Avotius
Some guy
September 14, 2006: Sometime in the afternoon I am at work sitting at my desk. The wallpaper on my screen is a Leica M7, a reminder why I stick with this blood sucking job. With nothing to do I pop on dpreview to see the M8 has been announced. Soon my wallpaper has changed.
June 2008: I am wandering around the streets of Hong Kong with my stop gap measure, a Leica M6 and wander into a shop in TST. There is an M8 sitting there, I take the opportunity to fondle it. Another guy who has come to get one sees my M6 asks me what I think of the M8. I like.
A couple months ago. I convince myself I am getting the M8 no matter what. I have been trying to sell my M6 here in China for months with no luck. I send it back with my old man on his way back to the states. I list it here and within 5 minutes it’s sold to Australia. 10 minutes after its sold, Keith…in Australia…lists his M8 for sale. Ok…so maybe someone upstairs is giving me a clue. The bad thing…my old man has just started his vacation, so I have to wait for him to bring it back to me lest I risk that wrath that is Chinese Customs.
39 days later it’s in my hands, and it’s everything I expected.
Zeiss 21mm f2.8
Hyper focal focusing still works!
The M6 and I got along well, even though it was a fully manual camera and I really wanted an M7 I was able to use it to take a lot of good photos. I also have an Olympus EP1 which was supposed to be my “oh well I will never get an M8” camera. I gave that to the wife, she loves it so no harm done.
Zeiss 28mm f2.8
ISO 2500 low light performance seems typical of everything else I have used.
What I loved about the M7 was the aperture priority mode (my usual shooting mode) and the shutter speed readout in the viewfinder. It was very precise and usable with no other icons status indicators around it. I swear Japanese camera makers are hell bent on covering every millimeter of the screen with status icons and other crap you really just don’t need to know…like your current jpg compression or that you have your flash off. Shut those icons off and everything goes away, even shutter speed and aperture readouts. Ridiculous.
Zeiss 21mm f2.8
A lot of shadow detail, even after altering the contrast.
The M8 to me has nearly the perfect finder for me. The only thing I think it needs is to be able to show 28mm equivalent frame lines and also something that shows your current ISO tucked away somewhere in the corner, especially when using auto ISO. The frame lines for 50mm lenses was a surprise the first time I saw it. Though I have taken many photos with 50mm lenses and they came out sharp, wide open I would think that having a magnifier would be a much better solution. In the future I plan a high speed lens, either a Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 or 50mm f1.1 so that might be a necessary accessory as I see it. A lot of people also complained about the accuracy of the frame lines, so far this has not bothered me. When I was shooting with the M6 and my lens of choice the Zeiss 21 f2.8 and an auxiliary viewfinder there were plenty of surprises, so no big deal. I really don’t like the idea that the camera cannot show 28mm equivalent frames though as my Zeiss 21 is now a 28.
Zeiss 28mm f2.8
A hard to meter shot that I used full manual and guessed the exposure, I cant see the meter doing any better.
Yes the M8 is a fatter camera than my old M6. Yes there is no film advance to hook your thumb around. Oh well. I have fists of ham so I appreciate the extra girth of the camera. With the Luigi case it came with I am a little torn though. I like the extra protection and the case does indeed dampen the sound of the shutter a bit (but really…who cares…) I can put the camera down on anything without having to worry about scratching it, that’s nice, but the case makes the camera feel bulky and a little too thick. It’s like when I had a Canon 20D and the wife got a 5D, the grips were so different, the 20D was perfect, the 5D was fat. I do have the extra grip bottom plate thing, but have not really tried it out yet. For now I shoot the camera with the Luigi case on, despite the fact that the thing smells like rotting animal carcass, but I guess that is what it is….
Zeiss 21mm f2.8
Power lines power lines everywhere, and the sound of government propaganda blaring through the hillsides on speakers to mess up the feeling. Luckily the M8 doesn’t capture sound.
In the current digital camera climate, mega pixels are up, noise is down and automation is waaaaaay up. This camera is none of that and it makes me happy. It’s a no BS tool for me to carry around like my Swiss army knife. Though I wish noise was down a bit, it’s not so bad and I have shot several photos at 2500 which look fine, though not printable over about 15x10 inches. Lately I have been using a PhaseOne digital back on a Hasselblad. Huge resolution, but I was not so impressed with the rendering of the back. The photos were sharp beyond anything I have ever seen but it was so plastic looking even with those pretty Zeiss lenses. You can see many of the photos I had taken here (mind you I did not do the editing of those photos….ick…) and though a different application I really think the M8 renders a photo that looks better in the micro contrast department and the overall feel.
Zeiss 21mm f2.8
Infrared why not. Not much digital feel in this photo I think. Printed it looks even better though.
Something I have been tinkering around with lately is infrared. On the Olympus EP1 it was possible to take IR photos but it was very bloody difficult. The M8 is much easier and it meters IR photos much better than the EP1 did. Not to mention I can use the rangefinder to focus rather than guess with an almost black LCD. I have found the M8 to be pretty decent for IR photos, using a cheapo Rocolax R72 filter on my 21 or 28mm Zeiss lenses gives nice results. I can even use the M8 with the IR filter and the ISO cranked up a bit as an IR street camera, though I don’t have anything to show for yet, it does work, though I seem to remember something back in the day about IR filters and seeing through clothes….I will have to be careful about that.
Leica 35mm f2 v3
One of the first snaps with the camera the day I got it.
I do miss wide angle though. 21mm is my preferred street shooting length, and though I always had the intention of getting a Voigtlander 15mm lens, this just makes it all that much more necessary to get it. Oh well, cheaper than an M9.
Leica 35mm f2 v3
Sort of a strange place to sit way out in the middle of nowhere under and overpass. In this country, people are everywhere, especially in strange places.
The M8 is much more responsive than the Olympus EP1, you push the button and it takes a picture, with the EP1 I could always feel a little hesitation which bothered me a bit. So grabbing a shot like the one above while speeding by on the bus is simple, don’t even need to use the continuous mode.
Zeiss 50mm f2
All the little details in this shot cannot be seen in this little picture, especially the power line bundles on the right side.
I am really fond of the rendering of the M8’s images. Be it Leica or Zeiss lens, the camera has a nice way of keeping details in dark areas that would be lost on others. For color photos it’s great to have those extra details which sometimes lend to the mood of a photo. That with the already great abilities of the Zeiss lenses makes a powerful combination. Black and white with the M8 is great too. My old all time favorite digital for b/w was the Ricoh GRD. When that died an explosive death I was sad. Now though I look at the M8 files and I really do like them better. It reminds me of Delta 100 in a way. Smooth, sharp, but with character. I am very pleased and a little surprised, some of the b/w pictures I have seen online did not really interest me, I guess I just needed to tinker with it myself, which I guess goes to show you cannot judge a camera (or lens) by someone else’s photos.
Zeiss 50mm f2
I resorted to manual for this shot, it was too tricky for the meter to figure out.
That light meter though……..on the M6 it was simpler, and not so many clicks on the shutter wheel. I did not realize the camera had half stop positions and that makes manual control a little annoying to me. Sure you get more accurate exposures but it’s a lot of extra work and not as intuitive as before. The light meter also seems a lot more touchy than the M6 which would always seem to meter about 1/3 under, the M8 on +-0 meters about 2/3 over, and on -1/3 just about right. The metering pattern also seems different so I have to find and know the weight of the meter in different areas of the frame. Tricky. I have not got a feel for the meter yet.
Zeiss 50mm f2
A quick camera that captures things passing by without having a committee meeting first.
But in the end I am happy I got the camera. I don’t regret selling my M6 at all, one reason being that there is no more decent film developing here anymore, and because I am happy to move into a more digital work flow with a camera that doesn’t feel so digital. I am happy to see my M mount lenses on a proper digital body rather than adapterized with iffy results.
Ok im done, its beer time.
Zeiss 28mm f2.8
It's always beer time.
Oh, and it can be used for snaps too…..yay
Zeiss 28mm f2.8
Pineapple what?
June 2008: I am wandering around the streets of Hong Kong with my stop gap measure, a Leica M6 and wander into a shop in TST. There is an M8 sitting there, I take the opportunity to fondle it. Another guy who has come to get one sees my M6 asks me what I think of the M8. I like.
A couple months ago. I convince myself I am getting the M8 no matter what. I have been trying to sell my M6 here in China for months with no luck. I send it back with my old man on his way back to the states. I list it here and within 5 minutes it’s sold to Australia. 10 minutes after its sold, Keith…in Australia…lists his M8 for sale. Ok…so maybe someone upstairs is giving me a clue. The bad thing…my old man has just started his vacation, so I have to wait for him to bring it back to me lest I risk that wrath that is Chinese Customs.
39 days later it’s in my hands, and it’s everything I expected.
Zeiss 21mm f2.8
Hyper focal focusing still works!
The M6 and I got along well, even though it was a fully manual camera and I really wanted an M7 I was able to use it to take a lot of good photos. I also have an Olympus EP1 which was supposed to be my “oh well I will never get an M8” camera. I gave that to the wife, she loves it so no harm done.
Zeiss 28mm f2.8
ISO 2500 low light performance seems typical of everything else I have used.
What I loved about the M7 was the aperture priority mode (my usual shooting mode) and the shutter speed readout in the viewfinder. It was very precise and usable with no other icons status indicators around it. I swear Japanese camera makers are hell bent on covering every millimeter of the screen with status icons and other crap you really just don’t need to know…like your current jpg compression or that you have your flash off. Shut those icons off and everything goes away, even shutter speed and aperture readouts. Ridiculous.
Zeiss 21mm f2.8
A lot of shadow detail, even after altering the contrast.
The M8 to me has nearly the perfect finder for me. The only thing I think it needs is to be able to show 28mm equivalent frame lines and also something that shows your current ISO tucked away somewhere in the corner, especially when using auto ISO. The frame lines for 50mm lenses was a surprise the first time I saw it. Though I have taken many photos with 50mm lenses and they came out sharp, wide open I would think that having a magnifier would be a much better solution. In the future I plan a high speed lens, either a Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 or 50mm f1.1 so that might be a necessary accessory as I see it. A lot of people also complained about the accuracy of the frame lines, so far this has not bothered me. When I was shooting with the M6 and my lens of choice the Zeiss 21 f2.8 and an auxiliary viewfinder there were plenty of surprises, so no big deal. I really don’t like the idea that the camera cannot show 28mm equivalent frames though as my Zeiss 21 is now a 28.
Zeiss 28mm f2.8
A hard to meter shot that I used full manual and guessed the exposure, I cant see the meter doing any better.
Yes the M8 is a fatter camera than my old M6. Yes there is no film advance to hook your thumb around. Oh well. I have fists of ham so I appreciate the extra girth of the camera. With the Luigi case it came with I am a little torn though. I like the extra protection and the case does indeed dampen the sound of the shutter a bit (but really…who cares…) I can put the camera down on anything without having to worry about scratching it, that’s nice, but the case makes the camera feel bulky and a little too thick. It’s like when I had a Canon 20D and the wife got a 5D, the grips were so different, the 20D was perfect, the 5D was fat. I do have the extra grip bottom plate thing, but have not really tried it out yet. For now I shoot the camera with the Luigi case on, despite the fact that the thing smells like rotting animal carcass, but I guess that is what it is….
Zeiss 21mm f2.8
Power lines power lines everywhere, and the sound of government propaganda blaring through the hillsides on speakers to mess up the feeling. Luckily the M8 doesn’t capture sound.
In the current digital camera climate, mega pixels are up, noise is down and automation is waaaaaay up. This camera is none of that and it makes me happy. It’s a no BS tool for me to carry around like my Swiss army knife. Though I wish noise was down a bit, it’s not so bad and I have shot several photos at 2500 which look fine, though not printable over about 15x10 inches. Lately I have been using a PhaseOne digital back on a Hasselblad. Huge resolution, but I was not so impressed with the rendering of the back. The photos were sharp beyond anything I have ever seen but it was so plastic looking even with those pretty Zeiss lenses. You can see many of the photos I had taken here (mind you I did not do the editing of those photos….ick…) and though a different application I really think the M8 renders a photo that looks better in the micro contrast department and the overall feel.
Zeiss 21mm f2.8
Infrared why not. Not much digital feel in this photo I think. Printed it looks even better though.
Something I have been tinkering around with lately is infrared. On the Olympus EP1 it was possible to take IR photos but it was very bloody difficult. The M8 is much easier and it meters IR photos much better than the EP1 did. Not to mention I can use the rangefinder to focus rather than guess with an almost black LCD. I have found the M8 to be pretty decent for IR photos, using a cheapo Rocolax R72 filter on my 21 or 28mm Zeiss lenses gives nice results. I can even use the M8 with the IR filter and the ISO cranked up a bit as an IR street camera, though I don’t have anything to show for yet, it does work, though I seem to remember something back in the day about IR filters and seeing through clothes….I will have to be careful about that.
Leica 35mm f2 v3
One of the first snaps with the camera the day I got it.
I do miss wide angle though. 21mm is my preferred street shooting length, and though I always had the intention of getting a Voigtlander 15mm lens, this just makes it all that much more necessary to get it. Oh well, cheaper than an M9.
Leica 35mm f2 v3
Sort of a strange place to sit way out in the middle of nowhere under and overpass. In this country, people are everywhere, especially in strange places.
The M8 is much more responsive than the Olympus EP1, you push the button and it takes a picture, with the EP1 I could always feel a little hesitation which bothered me a bit. So grabbing a shot like the one above while speeding by on the bus is simple, don’t even need to use the continuous mode.
Zeiss 50mm f2
All the little details in this shot cannot be seen in this little picture, especially the power line bundles on the right side.
I am really fond of the rendering of the M8’s images. Be it Leica or Zeiss lens, the camera has a nice way of keeping details in dark areas that would be lost on others. For color photos it’s great to have those extra details which sometimes lend to the mood of a photo. That with the already great abilities of the Zeiss lenses makes a powerful combination. Black and white with the M8 is great too. My old all time favorite digital for b/w was the Ricoh GRD. When that died an explosive death I was sad. Now though I look at the M8 files and I really do like them better. It reminds me of Delta 100 in a way. Smooth, sharp, but with character. I am very pleased and a little surprised, some of the b/w pictures I have seen online did not really interest me, I guess I just needed to tinker with it myself, which I guess goes to show you cannot judge a camera (or lens) by someone else’s photos.
Zeiss 50mm f2
I resorted to manual for this shot, it was too tricky for the meter to figure out.
That light meter though……..on the M6 it was simpler, and not so many clicks on the shutter wheel. I did not realize the camera had half stop positions and that makes manual control a little annoying to me. Sure you get more accurate exposures but it’s a lot of extra work and not as intuitive as before. The light meter also seems a lot more touchy than the M6 which would always seem to meter about 1/3 under, the M8 on +-0 meters about 2/3 over, and on -1/3 just about right. The metering pattern also seems different so I have to find and know the weight of the meter in different areas of the frame. Tricky. I have not got a feel for the meter yet.
Zeiss 50mm f2
A quick camera that captures things passing by without having a committee meeting first.
But in the end I am happy I got the camera. I don’t regret selling my M6 at all, one reason being that there is no more decent film developing here anymore, and because I am happy to move into a more digital work flow with a camera that doesn’t feel so digital. I am happy to see my M mount lenses on a proper digital body rather than adapterized with iffy results.
Ok im done, its beer time.
Zeiss 28mm f2.8
It's always beer time.
Oh, and it can be used for snaps too…..yay
Zeiss 28mm f2.8
Pineapple what?
Last edited:
roundg
Well-known
your pics make me feel that I need a M8.
deirdre
Well-known
Beautiful story of symmetry and some great pictures. The first one made my husband feel a bit homesick.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Wonderful stuff Colin ... those images are just beautiful and make me extremely happy that I sold my camera to you.
I never missed it until just now ... I always figured your style of shooting was made for an M8 and this confirms it!
Cheers ... Keith
I never missed it until just now ... I always figured your style of shooting was made for an M8 and this confirms it!
Cheers ... Keith
Roger Hicks
Veteran
You can't possibly have taken such excellent pictures with an M8. Ask anyone who hasn't used one....
Seriously, VERY nice stuff. Congratulations.
Cheers,
R.
Seriously, VERY nice stuff. Congratulations.
Cheers,
R.
jarski
Veteran
Lss
Well-known
Great shots, Avotius, and great to hear those experiences! Congratulations on the camera. I, too, have entered the world of Leica M8 in 2010. It may be old, but it's simply very good.
Ron (Netherlands)
Well-known
Great report with beautiful shots! I myself still do a lot in manual mode so handling my M8.2 still compares to my M6 ttl apart from the cropfactor.
maenju
Member
I'm with you -- got my own Leica M8 a few weeks ago, which also happens to be my first rangefinder.
Thanks for your beautifully written story and the even more beautiful captures you took with your M8. So it can do color, after all. Hmm
Thanks for your beautifully written story and the even more beautiful captures you took with your M8. So it can do color, after all. Hmm
robbeiflex
Well-known
His pics make me feel like I have a lot to learn, regardless of what camera I use. Great photos Avotius! Enjoy the M8, it seems to be the ideal tool for you.
Regards,
Rob
acetonic
Member
What a great post! I finally got my first M8 also, just last weekend. My goal was to get one in time for my vacation in Japan and I look forward to learning to use it. Your photos are a great inspiration.
JPSuisse
Well-known
Hi Avoitius
That was a lot of gear talk there!
But, I like the results a lot. You have a good nack of using relatively wide-angle lenses pulling in a lot of the surroundings yet also getting a portrait at the same that is somehow with interesting expressions!
Keep up the good work!!! And thanks for posting the good work it has changed my opinion about the ability of using wide angles to capture portraits with expression!!!
Cheers,
JP
That was a lot of gear talk there!
But, I like the results a lot. You have a good nack of using relatively wide-angle lenses pulling in a lot of the surroundings yet also getting a portrait at the same that is somehow with interesting expressions!
Keep up the good work!!! And thanks for posting the good work it has changed my opinion about the ability of using wide angles to capture portraits with expression!!!
Cheers,
JP
abumac
Well-known
Great use of a great camera.
maenju
Member
Slightly OT, but: the more photos I take, the more I've come to the (personal) conclusion that powerful portrait are the domain of (moderate) wide angles, while powerful landscape photos are best taken with (sometimes not so moderate) tele lenses. Portraits seldom work without context for me, and landscapes seldom work with too much context
k.a
Well-known
great shots, really like the color in those. what computer program have you used for editing?
efix
RF user by conviction
Great article, thanks for sharing your story, one can really feel the emotions and the spirit of falling in love with the M8.
And I LOVE your signature!
And I LOVE your signature!
__hh
Well-known
Colin, I always enjoy your posts - this one especially.
Thanks,
Hung
Thanks,
Hung
