M8 Basic Questions (again I'm sure)

[Penceler]

About to break down and purchase an M8 and have several questions. Please help!

My RF experience has been with a Z Ikon. Very nice but I was never completely happy with the viewfinder and focusing. Eye position was always critical and the display in bright daylight is difficult (at least for me). Is the M8 a bit easier in this regard?

Very confused on lens coding. Does this only impact computer corrections or does it also affect frame lines? I'd hope to keep my ZM 35 2.0 and add a ZM 21 for wide angle use. What obstacles do I face?

Much has been said about JPEG on the M8 - is it that bad and can this be corrected with firmware upgrades?

Given the 1.3 crop factor, what happens when I mount a 35 ZM on the body? Do I get 50mm frame lines or 35?

Sorry for all the basic questions. Help is appreciated!

 

[kully]

Hallo,

The meter is much easier to read than the Ikon (I wear goggles too).

Framelines - your 35mm will bring up 35mm frameslines _for the M8_ (i.e. the frameline brought up will show a 1.3 crop of the 35mm lens).

Can't say anything about the JPEG thought.

 

[Photon42]

Most things said already. As for coding, I've sent the flange of my 35 Biogon to John Milich to cut the recesses. After the flange returned, I've coded it just like a Summicron. I find there's a visible difference with the 35 Biogon coded and uncoded.

John, however, now seems to supply Zeiss flanges with recesses already milled. Seems the way to go.

In any case, if you add a Zeiss 21mm, make sure you get a newer one with the proper M8 flange, that is, displaying the 28/90 framelines. The M8 detects a lens by coding PLUS the proper frame line selection. The early 21mm Zeiss lenses, for whatever reason, had the 50/75 framelines displayed. Cutting recesses in such a flange would not help.

Enjoy, it's a nice camera.

Ivo