Leica M8 vs Mamiya 7

Hey folks. The OP here. I ended up buying the M8 and am loving it. There is a place for both the M8 and Mamiya 7 in my Domke. The only caveat is that my Zeiss 35/2 Biogon is a little tight for my framing preference and shooting style, so I may need to flip it for a 28mm. Not overly thrilled at this prospect since I love the signature of this Biogon. Smooooooth bokeh!
 
jplomley said:
Hey folks. The OP here. I ended up buying the M8 and am loving it. There is a place for both the M8 and Mamiya 7 in my Domke. The only caveat is that my Zeiss 35/2 Biogon is a little tight for my framing preference and shooting style, so I may need to flip it for a 28mm. Not overly thrilled at this prospect since I love the signature of this Biogon. Smooooooth bokeh!
Click to expand...
Try the new 28 2.8
Relatively inexpensive by leica standards and a superb lens
Richard
 
Richard Marks said:
Try the new 28 2.8
Relatively inexpensive by leica standards and a superb lens
Richard
Click to expand...

If you like the bokeh of the 35 biogon think about the 28 biogon. I have one and it produces frames that have the very same look. Super smooth OOF areas, very sharp etc. Some say it is not as hot on the edges as the other ZMs and the MTFs bear this out, but in use and when printed the images are wonderful. It is also half the price of the Leica elmarit m asph. Coding might be an issue though...
 
jplomley said:
Hey folks. The OP here. I ended up buying the M8 and am loving it. There is a place for both the M8 and Mamiya 7 in my Domke. The only caveat is that my Zeiss 35/2 Biogon is a little tight for my framing preference and shooting style, so I may need to flip it for a 28mm. Not overly thrilled at this prospect since I love the signature of this Biogon. Smooooooth bokeh!
Click to expand...

How do you feel about M8? I would love to hear your opinion or see your files from M8. 🙂
 
Here's an interesting experiment: give a person and M8 and a Mamiya 7II, each with three lenses. After six months see which one is used more and see which one has resulted on enlargements hanging on the wall. I bet that at least 100-fold more QUALITY shots are taken with the M8.
It's what you use and want to use that counts.
Eric
 
Well, everyone's different. I have a lot more exhibition prints from the Mamiya 7II than I do with the M8...and more from an M7 (leica) than from the M8...it's not for lack of using it though. I certainly like it, but it just cannot compete with black and white film for me...
 
Stuart, I have seen your website. Your picture has something. Don't know how to say in English. emotion?
I would like to hear your opinion. I have Leica MP and several lens no M8 yet. I also have Xpan, Rolleiflex and many cameras. I also have Imacon scanner. While I love film look quality. I feel more easier to go with digital eg. viewing instantly, different iso etc.
I look at M8 files and love the color.

You said you got more exhibiton prints from film. So when you use M8? Do you plan to use film for critical work and M8 for less. I am going to get M8 but still hesitate. M8 is not cheap. When you have to choose which camera be with you for the job, how to?

Kitty
 
Thank you very much for the compliments Kitty! I really appreciate them. Please don't misunderstand me, I think the M8 is more than capable of making excellent quality exhibition prints. I just find that for me, I still tend to prefer medium format cameras for when I am specifically going out to make photographs -- landscape images for example. I use the M8 for light weight travel, street photography and more casual work. I think because of that, the images are not as strong as the other ones. When I use both at the same time, I usually find that the medium format image looks better to me. Given the sheer difference in image size, this is not unexpected. But it is more about how I use it than about what it can do, so don't worry about its capabilities.

That said, if you are primarily used to working with film, you may not find the same magic working in digital, especially if you are used to doing your own printing and processing. If you usually just drop off the film at a lab and have them make prints, then you will probably love digital. But for me, while digital is an incredible tool, I just don't find the results as personally satisfying as making a print in the darkroom or perfectly exposing a slide.

The best news though is that you can't go wrong. Sticking with film will give you great results, as will the M8. I certainly recommend trying it out if you can. If you are in the US, I believe Leica just started a loaner program where you can use the M8 and a lens to see if it works for you.

I hope all this helps; thanks again for the compliments.
Stuart
 
Thank you Stuart for explanation and advise.

I think it is a bit too late.
I finally get a M8 with summarit 90mm.😉

Just take a few snap shots personal use. I love M8 color.
But there are a few things I am looking for eg. battery, grip et.
For the battery I think leica charge a bit too high. Planning to get 2 more. You know battery has it's life. It doesn't last longer like body or lens. I am looking for the alternative. Any suggestion?

I think my MP would not see the sun for a while. 🙂

kitty
 
Well I have a pretty good time using both film and digital. One thing about film, if you have processed and printed your self its a lot slower and more difficult to get right. This makes a keeper all the sweeter. Alternatively if I have got a big tranny propfessionally printed it has cost me a bit of money. Either way there has been a greater sacrifice of time or money to get the result when compared to my M8. The latter is a lot easier to get results with and home printing is so inexpensive and quick (and without mess and chemicals) that it almost feels like cheating. Somehow because its easier it can feel less worthy. But does one have to suffer for one's art, or is it simply about getting a good picture?

Richard
 
Thought I would revisit this post. Unfortunately, my Mamiya 7 has not seen much activity since purchasing the M8. In fact, I am now considering selling the Mamiya 7 + 65/4 + 80/4 + 150 and use the proceeds to purchase either a second M8 or a Nikon D700 as a compliment to the M8 (to pull out with the 14-24 only when the light forces higher ISO's).
 
Unless the M9 simultaneously captures a 6x7 film negative and spits it out like a polaroid, I doubt that the situation is any different now other than in terms of resolution. Film still has a very different look, and there are differences in the depth of field characteristics of the lenses and so forth. I would assume that resolution is very close now, but the way film and digital draw are just quite different. So is the whole process of making a print -- I still can't take a DNG file and sandwich it between a glass negative carrier and make a fiber print. That said, I think a two camera kit of the M9 and M7II are probably about as good as you can get. Black and white in the Mamiya, and color or black and white from the M9. Fits in a shoulder bag and gives you the best of both worlds.
 
For the record I have used an M8 and Mamiya 7 extensively. Beyond each cameras obvious advantages/disadvantages (fast lenses etc.) the M8 will not come close to a Mamiya 7/imacon combo for black and white work.

Specifically if you need to work fast, ie: street and documentary work.
 
I think that you are talking medium format and big money systems before you are in the 6x7 territory, but the look is different. Try the S2 for a better comparison, but pick your film and processing and the Mamiya might just prove a tough competitor. Of course, the workflow with the "7" is much more intensive.
 
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