M8 - What A Fantastic Camera !

[Sonnar Brian]

Of course I love mine even more when I found the framelines were "simply made for" the Nikkor 8.5cm F2 and Nikkor 10.5cm F2.5. Just like using the F-Mount 85/2 and 105/2.5 on the F2. After all, they're not 🙂actually🙄 marked 75 and 90...

Very thoughtful of Leica, indeed.

 

[ampguy]

good info.

good info.

But shooting all in color allows you to easily use the color channels as b/w filters in Picasa. You'd lose that capability (at least the easily part), if you shoot in mono mode.

If you know you are going to be outputting only B&W files, consider configuring the camera to write both a JPG & RAW and designate the color space to monochrome (B&W). This will give you a quality preview/review of your shot in B&W and you still have the RAW file if you eventually need color. If your shot is well exposed for many situations the JPG will be adequate. The M8.2 renders slightly different than I tend to do manually in B&W conversions with PS CS3. I find it interesting to compare the results.

ALSO, if you plan to shoot only B&W, consider leaving off the UV/IR Cut filter or substituting with a common UV (skylight) filter. The added IR in the file makes for some interesting levels in the shadows, seemingly more shadow detail than should be expected, sometimes not and only typical shadow detail.

Unless you plan to shoot a 28mm or wider, lens coding isn't really an issue as it serves primarily to correct color shifts in the corners which can also be corrected in post with CornerFix.

 

[Ming Rider]

M8, 25mm Voigtlander and Lightroom 2.

Everything a growing boy needs.

 

[Ming Rider]

Well that's easy ... the OM-1 of course! 😀

Shooting black and white with my M8 will be it's primary usage from now on and I'm curious about how others approach it. You obviously choose to shoot raw and convert the files but I've heard that the black and white jpeg setting produces very good results and after quickly checking I have to agree. At 2500 ISO the noise produced is not unlike grain with a little work in post processing after converting the file to a tif!

I mainly shoot B&W. My favoured method is to shoot RAW then convert to B&W in Silver Efex or Alienskin Exposure, though IMHO SilverEfex is more authentic.

 

[jaapv]

I use Rollei Retro for B&W images I want to look like film...🙁 (and an M3 or IIIf 😉)

 

[alifil]

I love everything about the M8. It handles like an M (I have a d700 for it's high-ISO capabilties, but oh! handling that thing: it's very hard not to feel totally disconnected from everything that surrounds you), and I love the files that come out of it.



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[GrahamWelland]

I agree. All the M9 hype has made some people forget just how good the M8 really is.

 

[peterm1]

I am very pleased to read this good feedback. I am a long time Leica user but have moved more and more to digicams, now shooting Nikon DSLR a lot simply because its affordable and gives good quality images relatively speaking. But I would love to put my Leica kit to proper use again. Although I try to keep at least one film camera loaded and on the go I find it hard to shoot film regularly for a variety of reasons. I must have a dozen or so Leica M and LTM and Canon LTM lenses (various vintages) that I could use and am itching to do so. I do not mind shooting with a cropped senor at all - in fact I think I prefer it as I am not a wide angle kinda guy. So an M8 has been in my sights for a while.

 

[alecgold]

And the M8 is nicely priced right now. I don't think it gets much lower than it does right now IMHO.
Some are getting very nicely used M8's for 1400 dollars. I got mine as a demo and paid 1400 in euro's but it was superb clean and said to be factory refurbished. If it was ever used at all. (that's how clean, unused it is)
So if you already have a lot of lenses laying around, try to get a M8!

 

[Ming Rider]

Yes.

Let's raise the people's army and march the streets, waiving banners and shouting the strangely catchy phrase, "The M8's rather good and currently represents incredible value for money. Yes, really. Buy one."

 

[jarski]

Let's raise the people's army and march the streets, waiving banners and shouting the strangely catchy phrase, ...

careful! no doubt so many people would attend that riot police would have to be called for security 😎

 

[Ming Rider]

careful! no doubt so many people would attend that riot police would have to be called for security 😎

Would be a laugh though. Maybe David Hasslehoff could come along and do a few `numbers`.

 

[ramosa]

i agree. the M8 has completely changed how i shoot and augmented my love for photography.

 

[Vern Dewit]

Good to know since I have an M8.2 in the mail... 🙂

 

[alifil]

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I love it, it's a fantastic camera.