My time with the M8.2

[Roastchestnuts]

I wrote this article for a camera store blog. Its about my take on the m8 and old digital cameras in general. Thought I would share with all the camera peeps!

Digital Dinosaur III: The Leica M8.2 – Tools Of Time

 

[JoeV]

Nicely written article, Robert!

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Nicely written article, Robert!

Thanks! I am really happy with how it turned out. I really tried to get my genuine thoughts on the camera in the article.

 

[micromontenegro]

Great write-up. I don't understand why the M8 B&W doesn't have a cult following.

BTW, nice FJ40

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Thank you for a well-written article. I bought a slightly-used (400 clicks) M8 in January 2010 for $2500. The M9 had just come out.
The M8 version 2 firmware added discrete mode. I use it exclusively. The M8 is the only Leica M with 1/8000th top shutter speed.
The CCD in the M8 and M8.2 have a "higher well capacity" by about 50% compared to the M9. This means it can handle about 50% more photons hitting each pixel before saturating. The full-frame CCD had to be "thinned", meaning not as much material in each pixel.
If you have not tried it, "the button dance and Raw mode, converted using M8RAW2DNG" gives about an extra stop for speed. The trick is to Underexpose the image by 3 or 4 stops, convert to uncompressed DNG, then "push-process" the image in post.

A four-stop push, shot at ISO 160- underexposed by 4 stops.


The image as shot.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Thank you for a well-written article. I bought a slightly-used (400 clicks) M8 in January 2010 for $2500. The M9 had just come out.
The M8 version 2 firmware added discrete mode. I use it exclusively. The M8 is the only Leica M with 1/8000th top shutter speed.
The CCD in the M8 and M8.2 have a "higher well capacity" by about 50% compared to the M9. This means it can handle about 50% more photons hitting each pixel before saturating. The full-frame CCD had to be "thinned", meaning not as much material in each pixel.
If you have not tried it, "the button dance and Raw mode, converted using M8RAW2DNG" gives about an extra stop for speed. The trick is to Underexpose the image by 3 or 4 stops, convert to uncompressed DNG, then "push-process" the image in post.

A four-stop push, shot at ISO 160- underexposed by 4 stops.
View attachment 4859510

The image as shot.
View attachment 4859511

I remember reading about this on the forum. I need to try it out. I had the 8.2 so no 8000th shutter speed. istead it had the odd S mode on the shutter.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Great write-up. I don't understand why the M8 B&W doesn't have a cult following.

BTW, nice FJ40

I know! the black and white is where its at with this camera. I have a m10m now too and the output is completely comparable at similar isos.at least with range of value and mid tones. obviously the m10m blows the m8.2 out of the water in terms of higher ISO though.

Thanks! the fj40 is my pride and joy! been contemplating trading it for a fj55. not sure yet though. I have an entire build thread on another forum - Builds - Salt wagon My first fj40 (build)

 

[Dogman]

Being a nearly 100% B&W shooter, you make the M8/8.2 very tempting, Robert.

I was put off by the age and the crop factor. But the crop factor doesn't sound like a big deal. But age is still a consideration. While I still use (and love) my D3 and D700 Nikons, they were built like sledge hammers and keep on plugging along through hellfire and floodwaters. I know from experience that I'm not as functional as I was in 2006. Can't imagine the limitations put on a mechanical object built for precision (Leica) vs extreme use (Canon and NIkon) over time.

Still, a bit of fanciful thinking is good for the brain cells.



..................................

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I was put off by the age and the crop factor. But the crop factor doesn't sound like a big deal. But age is still a consideration. While I still use (and love) my D3 and D700 Nikons, they were built like sledge hammers and keep on plugging along through hellfire and floodwaters. I know from experience that I'm not as functional as I was in 2006. Can't imagine the limitations put on a mechanical object built for precision (Leica) vs extreme use (Canon and NIkon) over time.

Still, a bit of fanciful thinking is good for the brain cells.



..................................

for 50mm the m8 is a little annoying for me. but 35mm was perfect. age is the only thing I worry about with the m8 as well. I also own a d3 and df and the d3 is the Modern equivlent to the f5. its bullet proof. D3 is also one of those cameras with a unique file look. I did another digital dino article on the d3.

Digital Dinosaur 2: Rise of the Nikon D3 – Tools Of Time

 

[Rob-F]

I had an M8.2 for a while. I remember the color as being, somehow, special, extra-nice. I didn't mind the mild crop factor, but I didn't like not being able to manually enter lens data. Since its finder frame for the 24mm lens gave a 32mm equivalent, I didn't feel I was giving up anything; I just had a slightly wide 35mm field of view.

 

[chuckroast]

I wrote this article for a camera store blog. Its about my take on the m8 and old digital cameras in general. Thought I would share with all the camera peeps!

Digital Dinosaur III: The Leica M8.2 – Tools Of Time

Good article. Thanks for posting.

I had a parallel experience recently.

I shoot 99% monochrome film but I do have a Nikon D750 for digisnapping. But the Nikon is big and I wanted something a bit more convenient for casual shooting. The D-Lux 8 looked nice but has been MIA for months.

Eventually, I found a cherry D-Lux Typ 109, the earlier 12 mpix version of that camera. The B&W performance of that camera just blew me away. It was beyond anything I expected at that price point. The camera goes everywhere with me now.

Examples:

 

[trix4ever]

I wrote this article for a camera store blog. Its about my take on the m8 and old digital cameras in general. Thought I would share with all the camera peeps!

Digital Dinosaur III: The Leica M8.2 – Tools Of Time

Really well written article. I used to write for photo magazines and this reminds me of that. Totally different to bullshit YouTube rubbish, very genuine and covered what I really wanted to know about the camera. I already have too many Leicas but this is igniting more GAS!