The M8 is the greatest -

[POINT OF VIEW]

The M8 is the greatest minimalist digital camera in production today. For the sake of discussion my understanding of minimalism is, less is more.
When you pick up a M8 to start shooting you immediately know your going to shoot in manual mode.
When you look at the controls on the top of the camera you see the very familiar knobs that can be seen on many film cameras. Of course there are differences, but for the most part you don’t have to decide between P, A, M, S, or SCN or CSTM or movies. With the M8, you choose the amount of light you would like to shoot than set the lens to your preferences and fire away. Why would you let the camera make those decisions? I never could understand why a serious photographer would let a computer decide how to focus a world class lens.
Even when you go into the menu the selections are minimal. There are not layers and layers of submenus to dig through. Any experienced film person can use the M8 menu without reading the manual. The layout is near perfect.
When you think about it any camera is a accessory. The lens is the real necessity to capture the perfect picture. That is why Leica stays in the game, it’s all about the glass. The major manufactures constantly try to add one more useless menu / gadget to there camera bodies. I believe the M8 body is, minimally perfect, to use the fantastic Leica M lens.
I fully understand that if you’re a techie or non minimalist, you see the M8 as electronic dinosaur. When I see the M8, I see a sleek design in a minimal well built digital camera. The drawling represents the year 2020 with the Blasto 2020 camera with a time travel feature. Bill

 

[crawdiddy]

Interesting. A future world with giant centipedes, arboreal raspberries, and cartoony reptiles.

I haven't drunk the M8 Kool-Aid, so I can't really offer an opinion. Actually, I can't afford to drink that particular beverage.

Sounds like you're sincere with your praise of the M8. I'm sure many others feel likewise. Some of us still prefer many aspects of analogue photography.

 

[tomasis]

POV, I can relate much to your experience. Especially when switching out from uber hyper super cool cameras with hundreds buttons 🙂

I bet it will come some trolls here. like mushrooms after rain

Kool aid tastes better than finest quality of Russian vodka

 

[Sam N]

Your title says the M8 is the "greatest - ". Don't be so hard on the camera. Surely it has its problems, but I wouldn't call it the greatest minus.

 

[kshapero]

I'm a poor, the R-D1 will have to do, but I enjoyed your post.

 

[Keith]

I sort of agree ... it is a great digital rangefinder but not necessarily a great camera. A great camera wouldn't have had all the well known issues attached to it!

And the evil computer has a healthy input into the M8's existence from it's CNC machined alloy chassis to it's stumbling software performance.

Mind you ... I do love mine! 😛

 

[35mmdelux]

...The M8 is the greatest minimalist digital camera in production today...etc etc

Not under demanding conditions.

Here: http://web.mac.com/kamberm/Leica_M8_Field_Test,_Iraq/Page_1.html

 

[sam_m]

35mmdelux, you are posting very old news, I think you must have missed all the hubbub on that topic recently.

I've had my m8 a little over a week, so far I like it for certain types of photography (street, slow shutter speeds in lowlight, landscapes, wide-angles), it is for the most part useless, however, when it comes to subjects such as professional sports, macro, telephoto and underwater.

 

[35mmdelux]

35mmdelux, you are posting very old news, I think you must have missed all the hubbub on that topic recently.

I've had my m8 a little over a week, so far I like it for certain types of photography (street, slow shutter speeds in lowlight, landscapes, wide-angles), it is for the most part useless, however, when it comes to subjects such as professional sports, macro, telephoto and underwater.

Hi Sam_M,

Judging by the frequency and type of posts, it does not appear to be "very old news" to everyone. Simply read the post title!

Enjoy.

Kodachrome rocks. Try this in your M8.

 

[sam_m]

Hi Sam_M,

Judging by the frequency and type of posts, it does not appear to be "very old news" to everyone. Simply read the post title!

Enjoy.

Kodachrome rocks. Try this in your M8.

While I'll admit the review by Michael Kamber was well writen and good points were made, most people were pretty astonished that anyone would take an m8 to a warzone - once maybe, but to keep taking the camera, knowing its unsuitability, as Kamber says he did, on repeated subsequent trips to iraq, seems pretty silly. We now know the camera isn't up to that sort of abuse, and for Kamber, was certainly far from "the greatest". However, evidently for some people and their style of work, the m8 is the greatest.

There have been a few threads lately titled along these lines, specifically in response to the hatred levelled at the m8, post-Kamber's review. The thread title in that instance is clearly showing a knowledge of that review!

Alright I've said enough, sorry if I've ruffled any feathers.

 

[KM-25]

35mmdelux, you are posting very old news

It's only old news if all the issues have been fixed, which they have not, so it is still pertinent. Having said that, I did a week long journalism / event project which I shot over 8,000 images. 2,300 were with the M8.

It locked up once, had about two mad scrolls a day and otherwise did great.

 

[sam_m]

It's only old news if all the issues have been fixed, which they have not, so it is still pertinent.

From what I understand, all the issues which can be fixed, have been, things like irregular white balance, sensor failures, infrared etc.

Things like weather sealing, fast wide angle lenses (taking the cropped sensor into account) and ergonomics (selftimer and raised buttons on rear panel) are kind of difficult to be fixed without a new camera design.

The one issue which they could fix but haven't is frameline accuracy, by offering a frameline replacement service for frames set to 1m or 1.5m

What other issues are there, that they could fix without redesigning the camera, but haven't?

 

[Doug]

Michael Kamber's "review" does not match my own experience, so I can discount its relevance to me, as I have no intention of going into a war zone. And it's "old news", having been referenced more times than I "need" to see. Let us enjoy the gear and celebrate its virtues and make good pics.

 

[gdi]

Seriously - how many people let the "computer decide how to focus"? I never (or maybe rarely) activate all focus points and let the camera decide. I choose the focus point, put it where I want it, then press the focus button, and get confirmation - I am in total control.

With the M8 I put the focus point (RF patch) where I want it (the camera decides its location - in the center), I turn the focus ring and get confirmation, recompose as needed, I am mostly in control. I think there is an argument that the M8 provides less user control by having fewer focus point options. Same goes for metering options - you have less control and have to live with camera ( or designer) decisions exclusively.

It doesn't hold water that having options results in less control. More minimalist - sure...

 

[newsgrunt]

Imo, because Leica attached the 'professional' tag to the M8, it really isn't fair to suggest that it isn't suited for conflict photojournalism. Professional implies that there is no arena it can't be used in. If an Olympus 5050 can be used in similar (not entirely identical possibly) conditions, surely the M8 can perform likewise.

 

[POINT OF VIEW]

You got one better?

You got one better?

Lots of cool replies, but can any body address the main issue of my entry. I’ll try to simplify it. The M8 is the greatest digital minimalist camera in production. If you know of a better one that uses M lens, please share with us, If you can. I for one would love to trade up. Bill

 

[tomasis]

Thats why it is greatest. Even trolls agree with it, hehe

 

[35mmdelux]

"Michael Kamber's "review" does not match my own experience..."

Kambers review is from a demanding arena and yours might be from where? To be sure, the M8 is great for some individuals. Others, like me, don't want to fart around fixing things after spending large. Life is too short and the M8 does not take Kodachrome or HP5 anyway.

Best regards to you -- Paul

 

[tmfabian]

Kambers review is from a demanding arena and yours might be from where? To be sure, the M8 is great for some individuals. Others, like me, don't want to fart around fixing things after spending large. Life is too short and the M8 does not take Kodachrome or HP5 anyway.

Best regards to you -- Paul

kambers account of his m8 failing in demanding situations is not everyones experience with it in warzones.

bruno stevens
http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0709/camera-corner-the-leica-m8-on-assignment.html

ashley gilbertson
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/4133/extreme-field-test-leica-m8-in-iraq.html

lets face it, with any product, some people will find it unreliable and worthless while others will find it to be the greatest thing since sliced bread.
and just because leica is slow to introduce new cameras doesn't mean that the m8 won't soon be obsolete, the next latest and greatest is always around the corner.
2 years ago nikon didn't even have a full frame camera yet and everyone thought canon would destroy them because of this, now they have arguably the best high iso camera on the market.

 

[eleskin]

M8 is a no clutter camera!!

M8 is a no clutter camera!!

I would say one of the main reasons why I like the M8 are the presence of traditional camera controls. I HATE lcd panel displays with multiple functions. I remember why Pentax included dials on the 645N that replaced the 645 with push button controls. Photographers were asked what they would like by Pentax. Even film based cameras that have these LCD displays baffle me. I teach photography from beginning to advanced, use all matter of equipment in many film formats, and ther M8 in digital. Students would come up to me and say how do I use this camera. Even I would have to take alot of time to get the feel of their camera and would still feel it would be something I would never use because it would slow me down. The M8's genius is that you can pick it up out of the box and start shooting without reading the instructions too much. Pros like to physically interact with their equipment. Some of my friends that have the latest DSLRs find out that they need to shut off 90% of the junk built into in these cameras, and just use a few basic functions to get the job done. Another point: Is it my imagination, or is there a different design philosophy coming from Europe and Japan? European cameras tend to have more traditional controls, and Japanese cameras have all the gee wiz technological junk that gets in the way of pure photography. Maybe the idea that Nikon produce a F3 digital is not that irrational!!!