Buy a second M8 or add an M9???

[rivercityrocker]

I believe Setadel studio in Toronto has an M RIGHT NOW (nov 9 2013) if you are still looking for it.
(no, I am not associated with that store)

I was watching that on eBay as well, but the $125 shipping fee was a little presumptuous. I understand eBay fees are up, but that was robbery.

I was looking at the white M8 that they had as well. I commented about a white M8 on Leica rumors recently and developed an enemy because I said it looked cool. Dude has been mad enough to stalk me through to other sites. I still think a white Leica looks cool, but not $5000 cool.

 

[aldobonnard]

Have you thought about the X-Pro1, X-E1 or X-E2 ? I have tried all, and own the X-E1.
For low light, their focus peaking or split image is more effective to focus than an optical viewfinder, because it works in almost total darkness, when the optical VF would be useless. Added to the fact that the Fuji's have superior IQ to the M9 past 800 ISO, it could be a sensible addition to your M8. The M8 is gorgeous between ISO 160 and ISO 320, kodachrome-like, but terrible at higher ISO, where the Fuji would be terrific - and much more quiet -. The X's work well with Leica glass, using the Fuji adapter, and the resolution may even be better than the M9, without the moire of the M's.
I could advise you to try the Fuji's, they're good complement to M's, and an X-.. + Fujinon 35/1.4 is as good as an M9 + 35asph/1.4, for a tenth of the price. Something to have in mind when doing street photo in some rough urban places.

 

[ShinX414]

@aldobonnard
he stated already that he bought an xp1 but didn't like it and went on to the M8 instead.

white/black/green/blue i don't really get fanatics who dispise the same camera with another colour. there are some people who distinguishly want a unique camera. that must have been one hell of a fanatic xD

 

[rivercityrocker]

@aldobonnard
he stated already that he bought an xp1 but didn't like it and went on to the M8 instead.

Actually I bought the XPro-1 twice. :bang:

white/black/green/blue i don't really get fanatics who dispise the same camera with another colour. there are some people who distinguishly want a unique camera. that must have been one hell of a fanatic xD

Fanatic isn't the word. Psychopath is more like it. He follows me across any sites that use the "Disqus" comments section and attacks me for just about anything. Apparently in his eyes white "cheapened" the Leica brand and made it nothing but jewelry and that people could not be taken seriously when they used a Leica anymore because of it. All I know is that the damn thing takes pictures and if it looks cool doing it then even better. Not everyone needs to be a stealth bomber "street photography" ninja. Sometimes an interesting camera causes subjects to engage the photographer instead of the other way around. That's a good thing in my book...

 

[hepcat]

That's funny. We went down the exact same route. I bought the Fuji and didn't like it. Bought the M8 and loved it (still do). I've been doing a lot of shopping around. I found someone willing to do a silver M9 with 40K clicks for about $3400. I almost did it, but decided to wait over the weekend to decide. The silver paint is ugly to me and it was a 3 owner camera.

I'd been watching an M9-P that seemed to be going unnoticed and it ended really early in the morning. I set my alarm and put in a bid of just over $4.3K last minute, kinda expecting to be outbid as I haven't seen one go for less than $5K. I got it for just over $4K, surprisingly. It was at the factory and in Sept. and had CCD/RF/framelines/metering adjustments and the vulcanite replaced with leatherette (paperwork included). I'd say I did good.

And I'd agree with you! I got mine with 1100 clicks for $5k with about a years' warranty left. I extended the warranty for the additional year. Yes, you done good! you'll have to let me know if you agree with my assessment after you've done a couple of jobs with it.

 

[rivercityrocker]

And I'd agree with you! I got mine with 1100 clicks for $5k with about a years' warranty left. I extended the warranty for the additional year. Yes, you done good! you'll have to let me know if you agree with my assessment after you've done a couple of jobs with it.

1100 clicks is like new. A few people I know actually steered me away from purchasing a camera with under 5K clicks unless it had a warranty. Apparently they usually fail early if they fail.

Im sure I'll dig it. The only problem I foresee is that I'm used to the 50mm being a 67, which is OK with the 1m min. focus. I'm afraid that it will be limiting on full-frame at times. One of the reasons I like the 35mm Nokt is that I can focus closer and it really feels like a 50.

 

[peterm1]

I have an M8 and to be honest I think I would not buy a second one. It has taken me a long time to become reconciled to it - too many compromises for my liking. In particular the compromises with higher ISO image quality make it a bit of a second best option. To be sure I will not sell mine (I would not get enough for it anyway) but if I had my "druthers", why then I'd druther own an M9. Its nott hat the M* is bad - just a little disappointing to me. And I think if Iowned an M9 it would then quickly become my main shooter with the M8 as back up if one were needed. In reality there are very few circumstances in which an amateur like me really needs a back up though.

I have to say that the most recent cameras with the most recent sensors are very beguiling. The following image was shot with nothing more than an ordinary Sony NEX 3F with a 50mm f1.8 lens (which is aserious glass BTW). But what is interesting is that it was shot at ISO 3200 in near black conditions in a dimly lit venue at around 1/15th of a second. I could never get such great results with my M8. And to me this means such cameras as the NEX and others of its type by other marques now offer great possibilities - after all were not Leicas supposed to be THE camera for low light shooting, "back in the day"? Well the mantle seems to have been passed to these cameras. Perhaps the new M is an exception.


The singer sings by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

 

[hepcat]

1100 clicks is like new. A few people I know actually steered me away from purchasing a camera with under 5K clicks unless it had a warranty. Apparently they usually fail early if they fail.

Im sure I'll dig it. The only problem I foresee is that I'm used to the 50mm being a 67, which is OK with the 1m min. focus. I'm afraid that it will be limiting on full-frame at times. One of the reasons I like the 35mm Nokt is that I can focus closer and it really feels like a 50.

You'll get used to the 50mm on the M9P. It's pretty close to the 35 on the M8. I shoot them interchangeably that way. You may find that you even like the 35 on the M9 better than on the M8...

 

[rivercityrocker]

@hepcat: I like the 35mm length on my FX Nikon's the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is my normal lens. I'd just prefer to use my Summilux more since I spent a lot more money on it. The plan is to probably sell the 50 Lux and get a 35 Lux, sell the 35 Nokton and get another Zeiss Planar f/2. I should have never parted with the Zeiss. So sharp. I also wish I'd never have sold my 28 Ultron. Mistakes made, lessons learned.

 

[rivercityrocker]

@peterm1: I ended up buying an M9-P for a good price.

 

[hepcat]

@hepcat: I like the 35mm length on my FX Nikon's the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is my normal lens. I'd just prefer to use my Summilux more since I spent a lot more money on it. The plan is to probably sell the 50 Lux and get a 35 Lux, sell the 35 Nokton and get another Zeiss Planar f/2. I should have never parted with the Zeiss. So sharp. I also wish I'd never have sold my 28 Ultron. Mistakes made, lessons learned.

My suggestion, particularly for shooting concerts, would be to use the 50 on the M8 and the 35 on the M9P. The little longer focal length will help with lower ambient light shooting with the M8 as you're metering on a more narrow FOV, and better lit area. The M9P can handle the wider FOV with it's stop or so better ISO performance.

At least that's what I'd try first.

 

[rivercityrocker]

My suggestion, particularly for shooting concerts, would be to use the 50 on the M8 and the 35 on the M9P. The little longer focal length will help with lower ambient light shooting with the M8 as you're metering on a more narrow FOV, and better lit area. The M9P can handle the wider FOV with it's stop or so better ISO performance.

At least that's what I'd try first.

I'm looking at the 50 on the M9P and a 90 on the M8. I'm probably picking up a 90 Cron soonm but I've actually had decent results with my 90 Elmar as well.

Honestly it depends on the venue. I find that at some venues the 35 on the M8 is actually a little wide. It depends on the band as well. Some bands have a front person that I shoot more, some bands need to be shot as a whole. A lot of folks think it's easy to shoot music, but there's more to it that most people don't think about. Being a professional musician and working with musical instrument companies over the years I know what to look for. Lots of people get OK exposures, the real key is composition. That's where I see the most mediocrity showing these days. People stick their camera in Auto and fire off 10fps and they will get enough decent exposures, but the framing sucks.

One good thing is that I can pack a 21, 35, 50, 90 and 2 bodies and it will still be lighter than two FX gripped Nikons. Of course for stadium shoots and huge events I'll need a DSLR with a 300 or so, but I shoot mostly 2000-4000 capacity venues.

 

[hepcat]

I'm looking at the 50 on the M9P and a 90 on the M8. I'm probably picking up a 90 Cron soonm but I've actually had decent results with my 90 Elmar as well.

Honestly it depends on the venue. I find that at some venues the 35 on the M8 is actually a little wide. It depends on the band as well. Some bands have a front person that I shoot more, some bands need to be shot as a whole. A lot of folks think it's easy to shoot music, but there's more to it that most people don't think about. Being a professional musician and working with musical instrument companies over the years I know what to look for. Lots of people get OK exposures, the real key is composition. That's where I see the most mediocrity showing these days. People stick their camera in Auto and fire off 10fps and they will get enough decent exposures, but the framing sucks.

One good thing is that I can pack a 21, 35, 50, 90 and 2 bodies and it will still be lighter than two FX gripped Nikons. Of course for stadium shoots and huge events I'll need a DSLR with a 300 or so, but I shoot mostly 2000-4000 capacity venues.

From my concert experience, I thought the 35 and the 50 might be a little wide on the M9P, but that's the two you mentioned. Get the '90 Summicron. You'll never regret it. And keep doing what you're doing. You're getting amazing images! And yes, that's one of the things I like about the Leicas... two bodies and a raft of lenses are easy to carry in a Domke F2 bag.