AusDLK
Famous Photographer
I have several things to report after attending the M8 Leica Akademie session today in Wetzlar.
These are things that I personally experienced and/or overheard. Unlike one of my previous posts these are all (observed) facts and from a sampling of (mostly) one camera only. No bitching or moaning herein...
Leica is clear to point out that the firmware in the 20 or so cameras in the room for the participants to use was not final.
-- the rangefinder focus patch on my sample flared (like the pre-fix M7 and M6 do); this was experienced (or at least recognized) by one other participant
-- the open/close locking lever is on the opposite side of the bottom plate
-- the frame counter counted down and showed (1) but still allowed me to take two more exposures before reporting (0)
-- the (initially reporting full) battery was 1/4 full after approximately 120 exposures with no chimping to speak of (I heard that the camera normally achieves approximately 300 exposures on a full battery)
-- my first edition Tri-Elmar worked perfectly on two cameras (this after another´s second edition failed to reliably bring up the correct frame lines on what may have been an earlier prototype the night before this Leica Akademie)
-- the camera does not prevent the overwriting of already saved user settings with an "are you sure?" confirmation
-- I exposed entirely in black and white mode but several people experienced obvious white balance issues (Leica reps acknowledged this and were assuring that this is being addressed)
-- there was no visible vignetting in any of the images taken today and few (if any) of the observed images were taken with 6-bit encoded lenses (this suggests to me that 6-bit coding is not really necessary in most cases unless one simply wants the EXIF data to include the lens type)
-- the resulting .DNG files were not readable by Adode Bridge nor Photoshop CS2 v9.0.1 (although I was later shown PS CS2 v9.0.2 that did appear to be able to open the files; I realize that the software on my laptop is an update or two behind but if I have to update then so may you...)
-- there is a problem in Lightroom Public Beta 4 and black & white .DNG files -- during the Import process the black & white images were displayed in color upon completion of the import (Leica has a relationship with Adode and hopefully this presumably Lightroom bug will be reported and fixed before the final release)
# # #
Personally I still have minor useability concerns about the M8 after today -- but overall the camera was a smash hit within the group at large -- the first group of its kind -- average joe users hitting the streets to use the M8.
These are things that I personally experienced and/or overheard. Unlike one of my previous posts these are all (observed) facts and from a sampling of (mostly) one camera only. No bitching or moaning herein...
Leica is clear to point out that the firmware in the 20 or so cameras in the room for the participants to use was not final.
-- the rangefinder focus patch on my sample flared (like the pre-fix M7 and M6 do); this was experienced (or at least recognized) by one other participant
-- the open/close locking lever is on the opposite side of the bottom plate
-- the frame counter counted down and showed (1) but still allowed me to take two more exposures before reporting (0)
-- the (initially reporting full) battery was 1/4 full after approximately 120 exposures with no chimping to speak of (I heard that the camera normally achieves approximately 300 exposures on a full battery)
-- my first edition Tri-Elmar worked perfectly on two cameras (this after another´s second edition failed to reliably bring up the correct frame lines on what may have been an earlier prototype the night before this Leica Akademie)
-- the camera does not prevent the overwriting of already saved user settings with an "are you sure?" confirmation
-- I exposed entirely in black and white mode but several people experienced obvious white balance issues (Leica reps acknowledged this and were assuring that this is being addressed)
-- there was no visible vignetting in any of the images taken today and few (if any) of the observed images were taken with 6-bit encoded lenses (this suggests to me that 6-bit coding is not really necessary in most cases unless one simply wants the EXIF data to include the lens type)
-- the resulting .DNG files were not readable by Adode Bridge nor Photoshop CS2 v9.0.1 (although I was later shown PS CS2 v9.0.2 that did appear to be able to open the files; I realize that the software on my laptop is an update or two behind but if I have to update then so may you...)
-- there is a problem in Lightroom Public Beta 4 and black & white .DNG files -- during the Import process the black & white images were displayed in color upon completion of the import (Leica has a relationship with Adode and hopefully this presumably Lightroom bug will be reported and fixed before the final release)
# # #
Personally I still have minor useability concerns about the M8 after today -- but overall the camera was a smash hit within the group at large -- the first group of its kind -- average joe users hitting the streets to use the M8.
Last edited:
Peter G1G2
Established
Dave,
Thank you for the interesting info.
Could you elaborate a bit on general opinion concerning image quality?
Was everybody happy?
Thanks,
Peter
Thank you for the interesting info.
Could you elaborate a bit on general opinion concerning image quality?
Was everybody happy?
Thanks,
Peter
rvaubel
Well-known
AusDLK
The 150 shot battery life concerns me, but does not surprise me. The battery is fairly small (1900ma) and is giving a similar life that I get from my RD1 with a similar battery. Its no problem with the RD1 since I carry a couple of spares and access to the battery compartment is a breeze. But I was kinda hoping that the M8 battery would last at least 200+ shots with some chimping because of the bottom plate issue. With 200 shots I would rarely have to fiddle with the battery in midday. With 120 shots or so I'm going to spend a lot of time with the bottom plate in my mouth... just like in the days of film,
Rex
The 150 shot battery life concerns me, but does not surprise me. The battery is fairly small (1900ma) and is giving a similar life that I get from my RD1 with a similar battery. Its no problem with the RD1 since I carry a couple of spares and access to the battery compartment is a breeze. But I was kinda hoping that the M8 battery would last at least 200+ shots with some chimping because of the bottom plate issue. With 200 shots I would rarely have to fiddle with the battery in midday. With 120 shots or so I'm going to spend a lot of time with the bottom plate in my mouth... just like in the days of film,
Rex
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
Here's a question I don't believe anybody has asked yet -- does the M8 work with the bottom plate removed? If it does, that could be a workaround in some cases for both the battery and memory-card access issues -- just leave the plate off unless you're working in conditions where the extra protection is needed.
AusDLK
Famous Photographer
>Could you elaborate a bit on general opinion concerning image quality?
>Was everybody happy?
There wasn´t anything done in so far as exhaustive image analysis -- just some images projected on a screen and some manipulation within the Capture One software (which looks pretty good btw) so I cannot offer much here yet.
But, yes, in general, I think all approximately 20 attendees were very impressed with noise levels, sharpness, etc., and especially image dynamic range.
I do have 100+ b&w image files that I will be working with soon and will know more later -- and post some images for peeps to see.
>The 150 shot battery life concerns me...
Remember this was just my particular camera. The battery may have been old or whatever. I wouldn´t draw any firm conclusions until more data is in.
>does the M8 work with the bottom plate removed?
Dunno. No reason to think that it wouldn´t. But I personally see no advantage to doing this.
>Was everybody happy?
There wasn´t anything done in so far as exhaustive image analysis -- just some images projected on a screen and some manipulation within the Capture One software (which looks pretty good btw) so I cannot offer much here yet.
But, yes, in general, I think all approximately 20 attendees were very impressed with noise levels, sharpness, etc., and especially image dynamic range.
I do have 100+ b&w image files that I will be working with soon and will know more later -- and post some images for peeps to see.
>The 150 shot battery life concerns me...
Remember this was just my particular camera. The battery may have been old or whatever. I wouldn´t draw any firm conclusions until more data is in.
>does the M8 work with the bottom plate removed?
Dunno. No reason to think that it wouldn´t. But I personally see no advantage to doing this.
rvaubel
Well-known
AusDLK said:
You have image files? Yum,yum,yum.,,,,, I don't suppose you'd like to share, would you.
sharing is nice
Rex
arf, (hungry growling sound)
Harry Lime
Practitioner
Interesting. Sounds like a lot of those issues will be cleared up with the final firmware release and as support for the camera trickles down to the 3rd party software manufacturers.
newyorkone
Established
I would hold off on the battery reservations. Lith-ion batteries are notorious about showing full charge and then draining very quickly when the first dash goes away. The battery could have been half charged and showed all bars.
Unless he charged the battery himself, it would be impossible to guess how fully charged the battery really was.
Unless he charged the battery himself, it would be impossible to guess how fully charged the battery really was.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
AusDLK said:
Thank you for sharing.
This is not a bug imo. DNG (RAW) files are supposed to be unaltered sensor data and any camera settings applied afterwards, so also B&W conversion, are not be embedded therein. Any digital camera, afaaik, will only output B&W files in JPEG mode. The only advantadge in setting it to B&W when shooting RAW is that the LCD will display a B&W image.
Leica told me that they could only recommend Captureone as RAW converter for best results. Did they give you any information on that?
Do you have any information concerning noise at high ISO settings?
Peter G1G2
Established
Thanks for answering, and also thanks to Jaap for explaining the B/W issue.
BTW, I'm with Rex;
Please throw us some bones to chew on. :bang:
Peter
BTW, I'm with Rex;
Please throw us some bones to chew on. :bang:
Peter
Mark Norton
Well-known
The camera does NOT work with the bottom cover removed. There's a small bump on the cover and switch in the camera which it activates. At Photokina, I saw someone fit the cover plate incorrectly and the camera would not work.