Fondled an M8, and thereby seduced

[julianphotoart]

I handled an M8 today. Just idly looking. Jeez, it was nice. I loved the shutter sound. Completely different sound than film-M but very reassuring nonetheless. New GAS problem for sure. I can see how the feel and ease of use of this camera can cause one to perhaps put up with the M8's various issues.

 

[jan normandale]

I think that was the response of Gabriel when he picked one up....

 

[kvanderlaag]

I fondle one at least once a day.

It still doesn't excite me in use quite as much as my M2 does.

 

[ywenz]

fondled an M8 at calumet in Chicago. Great look and feel. Couldn't fire off any frames because the camera was in SD-Lock mode... In anycase, it's too bad the internals are not on par with the external construction. 🙁

 

[Sailor Ted]

In anycase, it's too bad the internals are not on par with the external construction. 🙁

4000 exposures on my M8 and counting- no issues.

I am flying to Hawaii and sailing the Hawaiian Islands in ten days time. The sail is rough; channel crossings (between islands and in particular between Oahu and Molokai) routinely find winds blowing 30mph to 50mph and seas from 10 to 20 feet aboard a 42ft sailboat. Lots of spray, cresting waves, hot as hell, and humid- a real nightmare for most cameras and people. I'll report if the M8 shuts down when I return and post pictures. Stay tuned.

 

[ywenz]

Sailor: I do not dispute that some people have no issue with their M8. However, I've also read many accounts of unreliable M8s, which to me, appears to be of a higher percentage than other digital cameras I'm familiar with.

I hope your M8 will capture some good images in HI. Be sure to also bring your GRD along, I'm sure it's P&S capability will come in handy over choppy waters.

 

[back alley]

don't start!

ted, you just can't keep it in your pants can you!😉

i played with an m8 at the local pro shop. at 6 grand cdn, i think i only got to lay hands on it was cause they know me.
it felt good for the very few minutes that i played with it. i had no sd card on me or i would have taken a shot or 2 with my zm 35.
if i had a spare 6 grand and could justify it, i would be tempted, no doubt.

joe

 

[Joe Mondello]

Yeah it's a seducer all right.

The machinations in my mind to find what i want to sell to fund the thing have been rampant!

The order has been placed and it *should* arrive tomorrow.

Anybody wanna buy a used Les Paul? ;-)

 

[sirvine]

No one was more skeptical than me, but now that I've got an M8 I'll never look back. My R-D1 does feel like a toy in comparison (although it still produces terrific images). There are things that can be done to RAWs out of the M8 that exceed post-production capabilities of any camera I've ever gotten my mitts on.

The only time I think about the problems M8s have is when I'm on these forums. At all other times, these complaints are irrelevant to me since I don't have any problem with this camera. Then again, I didn't have any problems with my R-D1 except out of the box issues with the first one I was sent. I wonder how many of the reported power failures etc. are just user error. Then again, I don't mind attaching an IR filter to my lenses and I don't use the M8 for mission-critical assignments. If I did, I'd definitely bring it along, but I might not count on it (or any digital body for that matter).

Here's a test for you...my site has both M8 and R-D1 shots interspersed without attributions. See if you can tell the difference: http://solsphere.com/index.php

 

[iml]

Maybe I'm odd, but I've fondled an M8 a few times now and had no desire to buy one, not even a little bit. My M6 and R-D1s, on the other hand, give me nothing but pleasure, and screamed "buy me" at me as soon as I saw them.

Ian

 

[Sailor Ted]

Be sure to also bring your GRD along, I'm sure it's P&S capability will come in handy over choppy waters.

Ben,
You’re reading my mind. When I am behind the helm on crossings it's my GRD (or trusty M6) I'll be shooting not my M8. I'll be single handing on the crossings so I'll need my hands free and the GRD is perfect for just such voyages. : )

(Unless I'm crossing on one of those rare handful of storybook days when the channels resemble a breezy lake- I doubt it)

 

[scho]

Yeah it's a seducer all right.

The machinations in my mind to find what i want to sell to fund the thing have been rampant!

The order has been placed and it *should* arrive tomorrow.

Anybody wanna buy a used Les Paul? ;-)

I went through those machinations also (still have them) after I got the M8. Already sold all of my Canon gear, including a 5D and L lenses. That funded most of the M8 purchase, but now I have lens GAS so will probably sell the R-D1 next.

 

[Grober]

I fondle one at least once a day.

It still doesn't excite me in use quite as much as my M2 does.

Yup; agreed.

But when one factors in the growing scarcity of reliable film suppliers and, on top of that, the ever-shrinking selection of quality color film processing labs, the M8 begins to fit more snugly in our hands, eh?

My primary desire now is to wish TA's M8 grip into being and whisk it into my mailbox.

-g

 

[Maronati]

I convinced myself to wait until all of this issues we read about had been resolved. But 3 weeks ago I walked in to my local dealer and after playing with it for a bit, I just could not resist and....unconvinced myself.
I have been shooting with it everyday since I bought it, and, I just love it! No problems watsoever.

 

[Gid]

How could you all be seduced so easily by such a poor implementation of a great idea ..................😉

BTW my new chrome M8 should arrive tomorrow - I'm hoping that it will be third time lucky - the other two were black and I guess they are just not as reliable as the chrome ones 🙂

 

[Sailor Ted]

Mine too is chrome : )

 

[Gid]

Mine too is chrome : )

There you go then Ted, I'm home and dry 😎

 

[barjohn]

Ted,

I'm jealous. I'll be in HI next week for business and a few days of pleasure. (13th-18th). However, the closest I will get to sailing will be if I get on board a Nuc Sub.

 

[grduprey]

Well, My M8 is BLACK, My M6TTL is chrome, and both work flawlessly. The problem is which of my other Leicas do I sell so I can get a new WA lens? The problem is I use them all and can't figure out which ones to sell. Not that I have that many, a SL, R4SP, and a M4-P would be the candidates, the R8 STAYS!

 

[Sailor Ted]

Russ and John,
Thanks for the Bon Voyage.

BackAlley (Joe : )
Please bear with me on this- I find it curious that in a thread entitled "Fondled an M8, and thereby seduced" that you would respond "ted, you just can't keep it in your pants can you!😉 to my post “4000 exposures on my M8 and counting- no issues.” To Ywnez’s post “"fondled an M8 at calumet in Chicago. Great look and feel. Couldn't fire off any frames because the camera was in SD-Lock mode... In any case, it's too bad the internals are not on par with the external construction.”

Now we all know Ben (Ywnez) is a Canon 5D photog that loves to post to this board with a negative angle on the M8. What gets me is that this was a thread started as a proclamation from one who after handling the M8 fell smitten. Then Ben comes in and acknowledges the Leica’s beautiful outer appearance (how could he not given the 5D's fugly aesthetic- flambait : ) and then speculates its innards are rubbish. Now I love the new direction of this forum and feel compelled to comment far less so it was with thought and restraint that I responded that I have used my M8 for 4000 plus exposures and with out one hic-cup. Again all I did was state a fact to Ben’s negative “speculation” that I feel was out of place in such a thread😉 Or if Ben's post was not out of place as speculation from a non M8 owner how can a statement of fact from an M8 owner be (out of place?)