Need a system opinion from real world M8 users

[MacDaddy]

Here's my dilemma: I'm in the middle of a photo book project and have been using a Pentax K10D system to date without a lot of satisfaction, particularly with its AF and quality of photos. The book will feature LOTS of architectural (Insides, as well as outsides of buildings) and people shots in color.
I'm considering dumping the whole system before I get too far into the project and getting either a:
Nikon D3 FF with their new 14-24mm/f2.8 or 24-70mm/f2.8 lens OR an M8 and ???. I have a possible budget of no more than $7,000 to buy everything I'll need. I prefer wide primes, don't mind buying demo or used (Probably from Tony), have to stay with a digital workflow and am willing to be creative using just a single lens. I absolutely have to have the best IQ from that lens (or lenses) for this book, however, so those of you who actually own and have used an M8, suggest away!
Thanks,
Rob W

 

[vrgard]

Sorry, Rob, I can't help answer your question but may be interested in your K10D if you decide to sell it.

-Randy

 

[cuss]

Hi there,
first of all let me say I'm not a pro.
Also I'm not very into architectural photography.
That said, I'm not sure a rangefinder camera is the best tool for such a duty, mainly because framlines inside the viewfinder are not that accurate.
Also, for wide angle lenses you must use an external viewfinder (which is probably less accurate than the internal one).

I own an M8 and I love it so, if I was a pro, I would very like to be able to work with it, but I really fear it's not the best camera for your job...

Consider, however, to subscribe to the http://reidreviews.com/reidreviews/
site, it's mainly focused on rangefinder & the M8 (but there are also other interesting stuff about SRL too).
I understand this is a very important decision for you and I believe the 30 or so dollars for the subscription may be well worth it (either if you find out that RF is for you or not).

Sorry, can't help anymore.
Good luck with your job, and keep us updated on it!

cuss.

 

[etherfarm]

Architectural photography in and of itself is a huge field. You could use your M8 for these purposes if you review your shots on the LCD screen or shoot live to a laptop. As a previous commenter mentioned, the framelines on a rangefinder don't generally lend themselves to precision, but digital compensates.

Two pro photographers I know do architectural photography almost exclusively. They both use Canons with tilt-shift lenses. If you're just moonlighting, find a wide-angle rectilinear lens. The Leica 24mm Elmarit is a great one. But that's just assuming you are doing interiors or are shooting exteriors up close. For some architectural photography you need a telephoto...

Also, consider that for $7,000 you might be able to hire someone who knows what they're doing. I don't mean that as an insult--I don't know if you're doing this book for a client or an editor or if this is part of a large project, personal or business.

 

[Rafael]

If you opt for a DSLR system for architectural photography, you might want to consider going with Canon over Nikon (I say this as someone who uses a Nikon system). As etherfarm writes, tilt and shift lenses are very useful for architectural photography. Canon has two in their lens line-up (24 and 90). Nikon only has one (85). Also, the D3 will be Nikon's first full frame DSLR. For less money, you could probably get one of the Canon full frame DSLRs used and in good shape. An advantage to going this route would be that you would be getting a body that has had the bugs worked out. Finally, if you prefer wide primes, why not look at the offerings from Zeiss, Nikon, Canon, etc. rather than the 14-24 or 28-70? Good luck with your search.

 

[Richard Marks]

Either of the options you suggest are infinately better than your current system, but if that much is at stake you simnply have to try a few things out. Image size is not an issue (assuming the book maximum image size of A4?). There are very few Nikon D3 users at the current time so getting user information on that is going to be limited (particularly on this forum). If you ask people on an M8 forum what they think about the M8 they will say great!(me included) Equally if you ask Nikon users on a Nikon site they will say the same. Im sorry if this sounds dismissive, but the only opinion that counts is yours and to form that you have to try all the options and see what suits your style. If you are serious about best possible image quality, and perspective is important, you need a view camera and scan the 5x4 slides.

Best wishes

Richard

 

[zeitz]

I you go with a zoom, select it carefully because they tend to have bad distortion of straight lines. Not good for architectural photography.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Rob,

I'd cheerfully go for an M8 for this, with 'perspective correction' in Photoshop. I do have a fair amount of experience of architectural photography with a variety of formats, including some professional work, and from the little information you give, I'd not worry. Lenses? Primes will give less distortion than zooms, and more speed. How much speed you need, and what focal lengths, I don't know, but I'd suspect one serious wide-angle in the 15-18-21mm range plus a 'standard' 28mm or 35mm.

The only time I've tried a shift lens (PC Nikkor) on a digi (D70) it worked far better than I expected but I'd not like to make guesses about a D3. Then again, Photoshop solves that problem anyway.

Another option is WA MF for 'serious' architecture + M8 for people.

But $7000 is a tight budget.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Paul Kay]

I shoot a variety of material professionally but you might be interested in hearing that for interior and exterior building photography and low light interior people photography I still use a Canon 1DS (fixed shots taken at base ISO of 100 on a tripod, hand held low light images at a max of ISO 400) and own Canon's fast primes from 24~135. If you are happy to buy used this is still an excellent camera for this type of job and is (relatively) cheap, can be fitted with a grid screen (I have mine with one fitted) and has a good range of fixed primes, and several shift lenses available plus you can use Nikon, Leica R, and other lenses via adapters if so desired (due to a wide lens throat and viable mount to sensor distance).

I've just bought an M8 and it is lovely, produces beautiful images and can be carried around all day long without feeling its weight, but for me its strengths really do NOT include architectural or interior photography where a high degree of precision in composition and levelling are required - I would say that these are much better and more quickly assessed using an dSLR.

 

[dee]

i am an Interior Designer and have always used an SLR with 24 to 35mm f1,8 + 85 mm f2 Rokkor lenses + tripod / ASA 400 for all my record / work , though not as a professional photographer .
I also love architectural details .
Indeed , my ASD means that buildings are a '' safe '' subject for me , they don't change much !
I now have an M8, and am relearning totally what was once automatic .
BUT , for me , with ASD , the familar interface of shutter dial and aperture ring is the factor that clinches it for me , but this may not be an issue for those not fixed on the old methods .
It's much easier to focus in dim light , but the framing is an issue - but I was used to slides .
But I am unsure about more close up details - not macro , just close focusing , and a lense which focuse closer ia my 1st priority - and my question to this august panel is - does framing become an issue on extreme close ups ?
My experience of architectural details is that an 85mm lense is usually adequate , and a humble 135mm is as long as I need, I am informed that this will be fine with the rangefinder , but I have yet to explore that avenue.
If I were concentrating purely on interior / architectural work , I would consider a Canon tilt-shift lense , and the , to me , safety factor of seeing what the lebnse sees ... having said that I would not give up my 50s camera with '' digital back '' for ANY SLR !
I can only concurr with the rael people on this forum - if I were being professional , I would hire a kit from the Canon set up , and one from Nikon , but finding a Leica set to try will be tricky . I would go for the Canon , because of the greater flexibility in architectural photography , Nikon more for reportage ?
dee


dee

 

[jaapv]

M8 and CV 15 are well within the budget

 

[StuartR]

If all you are doing is a book, what makes you think you need to change systems? The images displayed are probably only going to be 8x10 at the largest depending on the size of the book with fairly low print quality compared with a silver or inkjet print. Your K10D is more than up for that. Pentax makes very good lenses and the results should be good. If you are dissatisfied with the results of the AF, the AF in the M8 is worse! Trust me. The D3 is great and all, but do you need to shoot 9FPS and ISO 6400 to do architecture? I am not trying to be a jerk, I am just playing devil's advocate. If you want a new camera system, get one, but it doesn't sound like you need one from the description of the project. If you want a new one for this sort of thing, I think it would be very hard to beat the 5D. It is full frame, there are tilt-shift lenses, and the AF is very fast. It is also much cheaper than 7000 dollars even with several great lenses.

For the record, I use an M8 among a number of other things, but I do different types of photography.