www.whisperingcat.co.uk/mainindex.htm
Click to expand...
--
Phil Askey
Editor, dpreview.com
 
Thanks.

I wonder how they do it. Some kind of colour channel blurring in firmware, perhaps. I bet the other manufacturers would like to know: AA filters are expensive parts!
Phil Askey said:
DMillier said:
Not really covered in your review but something I noticed very
obviously with the 2 AA less cameras I own (SD9 and 14n) is aliasing
at the resolution limits.

The 14 suffers bad moire and colour aliasing "twinkles". The SD9 has
its does of jaggies and stripy patterns on tiled roofs.

Sampling theory says this is inevitable without some kind of
bandwidth limiting filter. It ought to be a particular problem with
super sharp prime lenses.

Do you have any comments on what you saw in this regard?
thermal1 said:
As a lifelong Canon fan looking for a little more quality, I'll be
reading this review with interest.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thermal/
Click to expand...
--
Galleries and website: http://www.whisperingcat.co.uk/mainindex.htm
Click to expand...
--
Phil Askey
Editor, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
--
Galleries and website: http://www.whisperingcat.co.uk/mainindex.htm
 
I haven't spent the time with the review it deserves, and will, but it appears to be a well conceived and executed review. The "bottom line" seems to be you found it to be an excellent Raw image maker, that especially using the superb Leica glass, rivals any digital camera out there for image quality. Noise characteristics seem better than many might have guessed, dynamic range is quite high, and pixel for pixel acuitance is superb. The only real negative, is it's price. Certainly the JPG engine can be improved, while the price is likely to become more of a problem!

Seems like your review suggests Leica accomplished exactly what it attempted. To bring best in class RF photography with superb image quality to the world of digital photography. Given all the doomsday talk upon release, your review, our experience as users, and Leica's sales success give a resounding answer to those concerns. best....Peter
--
http://www.innerimager.com
 
Your review was exceptional in that you understood - and communicated - the experience of using the camera, and the impact of the user experience on the photographs that the camera produces. The review will have value to newcomers to Leica and rangefinder photography, and also rings true with active M8 users (myself included).

The M8 isn't perfect (my posts here reflect my own reservations, even though it is my most-used camera), but the lenses are (almost), and I am hopeful that Leica will continue investing in the digital rangefinder concept.

--

 
All I can say is I want one, can´t really justify the price right now at this point in my life but I´ll be looking out for a future "M9".

Can just imagine traveling around the world with this camera and at most 2-3 lenses instead of lugging around a 35mm system as I do today.
 
I think you misunderstood me. In JPEG they just blur everything beyond a certain frequency (resolution) which doesn't really work very well. I was talking about RAW, and that depends on decent false color removal which ACR seems to have.
DMillier said:
Thanks.

I wonder how they do it. Some kind of colour channel blurring in
firmware, perhaps. I bet the other manufacturers would like to know:
AA filters are expensive parts!
Click to expand...
--
Phil Askey
Editor, dpreview.com
 
Phil Askey said:
hvh said:
Personally, just buy looking at the pictures posted here and
experiencing the "3D-depth". I have difficult understanding that the
camera didnt get a higher image review. The image quality i see from
the leica is just outstanding and though i dont own one I thing it
should have received a better judgement on that part. But I think
Phil did a good part on describing the qualities of the camera.
Click to expand...
--
Phil Askey
Editor, dpreview.com
Click to expand...
Phil,

I can see what you mean about "testing the lens" but isn't the end result the thing that counts most? It's not Leica's fault the others don't give us the choice of quality lenses and don't you think Leica designed the camera to take advatage of the lenses. And even if the others produce a "better camera", if the optics can't take advantage of that it's somewhat pointless.

A great review all the same. I shoot Canon and have never owned a Leica. Coming from a MF background to Canon via an SLR/n the one thing I am most dissapointed in is the hit or miss 35mm lens quality I have found with both Nikon and Canon.

Kevin.
 
...the info on how a rangefinder works. That is definitly not my kind of camera, but I can sure appreciate it a lot more after reading Phil's review. The RAW image quality was quite surprising. But looking at the sample images, the ISO640 an up samples have much more noise than the 5D - but a bit better than the D200. Just like the the postage stamp test indicates.

I've heard complaints about it (probably not from M8 users!) about the problems with no AA filter, but looking a this image - you got to love the detail with no "digital" problems at all:



You have to admit -when you look at this full-size image closely, the detail is very, very nice. I'm not so sure my 5D can get that amount of detail with my current lenses.

And having to only shoot raw would not be a problem because you probably don't machine-gun your shots (like I have done sometimes!) , and take the time to make them right the first time. The extra processing time would be OK because you will probably have less shots to process!

A great review, and a very nice camera. I need to hold one someday just for that experience, because I doubt I will ever, ever buy one!
--



Bossier City, Louisiana
http://www.pbase.com/ericsorensen
 
Excellent job Phil!

I think the review accurately reflects the strengths and weaknesses of the M8. For my part, I think the image quality is exceptional. I also shoot with a D200 and Fuji S3 and am continuously amazed by the resolving capabilities of the M8 sensor with a good lens. (Of course, that applies to RAW only - the Auto WB issues alone mean that shooting JPEG is a non-starter)

I think Phil did a good job evaluating the advantages of rangefinder shooting, while recognizing that Leica could have done a little better even within those platform limitations (better JPEG and Auto WB, and a quick and easy to use EV adjustment function just being one example). I am holding out faith that subsequent firmware releases will see these changes come over time.

In the meantime, I am really enjoying shooting with my M8 - I pretty much have it on hand most of the time, I couldn't do that comfortably with any SLR.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top