Should I get a M8?

[noimmunity]

The M8 is today a dud, and in the future, it will always be a dud.

A dud is like a bullet that doesn't fire.
I think you mean that the M8 is stunted, or grossly limited.

 

[filmtwit]

With all the issues behind a M8, dud seems to fit better then stunted of grossly limited to me.

A dud is like a bullet that doesn't fire.
I think you mean that the M8 is stunted, or grossly limited.

As far as a "Rangefinder experience": M8 is a flat tire and a dud too. Stick to a film rangefinder or save up for M9 or newer rangefinder. You'll be far happier in the long run.

 

[mikeyyah]

I'd like to used this camera mainly for BW photography, so the IR/UV issue is none. After reading up about the camera all night (got to love the internet for that) I decided to pull the trigger and buy it.

I already have the leica m3, but film can get expensive after a few rolls. Even developing them at home, I still have to purchase chemicals.

My reasons for getting the m8 :
-it's a leica m digital
-it shoots lovely BW photographs
-I like the simplicity of leica cameras.

The M9 is a great camera and maybe in the future I'd be able to afford one. That's if my wife says it's okay. =P

Thanks all for your input

 

[jsrockit]

That's what it comes down to. There are better values on the market for IQ and versatility. However, if you want a digital camera with a mechanical rangefinder... a DSLR is not an option. I think people who are comparing the M8 to a DSLR just don't get what is special about rangefinders.

Congrats mikeyyah.

 

[filmtwit]

The M8 does not shoot "B&W", it shoots color that can be converted into "Monochrome."

B&W and monochrome have a number of similarities, but they are not the same thing. Their are a lot of subtitle differences.

 

[noimmunity]

As far as a "Rangefinder experience": M8 is a flat tire and a dud too. Stick to a film rangefinder or save up for M9 or newer rangefinder. You'll be far happier in the long run.

A flat tire I suppose means a wheel that doesn't roll.
But put a CV 35/1.2 on the front, and the M8 not only rolls, it also rocks.

Looking at the photos you got because of having the tool that felt right for you thereby enabling you to make the capture in the moment is about the greatest happiness you can get in the long run from photography. The longevity of the gear itself, which may be an important consideration, isn't a photographic goal in itself at all.

 

[filmtwit]

Horsefeathers. No.

I've been purposely lacing all my posts in this thread with a lot of 20's era slang.
After all, the M8 is a Flivver and a hayburner after all.

A flat tire I suppose means a wheel that doesn't roll.

Also, because of the read/write slowness on the M8, you might not get the shot or follow up shot you were looking to get since the tool isn't really that great a tool to start with.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Come on, filmtwit, you just don't like the M8! 🙂

I'm not in its camp either. That's why I bought a Fuji X100 (not the S, but the previous). I'm still not swayed. And even less convinced about my liking a Leica M9. But then, that's me, who loves traveling and walking with Leica's unmetered bodies and relatively new glass. 😉

 

[hepcat]

Applesauce.
You can easily compare M8 to a modern DSLR and to X100 (not a DSLR).
It's easy, try use all of the above and report back.
You'll get plus's and minus's for each.
But you'll end up with far more plus's for the X100 and modern DSLR then you will for an 8 year M8.
Plus, most of the above will cost less then M8 will.

I would also use an M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7 and MP over an M8.
Actually I already do.
All these film Leica's film camera's are far more usable then an M8.

The M8 is today a dud, and in the future, it will always be a dud.
It is akin to a bronx cheer.

Gee... don't hold back... tell us what you really think! 😉

Your perspective is exactly what I was describing. So why then would you ever shoot any of the film M bodies rather than Nikon F or Canon F1s? Obviously the rangefinder works for you if you shoot M bodies. Now here's the catch... no other digital camera has a rangefinder with interchangeable lenses. The X100 is a nice camera it doesn't have a rangefinder. I've not had one, but I've had the XPro-1 and the autofocus is less than satisfactory, and manual focus with the OVF can't be done. "Modern" DSLRs don't have rangefinder/bright line finders. None of them have the features of the M8 or M9. They're just not an M8.

So you're left with comparing applesauce to orange juice. Sorry. You can compare them, but the comparisons are pretty meaningless as they just don't have the same features.

With all the issues behind a M8, dud seems to fit better then stunted of grossly limited to me.

As far as a "Rangefinder experience": M8 is a flat tire and a dud too. Stick to a film rangefinder or save up for M9 or newer rangefinder. You'll be far happier in the long run.

Then, for you, the choice is simple. Don't bother with one. Just don't try to dictate MY choices 'cause I just don't see this the same way you do. I've done the "pro" DSLR route, and I've had Fuji and the failures of both of them drove me back to Leica and the Leica digitals particularly.

The M8 does not shoot "B&W", it shoots color that can be converted into "Monochrome."

B&W and monochrome have a number of similarities, but they are not the same thing. Their are a lot of subtitle differences.

Actually, it shoots "RAW" which it then converts to b&w .jpgs which are excellent. It's difficult to tweak the original RAW file to get what the camera does for native .jpg output which is what makes it special.

 

[hepcat]

I'd like to used this camera mainly for BW photography, so the IR/UV issue is none. After reading up about the camera all night (got to love the internet for that) I decided to pull the trigger and buy it.

I already have the leica m3, but film can get expensive after a few rolls. Even developing them at home, I still have to purchase chemicals.

My reasons for getting the m8 :
-it's a leica m digital
-it shoots lovely BW photographs
-I like the simplicity of leica cameras.

The M9 is a great camera and maybe in the future I'd be able to afford one. That's if my wife says it's okay. =P

Thanks all for your input

Congrats! After all this chatter, you'll have to tell us how you like it after you've used it for a while.

 

[filmtwit]

Fiddlsticks.
First, I mostly shoot on an M7.
50 years of refinement on a film rangefinder design.
It's cat's meow.
I can do far more with m7 then I ever could with the M8 I had.
I'm also not a pushover or a Mrs Grundy about the M8.
Not everything Leica made was good, let alone great.

I had an M8 for about 6 months.
I found it to be nearly useless tool.
It was Leica's first attempt at digital camera and it shows.
It's totally ossified and a pill.
It was like buying the first year of automobile or really anything "tech". meaning it was filled with lots of problems and was really "Beta".
I see no reason to pay good dough to test a product for anyone.

Leica has refined it's digital rangefinder. If you want a digital rangefinder, get one like the M9, M9p, 240, M-E, or even the Monochrome.
but M8 was a beta attempt at one and should be skipped.

If you really really really want digital rangefinder, save your dough up for real mccoy. Don't spend it on something that's going to disappoint ya.

Your perspective is exactly what I was describing.

 

[______]

If you want to buy an M8 because you can't afford an M9, have you looked at the cost of Leica lenses?

 

[filmtwit]

It doesn't convert to B&W, it converts it to monochrome.

Again B&W and monochrome are similar, but not the same.

After all Leica doesn't make a Leica M-B&W digital camera, it make s a Leica M- Monochrome camera.

Actually, it shoots "RAW" which it then converts to b&w .jpgs which are excellent. It's difficult to tweak the original RAW file to get what the camera does for native .jpg output which is what makes it special.

 

[mikeyyah]

I stand corrected. I want it to shoot monochrome

It doesn't convert to B&W, it converts it to monochrome.

Again B&W and monochrome are similar, but not the same.

After all Leica doesn't make a Leica M-B&W digital camera, it make s a Leica M- Monochrome camera.

 

[filmtwit]

Now that's swell!!
😎

I stand corrected. I want it to shoot monochrome

 

[raid]

The B&W images from the M8 are very special, and I like them without the IR cut filter.
No non-Leica RF camera accepts a Summicron on it, and once you have used Summicron lenses on the M8, you will be amazed at the beauty of the resulting images.

 

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