m8, or not to m8?

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tough question most likely, and perhaps a biased forum for this one, but here goes.

i shoot a lot, mostly street scenes and when traveling. i use a contax g2, but want to go digital. and i like the feel of a rangefinder.

so, what do you people think? is the m8 the way to go?

help?
-h
 
I was 100% in a similar position as you however I own a lot of Leica glass. So my $2,000 commitment wasn't too large a leap. I like the M8 but also own several other digitals including the GF1. In many ways I think the GF1 is superior e.g. high ISO, focus, low light focusing, IS (lens only), cost.

If you have Leica glass then by all means pick up a clean M8. You will be able to realize at least 75% of the cost in six months if things go south for you. If you also need to acquire glass then try a GF1 with the 20mm to start.

That's only my opinion of course..
 
If "want to go digital. and i like the feel of a rangefinder", then the Epson R-D1 is another option: as is the M9. Nothing wrong with any of them unless you want the convenience of a zoom lens. Only the M9 will give depth of field equivalent to a full frame 35mm camera. For street work, the greater depth of field of the Epson may be an advantage. May be, I repeat, because "street photography" can mean so many things.
 
Well if you want the "instant feedback" of a digital rangefinder (versus film), then M8 M8u or M9, in order of increasing cost.
OTOH, you could always stick with film and scan the negatives.

For myself, I've upgraded my M8 with the updated framelines & shutter and am using a M6. Just bought a Bessa R3a, a few months ago. 😛

Rob
 
No, you don't want a digital rangefinder. You want an 8x10 inch film camera...

(About as useful a suggestion as Vic's idea of buying a Canon SLR)

Seriously, Rob (baycrest) has it. I found the M8 a great 'street' camera -- there are examples in my Arles coverage for 2009, http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/arles 2009.html -- but the M9 is even nicer.

Cheers,

R.
 
Hello,

If you are thinking of going digital, would suggest you to go for a Full Frame DSLR as Vic said, or straight to M9 if funds are available. 😀

I had gone Digital 3 months ago with M8/GRDIII from shooting M6 and MF, but I missed full frame film and plan to buy a m6/bessa next month.

Here are the bads,

M8 is loud, I had used a G2 for a week, and it is quieter than M8 for its shutter/rewind sound, but the focus sound of G2 is roughly the same as the M8 shutter/rewind sound. Apparently 8.2 is quieter, but still more noticeable than M6.

The battery life is not impressive, I need at least 2 for half a day of shooting, 4 if whole day.

The extra cost for coding the lens, UV/IR filters, special LTM adaptor if using LTM lens, external finder if shooting wider than 32mm (24mmx1.33) are all to be considered.

The reliability of M8 can be frustrating if you got a bad copy, and the repair cost will not be low if it comes without warranty from a good dealer.

After a few months with M8 and over 3000 images shot, I like the camera as a sharp compact daylight shooter, but not without some hate for its battery /banding/frameline inaccuracy

I would suggest to anyone:

If you are still shooting films and quite happy with your worklow and result, keep going with it as films are still being produced and labs can still process them.

But if you felt the temptation of a digital rangefinder, save enough for M9. As M8 will not be the closer replacement of any analogue Ms/Hexar/Minolta than the M9, it is a compromise between analogue and M9. But even M9 will not be a complete replacement of analogue Ms.

Sorry for the long post and some poor english. 😛
 
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thanks, but more questions....

thanks, but more questions....

so, thanks for all the responses. keep them coming.

if money is not really an issue, and funds are available, is the m9 the best option?

again, currently, i use a g2, and have no leica glass. i would like to purchase a leica lens for all purpose shooting, and also def want a digital body.

what are the recommends for a great all purpose lens and a great digital body that will support the leica lens?

perhaps the m9?

thanks for all the suggestions!
 
Same again but different..

Same again but different..

@Roger

Given the difficulty in obtaining M9s, and the difficulty in paying for them(!!) how does the M8 stack up in absolute terms?

I have some 'spare' Leica glass, ie rarely used, and some other toys that could be liquidated to fund an M8 but worry that I would see little benefit other than the immediacy of digital, which is quite an attraction. The rangefinder 'thing' is extremely important to me as I tend to shoot opportunistically, and I just plain like them; I already use Leica glass on a Lumix G1 and have Canon 40D but the camera I carry and grab as I go anywhere is my M7 (or M6 or IIIg or......)

So bottom line, if it was you would you go with the availability and relative affordability of a used M8 or hang out for the undoubtedly superior M9 - which I would no doubt upgrade to as soon as possible anyway.

Pablo
 
Dear Pablo,

M8, no hesitation. M8.2, better still. Likewise M9. But go for the camera you can use NOW rather than the one you have to wait for. The upgrades are nice, but I'd far rather have the original M8 than wait for an M9 on financial grounds.

@Mark. Thanks for the kind words. Those were M8.2 shots. The previous year was M8 but I have to remind the webmaster that Arles 2008 is not coming up at the moment.

Cheers,

R.
 
I agree with Roger's statement above, but I'll recount my own travels through GAS in the hope it may help you with your decision.

Like you, I started with a Contax G1 which I think is a jewel of a camera. I moved to a Hexar RF because I found the viewfinder on the G1 a little small and the autofocus noise was annoying. Having no M-mount lenses I started using Voigtlander glass as it appeared to be the best value for money.

I found I really missed the look the Zeiss G lenses gave so bought some Zeiss ZM lenses, which were very nice.

Around this time the Epson RD-1 was out and the M8 had just been released. I was also using an Olypmus DSLR and the Ricoh GRD and liked the digital workflow.
The M8 was out of my price bracket so I tried a friends RD-1. It was a lovely camera to use in a tactile sense, but I found the sensor size a little too small (my favourite ZM 50mm Planar became far too long) and was unsure that the resolution would be enough, so I stayed as I was.

Anyhow, some time later I happened to be in my local Leica dealer when I suffered a bout of temporary insanity and bought an ex-demo M8 on the spot.
I have been extremely happy with it ever since. So-much-so that when the M9 came out I had a go with one but decided to spend my cash on a 35mm Summilux ASPH instead.

So to summarise.
I started with a Contax G1, but now I have an M8 and am very, very happy with it. An M9 would be nice but doesn't really offer me anything I really need at the moment.
Don't underestimate how much lenses will cost you. After using Contax lenses you may not be happy with voightlander. I believe the Zeiss glass is better, but have now found out that I like Leica glass even more.

These days I shoot mostly with just my M8 and a 35mm Sumilux.
I also still have my Zeiss 50mm Planar and a VC 15mm Heliar (with 21mm finder).

(Incidentally my friend with the RD-1 tried my M8, but decided he liked using his camera and VC lenses and didn't see the need to spend extra cash so YMMV).

Good luck in your quest!

Bob.
 
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more....

more....

all this is really interesting.

what about a lumix gf-1 with a leica 35mm summilux-m f/1.4 asph?

that way, i get the best glass and a decent camera ?

thoughts on this package?

thanks!!
 
Buy the Gf-1 and save yourself a lot of money and trouble.. Great little camera with a nice lineup of lenses and more on the way. Read the reviews where results are compared to the M8. There's no value in a Leica digital especially the M8. It's a boat anchor and not a very good one.
 
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