Would you buy the M8 again?

Ecar said:
I mean fps - eg, for shooting fast action.
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Ah, I understand; thanks.

Of course I'm grossly prejudiced, because I was brought up (photographically speaking) to shoot one picture at the right moment. Despite this prejudice, I completely agree that it's very desirable indeed to be able to shoot another picture a split-second later, which may also be the right moment!

Cheers,

Roger
 
Roger Hicks said:
Ah, I understand; thanks.

Of course I'm grossly prejudiced, because I was brought up (photographically speaking) to shoot one picture at the right moment. Despite this prejudice, I completely agree that it's very desirable indeed to be able to shoot another picture a split-second later, which may also be the right moment!

Cheers,

Roger
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Roger,
I sense some sarcasm 😉...
But I'm afraid my reflexes are not fast enough to capture the decisive moment when a bunch of kids are playing basketball AND everyone expects a few good shots to illustrate their respective prowesses.
Anyway, I guess we are going OT here.
 
I would and I did.

I've had Leicas for over 40 years; other cameras have come and some have gone but I always enjoy shooting Leicas the most.

The M8 functions like a film Leica. Yes, the noise is greater and different (doesn't bother me) and it's a bit thicker (ditto) and it's a bit harder to grip. That does bother me a little bit. But it produces great files, and lets me use my best lenses.

Digitally, I also use Canon SLR's, and the 5D is quite nice, but it's an SLR (good and bad) and with something like the 24-105 really bulky and too big for me to carry all the time like I do the M8. Just as important, there exists no really good lens of less than 35mm focal length for Canons. The M8 with WATE, or 21/2.8 asph, or 28/2 or even 15 and 12 CV really shines in comparison.

In the end, it's a Leica M, and that is the reason I bought a second one when I found a good deal. I don't want to be without a good rangefinder when I want to shoot digital.

If (when) Nikon produces a digital rangefinder, I'll look at it, but with my investment in Leica lenses, it just won't come to more than that.

Henning
 
Nope.
I love it, to hold it, use it, look at it, and of course the results.
Not had any problems, and I have remembered the joy of fixed length fast lenses. I may not like to admit it but my eyes are getting too tired to focus with a good success - and that is a bit of a bugger.
However the house was burgled and my sack with DSLR, lenses, flash etc all gone. I got the insurance but I'm waiting for the next generation 5D or a full frame D300. Then I will sell my M8 and my glass.
 
Well, the easy answer is no- I have two and they look set to keep fulfilling my needs for a long, long time. But the funny thing is, I have a DMR as well, which has (even) better file quality, is more practical to use and the lenses are nearly as good. Some of my best work is with the DMR lately, others tell me. But I would upgrade that one to an R10 in a heartbeat, if it suited my needs. I cannot see that happening with a hypothetical M9.... And I have to make a conscious decision to take the DSLR out, whereas the M8 is always with me.
So in the end, yes, if I lost an M8 I would replace it by an M8.
 
I'd buy another one, but I suspect by the time mine is ready to give up the ghost, there'll be something even better than the M8 from Leica to tempt me.
 
Durr3 said:
Hello,
I shoot with a M6, 35 cron and a 50 lux at the moment. I have owned many film cameras, several DSLRs and a few high end compacts. RD-1, Ricoh GRD, etc. Now my sickness wants me to buy a new toy. Knowing all you know about the M8, would you buy it again or would you try the GRD II, DP1, or something else. I shoot mostly candids and portraits now.
Any input would help a lot!

thanks,
Durr
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I will very likely buy another one. I'm very sorry to say that film is getting to be more and more of a hassle for me, and the M8 is starting to give me the kind of results I want artistically.

I have had mine since November 2006 and have been happy with it in spite of all the kludges with filters. I have not had a perfect experience. When I sent mine to Germany for those initial fixes, they goofed up somehow and left screws out; when I tugged on the camera to take it out of my half-case, the top came off in my hand! To give Leica credit, they fixed that by giving me an entirely new M8.

I will hope for something nice at Photokina, and if there is nothing better than another M8 I probably will buy one. However, I hope there is a digital ZI or CV coming out. Or a Panasonic-built "Leica" RF. Or maybe that that rumor about a Nikon RF is coming true. Or maybe that there is a genuinely new and improved Leica M which would justify the same price or an even higher one. However, I think the M8 is outstanding as far as results are concerned.

A less expensive digital M-mount body seems like the right thing for someone to introduce. The M8 would always then have this second body for company in my kit, and it would not have to be everything an M8 is. It would be nice for new people to have a less expensive entree. The Summarit lenses are some indication that Leica understands it has to introduce lower priced products on occasion. If it had a Leica brand and cost half an M8, I think it would sell very well. I'll bet a lot of us who have bought a second M8 or plan to would have bought one or two less expensive bodies instead if we could have.

So I have no complaints, but the experience of the last two years has made me (and probably many other people) question the wisdom of $5000 digital camera bodies in an era of rapid development and obsolescence. My Leica M6TTL made sense at its price because I will be able to use it as long as I want; film will be obsolete before it is.

As a photographer and consumer I liked Lee's idea of upgradability, but now we all are unsure of Leica's commitment to it. If the M8 and its successors are not going to be upgradeable, or not very, then it would make more sense for us users to pour our money into lenses and use less expensive bodies.
 
Tom Diaz said:
A less expensive digital M-mount body seems like the right thing for someone to introduce. The M8 would always then have this second body for company in my kit, and it would not have to be everything an M8 is. It would be nice for new people to have a less expensive entree. The Summarit lenses are some indication that Leica understands it has to introduce lower priced products on occasion. If it had a Leica brand and cost half an M8, I think it would sell very well. I'll bet a lot of us who have bought a second M8 or plan to would have bought one or two less expensive bodies instead if we could have.
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You make some good points here. Yet, I struggle with the idea that a new rangefinder would be used as a second body. You mentionned obsolesence too so I personally think that CV or ZI introducing a digital rangefinder would automatically send the M8 toward obsolesence. Two years after the M8 introduction, I doubt any new comer would enter with a smaller and less advanced sensor, this also applies to features. Of course, the body would probably less resistant and less Leica like, but if you get a more advanced product at half the price and full Rangefinder ergonomics, would you really keep the M8 as a first body ?
 
While I've truly enjoyed renewing my acquaintance with RF photography, **MY** M8 has been unreliable and so no I wouldn't buy it again.

Probably sell it as soon as it gets back from repair, but will also probably keep my R-D1.

IF the M8 had the low light capabilities and reliability of my D3 it'd likely be a different story for me.
 
Buying the M8 Again

Buying the M8 Again

I have owned multiple Canons (D30, 20D, 1DS, 5D), an Epson RD-1 and am a medium format enthusiast (Mamiya ZD). When I''m not doing something requiring flexibility and speed (like a wedding or similar event--as an advanced amateur, not a pro), my camera of choice is the M8, which I' have owned since 2006. Despite the fact that I am nearsighted and do not have the the best focusing skills (Leica's 1.25x viewfinder magnifier helps), I get a very high 'keeper' rate from my M8. It is the camera that has given me the most enjoyment and the best images during the past two years.

I use it mostly for portraits, candids and travel and am rarely disappointed and am often amazed at the results. I've been extremely happy with the Zeiss Biogon 25 and the Leica 35 and 50 'chrons, recently replaced with equivalent ASPH f1.4 'luxes (in museums and other low light situations f2 just isn't enough), and the Summicron (Canadian) 90MM f2.0. Leica optics are simply superb. I have begun to experiment with a Noctilux since I far prefer natural light to flash, which I use only as a last resort and love the blur and subject isolation for which the Noctilux is famous (or infamous). The non-Leica lenses that I've enjoyed as much as my Leica gear are the Canon L 85mm f1.2 on my 5D, another fabulous lens (but the lens alone subjectively seems to weigh as much as the M8 plus lens), and the Hassy/Zeiss 110mm f2 planar on my Mamiya 645.


I can take my M8 to places where my Canon 5D + L lenses would be too much, too noticeable or too heavy--and beyond speed and flexibility, I give up nothing in the process and the image quality is, more often than not, breathtaking.

I would buy one again without hesitation or reservation. Despite truly crappy human factors , viewfinder blockage, IR issues and the imprecise feedback of a rangefinder like the M8, the M8 form factor plus the Leica sensor + Leica optics are a truly winning combination. This is the camera that accompanies me day in, day out.
 
yanidel said:
... Of course, the body would probably less resistant and less Leica like, but if you get a more advanced product at half the price and full Rangefinder ergonomics, would you really keep the M8 as a first body ?
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You, too, make a very good point. Yes, if there were something from Nikon or Zeiss that had a much lower price and were more modern, it might send my M8 into retirement. Not likely very soon, though. If the basic specification is "get the most out of the Leica M lenses that I have bought already and which have no equal," then it will be a while, I think, before someone can really outdo the Leica M8. I think that is especially true with large-aperture and wide-angle lenses. If something less expensive comes out I will almost certainly try it. I would be surprised if its results are as good as the M8's, but if they are I would certainly consider retiring the M8 and getting a second copy of the new thing.

I'm not a camera designer, but I would think that someone could get away with fewer rangefinder ergonomics and still satisfy my basic "specification" above. For instance, wouldn't a somewhat thicker, blockier body obviate the need for a super-thin sensor and for all the filters? Granted, then I would really be propeled to retiring the M8, because I would have to be exchanging the filters all the time when I switch lenses between bodies. That's the problem I have today, with an M8 and a "backup" M6TTL.
 
I would venture to guess most people on this forum don’t consider great machines like the Mark III or D3 a true alternative to the M8. We aren’t talking about film cameras if we are talking about the M8. So, that really still only leaves the R-D1 as option B. There is of course an option C, and that is to do nothing and wait.

For those of you who have shot with both the M8 and R-D1, using both CV and Leica glass; would you still spend $5K to buy the M8? Maybe that is another thread.😀
 
buy a demo from a reputible dealer, be prepared to give it back in exchange for another, possibly another. but do so! im quite pleased with mine!
 
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