M8 at the Zoo

[smiway]

I need some opinions from forum members. I'm going to the zoo tomorrow. I'd prefer taking M8 rather than DSLR because of size and ease in carrying around. I know I will lose the ability to take telephoto shots but I don't feel like lugging large zoom lens with me. Do you think I can get some decent pictures or should I just bite the bullet and tote the larger equipment around?

 

[tmfabian]

depends on your lens. If you tote along a 50 or longer you'll do splendidly.

 

[POINT OF VIEW]

M8 + Zoo

M8 + Zoo

I agree, any Leica 50. Remember your shooting with a 50 but your M8 sees it as a 75. Focus sharp and you can crop to make the Lions eye fill the shot. Check out the shots this guy did in Africa with a M8. Bill
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55445&highlight=africa

 

[Anupam]

The 50 is a 67mm on the M8(not 75). While it is possible to make many good shots with a 67mm equiv. fov, you will be severely limited to "environmental" shots. BTW, the guy in Africa used a visoflex which turns an RF effectively into a makeshift SLR.

I'd take the SLR if I wanted to do animal photography, the RF if I wanted to enjoy the zoo and perhaps take a few shots when possible.

 

[POINT OF VIEW]

Fat cameras

Fat cameras

The 50 is a 67mm on the M8(not 75). While it is possible to make many good shots with a 67mm equiv. fov, you will be severely limited to "environmental" shots. BTW, the guy in Africa used a visoflex which turns an RF effectively into a makeshift SLR.

I'd take the SLR if I wanted to do animal photography, the RF if I wanted to enjoy the zoo and perhaps take a few shots when possible.

Mr. Smith said he’d rather take a M8, ( not ) a SLR. I like his choice, fat cameras look like weapons to the poor animals. Bill

 

[Bill58]

Mr. Smith said he’d rather take a M8, ( not ) a SLR. I like his choice, fat cameras look like weapons to the poor animals. Bill

Yes, and the brooms the zookeepers use look like rifles too........

 

[Krosya]

I agree, any Leica 50. Remember your shooting with a 50 but your M8 sees it as a 75. Focus sharp and you can crop to make the Lions eye fill the shot. Check out the shots this guy did in Africa with a M8. Bill
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55445&highlight=africa

And he used Visoflex and Noflexar-T 400 5.6, the Leopard Tele-Elmar 135/4.0 . 😉

 

[user237428934]

If you want to take environmental shots the m8 will be fine. In the zoos I know, lions have much space and you can watch them in a distance of 30 to 50 meters. On a photo taken with the m8 and a 50mm lens you will see much environment and a very small lion.

 

[smiway]

Thanks for all the opinions. I've decided to tale the M8 with my 50mm and my 90mm. That will give me an effective 67 mm and 120mm. I should be able to get some decent pictures and still enjoy the zoo. By the way, the 90 is a voigtlander that I've had for awhile but never used. The sun is shining and it should be a fun day.

 

[bottley1]

something tells me its all happening at the zoo......with an M8 😀

 

[adietrich]

...turn around!

...turn around!

Instead of shooting the animals you could shoot the people watching them.
The ape house might be most suitable for that, and it give some food for thought regarding the concept of "inside vs. outside".

-a

 

[Eric T]

There are two circumstances where I take only the dSLR equipment with me and leave the M8 at home. The first circumstance is with high speed action events (such as sports) under low light. The second is when I take animal shots. My Canon 70-200mm IS L lens is just perfectly suited for both situations.
Eric

 

[POINT OF VIEW]

Stampede

Stampede

Yes, and the brooms the zookeepers use look like rifles too........

I forgot to mention the flip-flopping noise of a DLSR mirror could cause a stampede. Man, the last thing you need is a charging rhino or elephant. Bill

 

[payasam]

The best pictures of animals are often close-ups, and for those you will probably need longish focal lengths.

 

[Richard Marks]

A rangefinder is a compromise which offers in compensation certain advantages over an SLR. If you are a rangefinder user you have to play to the camera's strengths. Photo opportuniteis abound pretty much everywhere. If you take a rangefinder your pictures will be different to those which would have been taken with an SLR. You simply need to be clear about the kind of pictures you like to take. Sorry to sound dismissive, but if you are an M8 owener I would like to belive that you could make up your own mind.

Have a great day.

Richard