M8 Review on dpreview site

[GeneW]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leicam8/

It gets "Recommended" but not the coveted "Highly Recommended". But that's not the full story of course...

Gene

 

[ywenz]

Phil's resolution chart test highlights the resolution deficiencies of a camera with lower pixel count regardless of the existence of an AA filter or not..

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leicam8/page20.asp

It also highlights the out of camera softness of the 5D JPEG.. and the tremendous artifacts in M8's JPEGs.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leicam8/page16.asp

Raw looks good from the M8 however..

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leicam8/page18.asp

 

[Paul T.]

A good review for Leica - I never used incamera jpegs for my R-D1, I can't imagine many people who know what they're doing using incamera for the M-8, altho I've alreayd seen a few fuzzy jpegs held up as evidence of Leica's superiority.

Altho I won't buy one, I do hope that, as seems the case, the camera is a huge success for Leica. Might speed the launch of a more affordable digital Zeiss Ikon...

 

[Ben Z]

I am impressed with Mr. Askey's review, which seems refreshingly unbiased and free from brand snobbery. Honestly it would be fine with me if the M8 didn't even have a JPEG setting. Other than saving room on SD cards, what is the purpose for shooting JPEG's?

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I am impressed with Mr. Askey's review, which seems refreshingly unbiased and free from brand snobbery. Honestly it would be fine with me if the M8 didn't even have a JPEG setting. Other than saving room on SD cards, what is the purpose for shooting JPEG's?

I would agree. He notes every (previously unpublished) issue I had with mine.

As to jpeg files... I (used to) shoot them for fast turnaround for commercial real estate lending purposes (my work) - but M8 jpegs are less than worthless.

 

[ywenz]

Didn't really know how bad the JPEG is until I saw the side by side comparo.. Makes you scratch ya head trying to fig out why Leica can't implement proper JPEG output...😕

 

[SteveM(PA)]

From the conclusion, it seems as if we will see the reviewer here soon, exploring some of our other fine cameras. 🙂

 

[SteveM(PA)]

From the conclusion, it seems as if we will see the reviewer here soon, exploring some of our other fine cameras. 🙂

Apparently I wanted to say that again : )

 

[ZeissFan]

Has he ever not recommended a camera?

 

[Keith]

Seems like a pretty fair review ... some of the technical stuff goes over my head but I like his attitude to the positives and the negatives of the camera ... and I always enjoy his conclusions. He states the case for and against the camera and no emotional loyalty tends to taint his opinions ... or prejudice for that matter! 🙂

 

[Al Patterson]

Has he ever not recommended a camera?

From time to time something will get rated "above average", which I think is considered below "recommended" or "highly recomended".

But he doesn't review every camera that comes out.

 

[IGMeanwell]

The funny thing

If you look at most of his image galleries, this is easily his most inspired...

There are some genuinely good shots in that sample gallery

comparing to his Fuji S5 review; I just noticed a different way of shooting

With the M8 the images weren't just samples

He did mention it was his first rangefinder experience

 

[dcsang]

I haven't gone through the whole thing yet, might do so tomorrow given time - but it looks promising.

Now if only Leica can lower the price to $3500 I may consider one 🙂

Dave

 

[usccharles]

i think that was a very good honest review. i have noticed the same issues/differences with the in-machine jpegs and the processed RAW files but really haven't been able to pit what the differences were into words, and i think the reviewer did a great job explaining what i was experiencing.

i think the RECOMMEND review is also fair and proper. M8 isn't for everyone and it does have a lot of limitations from other highly technical digital cameras/SLRs in the market. Only they're not limitations to RF heads like us 🙂 his verdict is based on all camera type users, not just RF users, so i think RECOMMEND is a fairly high praise for a reviewer whose not used to using RFs in the first place

 

[ywenz]

The funny thing

If you look at most of his image galleries, this is easily his most inspired...

There are some genuinely good shots in that sample gallery

I thought his samples are the same as any other... 4 pictures of guitars? Not very decisive moment of him.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I thought his samples are the same as any other... 4 pictures of guitars? Not very decisive moment of him.

When in other galleries have you seen him take pictures on an airplane?

Look at some of those other galleries, these were less architecture, more people and environment

Maybe its just happenstance and he wasn't near his wife/kid enough to have use them as models

 

[rpsawin]

Seems like a pretty fair review ... some of the technical stuff goes over my head but I like his attitude to the positives and the negatives of the camera ... and I always enjoy his conclusions. He states the case for and against the camera and no emotional loyalty tends to taint his opinions ... or prejudice for that matter! 🙂

I agree with you Keith. I don't own a M8 and don't contemplate doing so anytime soon. The article did not give me any reason to rule it out. I'm still goofy over my MP purchase and frankly just have not been able to warm up to digital (I've tried...I just don't enjoy it).

Best regards,

Bob