I think an M8 is in my future

Most, if not all, authorized (local) Leica dealers have a "Rent it for the Weekend" program for the M8 (possibly other Leicas as well). Call them and find out.
 
I was in exactly your sitation in April. Bought M8 with 28 'cron and a couple of CVs, then expanded with Noctilux ++. 5D collected dust for 5 months, sold it all on local site (Norway), piece by piece. The hardest was to sell the 85L 1,2, but it is a commercially available product, and can be bought again if I desire a DSLR at some point. Loved the 5D, but the whole kit became too heavy and cumbersome. Only miss it for occational tele > 90 mm, and advanced flash photography.
No problems with M8 except low battery capacity in cold temperatures, but not a M8 specific problem.
The M8 has given me a lot of photographic joy, more than the 5D.
 
Trigeek said:
Yes, I think you make a good point about borrowing one, or renting one for an afternoon. I will also look into the alternative lenses that you suggest. They certainly have a more appealing price.
Cheers.
Click to expand...

Hi
If you already have a film Leica, then an M8 test drive will not cost you anything. Theoretically they are supposed to charge for a trial if not a Leica user, but this is nuts and I can not believe anyone would seriously pay out for this.

Incidentally, if you liked the contax G2 lenses, I suspect that you would get on pretty well with the Zeiss M fit lenses.

Best wishes

Richard
 
Whoa.. that's pricey.

Up here, the Canon 5D goes for $175 for the weekend - granted it's not the M8 but seeing as how people love to compare the 5D and M8 together . . . .

Dave
 
Trigeek said:
Yes,
Called a Leica dealer (Camera Wholesalers). Said they wanted $300 for the weekend.
Yeah... right.
Click to expand...
Hi
In the UK Leica have done quite a bit of advertising for this and state quite clearly its a free test drive for Leica owners and costs £45 (90u.s) for hire which is refundable if you go ahead and purhcase. I think this is for an afternoon though and not a weekend. You have to try one for yourself. At least try and get an afternoon to start with.

Best wishes



Richard
 
I should mention that the $300 was body only... Anyway, All I need is an hour to make a 90% decision... good enough for me. But was not possible. I am heading down to the city (NYC) this weekend to take another look at one. I think I understand the image capability of the camera from the research I have done on the web, or at least I do not think that I would significantly change my opinion with an hour or two taking photos. Since I have used rangefinders before (Contax II), I think I understand the ergonomics. But I want to hold one again and check out the viewfinder.
After that... the hard part... what lens. I think I am leaning towards a 28mm and a 50mm. I have read Sean Reid's reviews and they have been quite helpful. I would like to get a lens that is not too contrasty, as I think that may be part of the issue using the L canon glass. They have has wonderful contrast, but Sean suggests that a lower contrast lens gives you a bit more latitude in exposure. Contrast can be fixed during conversion. That kind of leaves out the Zeiss lenses (Comments?). The 50mm Nokton looks interesting. For the 28... still trying to figure that one out. I have to admidt the photo of the boy at the dining table in Sean's 28mm review has me drooling for the 28 Summicron. I think that photo could sell a ton of them (IMHO). But the price is a bit high. So possibly a 28 Elmarit... though it is suggested that this lens may be on the high contrast side as well. Maybe a CV Ultron? Hmmmm.....
 
You way want to touch base with Rich Pinto @ PhotoVillage to see if you CAN rent one for a day. They have them (with lens) to rent per week but maybe if you discuss with him and explain that you are a member here he may be able to do something for you?
http://www.photovillage.com/html/shop.html

I'm not affiliated with his store but I have been there when I was in NYC and I can vouch that it's a decent place.

Dave
 
thomasw_ said:
I agree with your views, Dave. Maybe when we are both retired we can meet somewhere between Ont and BC, say in Saskatchewan, and take some prairie pictures with our digital Ms. I hope by then our digital Ms require no lens coding, no IR filters, and have no cropped sensor. :)

Good cheer, Thomas
Click to expand...

:D :D :D you're killing me :D
 
I am hoping by the time I am ready to get a new DRF, offerings from CV and ZEISS (or even NIKON I heard) might be available.

This may not be fully relevant to your original post T, but besides the obvious financial investment and tech issues, going from DSLR to DRF may be quite surprising to you in a very different way: I went from a 5D and 1DmkI to the R-D1, and even though there is no similarity in picture IQ to the 5D (which I sold), it has done wonders for my photographic skills!

...and to add some info so that this post has something to relate to your original Q, I have found photo.net, photocamel.com and craigslist good places to sell your 5D along the others mentioned here.

cheers..and by the way I will join my fellow Canucks in the prairies when the time comes :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom