The M8 is the greatest -

[POINT OF VIEW]

Size maters.

Size maters.

DSLR's are dead simple. Just set 'em on manual and blast away just like the old Nikon F.

What’s the point, why use a big fat expensive DLSR with every electronic picture maker device known to man and than set it on manual. One of the great advantage of any RF camera over a monster DLSR is, size. Bill

 

[POINT OF VIEW]

Right on.

Right on.

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!!!

You not only got it dead on right, but you add a interesting point. I for one would like to see another camera manufacture R & D a digital RF body that would except all the M mount lens. Competition is the mother of invention, ( I think that’s how it goes ). It’s well known that if it wasn’t for Apple, Microsoft would still be using dos. Bill

 

[gdi]

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

Iran is at war?

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

Yes, the first to discover that the M8 has a self healing sensor - when it breaks it fixes itself!

But seriously, all reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt - but some of the problems Kamber experienced irritate me in the safe environments I use it in. Especially the lockups...

 

[gdi]

You not only got it dead on right, but you add a interesting point. I for one would like to see another camera manufacture R & D a digital RF body that would except all the M mount lens. Competition is the mother of invention, ( I think that’s how it goes ). It’s well known that if it wasn’t for Apple, Microsoft would still be using dos. Bill

The R-D1 was truly the minimalist champion, but unfortunately now kaput.

I do hope the next Digital M takes some design queues from Epson and moves more functions from the menu to the top plate. Or, maybe Zeiss will take heed?

 

[victoriapio]

Yes the M8 is NOT the greatest, but it is great enough

Leica can learn some things from the classic R D1s.
1) Taking off the bottom plate to insert cards and batteries is ridiculous, the Epson handled this better.
2) Cocking of shutter: if the user of an M8 could turn OFF the auto shutter cocking and manually cock the shutter via an advance lever - ala Epson - then the noise of the shutter cocking would not be noticeable in those rare situations when any noise is bad.
3) Of course the images from the M8 are superior to the R-D1s, do not compomise the image quality

The M8 is not perfect although the one I purchased from a seller on this site is a recent model with absolutely no problems at all. It was the only camera I took to London for ten days despite a plethora of Canon EOS equipment.

O.C.

The R-D1 was truly the minimalist champion, but unfortunately now kaput.

I do hope the next Digital M takes some design queues from Epson and moves more functions from the menu to the top plate. Or, maybe Zeiss will take heed?