Should I buy x100 or go on saving for M8?

[Keith]

Considering your lens line up I think you made the right choice.

Enjoy the M8 when you get it ... in spite of a few gnarly bits it's a great camera! 🙂

and post some pics of course! 😀

 

[Spyro]

That makes sense, enjoy!

 

[traveler_101]

Well, I still don't see why you don't pick up an Olympus E-P2 with the VF-2, electronic viewfinder attached the camera's hotshoe. With an inexpensive adapter you could use all those lenses you listed:! The camera is out of production and soon on sale now that Olympus is releasing the E-P3.

 

[klapka]

Well, I still don't see why you don't pick up an Olympus E-P2 with the VF-2, electronic viewfinder attached the camera's hotshoe. With an inexpensive adapter you could use all those lenses you listed:! The camera is out of production and soon on sale now that Olympus is releasing the E-P3.

Some four or five years ago I used to have a Panasonic with EVF, just hate using EVFs since then. Optical viewfinder is a demand feature for me.

 

[jsrockit]

Not to mention m4/3 makes every Leica lens a telephoto lens. 😉

 

[Rob-F]

The M8 is old, fussy technology. And then there are those filters to deal with. Grab the X100!

I find my M8.2 to be anything but fussy. I find it to be quick and easy to use. It's very easy to access any needed functions in the menus, which are very straightforward and without submenus.

 

[mod2001]

if you need AF and HighIso above 1600, buy the Fuji, if not the M8 is still a fantastic camera and i like the pictures much more than the ones from the Fuji, but anyway, the Fuji is a really nice camera too.

Yogi

 

[dbarnes]

To help you use that f2 lens wide open to minimize depth of field, the X100 has a built-in 3 stop neutral density filter. Or so I've read.

 

[Rogier]

I just returned from a week NYC shooing with my M8 + M4-P and iPhone.
What I really noticed is how heavy the M8 gets while lugging it around all day... Being close to B&H I went inside to handle the X100 while is looks really cool but the interface was to confusing. And the viewfinder not living up to my expectations. In short for me its a glorified advanced point and shoot.

If you desire a small portable digital that you might want to check out the Panasonic Lumix GF 2 or a Canon G12 or Nikon P7000.

 

[Dante_Stella]

I own both. If focus tracking is any part of your program, that is the achilles' heel of the X100 (and where the NEX-5 crushes it). The X100 is fine for relatively static subjects or zone focusing, but it can't deal with anything that's moving much. Not that the M8 is that much better, but at least you can learn to keep turning the focusing ring through the shot.

And I know there are flash deniers out there, but if you aren't, the X100 is also a bear for using most types of external flashes - you need to specifically activate the ISO shoe, which tends to surprise you by locking the A mode to a slow speed of 1/30. You can't just switch the flash on and off like you would on anything else (unless you want to go to M mode). I hope the situation is better for the Fuji flashes.

Dante

 

[FalseDigital]

x100 HANDS DOWN!
If I could afford one I'd buy one right now too. I got a chance to play with one once and I can honestly say it feels and shoots wonderful.

 

[JonR]

Personally, I'd get the X100, it's sexy, under warranty, cheaper, smaller, lighter. The only downside is you don't get to put your M lenses on it.

But your M lenses become different on an M8 anyway due to the crop factor, so you may not even like them on the M8.

I don't shoot digital at all, but the X100 is a very nice looking camera, manual controls, and also you a slip it into Auto if you just want to take holiday snaps, ideal really.

Could not have said it better myself.... I just love it and with the size and carry a camera with me much more than before.... It is a perfect combination between an old rangefinder film camera and a digital modern camera... I still have my Nikon D80 and D90 and from time to time I shoot a roll in my Nikon S, S2, S3 but this one I will use a lot!

Jon R

 

[former member]

Some pictures with Jupiter-3's on the M8, put up by different RFF members. I end up with a J-3 on the M8 more than any other lens.

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=104530

 

[PatrickCheung]

I was facing the same problem a while ago. I plopped down the money for an X100 yesterday. Why? Because I couldn't justify the price of the M8... it's almost twice the price, older, second hand, without a warranty, has an older sensor which seems way worse than the x100's, the sensor was the main problem though. Shooting digital for most of my short photographic life... I've come to realize how fussy I am about noise. A lot of times the noise is what's ruining my shots... especially when you start losing detail, contrast and colour at high ISOs. The Fuji could handle low light like a beast, but the M8 seemed to have trouble (from what I saw from sample photos)... it seemed as if even my D200 could handle low light better than the M8!

Anyway, I gathered all the money I saved up and bought the X100. I'm loving it so far... much better than the D7000 + 35/2 combo I usually use. Much lighter, more portable, makes shooting fun :]

Hopefully that helped a bit...!

 

[Mister E]

The X100 is a much more capable camera while the M8 is a more versatile, finicky, red-dotted show piece.

 

[colonel]

The X100 is a much more capable camera while the M8 is a more versatile, finicky, red-dotted show piece.

The M8 produces beautifully clear and sharp pictures at ISO 160 and 320. I have taken great pictures at 640, 1250 and 2500. 2500 has grain and needs P&P but can look good in certain circumstances even in colour.
The extra DOF provided by the 1.3x of the M8 vs the Fuji x1.5 should also not be overlooked.

Its very fast to use. Finally its a beautiful "work of art" and has alot of owners' pleasure.

The X100 is better for high ISO but not pixel level clarity at base ISO. Its also lighter (although the M8 is lighter then most DSLRs and lighter then all with Leica lenses).
The X100 manual focus is rubbish and its auto-focus is not very fast, so you need to understand the focus system, use zone focus, or stick to non-moving subjects.
Otherwise the handling of the X100 is lovely.
Lastly the X100 is fixed at 34.5mm which is aweful for portraits but ok for architecture, landscapes and "in your face" street photography.

IMHO I would prefer the Fuji with a 50mm equiv.

In summary I think they are different cameras and would be careful to compare them.

The X100 is better when you need something to be pocket size or you are taking close-up street type photography in lower light, for all other things, including a holiday camera, I would personally go for the M8 every time.

 

[raid]

Both cameras are digital, and they have their limitations for what I like in photography.
The X100 is a single lens camera with automation. The M8 is not bad, but why have it?

My digital adventures may not last very long. I got the EP-2. It allows me to take good photos, but the film based cameras are a notch higher for manual control and film choice. I have been deliberately using the EP-2 for about 95% of all cases the past few months, other than my trip to Egypt.

 

[colonel]

Both cameras are digital, and they have their limitations for what I like in photography.
The X100 is a single lens camera with automation. The M8 is not bad, but why have it?

My digital adventures may not last very long. I got the EP-2. It allows me to take good photos, but the film based cameras are a notch higher for manual control and film choice. I have been deliberately using the EP-2 for about 95% of all cases the past few months, other than my trip to Egypt.

Because its pictures with a Leica lens are simply superior to most cameras on the market. Combined with the lightweight and form factor its great for those that like the Leica way of doing photography.

Personally I would not compare the Ep-2 to either of these cameras. The micro 4/3s sensor is very poor. I have tried Pannys and Olys and sold them both on bitterly disappointed.

 

[Keyne]

If you already have a Leica then the answer seems obvious to me. M8 all the way. I havent seen the Fuji; it looks nice but its not a Rangefinder. Switching between and M6TTL and an M8 would be very easy from an ergonomic perspective. You would need to factor in the crop and screw on a filter but thats it. No need to learn an entirely new camera with the Fuji. I havent owned a Leica before but I REALLY love my M8. Also, I always used filters on all my lenses so I dont see the filter thing as a problem.

Another alternative... buy one or the other and try them... if you dont like it then sell it. Both hold their value well.

K

 

[carino]

The X100 is a real range finder when you use the optical view finder.
So I think this forum is placed under the wrong folder ;-)

In fact the X100 is a hybrid camera which is one of it's strengths I think.
I have the x100 for 1,5 weeks now and I am very happy with it.
The X100 is the first digital that lured me to finally switch from film to digital.

The X100 is quite different than the M8. You can not really compare them.
When you want to compare the X100 it should be with the Leica X1.
In that case the X100 beats the X1.
The M8 is bigger and heavier and doesn't have auto focus at all for instance.
But has other qualities like changeable lenses.
Remember: the best camera is the one you always take with you anywhere ;-)