M8: another should I buy thread?

[Marzuki]

Thanks for comments, thoughts, and angry or happy replies; all are welcome. (I hate these should I buy posts too).

Camera history/experience:
I've got a Mamiya 7II and love it! I love the rangefinder focusing and love the sharp 50mm lens of the mamiya. I shoot a fair amount (100 rolls/year) of b&w 120 and 35mm in it (with an adapter) and couldn't be happier with the results i'm getting.

I also love shooting with a nikon F100 and a manual 50mm AI lens.

And, previously I owned a canon 30d dslr and mostly liked the results I got (when they were in focus), despite the cheap feel of the camera. I sold the canon last year frustrated with the build quality, auto focus and large size of the lenses (17-40L and 35L) and body.

Despite my love for film, I'm finding that I miss shooting digital. I have been lucky to travel a lot for work (to India, Europe, N. America, Central America, S. America, Cuba) and tend to shoot street. It's such a pain to carry 30 rolls of film through airport security!

This weekend I tried out a used, mint, Leica M8 at a local shop. I didn't immediately love the viewfinder, but loved the rest of the camera; the manual controls, the build, even the menu system. I tried it with a Pre-asph 24 f2.8 and liked the lens a great deal. The camera was owned previously by Phil Lesh (of the Grateful Dead). He traded it in to purchase a Nikon d700 and lenses. So, it has the extra appeal of being owned by Mr. Lesh (but then why did he trade it in for the Nikon?). He kept it in pristine condition -- it still has the plastic protective sticker on the base plate! The shop wants $2400 for the camera and another $179 for a two-year, no questions asked warranty. They want $2099 for the used 24 f2.8 lens. There's also a used 35 f2.8 asph for $1400!

Am I crazy to pass this up, or should I wait for the X1 (which is altogether another discussion)?

Or do I go back to something like a nikon dslr (a d300 or d700). Deciscions, decisions. What's a poor man to do?

 

[Ming Rider]

It depends whether you want what a DSLR has to offer, or what the M8 has to offer.

I use a Canon 350d with various lenses for subjects like showjumping or dressage but for the arty stuff or street, I use the M8. The M8 is my go anywhere, everyday camera.

Given a choice of either, my money's on the M8. Oh and my Leica CL.

Does that make me biased, or just very wise???:angel:

By the way, I only bought my M8 about 2 weeks ago.

 

[Ming Rider]

P.S. I'm off to Glasgow tomorrow on a 3 day assignment.

I'm only taking the M8.

Mad or inspired???🙄

 

[JNewell]

YMMV but IMO I would pass unless you really trust the "warranty." You can buy a Leica factory refurbished M8 for under $3k with a full Leica warranty. Given the cost of a parts failure, I'd want a bigger offset from the Leica price.

 

[Marzuki]

YMMV but IMO I would pass unless you really trust the "warranty." You can buy a Leica factory refurbished M8 for under $3k with a full Leica warranty. Given the cost of a parts failure, I'd want a bigger offset from the Leica price.

Thanks for the response -- where can one find such a deal?

btw, the used M8 I handled, comes with 2 batteries (and charger), a magnifier, a leather strap and a car charging chord (big whoop).

 

[Marzuki]

Check the lens again. It should be a 35mm f2.0 Asph. There are no f2.8 Asphs. If it is a f2.0 Asph, it's a great deal if it is good condition.

I guess I should have paid closer attention -- it might have been the 35 f3.5. And, yes it was the 24 f2.8 ASPH. Thanks for the info on the lenses. Maybe I'll jump on the 24!

 

[Marzuki]

It depends whether you want what a DSLR has to offer, or what the M8 has to offer.

I use a Canon 350d with various lenses for subjects like showjumping or dressage but for the arty stuff or street, I use the M8. The M8 is my go anywhere, everyday camera.

Given a choice of either, my money's on the M8. Oh and my Leica CL.

Does that make me biased, or just very wise???:angel:

By the way, I only bought my M8 about 2 weeks ago.

The 'whirrr' of the M8 shutter auto re-cock was a bit disconcerting. I was not expecting to hear so many different sounds when I released the shutter.
Do you find the unique sound of the M8 shutter noticeable or even obtrusive when making images on the street?

I think maybe i'll rent one for day and then decide.

 

[JNewell]

"Discrete" mode, which is available with the latest firmware, solves some of the noise problem by separating the release from cocking. Don't use it in conjunction with "continuous."

Two dealers that I know have/have had refurbs and with which I've had recent good experiences are www.eplevine.com and www.popflash.com. I'm sure there are others...

Renting before buying is IMO a very prudent test.

 

[Photon42]

The 'whirrr' of the M8 shutter auto re-cock was a bit disconcerting. I was not expecting to hear so many different sounds when I released the shutter.
Do you find the unique sound of the M8 shutter noticeable or even obtrusive when making images on the street?

I think maybe i'll rent one for day and then decide.

Far too much fuzz made on this. Real men don't care if they make noise 😎 Seriously, I don't mind it at all. I never cared as well for any M8 shutter updates or M8.2s.

Cheers
Ivo

 

[Ming Rider]

MARZUKI

Like any camera or machine for that matter, it generates it's own 'signature'.

For the first 100 frames it was on my mind how different it was compared to the shutter and advance of the CL. But from then on, it made no difference.

It has it's own unique charm and by now I am too immersed in the `moment` to notice or care.

It is the sound of an M8 and I wouldn't change the camera for anything (well possibly an M9, but that's probably just keeping up with the Jones's). On the other hand, I wouldn't spend that much on a new camera on principal.😱

I have just returned from my Glasgow trip. The Leica performed faultlessly, was stealthy enough not to draw attention and when bumping into other photographers offered a certain amount of assurance that here's a man who knows a bit.😛

Enjoy your `test drive`.

P.S. You'll never tire of looking at it or the reassuringly solid `donk` as you place it on a Cafe table.