Sold M8 because it is bulky considered to other M's

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Hi,

I would like to try an M8, already familiar with other M's and the R-D1s. However no camerashop nearby has one in stock, so I would have to buy one to be able to try one. Before doing that there is one issue I would like to have your opinion on and that is: did you once owned one, but sold it because apart from other issues, you found it is (too) bulky considered to the other M's?

 

[raid]

I never bought one because I cannot put film in the M8. 🙂
I am sure that the dimensions of the M8 can be found online.

 

[Shadowplay]

Hi Ron, I bought mine sight unseen as well. I can notice a difference in feel, but plunk the M8 and MP down next to each other on a table and I can't see it. The bulk is big for me too, I don't want to carry a huge camera, but for me the MP and M8 might as well be the same size - Very little "real" difference between the two.

 

[Harry Lime]

The M8 is pretty much the same size as a analog M.
The M8 is thicker, but after holding it for 10 minutes you'll not notice.


http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leicam8/

 

[Avotius]

Its funny, every time I have used one I thought the extra thickness was great, I have sausage fingers and I never could hold my M6 quite right, probably would be better with the grip but still... I would hope people would sell their M8's for other reasons besides thinking it was too thick...but then again I have seen Leica users do crazier things.

 

[OurManInTangier]

When compared to my old 'classic' M6 it appears a fair bit bigger. However any difference is not noticeable when in use. Of course my TTL M6 is larger than my 'classic' but none are anywhere near as big as my Nikon D3s'.

If you have any concerns about an M8, and there has been a mass of discussion around the various concerns, I wouldn't put its dimensions as a high priority worry.

Mine has the latest firmware, the IR Cut filters and it works brilliantly. Other than a noisier shut wind on than the manual wind on of the analogue cameras I think there is little real difference.

I also purchased mine without viewing, though I negotiated a two week trial period on the basis it was returned in the same condition should I decide not to keep it. I would wholeheartedly recommend getting your hands on one first to at least see if it feels right, its a big expense if you buy and then wish you hadn't.

 

[Keith]

Agree with Avotius ... the slight extra bulk makes it more comfortable in the hand for me.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I held one in my hands and it felt strangely familiar and confy. But then, I own two M6TTL bodies and to me an M6, and even my current M4-2 feel slightly small.

I wouldn't sell my M4-2 because it feels small... but then, people do what they want and I'm nobody to tell them anything.

 

[bradhusick]

Try an M8 with the "Thumbs-Up" attachment and you will love the feel. I recommend a Luigi case with built-in grip too. Do searches here for both.

 

[kdemas]

It's nice and small compared to my M5! Honestly, It just feels slightly different than an M7, certainly not "big".

Kent

 

[zeitz]

I sold my M3 because it was bulky compared to a IIIf.

If you are going to buy a camera as expensive as an M8, wouldn't it be worth the price of a trip to a dealer so that you could try it out, instead of going by other people's opinions?

 

[jaapv]

Hi,

I would like to try an M8, already familiar with other M's and the R-D1s. However no camerashop nearby has one in stock, so I would have to buy one to be able to try one. Before doing that there is one issue I would like to have your opinion on and that is: did you once owned one, but sold it because apart from other issues, you found it is (too) bulky considered to the other M's?

Whereabouts in the Netherlands are you? There is certain to be a shop or user near you.

 

[jky]

...actually like the slight thickness of the camera compared to my old M6. Easier to grasp I find. It's not at all large by any means....

 

[jaapv]

Objectively: the size is exactly the same as the M6TT, just 2 mm fatter. That is of course sligtly higher that the M3, but stil the same width. I have heard very few complaints about the size over the years and never of anybody selling the camera for that reason.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I find the M8 significantly tubbier than the MP -- that 2mm makes more difference than I would have expected -- but like everyone else, I don't find it a great drawback. It's nice to pick up the MP again afterwards, though.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ben Z]

I use the M8 along with an M4, and the difference in depth is visible and tactile between the two, but it's very, very minor in comparison with even a small DSLR like my Canon 20D.

 

[tomasis]

compare M8 to D90 and you'll see that it is pretty small 🙂

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

i think my M7 is already huge compared to my M6. The M8 is even bigger. But i guess it would never bother me.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Thanks all. Here are responses to some of your comments which I really all appreciate:

- finding a dealer will not really be of concern since I am near the Hague, but since it is quite an expensive camera, I consider this enquiry as part of the 'study' before actually decide to go after the M8;

- some argued that it is small considered to a dslr, sure, but since I find dslr's really to bulky for me, its is not a comparison that disolves my worries;

- I feel that my M7 is quite big (and heavy) in my hands compared to the M4-2 (that I sold) and therefore the size of the M8 started worrying me;

- Since there are other issues with the M8, the size, as a potential additional issue became important for me

- Like the screwmount Leicas, the classic M's have always attracted me because of their balanced design (length in balance with hight and tickness to my opinion, were I find the M4 more attrictive e.g. than the M7, and the III more attractive than the IIIf): but I can understand that more technicalities may come for a small part at the cost of design. Anyhow, glad that for almost all of you (and for Leitz) this was no issue. Well for now I think my worries will only vanish (or be confirmed) by holding one actually in my hands before I buy.

thanks again

 

[rolly]

If you are the sort of person who notices the differing sizes of, say, pens in hand, you might notice and object to the Leica M size variations. I was lucky to have a teacher who shot Leicas for 50 years and he started me off with an old M5, his personal favorite model. But he had much bigger hands than I. I objected and he handed me an M4 which felt exactly right. However when i bought my own Leica I got a great deal on an M6ttl-- a beautiful camera, but I ended up selling it and getting an MP, same size as the M4, simply because it turned out those extra millimeters did bother my hand, and that in turn did influence how I felt about shooting pictures.