M8 opportunity cost

[amateriat]

Consider Sony Alpha 700 and Zeiss lenses, also the new Sigma DP1 "rangefinder" which will rival M8. Do you really want to carry a camera body that costs twice as much as superior technology?

SLRs vs. RFs? Apples n' oranges to me. And, in the case of the Sigma: the "revised" DP1 does look interesting in a number of ways, but I'm not sure I'd compare it to an M8 (fixed lens, maximum sensitivity ISO 800 (and no word as to just how good it is at that speed, at least none that I've heard), etcetera.

You want the Leica, and you can swing the Leica, you get the Leica. Otherwise, the possibilities are many.


- Barrett

 

[thomasw_]

I think the M8 is a great camera, but I do prefer shooting film. In the coming years I can see myself getting into a digtial M system camera because I have some M-mount glass that rocks. But I wouldn't want to go that way until I could shoot at a full-frame sensor. But if you feel the call away from true black and white and Kodachrome 64, just do it, provided it isn't a fiscal strain🙂 I like the "glass before brass" philosophy mentioned above.

 

[panos]

in my opinion you should try it first and see if you like it.
i bought it after trying it and i am really happy.i think that it is a great camera.
i have just started making a living out o my photography and i can do pretty much everything with the M8.it is really handy for me small and great lenses and if your pics are going to be printed up to A3 size i think it is funny.
anything bigger for a more high profile job that you are gettung paid loads of money you rent a hasselblad it comes with a digi man that does everything for you and your client is paying it in the expenses.

at least this is what i think.

all the best
panos

 

[panos]

i ment up to A3 it is fine.
it dependes where you print and who is doing post for you.

for my personal stuff it is great.

i always carry with me M8 with 35mm f 2.0 for digital and for film 2 yashica's T 4
and it works perfect for me.

best
panos

 

[Ben Z]

I own a Canon 20D and a Leica M8. I don't make 20x30 prints, 11x14 is about the largest. Mostly I put my shots on a DVD and watch them on a 42" Sharp Aquos. In my use I can see no improvement in IQ between the 20D and M8. I do much of my shooting on trips, and although I've had the 20D for several years I continued to shoot film with Leicas on those trips because carrying around the 20D and its lenses meant a big, cumbersome bag and a camera I couldn't shove under my jacket if it started to rain, or into my pockets in a restaurant. So the M8 despite all of its quirks and idiotsynchrosies was a good choice, and I bit the bullet on the $4800 price tag. I carry a DLux-3 as a backup, partly because there's no way I would buy a 2nd M8 even a refurb, and partly because it doesn't take up much room.

 

[HAnkg]

If I could be equally satisfied using a DSLR or an M8 I'd buy the DSLR as it's cheaper and more versatile. If I had to live with only one camera and I had to have macro, telephoto and or tilt-shift lenses I would get a DSLR even if I prefered an RF for most applications. However if like me you are really only interested in using lenses that are well within the range of a RF camera's limitations, you must have digital and you consider a rangefinder a great advantage for the types of work you will use it for then you will pay the hefty premium and get the M8.

 

[RML]

Let's get clear why you want the M8. And why you want the 5D.

Which one will most likely satisfy your needs and wants better?

How well can you stand buyer's remorse, and how well can your wallet handle a $5000 buyer's remorse?

The answers to those questions should get you closer to your final decision.

What I always do after answering is simply wait, for a month, a year, a couple of years. Prices drop, "better" gear comes to market, my interests change.... And if, after a prolonged period of waiting, I still long for this camera, and my finances allow it, I go for it. My patience and the passing of time have hopefully cured me from any rash decisions, and buyer's remorse.

 

[jaapv]

Is the RED DOT! plain and simple!:bang:
Everything else is about why the red dot is so expensive, or why the red dot is worth it!

That why I put a red LEICA dot on my EPSON RD1 and a home-made "M9" sticker in the front! Instant respect! "...he said, with a muffled voice comming through his asbestos suit!"...😀

Hmm.. I put BLACK dots on my M8's.😛

 

[aka5ha]

Verdict:

Verdict:

Thank you all for the comments and discussion. I decided on the M8 which I have had only for a couple of days. I am loving it so far. ISO640 with a fast lens is wonderful. Very quiet compared to my Canon EOS-1 and fit and finish are on par with my MP. A joy in every way to shoot with. Now I just need to sort out DNG vs JPG. The included RAW software does not seem so impressive. And I have read around here how badly the M8 JPG algorithm performs.

 

[kuzano]

Opportunity Cost.... ???

Opportunity Cost.... ???

Your question is not about opportunity cost. Opportunity cost is the opportunity for investment that you lose by buying an item now rather than investing the money.

If you keep what you have now, and invest the $5000 at a moderate return of 10% over time, the loss you suffer by buying the M8 now is:

Ten Years $13,000

Twenty years $33,600

Thirty years $82,250

Forty years $225,000

Thanks to the miracle of compound interest, those are the dollar amounts of the money you are passing up by buying the M8, or your Opportunity Cost.

But hey, I'm just pulling your leg. What I've suggested is no fun for today is it. And, if your current camera is just not cutting it, then pissing away a quarter of a million dollars (if your just a youngster) isn't an overly hefty price to pay for owning a Leica, is it?

P.S. Don't let your wife, girlfriend, employer, other family members, or your shrink see these numbers

 

[kuzano]

None

None

What fun is being responsible? 🙂

You got me there... NONE!. But being a Marketing Director with 25 years in banking and another ten years in advising on financial affairs, how could I resist?

 

[dee]

My M 8 came from an inheritance , way and above my means .

I would not even have considered a Canon 5D because it's enormous and heavy .

But never allow anyone to persuade you - I was guilty as hell when mine arrived - like ''I am not a real photographer , I can't justify it , am I buying into the Leica more - money - than - sense thing ... ''

The point is I have an autistic glitch , and I can connect to '' emma '' the M 8 -and it opens up a fragmented world for me .

I have also bought an SLR - a Digilux 3 - so ultimate picture quality can never be seen as MY priority - but , like the M 8 , I need the 50s/ 70s feel style and interface , so I bought another L 1 body for my Rokkor lenses ![ £250 is a bargain ! ]

That I can change from aperture / shutter / manual priority simply by moving lense or shutter speed , or both , from '' A '' overcomes my ASdee .

Likewise of curse my M 8 .

Sort out your specific needs - and go for it !

Good luck

dee

 

[aka5ha]

I like M8 jpgs

I like M8 jpgs

Hi,

My initial comparisons at ISO 640 show the M8 jpgs just look better than the dng files. I will make another post about this. I would like to see other opinions.

Here is a 100% crop of 2 consecutive shots, one dng and one jpg. I think the jpg look a lot better with respect to chroma noise and colors in general. I don't notice any compression artifacts either. I tried converting the dng to jpg in photoshop, but the jpg did not look as good as the m8 produced jpg. I just upgraded to the latest firmware when I received the camera 2 days ago, I wonder if that is making a difference. I heard AWB is completely fixed in the latest firmware...