help with switching from the darkside

The problem seems to be that you don't want to buy an M8/9 without determining for yourself whether one will work well for your shooting, but the only practical way to determine if one will work well for you is to be able to use one. Find a way to use one (resolve to rent it or arrange to shoot with a friend who'll share).

If you are otherwise happy with your canon gear, and the only pressing reason for an M8/9 is size of the kit, I'd buy a manual focus lens like an Oly or Voigtlander 40 "pancake" and see how that works for you from the standpoint of portability.

As for street shooting with canon gear, google the sartorialist. This fellow stalks the streets with a 5D II and an 85L in hand. Interesting work, if fashion is your thing.
 
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A lot has been said here but I'd like to add one thing: I really think that you will feel like a compromise and a sizable step-back if you go from 5D MkII to M8. Not M9 mind you, just M8. This of course depends on your perception of crop factor and willingness to compromise image quality at ISO800 and above, but taken together I think they amount to a negative feeling coming from a camera like 5D MkII. Disregarding the form and function of the camera I'd truly not like M8 after 5D, even if it's a rangefinder.
M9 is a different story, at least it's a fullframe.
 
5dmk11 or M8 easy I'd go for the 5dmk11, 5dmk11 or M9 that's a harder decision. I had a couple of 5dmk11s sold one when I changed from the M8 to the M9 I like the files much more from the M9 but the 5d is such an easy camera to use I have to work hard when using the M9.
 
I don't know. It would be harder to do many of those images with the RF. I have the 5D and 5DII and would most likely prefer the more concise control of those cameras. I prefer the rendering in order: M9, 5D then the 5DII but for control, the other way around.
 
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t0fu, you have some interesting work. Two things I observed, which others have pointed out as being evident in your work, are the importance of control over 1) composition, and 2) selective focus.

For this reason, you probably should continue using a camera with through-the-lens viewfinding, and also consider one that permits you to observe, in real time, the effects of a changing aperture upon the VF image's depth of field and placement of best focus.

In my mind, both of these requirements taken together speak loudly of the advantages of live electronic direct view cameras. Whether micro-4/3 or Sony NEX, that would be your decision.

As for the idea of using a film M, in my mind that's a much bigger jump - going from electronic capture to film capture - than going from SLR to RF camera, especially if you're not conditioned to the requirements and limitations (and, yes, advantages) of using film.

~Joe
 
. . . . . go for it, you will love it . . . . .

M9's used lately have dropped in price. It appears more are becoming available as photographers trade-in or sale their M9's as the move to the M9-P. The bigger issue may be finding the Leica lens that you want. The Voigtlander lens are plentiful, some Zeiss but the Leica 35 & 50's can be hard to find at a reasonable price.

You are only here for awhile, so go ahead and enjoy yourself . . . . .
 
tofu,

Give a rangefinder a try before you make your decision. I made the jump from a DSLR a few months ago with the purchase of an xpan, and I really like it. My style of photography has adapted, and i actually think it has been a bigger improvement.

I just bought my second rangefinder a month ago, a used M8 as I cant justify the price of an M9 whatsoever, and it is awesome.

Give one a go.
 
I think you may have hit the nail on the head, selective focus is a big part of my shooting. I think without that, my compositions and style would probably need to alter dramatically.

JoeV said:
t0fu, you have some interesting work. Two things I observed, which others have pointed out as being evident in your work, are the importance of control over 1) composition, and 2) selective focus.

For this reason, you probably should continue using a camera with through-the-lens viewfinding, and also consider one that permits you to observe, in real time, the effects of a changing aperture upon the VF image's depth of field and placement of best focus.

In my mind, both of these requirements taken together speak loudly of the advantages of live electronic direct view cameras. Whether micro-4/3 or Sony NEX, that would be your decision.

As for the idea of using a film M, in my mind that's a much bigger jump - going from electronic capture to film capture - than going from SLR to RF camera, especially if you're not conditioned to the requirements and limitations (and, yes, advantages) of using film.

~Joe
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very very good idea, they seem to be showing up in stock in more shops finally.

The Meaness said:
5D for work

X100 for play
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If you can wait, Leica will be coming out with a very interesting camera in October next year.
Otherwise, for composing and live-view combined with very high-classs images there is the Leica X1, if you can live with just 35 mm as your focal length.
 
I have a 5DII and a M9, and there is no way that I could do the badtofu images with the M9. At least, not without some severe reworking of my shooting technique and cropping.

The Voigtlander 40mm f2 Ultron is a pretty decent lens, and if you are fine with manual focus, I think that it transforms the 5DII into a M9 on steroids. Much longer battery life, liveview if you need it, video if you need it, and that blessed manual focus feeling. The 40 on the 5DII makes it only a bit bigger than the M9, not really that much more.

If you shoot the 5DII in full uncompressed raw the differences in image quality are more about lens character and colour, rather than sharpness and detail, IMO.

When I want a really light but high quality camera setup, I use the Ricoh GXR and the 28mm and 50mm aps-c modules. Not as fast to operate as a DSLR or rangefinder, but certainly very light, versatile and it produces great pictures. And soon enough it will have a M-mount module which will allow me to use all my Leica lenses.
 
I've also a 5d11 and an M9 and I think the M9 has the edge on image quality at lower ISO but not on the higher ISO. If you are not familiar with using a rangefinder then of course the 5d is much easier and also telephoto, super wide macro etc.
 
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