"Lions and Tigers and Bears . . . "

[rpilottx]

Well, I just ordered a mint M8.2 from Tamarkin and am feeling a bit like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" in the dark forest where she is going "Lions, and Tigers and Bears . . . Oh My!"

Now, I live in El Paso and the closest Leica dealer is probably 400 miles away in Phoenix and I have never handled a digital M so perhaps you can understand how I feel. I have done a LOT of reading here and various other sites before taking the plunge but my only experience in digital was with a malfunctioning Canon G9 and a nice Canon S90 which I gave to my daughter last month.

I purchased my first Leica in 1975 (a CL) and have owned every film model up to the M7 except for the M5. Presently I have an M4 and an M2 which I acquired last month. For the last couple months I have been on the fence as to putting a wet darkroom together or purchasing a scanner and learning to use it.

Instead, I decided to join the 21st century and try digital. I was looking at the new Nikon D7000 but the size and lack of fast primes just did not do it for me. Since I have five M mount lenses, the Leica was calling but I did not want to spend $7000 on an M9 as I may not like it. Thus the M8.2. Tamarkin describes it as mint having just come back from Leitz USA.

I have 15/21/35/50/90 lenses which are a mix of Leica and Voightlander. I figure the 35f1.2 Nokton will be living on the M8.2. I understand the 1.3 multiplication so the 15 gets used with the 21 finder and the 35, 50, and 90 with the built in frame lines. Can the 21 be used using the whole finder similiar to using a 28 with the whole finder on the M2 or M4?

i ordered the lens coding kit from PopFlash. Is there any other must have accessories for the M8.2 which make life easier or more convient? How about the cover to protect the rear LED? I have a copy of PhotoShop Elements but what software should I be looking at?

Am traveling to Istambul with my daughter for 10 days at the end of March so right now I figure the digital M for color and the M2 or M4 for black and white. What else do I need or what should I be thinking about using digital that I might not with film?

Thanks in advance. Rich

 

[Red Rock Bill]

At least 2 extra batteries....especially if you "chimp" and a few cards....regards, Bill

 

[kyler.]

Uv/ir Filters!
The M8 and M8.2 doesn't have an anti-aliasing filter which results in weird colors.
example: it makes all blacks purple, and greens become yellowish.
The uv/ir filter solves that problem, but also increases the cyan/magenta corners so it is good that you are getting the coding kit.

Have fun with your new camera!

-Kyle

 

[rpilottx]

IR Filters

IR Filters

Have read a couple different posts about the need for IR filters. Tamarkin is sending a 39mm but I plan on keeping the 35f1.2 Nokton on the 8.2 as my standard lens. Can you point me to a distributor that sells IR filters in 52mm?

 

[kyler.]

A company called B+W makes filters and I have used their uv/ir filters on my lenses with the m8.2 and they seem to work fine at a reasonable price.

 

[Freakscene]

You can get B+W 486 filters from B+H or Adorama, among other places. Heliopan also makes comparable filters. There are Leica brand ones too, but in a limited 'Leica' range of sizes so not in 52 mm.

Marty

 

[rpilottx]

More questions

More questions

OK, I ordered the 52mm IR filter for B&H and have a 39mm on the way from Tamarkin as well. So, two more questions:

1) Can anyone point me toward a source for extra batteries? What has been your experience with non Leitz products?

2) I have the early screw mount version of the 15mm Heliar and filters look like they would be difficult to add. However, I see a lot of favorable comments on this lens on the M8 or M9. Do I need a filter and what is the solution?

Thanks, Rich

 

[hteasley]

I'm not someone who is on the M8 "All filters, all the time" bandwagon. I've had ghosting often enough with them, that they make me irritated, and I often process my shots into B&W, where the problems of the UV light can be easily ignored.

There aren't a lot of shots that can't be adjusted in Lightroom or Photoshop, and saved from IR artifacts.

 

[jaapv]

Ummm.... Some blacks go magenta, some don't, foliage turns olive or yellow, Caucasian skin gets purplish/red and blotchy, most other colors shift in various directions as well - how on earth are you going to correct all that in Photoshop?😕
On top of that there is a -4 stop unsharp image projected over your sharp image, destroying microcontrast - even in B&W, so stick those 486 filters on. The occasional green blob projected by the filter is removed in microseconds using the Photoshop content-aware healing tools.

 

[Neare]

You've owned every film M except the M5?! You skipped the crème de la crop.

Anyway, you may also need batteries (rechargeable?) and memory cards and realistically, IR filters. Everything beyond that is personal to how you use it. Have you thought about handling? There is no film winder to rest your finger on for grip. Thumbs up perhaps?

 

[rpilottx]

The M8.2 should be delivered later today. I have a couple UV/IR filters enroute and the coding kit from Popflash. And I will get an extra battery and a couple SD cards if I decide to keep the camera. Tamarkin has a 14 day return policy on used gear.

The M8.2 is described as mint and just returned from a check up by Leica USA before being shipped so all the bugs should be worked out. I am not 100% sure I will keep the camera as I have never handled a digital M before and I still like film. Honestly, I am a luddite and was planning a trip to Turkey next month with an M2 and M4 but digital sure seems the way to go opening up after image processing which film users can't even dream about.

Also, I keep looking at Nikon DSLR's. The new D7000 and a moderate zoom can be had for half the price of a used 8.2 and it does not have any of the teething issues I keep reading about on the web. And the full size sensor on the D700 is still cheaper then the M8.2 (just wish they were not so dam big even though I carried motorized Nikon F and F2's years ago but I was a lot younger).

And let's face it, film is getting harder and harder to find processing for and the best digital contains more information then film. My best guess is I will like the digital M and will probably sell my mint M4 keeping the M2 as a backup. Let me get the camera and play with it a few days and I will post my conclusions.

 

[rpilottx]

M8.2 Returned

M8.2 Returned

I spent a day with the M8.2 and just returned it to Tamarkin. It is well made and I did not have any false colors, the 15mm Heliar works well, and all in all it was a nice camera.

I returned it for one reason: noise. For a used camera which cost $3900, the noise at anything above iSO 640 was just too much. So now I will shoot film for awhile and save for an M9.

 

[Jim Evidon]

I bought my M8 from Tamarkin a few years back. Very nice people to deal with. I sprung for the upgrades 1 1/2 years later such as shutter, viewfinder and LCD screen, but it really isn't necessary to enjoy your camera.

I have the 35mm 1.2 Nokton and it is one of my favorite lenses, but I suggest that you'll find it rather heavy on the M8.2 for regular use. Try to pick up a really good light lens for daily use and save the Nokton for low light situations or shots wide open when you want to take advantage of it's wonderful bokeh.

My everyday walk around lens is a very clean used 40mm Summicron C.
It opens to f2 and is really compact and sharp. Since it is 40 mm, you'll have to estimate the field of view slightly outside the 50mm frame lines or you can modify the cam on the mount to bring up the 35mm frame and shot slightly inside of that frame line.

Happy shooting. you made a good choice.🙂