M6 vs M8 Not sure which to keep.

I did love film, including developing it, as much as you do. But what matters if we don't have time for that and end up shooting less and less?

I'll suggest you sell both M6 and M8 and buy a mint M9 instead, so you get an overall better file quality than from your M8, your 50mm remains a 50mm, and you will less likely miss your M6. But you'll never forget that glorious film M...
 
keep the M6, i had the same problem in the past, especially after the first selfdeveloped b/w 🙁 but now with a little more experience i'm total happy with my decision. Developed some Tri-X@1600 yesterday, the results blown me away, never ever saw something similar in digital.

Yogi
 
Rangeman133 said:
right now, i'm developing b/w tri-x with diafine. this is very straight forward, and i'm scanning with plustek 7600. for color, i'm using cvs films, and having it developed their. and i scan on the plustek. its not that bad, and i don't shoot daily. but when i do shoot, i shoot about 4 to 5 rolls at a time. and it a headache to scan/develop everything. i have rolls here that haven't been developed for weeks. and i don't even feel like getting them developed. i'm also a beginner shooter, so i only get 1 or 2 shots that i really like per roll. i was thinking that with digital, i could practice more, and that way, get more keepers with film if i ever do return to film.
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Hmmm... you can do your own developing but you do not like to do it.. and the rolls are waiting since weeks. But you love shooting and you want to take lots of pictures to learn photography. It is obvious that for the practice and process you need the film route is rather complicated.

Sell the M6 but keep the Summicron and buy a 28 or 25 of your choice. But keep your lenses even if you decide to sell the M8 one day. Who knows, after learning what you need to learn, one day you might want to have a film Leica too.
 
Thing is, if only you'd commit to learning an efficient workflow in, say, Lightroom, an M8 would be well-suited to help you continue shooting within your time constraints. My sense is your needs really would be best met using a digi RF, but for your inexperience with digital processing.
 
I'd keep the M8. I'm a big film aficionado but being real especially when money is an issue is that it's going to cost to buy film and to process it on top of the time spent making trips to the store/mailing/developing, etc. And if you can afford the $100 for a basic photo printer and make your own 4x6's and have the fortitude to do it regularly you'll have the tangible memories that film provides as well.
 
lawnpotter said:
You could also buy a cheap flatbed scanner to scan more negs at a time to view them, and scan the keepers on the Plustek.
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Agree with lawnpotter. Bulk scanning with 7600i is hardship, even if results are good.

I would consider selling the 7600 and picking up an Epson Vxxx series scanner. Results aren't that far off the 7600 and you can always get individual scans rescanned if you need them for large enlargements etc.

For instance an V700 can batch scan 24 frames at a go, it's a lot less hassle.

Not sure if I can help you make your decision on the M6 and M8.
I wouldn't go down the R-D1 route. I don't think between buying and selling you will save much.
 
Since I have an M6, M8, and RD-1, I feel compelled to reply. Of the three, I have used only the M8 since I got it. Digital workflow, and more reliable than the RD-1 (the Epson rangefinder was always getting knocked out of alignment, on the M8 never). Put the SD card in the computer, fire up Aperture, and off you go.

However, as a "50mm" shooter, I have a 35mm mounted on the M8 almost all the time.

Either way, have fun, and enjoy what you use. They are all great cameras.
 
Hi, i had all of those cameras, the rd1s can´t stand up to m8´s performance, m8 is a great camera and the only issue is it´s 1.3 crop factor, you can get a prime 50 for not such big bucks but a 35mm prime is very expensive. compare the price os a cron 35mm and a 50mm cron...

The m6 is a eternal classic it´s superb, but when i compared it shooting with an m5 i must say the m5 is better for that...

Difficult choice...can´t tell for sure...
 
Sell the M8, get a nice Nikon 3100, Fuji X100, E-PL3 etc., something around $500-$1000. You will take care of the digital thing, and then have film for when you want it.
 
I am quite pleased using my M8 but I agree there is a learning curve to Raw file processing, but once you find a good workflow the results are great within the iso limitations of M8. I use a 35mm CV f1.2 Nokton Asph ll and a 50mm Zeiss Planar F2
The 35mm is like a 46mm on a 1.33 crop sensor and this is the lens I use mostly. Keeping the M6 is really just a choice between Film or Digital. Tough decision if you can't keep both but good luck with whichever you choose.
 
I had the same problem and just sold the m8. I was mainly concerned with the declining value, repair costs if something did go wrong, and not so good low light sensitivity. I will admit that I miss it and am now contemplating selling the m6 to help fund a used m9 when the prices drop a little.
 
jsrockit said:
I find it interesting that this is a complaint when you go back to a film camera. How often are you using high speed films?
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That's actually a good point and something a friend brought up to me recently. In all honesty 640 was fine for me but for whatever reason I tend to compare it to other more current digital cameras.
 
The question you are asking is very subjective and personal in nature, but since I have several of the cameras suggested I'll put in my opinon. Like you I like using film bodies, but the scanning and processing is an issue. As a result my film bodies are used considerably less than the digital ones. I started with a M6ttl and a RD-1s, and both were great bodies to use. However, I couldn't justify the $ I had tied up in the M6, for the amount of use it got, so I decided to change things up a bit. I ended up with an M8 and a Zeiss Ikon ZM and I couldn't be happier. The Zeiss is IMO the equal of the M6, in use (some pros/cons for each, but evens out overall) and it's about 1/2 the price of the Leica. The M8 works great for me , and I like the files I get from it.

I see few things I would suggest in your comments that I'd suggest:
1) get a 28mm or 35mm for the M8...you like 50mm on the M6 so the crop will effect your perception of the M8.
2) I find Capture One quite easy to use, but I've used it a long time. You might consider starting your editing, by importing the files with the 'Auto Adjust' checkbox ticked. This will apply all auto adjustments on import and probably give you an better place to start you adjustments.
3) Give yourself some time. You've only had the M8 a few days, it'll take more than that to get used to it.

Good luck
 
Sell the M8 , buy Ricoh GXR with A12 module (for M) or waiting Fuji XPro 1 release.

And then, you will have analog and digital cameras (sharing lens) within your budget.

If u still have money buy 35/2.5 Skopar or 28/1.9 Ultron


~ron~
 
If you feel you want both digital and film, you could consider trading either for something cheaper. i.e. if you want the M8, trade the M6 for an M3, M2, or perhaps Ikon or Bessa, all cheaper cameras than an M6. If you want the M6, trade the M8 for a Ricoh GXR, or Sony NEX with M adaptor.
 
OP. Is M6 vs M8 really the question here?

You state that you are new to both film and digital photography. Understandably you are impatient to to make progress but feel that you lack the time and am looking for a short cut that will speed things along.

Having owned an Hexar RF, M7 and an M8. I'd say that a digital camera (M8, RD-1 etc.) is an excellent learning tool. The rapid feedback you get from viewing the screen and transferring to your PC, will move your game on significantly. However you will have to learn post-processing of the images. A challenge in itself.
Ultimately I feel film photography is more satisfying and aesthetically pleasing and many return to it as I did. Film shots look good from the off and require little post processing but you will have to deal with the trails and tribulations of developing and scanning (another learning curve)

When I was toying with selling my M8 and moving back to film I did a head to head test between an M6 and an M8. I tried to obtain a film aesthetic in lightroom.

One is shot on an M6 with and a 50mm Canon 1.2 the other on an M8 with a 35mm Summilux Pre-ASPH


M6 with Canon 50mm 1.2 @5.6 by Bobfrance, on Flickr


M8 with 35mm Summilux 1.4 pre ASPH @f5.6 by Bobfrance, on Flickr

I'll leave you to decide which you favour. What did I prefer? I went for film, but 35mm wasn't enough. I mostly shoot medium format these days and have an X100 for general social snapping and a pocketable backup.

My two cents? Well if you can then I'd say buy an RD-1 and keep the M6. RD-1 JPGs are renowned for being very nice straight out of the camera, which may save you having to spend too long in Lightroom. Also shoot your M6 and if you don't have time to process the films then put them in a drawer until you do. It's a well known fact that shots mature the longer they are left 😉. When you do get around to processing them, you may find some nice surprises.

Finally. Low light and and focal length. Voightlander glass is more than good enough. A 28mm Nocton will do the job nicely on the RD-1

Good luck with your journey and remember it's just a purchase not a marriage. 🙂

Bob.




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