I ordered the M8 - Was it a good decision?

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petermcwerner

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It looks like I shall be the one discordant voice in this forum. I pre-ordered the M8 in June but the more I read about it, the more I doubt whether it is the right camera for me. I am definitely not a "street photographer"; I do mainly macros in nature, architecture, landscapes, travel photography. I have a long RF experience with the IIIb, M3, and M4 and had made quite a few macros with the IIIb and the NOOKY attachment on Kodachrome 25 - it was not a good solution, nor is the current Macro Elmarit for the M series.

When I could finally afford it, I swapped the IIIb for (in chronological order) Exakta, Alpa Reflex , Nikon F, F3, F100, F5), although I also kept an M3, later M4, which have mainly been sleeping on a shelf. I was one of the first to get an R9+DMR in July 2005 and I love the results but not the weight and bulk.

Now I was one of the first on the bandwagon to pre-order an M8, pushed by the general enthusiasm on this and other fora . My present equipment is R9+DMR, Digilux 2 , FX01 aka c-lux as carry-always and Nikon D200 when I need auto focus).

I now wonder whether the M8, good as it may be technically, will be my cup of tea. By now I am accustomed to zoom lenses and the D2 with its 2.0/28-90mm lens seems ideal when I do not want to carry the weight and bulk of the DMR system.

I do not need high ISO performance, I learnt to use Kodachrome 25 and super fine grain document film for maximum resolution: ADOX KB14 (25 ISO) thin emulsion ultra high resolution, Agfa Dokupan (10 ISO) developed to a gamma of 0.7-0.8). Now I use the digitals mostly at ISO 80-100 to get the best results.

As I said, I am not sure that ordering the M8 was really a good decision. Do others have the same sort of doubts?

Cheers
Peter
 
It seems like a good imaging machine. As far as being worth $5K, who knows. Depends on what $5k means to you. No way I'd spend that kind of money on a camera unless I was a professional with a daily workload that required the thing...or I had such cashflow that $5k wasn't a year's savings.

If you have the cash to blow, if you have Leica glass already in the bag, and you shoot enough that the cost is offset somewhat by the recovery of the would-be film/processing costs, good purchase. If you want a digital camera, you're not going to do better in that price range. That's for sure.
 
The question is why are your Leicas sitting on a shelf? You need to answer that question to find out if you should get an M8. Mine sits on a shelf because it isn't digital, so I know the M8 is right for me. But why don't you use yours?
 
You will not be the only one who ordered an M8 because of all the hype going on
to find out a (D)SLR suits them better ......
I have one on order myself and know for sure it suits me ....... i like the small size and advantage of a RF camera enough to not even consider a DSLR.
 
The question is why are your Leicas sitting on a shelf? You need to answer that question to find out if you should get an M8. Mine sits on a shelf because it isn't digital, so I know the M8 is right for me. But why don't you use yours?

SLRs and rangefinders are not mutually exclusive! One can use both types of cameras. Each has its advantages.
Click to expand...

I will definitely keep the DMR for "serious" work.

The M8 would take the place the Digilux 2, when I do not want to carry the weight and bulk of the DMR system. But it would be significantly heavier and bulkier than the D2. To cover the same focal lengths as the D2, I would need 24,28,35,50,75mm lenses. It would also be slower because of the time for changing lenses.

I would get better file quality - provided snow does not enter the body when changing lenses, or I do not slip on the mountain … It does not seem to be a dream setup for traveling light, mountaineering, biking, skiing and I now fear it might end up on a shelf like the M4.
 
Try it out, and if you find it's not for you, sell it. M8s will be scarce enough in the beginning that you can expect to get close to what you paid for it, especially if it's under warranty and in good shape.

Philipp
 
Why did you buy the M's in the first place? I'm discounting the III, because, a lovely camera as it is, the ergonomics cannot be compared to the M8. If those reasons still hold true, you may well find yourself using the M8 more and more. If they don't - there are some great DSLR's out there, taking great pictures....
 
petermcwerner said:
The M8 would take the place the Digilux 2, when I do not want to carry the weight and bulk of the DMR system. But it would be significantly heavier and bulkier than the D2. To cover the same focal lengths as the D2, I would need 24,28,35,50,75mm lenses. It would also be slower because of the time for changing lenses.
Click to expand...

Bulkier only in the need to carry a couple of lenses. I believe that to be a rather minute difference concsidering the size of M glass. I had a D2 but the lcd viewfinder drove me crazy, so I gave it to my nephew. Also, the build quality of the M8 is leaps and bounds beyond the D2.

From what you list your needs as, you don't reaaly sound interested in using primes so much as a single decent zoom. That said, you may find yourself taking the M over the DMR more than you suspect on trips to alpine territory.

-grant
 
grantray said:
Bulkier only in the need to carry a couple of lenses. I believe that to be a rather minute difference concsidering the size of M glass. I had a D2 but the lcd viewfinder drove me crazy, so I gave it to my nephew. Also, the build quality of the M8 is leaps and bounds beyond the D2.

From what you list your needs as, you don't reaaly sound interested in using primes so much as a single decent zoom. That said, you may find yourself taking the M over the DMR more than you suspect on trips to alpine territory.

-grant
Click to expand...

M8 plus Tri-Elmar 28-35-50?
 
petermcwerner said:
I do mainly macros in nature, architecture, landscapes, travel photography. I have a long RF experience with the IIIb, M3, and M4 and had made quite a few macros with the IIIb and the NOOKY attachment on Kodachrome 25 - it was not a good solution, nor is the current Macro Elmarit for the M series.

When I could finally afford it, I swapped the IIIb for (in chronological order) Exakta, Alpa Reflex , Nikon F, F3, F100, F5), although I also kept an M3, later M4, which have mainly been sleeping on a shelf. I was one of the first to get an R9+DMR in July 2005 and I love the results but not the weight and bulk.

Now I was one of the first on the bandwagon to pre-order an M8, pushed by the general enthusiasm on this and other fora . My present equipment is R9+DMR, Digilux 2 , FX01 aka c-lux as carry-always and Nikon D200 when I need auto focus).

I now wonder whether the M8, good as it may be technically, will be my cup of tea. By now I am accustomed to zoom lenses and the D2 with its 2.0/28-90mm lens seems ideal when I do not want to carry the weight and bulk of the DMR system..

As I said, I am not sure that ordering the M8 was really a good decision. Do others have the same sort of doubts?

Cheers
Peter
Click to expand...

No, but you are clearly "an SLR guy" in terms of your preferences and if your M4 has been sleeping on a shelf, putting $5K into a digital version of same seems like a recipe for disappointment. You have way more different types of similar-to-each-other cameras than I do. I have Pentax threadmount lenses and Nikon non-AF lenses and use all of them with adaptors on my 20D, which I also have a couple of EOS EF lenses for times I want AF or IS. Canons make great bodies for those with now-worth-little SLR lenses lying around.

If I were to get an M8 I would have to be using it for 99.9% of everything to get my money's worth out of it. I have a Visoflex and a 400mm Telyt-V so I could use an M8 for macro and wildlife, albeit not as fluidly as an SLR. For me it couldn't be something I pull out of the drawer a few times a year. Then again I shoot about 150-200 rolls of film a year in my Ms now.
 
If you have the expendable income that allows you to play with expensive toys, then you simply enjoy what you have been blessed with in life. On the other hand, if the extra $5000 (as a start) may have a negative impact on other parts of your life, and if you are not at heart a photographer needing a rangefinder camera that is digital (or not), then you may have gone a little overboard here. Nobody can tell you whether it was a good move or not. There are people standing in line to get an M8, so you can always get your full money back if you want to sell the camera once you receive it new in the box.


Greetings,

Raid
 
Cancel the order if you have doubts. I am sure that Leica will be releasing more dSLR solutions in the future.
 
Peter,

The R9/DMR was a great combo for me yielding some fantastic results! However I never shot with anything longer than a 200mm and that was only once. Most of my DMR work was during my backpack trips into the mountains and some street work. For that I mainly used a 19 or 28. Never did macro or studio work. For my needs it would be quite simple. the possibility of equal or better image quality than the DMR plus without any doubt, superior M lenses. the M8 will be perfect for me. It will be a lot lighter in the field and it will handle the street work perfectly. Remember, it is basicaly the same shutter as the R9. If I needed to shoot more macro or telephoto shots I would keep an SLR but with my existing collection of M lenses, an MP and the M8 now. I see no reason for someone with my photographic needs to even think twice about the M8.

By the way, today I will be trying out a Zeiss 15mm that I have on loan. I will use this on an MP shoting color film. If it is as good as I here it is, it will make a nice addition to the M8.
 
I just open my M8 yesterday. It is definitely a engineering marvel. It ain't for every body. If you are a range finder person, you wont be able to put it down. It is a bargain considering the achievement in camera designs. Enjoy. PS - most all of the naysayers out there, can't possibly understand what Leica has achieved here, it's truly remarkable.
 
I would have mine already had all the bad issue about the M8 not been discovered. I have been pretty bummed out about my heavy DSLR setup, and decided it was time to go back to the RF system with an M8. Since the M8 release has be a technical disaster, I decided to hold off and just suck it up and use my DSLR alot more. I even figured out that I am a DSLR shooter for most of my usual applications where I require quality.

I must admit that this is an excellent forum and the information here has helped me with my decision. However, I do plan to get the M9 eventually to expand my photographic horizons.

Here is a sample from today with my DSLR. I like the results. This was with Canon 1DsMArkII with 70-200 2.8 IS lens with the new 1.4X teleconverter (recommended to me by Tony Rose)

Regards,
Steve
 

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If you like the D2 (this is a camera I loath due to the fact its slow on the draw, hard to manual focus, difficult to use in manual IMO, ugly digital noise over 100 ISO- and not that great at 100 IMO, and I never really cared for it's image quality) then you may need look no further then the D3 that said-

I'm starting to fall in love with my M8. At first I had trouble with it's ergonomics but after today’s shoot it's all starting to make sense and it's images are amazing- I've never owned a camera, film or digital, that came close to this cameras resolving power. I did a shoot for products with a 50mm Summicron, 80% tripod work with studio lighting with the balance hand held with available lighting. When I processed the images I was blown away- the clarity was better then the expensive Hassablad work (film) I used to spend a fortune hiring out. I'd say this camera will pay for it's self when all the product shots are done at the end of next week. Compared to hireling a pro photog and then paying for development and redevelopment would have exceeded the M8's cost by aprox 70%, not to mention the drum scans.

From what you describe you'll use this camera for travel documentary work, architecture, and macro photography. That’s three or four lenses in my book tops and I can think of no finer camera for the job if you've got the dosh then the M8. Especially if you want a camera that takes the minimum amount of space but is capable of delivering professional quality images. Really what other camera is there that does all this and fits in your heavy jacket pocket?

Cheers to you and good luck!
 
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