T.O.P. - Mike Johnston's impressions of the M8
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R
ray_g
Guest
"And if you really get used to a Leica, nothing else will serve, either. It kinda gets under your skin. You get used to having nothing available but prime lenses—no zooms—in set increments within a fairly narrow range of focal lengths. (.72X Leicas can use lenses from 21mm to 135mm, but for practical purposes their best range is from 28mm to 90mm.)"
21mm?
21mm?
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scho
Well-known
ray_g said:
Yep, I like the CV 15 on the M8 better than the 21.
R
ray_g
Guest
Hmmm. Does the M8 have built-in framelines for the 21mm (that would be a 28mm equivalent, right?)?
scho
Well-known
No, 24 is as wide as you can go with built-in frames in the M8. I use an external 28 for the 21 and external 21 for the 15.ray_g said:
R
ray_g
Guest
Thanks for clarifying. I guess that is what confused me about MJ's statement, that the 0.72x Leica's can be used with lenses as wide as 21mm. He was probably just referring to the range of Leica M-mount lenses in general, not in relation to the body's VF magnification.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
With all due repsect, a 0.72x viewfinder for a 21? It is pretty darn tight in there for a 28.
AGeoJO
Established
ray_g said:
Yup, as SCHO already mentioned, the largest frameline is indeed 24mm. But there is space between the 24mm frameline and the actual edge of the viewfinder. That was roughly my frameline for 21mm lens 🙂 . Since it is digital you can view at the actual image on the LCD display and reframe another shot if needed.
mfunnell
Shaken, so blurred
And now Mike J's look at the downside (for him) of the M8
And now Mike J's look at the downside (for him) of the M8
http://theonlinephotographer.blogspot.com/2007/04/leica-m8-pro-and-con-con.html
And now Mike J's look at the downside (for him) of the M8
http://theonlinephotographer.blogspot.com/2007/04/leica-m8-pro-and-con-con.html
aizan
Veteran
leave it to mike to write the best review.
Chaser
Well-known
Even more interesting is his posting on the Flickr stream of Bud Green's excelent photos.
Rico
Well-known
MJ conveys a lucid user impression. I read both sections (Pro/Con), and remain deeply ambivalent about DRF. His comments about "riding shotgun", grinding motors, reduced feature set, and ignoring the LCD are suggestive. They suggest to me that Leica AG should significantly devolve the digital M generally, while placing every monetary resource to the sensor. The M cannot compete in price or feature with a Japanese DSLR (now made in Thailand and China). Leica can compete with its distinct M design, brand cachet, long-term support, and quality optical system.
In detail, devolution includes the elimination of the LCD which sucks power and fattens the body profile. Motors can go, with the thumb-driven lever providing motive power (like the R-D1). Shutter lag should be reduced. Sensor excellence is imperitive: 1.00x factor, perfect infrared filtering, handling of symmetric lenses (microlens technology).
I believe this "pure" digital M will satisfy the loyalists, while attracting new blood eager to experience the mystique. A niche market needs nothing else - vive la différence! Meanwhile, Leica is free to collaborate with Panasonic on whiz-bang electro-wonders until the cows come home.
In detail, devolution includes the elimination of the LCD which sucks power and fattens the body profile. Motors can go, with the thumb-driven lever providing motive power (like the R-D1). Shutter lag should be reduced. Sensor excellence is imperitive: 1.00x factor, perfect infrared filtering, handling of symmetric lenses (microlens technology).
I believe this "pure" digital M will satisfy the loyalists, while attracting new blood eager to experience the mystique. A niche market needs nothing else - vive la différence! Meanwhile, Leica is free to collaborate with Panasonic on whiz-bang electro-wonders until the cows come home.
R
Robert
Guest
I have my M8 and for what I photograph in B&W, street photography I love it.
I love the size, the camera quality and the convenience of digital i.e. adjusting the ISO and colour and B&W preferences.
I am not too happy about the screen getting very greasy and dirty using the camera. My Leicatime cover will protect this.
I use this camera as I would my M6 and my G2.
I suppose my E1 is a better camera in a lot of ways but for what it does the M8 is hard to beat.
I LOVE MY M8
I love the size, the camera quality and the convenience of digital i.e. adjusting the ISO and colour and B&W preferences.
I am not too happy about the screen getting very greasy and dirty using the camera. My Leicatime cover will protect this.
I use this camera as I would my M6 and my G2.
I suppose my E1 is a better camera in a lot of ways but for what it does the M8 is hard to beat.
I LOVE MY M8
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
For $1,500 to $2,000 I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I'm like Mike in that I'm not "upscale" enough to put down $5,000 on anything I can't drive to work...
I do think his reviews are the best so far.
I do think his reviews are the best so far.
R
Robert
Guest
I don't have a lot of money but I gave up motorcycling and sold my Harley Roadking and bought the Leica, I also bought my M8 from a firm in Austria saving £400, this saving will get me a Leicatime case and a Voigtlander 28mm lens.
I didn't buy this camera without a lot of thought and sleepless nights trying to justify it, then I saw the opportunity to get it at £2560 and after asking the seller 6 or 7 questions I jumped in and haven't any regrets.
I didn't buy this camera without a lot of thought and sleepless nights trying to justify it, then I saw the opportunity to get it at £2560 and after asking the seller 6 or 7 questions I jumped in and haven't any regrets.
ferider
Veteran
Robert said:
Hmm. My GAS is bad enough but it will never come to that (in my
case it would be a Fatboy, though).
Don't get me wrong - enjoy the camera.
Roland.
AusDLK
Famous Photographer
>I don't see the M8 as a 'status' symbol at all. [from someone's comment]
Baloney.
Baloney.
rvaubel
Well-known
AusDLK said:
Actually Leica is the perfect status symbol as the "common folk" don't even recognize the camera at all. Just like a IWC wristwatch has more status than a Rolex, at least among a subset of the aficionados
John Camp
Well-known
ray_g said:
Yeah, but the review suggests that he doesn't use the viewfinder much -- he just sets the lens (without putting it to his eye) and shoots (knowing what he'll get from experience.) Wouldn't doubt it, to tell you the truth -- shoot enough, and I doubt that you'd need precise frame lines.
I don't think it's "baloney" when somebody says his Leica isn't a status symbol. A status symbol is mostly in the head. From what I've seen on this forum, a lot of people who own M8s owned RD1s before the M8s. So why did they do that? The status of owning an Epson? Is it possible that they just like rangefinders, and sacrifice something to get one, and they actually do use it to shoot pictures? 🙂
Joe Mondello
Resu Deretsiger
I first posted this in DP Review . . .
Just read it and I get his points. On an absolute scale the M8 is a luxury, but I can't say that I agree with the idea that it is less responsive than other digicams -- that just isn't my experience so far.
The thing that Mike misses a bit is that for photographers *of a certain age* -- by which I mean born around the middle of last century and including me -- the Leica brings back a feel to photography that has been missing for many of us for a long time. Sure it's pricey, but it's also very high quality -- and Nikon and Canon also have digicams in the $4-5K price range, so it is certainly not alone.
The Leica M8 -- as a picture taking thing -- has its shortcomings, no doubt, but as an extension of the photographer's mind, it offers something far more important, at least to me -- a better sense of connection with what I'm shooting.
I'm not sure how to say it, but the M8 slows me down and makes me think (just as any good manual RF camera would), feels great and I like what I'm getting with it. Does it replace my D200 with it's huge lenses? For some things not a chance, but as a camera I WANT to shoot with, absolutely.
Another thing about the M8 is that I seriously doubt it will be a collector's camera as some recent Ms have been. Who collects digital cameras after all?
In cost terms an M8 with a selection of Voigtlander glass costs about the same as an equivalent high-end Nikon or Canon system -- one will likely spend $6-8K before being "done" -- but the camera I *want* to take when I go out is the Leica -- what's *that* worth? I can't put a price on it.
It may strictly be an age (and means) thing, but for me the Leica M8 is the digital camera I've wanted for a long time without even knowing it.
Personally I think Leica will sell all the M8s it can make -- just try getting hold of some of the newer Leica glass and you'll see what I mean!
For younger folks, just coming up, there may be better choices -- there are certainly enough to choose from.
I'm glad Leica made the M8, and I'm glad I decided to get one.
Just read it and I get his points. On an absolute scale the M8 is a luxury, but I can't say that I agree with the idea that it is less responsive than other digicams -- that just isn't my experience so far.
The thing that Mike misses a bit is that for photographers *of a certain age* -- by which I mean born around the middle of last century and including me -- the Leica brings back a feel to photography that has been missing for many of us for a long time. Sure it's pricey, but it's also very high quality -- and Nikon and Canon also have digicams in the $4-5K price range, so it is certainly not alone.
The Leica M8 -- as a picture taking thing -- has its shortcomings, no doubt, but as an extension of the photographer's mind, it offers something far more important, at least to me -- a better sense of connection with what I'm shooting.
I'm not sure how to say it, but the M8 slows me down and makes me think (just as any good manual RF camera would), feels great and I like what I'm getting with it. Does it replace my D200 with it's huge lenses? For some things not a chance, but as a camera I WANT to shoot with, absolutely.
Another thing about the M8 is that I seriously doubt it will be a collector's camera as some recent Ms have been. Who collects digital cameras after all?
In cost terms an M8 with a selection of Voigtlander glass costs about the same as an equivalent high-end Nikon or Canon system -- one will likely spend $6-8K before being "done" -- but the camera I *want* to take when I go out is the Leica -- what's *that* worth? I can't put a price on it.
It may strictly be an age (and means) thing, but for me the Leica M8 is the digital camera I've wanted for a long time without even knowing it.
Personally I think Leica will sell all the M8s it can make -- just try getting hold of some of the newer Leica glass and you'll see what I mean!
For younger folks, just coming up, there may be better choices -- there are certainly enough to choose from.
I'm glad Leica made the M8, and I'm glad I decided to get one.
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