First 3 days with my Leica M8

[animefx]

I've had my Leica M8 for about 3 days now and wanted to share some photos. The first day I used it in a dimly lit bar and was disappointed, but I was being irrational, I knew about iso 2500 and trying to use f/2, it just wasn't happening.

The next 2 days I hit the streets in my city and then took it out into the country (park) as well. I can now say it's my favorite camera, I have had a lot more fun with it than I've EVER had with my 5D2. I prefer the photos that come out of my M8, and I'm only using the 40mm f/2 rokkor, a lens from the 70's! When I've carefully focused on still objects and looked at the level of detail in Lightroom 3 with very modest sharpening I was blown away, my 5D2 photos usually look like crap by comparison at 100%.

The 5D2 obviously better in the color department and ISO, but isn't nearly as sharp corner to corner as this M8, nor does the 5D2 have this kind of shadow detail. I was pleasantly surprised how I was able to get some good looking results out of underexposed shots I had accidentally taken with the M8... at least iso 640 and under.

I know the M9 is a better camera, so I'm sure I'll be getting one someday (or possibly an M10) but I have to say there is just something "special" about this M8 I can't quite explain. Anyway, here are some photos from the first 3 days...

 

[The Meaness]

Congrats and well done! Thanks for sharing.

 

[AncientCityPhoto]

I use both the 5DII and M8 daily. The M8 files are surprisingly good in the right conditions. Once you are familiar with the cameras limits and how to work with them, you will see what a good job Leica did for such a camera. Yeah, I wish I had a stop or extra dynamic range, and a little cleaner upper ISO, but when exposed right the M8 files have detail and "life" that other cameras don't.

I recently used a Hasselblad H4D. I was very disappointed to see the files were amazing in the shadows, huge detail because of size, etc.... but absolutely lifeless in comparison to the Leica. I'm sure the M9 has some better shadow detail with the larger sensor. The lenses make a big difference too. Rangefinder lenses seem to be built with a lot of personality that seems to be missing from other lenses.