jamriman
Established
I would never do it, since having both is great BUT that M8 excitement is now gone even with the shutter and frameline upgrade. How many of you decided to wipe the dust off their M8's and sell it? Thanks
mani
Well-known
I have a feeling the traffic goes both ways.
rocheung
Established
Hmmmm, this is a headache for me. Frankly speaking I use RD1 more because of it quietness of shutter, and also I don't have to worry that I scratch it and bump it, since everytime my M8 needs intensive care when I use it everytime.
If further spending a few thousand dollars to upgrade it to 8.2, it is too expensive and I am noticing that the M8 price is sliding down and I feel that it is not very worthy to further spend $$$ on it and i am considering to liquidate it.
If further spending a few thousand dollars to upgrade it to 8.2, it is too expensive and I am noticing that the M8 price is sliding down and I feel that it is not very worthy to further spend $$$ on it and i am considering to liquidate it.
gdi
Veteran
I went the other way after constant R-D1 focus RF adjustments and a shutter failure. But it was more fun to shoot.
swoop
Well-known
I bought my M8 new in April of '07 when it was still like $4700 or so. It has served me well professionally and allowed me to keep my visual style while using a digital workflow which is essential these days. I'll be sending it off for upgrade once leica gets back to me. Mine has a few rub marks, some scratches. Its been well used. And I'll probably continue to mistreat it for a few years to come until the M9 shows up.
jamriman
Established
Yes a very logical route to go.
mountainrivera
Established
Have both and am leaning hard on selling the R-D1. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time so I always forget the re-cock the lever. That being said, the R-D1 has its own beauty, the dials are nice as is the fold away screen, the latter by far my favorite feature.
ruilebreiro
Member
R-D1 has a big minus, over the M8, which is the 1.5x crop factor.
Which lens makes an aprox 35mm super bright lens? big problem
Which lens makes an aprox 35mm super bright lens? big problem
J. Borger
Well-known
LCT
ex-newbie
The 1.5x crop factor is a big plus to me, in fact one of the reasons why i don't like the M8 at all. My beloved 50mm are useless with the M8. Either too long or too short. Make marvelous 75mm on the R-D1.
BTW getting fast 35mm FoV is easier with the R-D1 as the 24/1.4 Leica has only a 32mm FoV on the M8 against 36mm on the R-D1. Expensive lens though. For now the solution is full frame i'm afraid, not crop factors.
yanidel
Well-known
I have both and I am now using the R-D1 because of shutter problems on the M8. My thoughts in two words :
R-D1 :
- better ergonomics
- more fun
- great high ISO look
- flippable LCD
- 1:1 finder
M8 :
- superior IQ (160 and 320)
- amazing build quality
- 1/4000th and 1/8000th
- better LCD and interface.
- wider span of framelines (FF 32mm to 120mm vs 43mm to 75mm on R-D1)
So really, for me it is not one or the other, both have their pros and cons. The only real limitation is sensor size if you do large prints (A3 barely ok with R-D1) or are obsessed with resolution.
R-D1 :
- better ergonomics
- more fun
- great high ISO look
- flippable LCD
- 1:1 finder
M8 :
- superior IQ (160 and 320)
- amazing build quality
- 1/4000th and 1/8000th
- better LCD and interface.
- wider span of framelines (FF 32mm to 120mm vs 43mm to 75mm on R-D1)
So really, for me it is not one or the other, both have their pros and cons. The only real limitation is sensor size if you do large prints (A3 barely ok with R-D1) or are obsessed with resolution.
J. Borger
Well-known
I kept the R-D1 when i got my m8 2,5 years ago ..... just in case the M8 failed on me.
Fortunately it never did so far. So i do not use my R-d1 anymore.
But where i realy prefer the R-D1 to the M8 =
- 1:1 finder
- single framelines !!
Fortunately it never did so far. So i do not use my R-d1 anymore.
But where i realy prefer the R-D1 to the M8 =
- 1:1 finder
- single framelines !!
mani
Well-known
Yanidel - sorry to hear you're already having M8 hitches - I ordered an M8 again this week (I knew it would happen), but anyway your list seems to me to excellently sum it up.
The real reason in the end I opted for an M8 instead of a second RD1 was the exterior build quality and slightly better dynamic range.
The lovely graininess of the RD1s images (if you use Epson Camera Raw or Raw Developer) gives them a much more film-like look than the M8, imo - but I'm going to check Silver Efex Pro to see if it works for me with the much smoother ISO160 images from the M8.
f6andBthere
Well-known
Once 4/3 gets it's teeth into the market it won't matter which digital rangefinder you have ... they'll both be worth less than 'not much' second hand. A year or so from now I'd expect to be able to buy a well used M8 for $1500 and an RD-1 for a lot less.
SimonSawSunlight
Simon Fabel
I can't wait for that day, but it's seems hard to believe to me 
mani
Well-known
Do you mind if I say this is a totally retarded comment?
1. I don't actually care what the secondhand value of the cameras are going to be in a year's time. I can afford to buy it now, want to use it for the foreseeable future, and when I'm tired of it will probably just put it away on a shelf and buy something else.
2. While the images from 4/3s are good, the dynamic range and dof effects will never match larger sensor cameras.
3. If you think 4/3 is so good, buy a G1 now - why would you want an 'inferior' M8 or RD1 in a year's time when you think they'll be virtually worthless.
4. Did I mention I thought your comment was retarded?
5. Oh and I forgot - have you actually held an M8 or an RD1 in your hand, and physically compared it to a G1? Or looked through a viewfinder vs an EVF for that matter?
yanidel
Well-known
I don't know what the price of the used M8 will be in one year but the micro won't replace the digital rangefinders for the moment. Remember it will be a 2x crop factor which limits a lot the ability to throw backgrounds of focus. The 35mm lenses will become 70mm and the CV12mm willl be the widest at 24mm and F5.6. A 75mm will become a 150mm but if you shoot 150mm, you will be better off with a SLR. To sum up, 4/3rd is not really exciting IMO.
Mani, congratulations! This is the wisest choice. You will enjoy. With the current pricing I would have bought new, but 6 months ago it made sense to buy used.
mani
Well-known
Thanks Yanidel. This is the second time I've bought an M8, but as you say the price is great right now. I suspect it's because Leica has something new to offer very soon, and want to get rid of as much old stock as possible. A pity not to get the 'latest/greatest', but looking at their price-list recently, I probably won't be able to afford it anyway.
f6andBthere
Well-known
Disagree with me by all means but your use of the term 'retarded' is both immature and offensive ... but that's obviously your own personal behaviour issue and for you to deal with!
I own an M8 and like it very much ... but don't expect the current crop factor of the G1 for example to remain where it is. A lot of people will buy these things for a decent digital body to use their M mount lenses on as thay have done with the M8 and RD-1. When the sensor size becomes more realistic they will leave the digital rangefinders in their wake.
If you can't see that you're mentally challenged. ( a little political correctness ... just to set an example for you)
yanidel
Well-known
There is a bit of contradiction here as you announce the 4/3rd micro as the M8 killer but at the same time you expect the micro to migrate to a bigger sensor. This would increase size of the G1 and get it to the same technological problems as the M8 (light fall-off with M lenses) which needs a lot of R&D thus higher costs.
To me, only the M9 or a Zeiss Digital RF can be expected to replace the M8/R-D1 in a forseeable future.