So did the M8 earn its keep?

[Avotius]

A question for Mr. Abrahamsson:

Way back in the day you wrote a blurb about the M8 and mentioned in it that you were going to get one. We all know you are a well experienced shooter and quite familiar with probably everything out there in Leica land so the big question is...did the M8 live up to its red dot for you?


Respectfully,
~Colin

 

[Tom A]

Colin, at the time of the M8 (2006 aug/sept) there was a faint rumour going around Leica regarding the making of a dedictaed bl/w version (12-15 Mp). I decided to hold off and wait for that. Of course, they later cancelled the idea, at least for the time being. In general I like the camera, some beefs with the ergonomics (too slippery covering, a bit noisy advance, but image quality was and is top notch.
I have discovered that I am at heart an "analog" shooter. To many decades with fingers in developers and the fumes of various chemicals probably is to blame.
However, if I today had to go back and earn a living as a photographer, I would go digital all the way! Probably Nikon D3's and a M8/Rd1 and every concivable gadget available!!
I think that some of the bad press the M8 has been given is more user ignorance than anything. There were problems with the camera, but none were insurmountable (except the "sudden death" syndrome, that afflicted some). It was probably pushed through a bit too fast, but it also saved the company.
IF someone comes out with a full frame 12-16 MP rangefinder, with a M-mount and a dedicated bl/w mode (not a RAW converted one) and at price that was reasonable ($3500-4000 max) I would go for it. It would be a complementary camera to my M's, probably never my "main" camera.
I do have a digital, a Ricoh GRD which is set on "monochrome" mode and I use it as a notebook and for extreme cose-ups. It is simple, but very good and the fact that you can go down to 1.5 cm in macromode is great for getting a shot of a lens detail or a serial number!
Ergonomiccally I prefered the RD 1 to the M8. The advance lever gave you a nice spot to rest your thumb, the screen could be flipped inward and the camera used as a "camera" without looking at the screen every shot! It also protected the screen from scatches etc without resorting to exotic and expensive glass as an extra cost!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Ergonomiccally I prefered the RD 1 to the M8. The advance lever gave you a nice spot to rest your thumb, the screen could be flipped inward and the camera used as a "camera" without looking at the screen every shot! It also protected the screen from scatches etc without resorting to exotic and expensive glass as an extra cost!

I agree; when I held an R-D1 over a year ago for the first time, I just *had* to buy the camera. Unfortunately, my economic situation then deteriorated, so I had to shelve the idea. But it was enough for me to consider selling the M8 over the R-D1.

But a crop factor of 1.33 vs 1.5, the viewfinder *and* the image quality won out. I got a Luigi case, so the "slipping" part was taken care of.

The vulcanite and the lack of winding lever must've been "Steve"'s idea; or lack of true vision led him not to advocate for them.

 

[Shin Oyama]

Actually the M8 improves ergonomically with Leica's grip. I use a Mini-Softie with it. The classic tends to fall off because of the switch.

 

[Roger Hicks]

For me, no question. If you write for the photographic press, you pretty much HAVE to use digital, and as the M8 is the only digital camera I actually enjoy using, the choice is not difficult.

Sure, I use a DSLR as well (Nikon) and it does some things easier than the M8 (pack shots, for example). But I could earn a living with only the M8, and I'd prefer that to working only with a DSLR.

Cheers,

Roger