Digital P/S as Travel-companion for M8 anyone?

[user237428934]

Hello,

my last vacation was with my M8 + 35mm + 50mm. I used 35mm in over 90% of my photos and was very happy.

The next vacation will be to a large city where I also need a wider option than approx. 45mm (in terms of 35mm film).

I think a wide-angle P/S in addition could work for me because
- I need the wide angle option in good lighting situations only. LX3 and GX200 are said to be very good <= 200 ISO
- I want an additional small camera for the not so nice situations where the M8 should stay in the bag.

is anyone here who uses a fast and wide-angle P/S like LX3 or GX200 as a travel companion for M8? Are you satisfied with that solution or is the picture quality compared to the M8 no option?

Thank you.

 

[Ben Z]

I'm not sure this will be of much help, but...I travel with a DLux3 as a backup to my M8. I haven't needed to use it (thank lucky stars) but I have used it voluntarily. The image quality isn't bad, but it's not in the same league with the M8. The lack of an optical viewfinder is also a distinct disadvantage for me, because the LCD is tricky to see in bright light sometimes. Fortunately I can see very well a couple inches from my face, so I sort of shroud the LCD with my hand(s) and don't hold it at arm's length...but not everybody's eyesight is amenable to that.

Now that prices of used M8s are dropping into the $2.5K range, a second body is becoming more reasonable for a backup. I'm not interested in a DLux4 because the long end is limited to 60mm equivalent, which is way too short for a usable backup for me. I am looking forward to one of the Micro 4/3 cameras that can use M lenses with an adaptor. The larger (than P&S) sensor should deliver better results. I'd like to see what Olympus and Samsung offer before buying the Panasonic however, because Panasonic's signal processing seems to lag behind other brands. I have the 12mm Voitlander lens, which would be 24mm on a 4/3, and that's wide enough especially for a backup plan. A Canon G10 is another one I've been considering, but I'd rather something as compact as possible.

 

[tmfabian]

canon g10...that thing is swank.

 

[johnastovall]

The Ricoh GR-DII with a CV 28/35 viewfinder. Compact, fixed lens and very much a photographer's camera.

 

[Paul T.]

Well, for my next travel assignment, as back up to my film cameras I will take a G9.

THough it's not so much swank as wank.

 

[jky]

...the reason I bought an lx3 & sold off my D300... both the panny & M8 fit in 1 small satchel.

 

[user237428934]

...the reason I bought an lx3 & sold off my D300... both the panny & M8 fit in 1 small satchel.

Yes, that's the idea. Travel with a small package.
Can you tell me, which focal-lengths you usualy travel with. Thank you.

 

[faris]

Hi Tom,

Last month I took my M8 to Nepal and left it in the hotel safe for the climb
to everest base camp. I had my dlux-4 with me all the way up. served me
well for upto 10x 8.

here is one pic with it at about 5800 mts and real cold and lousy patch:

24mm to 60mm is ok for me as a b/u and very decent iq.

regards.

 

[jky]

Tom: I only have 2 lenses for the M8 - 28mm f2.0 Ultron & 35mm f1.4 Nokton (with the 28 as a body cap for M). The lx3's range is all I need.

 

[KM-25]

I wanted the M8 to use along with my film M's for shooting Kodachrome. But in practice, it was too much of a chore and wear factor on my lenses to keep swapping the IR filters on and off for shooting chrome, so for this reason among others, I sold it.

But after awhile, I started missing the small digital form factor for skiing, mountaineering and wanted something to fit in between my D700 and iPhone, so I got a G10 last week.

While not perfect, it is darn good. The widest settings at infinity could be better but the rest of the range is killer sharp, so I am happy to say I have that area filled again. One of the most surprising things is battery life. It is *much* better than the M8. I shot all day yesterday in temps ranging from 5-12 degrees in a ski area. After 250 shots, the battery still showed full. My M8 died battery within 50 shots in temps like that on a good day.

Here are some test shots from yesterday, all shot raw, ISO 80, manual exposure...

 

[KM-25]

A buddy of mine climbed Ama Dablam in November, brought his G9 instead of his 20D and got great shots that he would not have got otherwise since it is a liability to bring large cameras on outings such as these:

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/2...e=1058&title=View from the top for Aspen trio

This is why I got a G10, tight little package that really excels in this arena. He had no issues with batteries either.

Hi Tom,

Last month I took my M8 to Nepal and left it in the hotel safe for the climb
to everest base camp. I had my dlux-4 with me all the way up. served me
well for upto 10x 8.

here is one pic with it at about 5800 mts and real cold and lousy patch:

24mm to 60mm is ok for me as a b/u and very decent iq.

regards.

 

[boy_lah]

I use the Sigma DP1. Refer previous thread http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67324

 

[Berliner]

Both the GX 200 (nix the VF attachment--it's lame) and the Pana LX3 (I'd save the money on the Pana over the Leica) would make excellent back-up to a Leica M--The GX is a little more 'pockatable' (the batteries are identical, and they both take sdhc cards) I'm happy with both, I like the Pana for it's video mode, and the GX 200 for it's compactness. The Ricoh seems a little more intuitive to use also.

 

[muser53]

Tom, One more enthusiastic vote for the G-10.
Paul

 

[user237428934]

OK many opinions here.

The idea from BEN Z with the second M8 is not so good. Still not recovered fully from the price for my first M8. And even then the wide angle lens would still be missing. The Zeiss 18mm would be nice but it's way to expensive for me.
What about my film M6 + CV 25mm....That's a nice wide-angle focal-length on film...but it's film. Tried it last month again. Results were OK but I had to buy my own scanner (can't use the scanner of a friend every time). And if I am honest: I am not the biggest fan of handling film anymore.

That's why I am talking about an additional P/S.
Some suggested a single-focal-length P/S. Regarding quality this might be a good choice but I think it wouldn't be versatile enough for me.
So we have the suspects LX3 (Sorry DLUX-4. No red dot this time), GX200 and Canon G10 (G9 starts at 35mm. That's not enough).
I am quite glad that you guys here were not disappointed with a P/S so I will do some further resarch and will probably go to a shop to see them live.

 

[user237428934]

@boy_lah: you have some really nice DP1 photos here. Thank you.

 

[boy_lah]

@boy_lah: you have some really nice DP1 photos here. Thank you.

thank you. more on my flickr site.

But more importantly...what have you decided on? i thought you were after a digital P&S. If you're willing to consider film, definately check out the Hexar AF.

Good luck and happy holidays!

 

[user237428934]

thank you. more on my flickr site.

But more importantly...what have you decided on? i thought you were after a digital P&S. If you're willing to consider film, definately check out the Hexar AF.

Good luck and happy holidays!

In my last post I just wanted to describe the way I came to the conclusion that a digital P/S is the right add-on to my M8. Maybe I didn't write that clear enough. At the moment film is no satisfying solution for me. In January I will look more closely on the three mentioned P/S and make a decision then (hope the prices will drop some more).

Merry Christmas to all.

 

[saxshooter]

The Panasonic LX3 with its 24mm f2.0 lens is exactly what you are looking for. I go out with that and my M8 with a fast 50 (either 1.5, 1.4, or 1.2 -- all Canon LTM). A great, compact pair. And if I want really compact I just take the LX3.

 

[michaelging]

I too vote for the Canon G10. I like the sharp lens, the fast that its a 28mm at the wide end and you can shoot manual if you want to .