Christian Erhardt & the M8 at Bryant Park

[grantray]

Well I saw it, handled it, shot with it, and yeah, I'm putting my money down this week. Mr. Erhardt was kind enough to run through all of the funtions with me and allowed me to inspect the male and female bayonet system. The readout of exposure system via the viewfinder is outstanding. Details of images shot at 2500 at full magnification are fantastic, (on the lcd screen, of course), and are definitely more filmlike and less digital. Mr. Erhardt stated that the only difference between the firmware of the demo in my hands and the final version was that the production version has a more refined control of white-balance. He also said the factory are doing final tests of the prodution firmware and that models WILL ship in November. The lcd screen is completly readable in full sunlight. All framelines are adjusted to the cropfactor, which was one of my personal concerns. The framelines don't, however, state which frames are which, and I really like having that with the Ikon finder. The shutter feels perfectly mechanical eventhough that whirring is a bit unsettling at first. The best part though is that you can feel the shutter cocking as it whirs, which, for me, is a fantastic and tactile connection to the camera. Very much like the sensations one has with fine automobiles and motorcycles. All the controls feel very solid with no play. The M8 is definitely is superbly well-thought and planned tool.

Other points of intersest are that the other guys working the booth totally dug my Ikon. No snobbery to speak of. Oh, and the D3 was, for me, monsterously huge. Compared to the D2, which I own, it feels like a behemoth. Honestly, at first I thought it was an over-sized display model. That said the new viewfinder is night and day over the D2. I'm sure it is a great camera, but not for me after I had just handled the M8. Also, you can forget about going unnoticed while carrying the D3 around.

-grant

 

[Matthew]

I too was in Bryant Park today and was very very impressed with the M8. Anybody that has concerns about not having a rewind lever to help grip the camera, don't be. The M8 feels great in your hand, though noticably thicker than film Ms. There were plenty of people walking around and in that level of noise the shutter was quiet enough. I asked whether or not being on a waiting list was crucial to getting a camera in the next 6 months or so (I don't have the cash at the moment) and was told it shouldn't be an issue, Leica production capacity being up to demand (1800 people in all of U.S. on waiting lists).

 

[grantray]

Um, I think I was standing next to you. Did you pull out a black M7 and switch lenses on the M8?

-grant

 

[Grober]

Thanks for the report, Grant. I've been #1 on the list for my M8 at my Leica dealer for more than just a little while.

If the M8 lands in my hands before the four day USA Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend this year, everything's cool. If not, my wife will probably sign committment papers 'cause by then I'll surely need to be in some sort of rubber room.

-g

 

[mgrayson]

I was there for a bit, too. Very impressive piece of kit. Time to upgrade the M2 🙂

Only came away with a mousepad and some lapel pins, but it was fun.

-Matt

 

[Matthew]

M6, but yeah. What were they telling you about the Ikon version of the M-mount v. the Leica version?

 

[grantray]

Basically that they were told from corporate that only Leica M mounts would work on the M8. And that they were told not to recommend putting any other lenses on the camera. That said, neither of those two guys even knew the Ikon utilized an M mount. When I pointed this out, they mumbled something about slight variations with the new mount, but I'm not convinced. I didn't bother asking Erhardt because I was too busy playing. The guys at B&H gave me the same line when I asked about mounting my 50 elmar onto the Ikon before I bought it. Of course, there were no problems when I used the elmar on the Ikon, so I don't think there'll be issues using my Planar on the M8.

-grant

 

[Matthew]

This is a bit off the topic, but I had never realized how good the light is in Bryant Park at that time of day. With the sun from the south it just reflects off the glass buildings on the north side of the park. They act like giant bounce boards punching the light into the center of the park. Amazing.

 

[ERV]

I completely missed out.
Last night the mrs and me went to the WBGO Rythmn Review Dance Party at Roseland and didn't get home until 3:30.
I spent the day in Riverside Park with the family and at one point she said if I wanted to go to Bryant Park, it was ok.
Oh well, I'll have to wait anyway, she said that the only way I can have one is if I sell something.
Were there a lot of people at the booth?
also off topic, on Saturday we went to Rockefeller Center t check out the giant mirror sculpture by Anish Kapoor. Its pretty cool.

 

[Matthew]

The booth was busy but not mobbed. I was a bit surprised that there were as many people looking at the P&S cameras and Digilux 3 as the M8. I suppose that's just because for me Leica is the M series, full stop.

 

[newyorkone]

I completely missed out.
Last night the mrs and me went to the WBGO Rythmn Review Dance Party at Roseland and didn't get home until 3:30.
I spent the day in Riverside Park with the family and at one point she said if I wanted to go to Bryant Park, it was ok.
Oh well, I'll have to wait anyway, she said that the only way I can have one is if I sell something.
Were there a lot of people at the booth?
also off topic, on Saturday we went to Rockefeller Center t check out the giant mirror sculpture by Anish Kapoor. Its pretty cool.

I feel for you man. I'm in the same boat. Just sold the 5D but honestly I don't miss the camera at all because pretty soon I WILL HAVE A NEW M8! I'm psyched by this report. I'm mad that I didn't get to go because I'm out of town this weekend but I'm sure I'll get to see the camera soon enough.

 

[rpsawin]

Basically that they were told from corporate that only Leica M mounts would work on the M8. And that they were told not to recommend putting any other lenses on the camera. That said, neither of those two guys even knew the Ikon utilized an M mount. When I pointed this out, they mumbled something about slight variations with the new mount, but I'm not convinced. I didn't bother asking Erhardt because I was too busy playing. The guys at B&H gave me the same line when I asked about mounting my 50 elmar onto the Ikon before I bought it. Of course, there were no problems when I used the elmar on the Ikon, so I don't think there'll be issues using my Planar on the M8.

-grant

This sounds like a replay of Leica's response to the Konica Hexar RF lenses. While there may have been instances of flange problems they turn out to be specific lens/body combinations and in no way universal.

Having said that I have been told that the M8 sensor is optimized for Leica glass. I'm not sure I buy that but it does hold a thread of sense.

Bob

Bob

 

[sreidvt]

This is a bit off the topic, but I had never realized how good the light is in Bryant Park at that time of day. With the sun from the south it just reflects off the glass buildings on the north side of the park. They act like giant bounce boards punching the light into the center of the park. Amazing.

That's very interesting. Now I have to go to Bryant Park. What time of day was this that struck you so much?

Cheers,

Sean

 

[sreidvt]

I like Christian very much and am glad that several people had the opportunity to meet him and talk about the camera. I'm very pleased by the amount of marketing (of all kinds) that Leica is doing this fall. They're acting as if they're running a business, which is just great.

I'll be able to confirm this in detail with formal reviews but I will suggest that the ZM lenses will work beautifully on the M8 with quite striking results.

Cheers,

Sean

 

[Matthew]

That's very interesting. Now I have to go to Bryant Park. What time of day was this that struck you so much?

Cheers,

Sean

I was there 2:00-2:30 or so. You'd think with the sun being so overhead the light wouldn't be so good, but the fill provided by the de facto bounce compensated. It was so pronounced that when I first noticed it I looked around expecting to see someone setting up to film and putting up a gold reflector.

It was especially dramatic in the walkways by the reading area. You'd have the sun coming from one direction as a backlight and the bounced light acting as a key.

I had to meet a friend after my brief M8 preview, so didn't get a chance to really shoot that much, but it seems very promising.

 

[sreidvt]

Very nice, I'll try to get there the next time I'm in the city.

Thanks,

Sean

 

[grantray]

Yeah, I noticed the light as well. The Leica guys under the tent were being blasted with it. I also saw several people handling the M7. The best part was when someone thought the M7 was the M8 until the rep corrected her.

Also, Erhardt said something about a big electronic convention next week, and that everyone from Photokina will be there. Anyone in NY know what he was talking about? I'd like to hit the Zeiss booth and see their new lenses if they're there.

-grant

 

[Steve L]

I love Bryant Park - all sorts of stuff goes on there....

 

[RML]

This sounds like a replay of Leica's response to the Konica Hexar RF lenses. While there may have been instances of flange problems they turn out to be specific lens/body combinations and in no way universal.

Having said that I have been told that the M8 sensor is optimized for Leica glass. I'm not sure I buy that but it does hold a thread of sense.

Hmmmm, yes. Leica said the same nonsense with the Minolta M-Rokkor. They would fit alright on the Minolta and Leitz-Minolta CL but could give "problems" on the Leica CL. As it is, those M-Rokkor lenses DON'T give any problems. And the imgae quality is up there with the original Leica lenses, yet they are cheaper.

 

[jlm]

I was told the M8 warranty is 2 year, not the standard 3 yr, (the question had come up in one of the forums).

not surprisingly, the guys in the booth had only had the camera for a couple of days, so their first hand knowledge was limited. the lens shown was the 35/1.4. No new 28 was there.