New M8 or new lens for my MP?

J

John7617

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I would like to hear from new M8 owners some opinions as to whether or not I should take the plunge and purchase an M8 or stick with film and get a new lens for the MP.

I purchased a new MP in December, 2006 and I am entitled to the $500 rebate if I purchase either a new lens or a new camera before December, 2007. I really like my MP, but I'm not sure how to spend the $500 rebate.

I currently own an M6 and MP along with an asperical 21 mm lens, asperical 28 mm lens, aspherical 35 mm (f2) lens, summicron 50 mm lens, and summicron 90 mm lens.

If I buy a new lens (i.e. the 24 mm aspherical), I will add a new dimension to my collection of lenses and I will get two vouchers for digital coding of two of my current lenses ($250 value). This route will keep me with film for the next few years and allow the M8 to "mature", so that when I purchase one in the next few years, it will be a better digital camera.

On the other hand, I would like to purchase the M8. But I am afraid I will be disappointed with all of its problems. I do my own black and white film processing and printing in a traditional darkroom. My only experience with digital cameras has been point and shoot digicams, but I do use photoshop when I scan black and white negatives to make digital negatives for palladium prints. So digital is not so foreign to me.

So will I be more happy with a new M8 with my current lens set up or a 24 mm aspherical lens for my m6 and MP which can be used on the "M9"?
 
If you can afford it buy the M8 and keep your existing lens line up. Your 28mm on the M8 will be fantastic. Chances are you wont pick up the MP as often. I should know, I was in the same predicament. Anyway, the M8 is a lovely camera. It has it's quirks but it works well for me.

You can also buy a used M8 for around 4k.

Here is one I am selling.

http://www.cameragas.com/Leica-M8-Black,itemname,362,id,auctiondetails

Why? I really only need 1 🙂
 
Get them both, and then get a Canon EOS 5D too. Also buy a Rolex.

Live dangerously.

I'm not selling any of them.
 
It's hard to know in advance. But...another lens is just a lens, while a new digital body is a totally new experience. I would get the body. You can always sell it at not too great a loss and get the lens, if you decide it doesn't work for you.

/T
 
Get the m8 and then get a zeiss25 or voigtlander 25 if you want that focal length both excellent lenses and with a little bit of patience can be 6 bit coded for less then leica will code a lens for you. David
 
MP can last longer than M8,or M9 or M10 for that matter. You don't have the 75mm yet, so here is your answer.

i don't trust the M8, it is unreasonable priced, for that kind money, i would prefer to get a high-end dslr. in any case, MP is rock solid, you can buy a M7 as well, if 75 doesn't work for you.

2 bodies and all the lenses...
 
Get a 24mm lense or a Zeiss 15mm. I'm speaking from bad experience owning the M8 and I reckon you should invest in glass at this point in time. In another 6 months maybe I'd get an M8 if all the bugs etc are ironed out. Even so, at that stage you will be able get a bargain used M8 off someone who finds that it's not for them.

I gave up on my M8 after 3 dud bodies, got my money back and reinvested it into two lenses and stetched a bit further to get my long time dream Mamiya 7II. You can never go wrong with glass, unless Leica decide to change the mount... I loved using the M8, it's good viewfinder and ergonomics were a real pleasure, and I'm definate I'll get another when I know all is well etc. I just came to think that It'd be safer for me to stick with film in the mean time and thrash my M7 and Mamiya 7II.

JMHO

TJV
 
I realize that some people have had bad experiences with the M8 and they have a right to express their opinion. Those people are not the norm. There are many happy M8 owners out there. I am one of them, and I have been an MP user before. I love my MP. It is the most beautiful camera ever made and I process my own black and white and love the results. Trust me however, when I tell you that the M8 has changed my life in a way no new lens could, especially not considering the lineup you already have. For B&W, you MAY continue shooting film, for color work however, you will barely ever pull out your film Leica. You might as well just disregard the opinion of anybody who has never owned an M8 before. Just go in a store and play with your lenses on an M8 for a while, and see if you catch the fever. I think you will.
 
21/24/28 is a waste of bag space and back muscle.

24/35//50/90 is the best set for film. 21/28/35/50/90 is close second.

Will the M8 mature so you don`t need IR filters? I don`t know. It produces fine images right now. Get your three widest lens coded, or sell the 21/28 and get a 24.

Put the stupid filters on and have fun. Personally, I would try to work without them and fix the ocassional magenta with photoshop. If you do weddings, that is something different. I think if you code the wides, you then need the filters to stop cyan vignetting. Check to be sure

add a CV15 for Zeiss 15 2.8 for the M8.
 
Although I liked the M8's files when it got them right, I really don't think that it's colour comes close to what I get using good quality film like Fuji Astia or Pro400H. That's my personal opinion and is bound to differ to many peoples views.
Either way, this isn't a digi vs film thread.

If you think you'd take more photo's using a digi M then get that. Practice makes perpect and photo's make me happy.

BerndReini said:
I realize that some people have had bad experiences with the M8 and they have a right to express their opinion. Those people are not the norm. There are many happy M8 owners out there. I am one of them, and I have been an MP user before. I love my MP. It is the most beautiful camera ever made and I process my own black and white and love the results. Trust me however, when I tell you that the M8 has changed my life in a way no new lens could, especially not considering the lineup you already have. For B&W, you MAY continue shooting film, for color work however, you will barely ever pull out your film Leica. You might as well just disregard the opinion of anybody who has never owned an M8 before. Just go in a store and play with your lenses on an M8 for a while, and see if you catch the fever. I think you will.
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Since your coupon doesn't expire until December and you don't know exactly what you want now, I would probably wait until closer to the end of the year. If by then you don't have a clear preference I would probably buy the 24mm because it will most likely hold its value better than an M8 and you could resell it later and recover more of the original worth.
 
John
I had an MP before my M8. I actually sold my Hassy gear to fund the M8 whilst keeping the MP. A few months on I was not using my MP but missing black and white medium format. The M8 out resolved my 35mm film fairly easilly but does not touch medium format fine grain black and white (yet!!). The MP was sold to purchase an additional Leica 28 lens, and I have slowly reclaimed my Hasselblad from e-bay for about 2/3 the price I sold it for. My point is I love the M8, but still need something mechanical for film use. I make a point of shooting film portraits of my kids every month purely for the archival qualities of negatives. I personally was suprised I missed my hassy more than my MP. I supose the moral is firstly not to do anything to hasty but also that film gear prices are in free fall so if you do sell, you can probably by back in the fullness of time.
Best wishes
Richard Marks
 
A 24mm will not add dimension in a material way. If you want to spend, you'd probably be better off going M8 and have both film and digi capture ability.

However, it is often best to wait for 2nd gen innovation so that more of the bugs can be worked out.
 
Richard Marks said:
My point is I love the M8, but still need something mechanical for film use. I make a point of shooting film portraits of my kids every month purely for the archival qualities of negatives.
Richard Marks
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Hi Richard,

I shoot film (MP and M7) because of archival reasons you stated. Been doing it for years and now have a 3-year old son who keeps me busy shooting.

I sold my Hassie gear because it was hardly being used. In its place I substitued a Mamiya C330F. I like the large negs, but it isn't my old 503CX and 120mm Makro. Given the free fall in prices may pick up some hassie gear one of these days.

Best -
 
35mmdelux said:
Hi Richard,

I shoot film (MP and M7) because of archival reasons you stated. Been doing it for years and now have a 3-year old son who keeps me busy shooting.

I sold my Hassie gear because it was hardly being used. In its place I substitued a Mamiya C330F. I like the large negs, but it isn't my old 503CX and 120mm Makro. Given the free fall in prices may pick up some hassie gear one of these days.

Best -
Click to expand...

Hi Paul
Its interesting you picked up a C330 I thought about this and had a rolleiflex for a while. My thinking was I have an inexpensive medium format camera and possibly better than the hassy hand held, but in the end I got my 503 back. The M8 and the 503 with just an 80mm is fine for me. Im happy. Now the 120 Makro Planar. What a lens! I do miss that one and its not coming up on e-bay to cheep!

I think most leica users are going to want something mechanical as well. Wonderful as the M8 is, the jump from film m to digital m left me needing a mechanical fix in some way. Interesting to see how many M8 users are shooting film still.

Best wishes

Richard
 
BOSS65 said:
Unless you are going to commit to a digital darkroom why buy an M8? Besides, you can never have enough glass.
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Experience has learned the last 30 years that you can best invest in Leica lenses instead of Leica camera bodies!

M lenses always keep their high value in price!

The M8 will cost you at about 3 years a fraction of its present price!

For example you can buy now a R 8 for about €700,- Its orginally price was around €2500,- The price inflation of Leica bodies are considerable!
 
If it's even a question for you between the two, then buy the lens now. Buy the M8 later on when the price drops. The lens will cost the same now or later..
 
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