pmu said:
That removable baseplate is perfect; memorycards and batteries are protected way better than with "normal" digicams. I absolutely do not like those 30D canon plasticy doors... Only complain about M8 is that the usb-thingy connector is not located under the baseplate. That would make the desing even more sturdier and reliable...usability maybe not perfect, but that is a small price to pay...
+1 (seconded)
- Made of brass, less brittle than Mg of the body housing... less costly to replace if the camera is dropped
- "balck" or "silver" option more easily implemented
- BUT... the USB port should be left outside... Connecting the M8 to a small digital data device... Epson P4000?... or laptop.
- SD cards have reached 4GiB. With firmware updates, the SD capacity issue may be surpassed. At 4GiB, if one saves DNG+JPEG, then you have about 350 images, nearly 10 rolls of film... you'll likely need a fresh battery before then.
...now batteries! Ugh... haven't seen the pricing on individual parts, but I would never head out without a spare... were I to buy an M8!
Haing used M cameras with a tripod, I was thankful for the offset connection: made use of certain tabbed lenses much easier... plus, from a structural POV, the rounded
ends of the brass base plates are more rigid than the center(read: stress on the camera front to back), and the film take-up column is more rigid too. The M8 location really tells me that Leica considered the crop factor, usable lens weight and likely popular notion that M's are not used on a tripod... "but just in case, there is a mount."
rgds,
Dave