T.O.P. - Mike Johnston's impressions of the M8

[Matthew]

...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.

I agree entirely. For the most part I find the user interface very intuitive and the mechanical aspects of the camera are just as responsive as any camera I've ever used.

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.

I don't think you have to be of a "certain age" to feel like you had been missing something in the digital world until the arrival of the M8. I was born in the 70s and completely relate to this feeling. I personally felt like the technology of photography was leaving what I want from a camera behind. I can't stand all the automation of the DSLR world and find it a breath of fresh air that I can have the advantages of digital capture with the simplicity of a Leica M. As for price, yes the M8 is expensive, but no more so than Nikon or Canon's top of the line cameras. Based on how much I'd spend on film, processing and scanning time, I'm going to make up the cost in probably a little over a year.

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 couldn't agree more with this last sentiment. I absolutely love my M8.

 

[galavanter]

If you had a Road Star you'd have enough money left over to buy the M8, and more torque too. 🙂

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.

 

[Joe Mondello]

I don't think you have to be of a "certain age" to feel like you had been missing something in the digital world until the arrival of the M8. I was born in the 70s and completely relate to this feeling. I personally felt like the technology of photography was leaving what I want from a camera behind. I can't stand all the automation of the DSLR world and find it a breath of fresh air that I can have the advantages of digital capture with the simplicity of a Leica M.

That's good to know Matthew. I figured some of us geezers might just be under the influence of nostalgia!😉