vincenzo
Established
I have heard from reliable sources that pre=production samples of the M8 have been presented to the most major and well know photojournalism agencies. These agencies have turned their noses up to the M8.
I can only presume this is because the cameras fall short technologically in some ways as these agencies normally recieve the cameras for free or at a heavily discounted price. Leica want to be associated with their brand and have their photographers use their kit so if its true, its a blow to their marketing.
Well, its just a rumour going around, we will soon find out....
I can only presume this is because the cameras fall short technologically in some ways as these agencies normally recieve the cameras for free or at a heavily discounted price. Leica want to be associated with their brand and have their photographers use their kit so if its true, its a blow to their marketing.
Well, its just a rumour going around, we will soon find out....
Nachkebia
Well-known
Every mangum guys going to get it free? yaamiee 
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Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
what sort of 'reliable sources' are these
Most pro photojournalists and news organizations use autofocus Canon and Nikon DSLRs, so I would not be surprised if the M8 does not suit their needs.
cheers
Most pro photojournalists and news organizations use autofocus Canon and Nikon DSLRs, so I would not be surprised if the M8 does not suit their needs.
cheers
rogue_designer
Reciprocity Failure
It could also be due to legacy adoption of Nikon and Canon kits at this point - with heavy workflow tools in place for their files on location already.
Who knows... too many variables, and not enough information.
Who knows... too many variables, and not enough information.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
I for one am tired of reading and listening to all the rumours floating around out there. It seems that some people just want to see themselves in print or lsiten to themselves talk. It's only a few weeks or so till the announcement and reviews.
As you said Vincenzo, " we will soon find out."
As you said Vincenzo, " we will soon find out."
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Well, in the light of two <highly gaurded because of embargo> but lyrical reports we had in this forum by knowledgeble members who have actually handled the camera, this sounds like err.... just a rumour, and a malicious nonsensical one at that. Indeed why should Leica offer the camera to news agencies that will have, at best, limited use for it? Let's wait and see, I am sure that a month will be long enough for many rumours to turn up.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
I guess it's part of the preliminary rumour lifecycle that some of them are "bad" and others are "good".
Philipp
Philipp
Ben Z
Veteran
I'm sure it would be a feather in Leica's cap if they could advertize that photojournalists have re-adopted the M camera but I doubt that they are counting on that group to become a market for sales. It's not like the mass of current photojournalists ever used Leicas and only just retired them in the last few years because of pressure to "go digital". Photojournalists/news photogs had been using Af Canon/Nikon SLRs for years before digital entered the picture. However all Leica needs is a few "veteran" news/journalists to let themselves be seen with an M8 hanging around their necks, to boost their ad campaign to the true market for the M8, which is guys like us
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
In that case they'd probably pay them so much to be seen wearing the camera, that they would never turn their nose up, no matter how bad the camera....
jaap
Jaap
Leica is a brand that is very very little used by profesionals phtogaphers. So it would be no suprise
T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
I'm sure the M8 would be better recieved if it was equipped with a 17-35mm Af Zoom
Todd
Todd
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
Todd.Hanz said:I'm sure the M8 would be better recieved if it was equipped with a 17-35mm Af Zoom
Todd
Or if it was made of kevlar and bullet-proof
That would be a selling point for photojournalists.telenous
Well-known
I wouldn't be surprised if most PJ's had a rangefinder soul - be it Leica, Nikon, Canon, Contax, Voigtlander or ZI. I would be even less suprised if some of them forked some of their own cash to own one of the M8s, especially if the big photoagencies do not buy the camera for them.
If we, as a bunch, are enthusiastic for the M8, they must be rapturous.
If we, as a bunch, are enthusiastic for the M8, they must be rapturous.
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anselwannab
Well-known
That's not a rumor, its an accusation. Well, its not really an accusation, because the rumor just says its bad, with out any assertions. No mention of ergonomics, work-flow, or image quality, or who even looked at them.
I know a lot of reporters were clammoring for a digital rangefinder during the last election cycle here. Maybe people are so spoiled by AF that the reporters will have a hard time going back. Or maybe some of the high end P&S cameras have good enough high ISO and image stability for quick grab shots for online and magazines that the dRFs missed a window.
I think the only thing you can say is that the M8 will be expensive.
Mark
I know a lot of reporters were clammoring for a digital rangefinder during the last election cycle here. Maybe people are so spoiled by AF that the reporters will have a hard time going back. Or maybe some of the high end P&S cameras have good enough high ISO and image stability for quick grab shots for online and magazines that the dRFs missed a window.
I think the only thing you can say is that the M8 will be expensive.
Mark
R
Rich Silfver
Guest
vincenzo said:
What agencies and what are the 'reliable sources' that you heard it from?
Pretty ridiculous rumour if you have no way of backing anything up and as far as I know it's not a rumour 'going around'.
John Camp
Well-known
Photojournalists, aside from a few Leica enthusiasts who will use it part time, and a few dilettantes, will not use rangefinders. If they were going to use rangefinders, why didn't they use M7s instead of film F5s and Canons? The answer is that SLRs are far more flexible; try to put a 200-500 zoom on your rangefinder; or shoot 1-to-1 macros, for that matter. Try to find dedicated lighting systems for a Leica.
Leicas are specialty cameras; modern photojournalists would no more adapt Leicas and they'd adapt 4x5s or microscopes.
The other aspect is cost. When F5s were big, a lot of my friends carried F5s as frontline cameras, and N90s when they wanted something lighter and handier for routine shots. Same lenses, mostly the same features, and cheap enough that you could break two or three of them for the cost of one F5. Same is becoming true of digital. You could have a $4,000 D2x and back it up quite well with a $1,000 D80; same lenses, files good enough for any photojournalist application.
Leicas are not photojournalism cameras anymore. They once were, they aren't now. The replacement of film with a sensor makes no difference.
JC
Leicas are specialty cameras; modern photojournalists would no more adapt Leicas and they'd adapt 4x5s or microscopes.
The other aspect is cost. When F5s were big, a lot of my friends carried F5s as frontline cameras, and N90s when they wanted something lighter and handier for routine shots. Same lenses, mostly the same features, and cheap enough that you could break two or three of them for the cost of one F5. Same is becoming true of digital. You could have a $4,000 D2x and back it up quite well with a $1,000 D80; same lenses, files good enough for any photojournalist application.
Leicas are not photojournalism cameras anymore. They once were, they aren't now. The replacement of film with a sensor makes no difference.
JC
Mark Norton
Well-known
The fact that agencies may or may not be interested in adopting this camera is as much a reflection of their existing investment in equipment and processes as it might be about the quality of the M8.
The Epson R-D1 sets an absolute baseline of performance and many would say the pictures from it are pretty darn good when you stick a decent lens on the front. The Leica will improve on that, better sensor, much greater commitment to the product's success, higher manufacturing budget, more competent people and on and on and on. The DMR shows what Leica can achieve and I fully expect the M8 to improve even on that. Add the essential Leica M qualities and this thing is going to fly off the shelves and no amount of unsubstantiated troll-derived rumours will shake my conviction of the fact.
Call me blind, call me stupid, but I have two on order, sight unseen and I cannot wait.
The Epson R-D1 sets an absolute baseline of performance and many would say the pictures from it are pretty darn good when you stick a decent lens on the front. The Leica will improve on that, better sensor, much greater commitment to the product's success, higher manufacturing budget, more competent people and on and on and on. The DMR shows what Leica can achieve and I fully expect the M8 to improve even on that. Add the essential Leica M qualities and this thing is going to fly off the shelves and no amount of unsubstantiated troll-derived rumours will shake my conviction of the fact.
Call me blind, call me stupid, but I have two on order, sight unseen and I cannot wait.
photogdave
Shops local
Congratulations on your appointment as Official Spokesman for Photojournalists!
Just kidding.
Not too long ago I was a photojournalist and would have used a Leica if I could have afforded one. (I used a second-hand F801 with cheap Tamron and Sigma zooms for most work and a Canon AE-1 with fast primes for low-light work.) Many PJs I knew around here carried a Leica M with them at all times. I'm pretty sure one or two NG and Magnum photogs still shoot with Leica M.
Leicas ARE still photojournalism cameras, even if not all photojournalists use them!
Just kidding.
Not too long ago I was a photojournalist and would have used a Leica if I could have afforded one. (I used a second-hand F801 with cheap Tamron and Sigma zooms for most work and a Canon AE-1 with fast primes for low-light work.) Many PJs I knew around here carried a Leica M with them at all times. I'm pretty sure one or two NG and Magnum photogs still shoot with Leica M.
Leicas ARE still photojournalism cameras, even if not all photojournalists use them!
agf
Member
Mark Norton
Well-known
Clear as mud! I think it's incredible that in spite of the various dealer briefings, professional briefings, rep briefings, not a single picture of the M8 has leaked out....