Leica M8 Nex5n low high ISO strategy

[eleskin]

I am trying to get the most possible out of my 2 M8 cameras and for many low light conditions, I am needing more and more high ISO. The M9 is better at high ISO but nowhere near what the NEX 5n can do. So here is my plan: Use the M8 most of the time, and when it gets too dim, switch to the Nex 5n. i feel even though the M9 is full frame, and has slightly improved higher ISO, it is still slightly better than the M8 and frankly, after testing the M9 3 times, I feel the M8 holds its own very well (hell, I up sized raw files from my M8 and they are very very close to the M9, especially at lower ISO's!).
I was leaning towards the NEX-7 but it seems to be a bust at high ISO and with Leica M wide lenses (for more money too, go figure!). I now feel the NEX 5n would complete my camera kit for my M lenses. Right now, most of the time, I have 3 lenses (Noctilux f1.0. Nokton f1.2 and 15mm Super Wide heliar) and my M8 body with grip in my bag. I feel the NEX-5n would be great in that it would take up little room in my bag, and would be ready right away when the light levels drop too far. With the Leica M8 Nex5n combo, I may not even be tempted by the M10 which will have better high ISO, but at what price? There are others here on this forum that have done the same thing I am thinking right now. It woill be interesting to hear from all of you as to why you are holding on to the M8 and using the NEX 5n in a similar way I am thinking!

 

[jsrockit]

I was leaning towards the NEX-7 but it seems to be a bust at high ISO

Wow, we are truly spoiled by high ISO these days... IMO the NEX7 appears to be still very good at high ISO. Nonetheless, your strategy is smart... I do this with my M9 + X100.

 

[Photosynthetech]

Wow, we are truly spoiled by high ISO these days... IMO the NEX7 appears to be still very good at high ISO. Nonetheless, your strategy is smart... I do this with my M9 + X100.

We really are. I like the ISO 1600 files from my Fuji S3 that I just purchased. I can't imagine the M8, M9, or NEX7 having worse files.

 

[jpfisher]

Yup, we're spoiled--but it's a pretty good strategy. I found the C3 to actually do a bit better at 6400, but at 3200 the 5n is a killer camera--and it has the benefit of supporting the OLED EVF accessory.

The NEX-7 gives you both the camera and EVF in one package, and has the ability to use a wireless trigger once you add the appropriate Minolta/Sony-->Standard hot shoe adapter. But if you're using an M8 for events, you can use it with the wireless trigger and go with the 5n for ambient shots.

I'm all but decided on adding the 5n and EVF to my digital kit, once I get some other things in order gear wise. Worried that the M8 might collect more dust than it is now (mostly shooting film for personal work--the M3 still gets a lot of use!), but that camera still delivers fantastic at 640 or below.

 

[eleskin]

Why I love my M8 even more today!!!!!

Why I love my M8 even more today!!!!!

I have been shooting film and digital since the 1980's (My M8 was my first and only digital) and a friend of mine just bought an Olympus E-PL1 for me to check out (he wanted lens recommendations, old Minolta, Canon, m39 lenses, etc) and handed me the camera. Boy am I spoiled by the simplicity of the M8. The menus and functions on the Olympus literally made me dizzy! Quite frankly, I hated it. In fact, I hated most of what the Japanese have done to cameras! Even with film cameras, when things started in this direction, I knew we were in trouble!

When I first received my M8 in the box in 2007, I did not even have to read the book that came with the camera to get started (I have been shooting with Leica M's since 1990 -I figured out the menu system in minutes). This Olympus thing, or whatever you want to call it is CRAZY as I am sure most modern marvels are. Most of us on this forum like rangefinders for a reason, and i will bet my complaints about Japanese design are common. I like equipment you can just pick up and use right away. Leica understands this quite well. Somewhere, the Japanese camera makers have lost it!

I actually feel I am lightning fast with my M8. With this Olympus "thing" that i picked up, I felt like my freedom was taken away from me!

So I guess German efficiency and simplicity in design won me over long ago. I also suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder (many artists, photographers and thinkers do) and for ADD, Leica seems much better for me.

I wonder how many RFF members have ADD?

 

[porktaco]

uch. i want to love the 5n so much. but i know i'd destroy the EVF hauling it out of a soft bag, and the menu structure seems somewhat counterintuitive. i really wish the 7 were in wider production. maybe the 7n is the answer

 

[dgrPhotos]

uch. i want to love the 5n so much. but i know i'd destroy the EVF hauling it out of a soft bag, and the menu structure seems somewhat counterintuitive. i really wish the 7 were in wider production. maybe the 7n is the answer

From the previews out there it seems the NEX-7 lack micro lens adjustments making the 5N the better choice. Regarding the menu system, setup your custom buttons and you can avoid it most of the time.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

The 5n's ace--I think this is a good plan. But I'd hardly call the NEX-7 a bust at high ISO--it only seems slightly less adept than the 5n. I'd love the 5n's sensor in a 7-style body, but I don't think there will be much to complain about with what we actually get.

 

[noimmunity]

I am trying to get the most possible out of my 2 M8 cameras and for many low light conditions, I am needing more and more high ISO. The M9 is better at high ISO but nowhere near what the NEX 5n can do. So here is my plan: Use the M8 most of the time, and when it gets too dim, switch to the Nex 5n. i feel even though the M9 is full frame, and has slightly improved higher ISO, it is still slightly better than the M8 and frankly, after testing the M9 3 times, I feel the M8 holds its own very well (hell, I up sized raw files from my M8 and they are very very close to the M9, especially at lower ISO's!).
I was leaning towards the NEX-7 but it seems to be a bust at high ISO and with Leica M wide lenses (for more money too, go figure!). I now feel the NEX 5n would complete my camera kit for my M lenses. Right now, most of the time, I have 3 lenses (Noctilux f1.0. Nokton f1.2 and 15mm Super Wide heliar) and my M8 body with grip in my bag. I feel the NEX-5n would be great in that it would take up little room in my bag, and would be ready right away when the light levels drop too far. With the Leica M8 Nex5n combo, I may not even be tempted by the M10 which will have better high ISO, but at what price? There are others here on this forum that have done the same thing I am thinking right now. It woill be interesting to hear from all of you as to why you are holding on to the M8 and using the NEX 5n in a similar way I am thinking!

It's basically the same strategy I'm heading for, except that I will probably just wait and see what Fuji announce for the interchangeable X camera.

The only thing that really bothers me about the M8 at high ISO is the banding, which, is completely unacceptable for me when it occurs. I could deal it were it just digital grain.

 

[wintoid]

I'm following this path at the moment. My basic comments are as follows:

1) The NEX with the viewfinder is incredibly easy to focus, small, lovely ergonomically, and really responsive
2) Files from the M8 look way better to me. The NEX may have low noise, but it just doesn't have the quality of the M8. Such a shame about the banding on the M8 🙁

 

[wintoid]

This is ISO6400 with a Summicron 50mm III on the NEX5N, wide open at f2 with 1/50 shutter speed


Laughter by wintoid, on Flickr

I'm complaining about the quality of the NEX but at the end of the day, if I'd taken this shot with the M8, I would have had to use ISO640 and about 1/5s. Probably wouldn't have got the shot.

 

[LCT]

Why do you guys favor the Nex-5N vs the Ricoh with M module if i may ask? Just curious IQ wise.

 

[Shade]

Yeah that's what I'd do with my set up.. However I highly prefer the olympus ep3, despite having worse noise than the Sony, its still miles better than my m9..

 

[wintoid]

Why do you guys favor the Nex-5N vs the Ricoh with M module if i may ask? Just curious IQ wise.

Personally, I ended up with NEX because of price, but what's keeping me there now is the EVF.

 

[LCT]

Ah yes thanks but IQ wise the Ricoh looks better due to lack of AA filter i guess. Pity that Ricoh does not make a built-in EVF a la Nex-7.

 

[leicashot]

Wow, we are truly spoiled by high ISO these days... IMO the NEX7 appears to be still very good at high ISO. Nonetheless, your strategy is smart... I do this with my M9 + X100.

trust me, the NEX 7 is a bust above ISO 400, and the noise reduction, even with RAW is horrible....well at least that was the case with the A77 I had. I do hope they tweak the sensor.

 

[retow]

Why do you guys favor the Nex-5N vs the Ricoh with M module if i may ask? Just curious IQ wise.

I chose the GXR m-mount. Files with m-lenses look great. High iso performance of the NEX 5N is better, though, although the Ricoh is definitely good enough for my needs.

 

[Hatch]

Strangely the one thiing that stood out for me after shooting a bit with the NEX 7, is that incredible shutter.

I didn't feel the need to bump up the ISO to shoot in the shop where I tested it.

Because it fired right away I could keep it steady at sloooow speeds.
All shots were sharp 🙂

It's kinda hard to explain.

 

[wintoid]

Ah yes thanks but IQ wise the Ricoh looks better due to lack of AA filter i guess. Pity that Ricoh does not make a built-in EVF a la Nex-7.

At the moment, I have to say that I haven't seen anything from the Ricoh or the NEX5 that blows me away, and I didn't really see anything to choose between them apart from price. My M8 makes much nicer files. Having said that, I think I am gradually getting better at PP on NEX files (I'm really rubbish with Lightroom).

 

[semordnilap]

If I didn't have an M8 I might consider the Ricoh, but at 1.5 crop I prefer the versatility of the NEX, as well as the excellent video capability.

Anyway, I'll third the above sentiment: shame about the banding. I would buy a 4k M8.3 with a new tech 1.3x sensor with good high iso. Shooting with the NEX reminds me of my probably favorite aspect of RF and TLR shooting: no blackout at the moment of capture! I guess I'm grudgingly accustomed to it with SLRs, but that's why I don't use them so much.