Thinking about buying a second hand M8

doolittle

doolittle

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Preamble!----------

I got a M6 and 50mm Summicron about a year ago and loving the experience. Have acquired a M3 since also. Shooting slide and black and white. I recently started developing my own black and whites and scanning them, and have been really impressed with the quality of the results.

Most of the time, 50mm is the ideal focal lenght. However I come across a good few occasions where I wish I had a 35mm. Hence I started looking for a 35mm to complement the above. Looking for a 35mm and looking at this site has given me an attack of GAS, especially the threads about selling equipment to finance a M9. I am not in the market for a M9, but the idea of a M8 has taken hold.

I have a D700 and a good few lenses, which have been getting little use since the M6 arrived. I still like the camera, but think of it now more as a medium format rig, which needs planning and dedication to use!

I don't shoot a huge amount of film, so developing and scanning isn't a chore. If I was shooting digital I would probably shoot a few more frames.

Anyway, in my round about way, I am looking for opinions on the M8, and ditching the dSLR!
End of Preamble----------------------

I was thinking along these lines:

1. Just get a 35mm lens (maybe sell a SLR lens to up the budget) and continue as before
2. Sell some or all of my dSLR gear and use it to get a M8, 35mm lens and a 28mm lens (for crop factor). Still shoot B&W with film, use M8 for colour, don't bother with slide.
3. Calm down, let the GAS die down and take some more pictures with what I have. Try to use D700 more.

I have considered other options (e.g. Sony nex with M adapter etc.), but pretty certain it's not for me. I have read up on the the interweb about the M8. I know it has its limitations (e.g. noise on higher iso), but I think I can live with those.
 
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If you're considering an M8 to use with a 35mm field of view, don't forget it's a crop sensor (at x1.3) so, if you do use it with a 35mm, you're actually, in reality, a bugs nadger away from having the exact same focal length you're already using (i.e. 50mm)
 
Hmmm, I'd analyze why you have a D700 and why you are thinking of getting an M8/M9.

To me, it is obvious that the D700 isn't satisfying your needs for "digital", and your GAS has to do with "Leica GAS".

The M8 is a fine camera, but the UV/IR filters drove me to get an M9. And I think it was because I was still shooting regular M's, so I'd always be swapping filters. The 6-bit coding wasn't as big a deal, but I'm glad that I can enter the lens code on the M9.

I also shoot a DMR, but did consider getting a D700 and converting all my R lenses to Nikon mount. I don't quite know where I am on the DMR story yet, because it is a big rig (compared to the M9), and guess what, I have an adapter for the R lens to the M9, which for superwides, will work just fine. I might be saying goodbye to the DMR in future and getting a full frame Nikon DSLR; don't know.

The M8 is a bargain. I doubt that you would go wrong, if you try it out.

Vick
 
I got one on December

I got one on December

It was my Xmas present to myself. After longing for one for many years I looked at the adorama listings and saw two at VERY reasonable prices. I ordered one along w a CV 35/1.4 to give me a near 50 mm range.

I love it. Don't get me wrong, I just did a photoshoot for a political candidate on Saturday. I shot that w my 1Ds2 and my 24-105L lens. There are some things where I want absolute precision and reliability. That's where I use my Canons. Everything else, though, is now the domain of my Leica.

It's light weight, easy to handle and not intimidating at all. It's a great take-anywhere camera. Oh, and the CV is a great lens too. Don't let it's detractors dissuade you from this lens of it interests you.

Oh, also, I've now bought all my Canon cameras used from adorama as well as my used Leica. I've never had a problem. Lenses I tend to buy new, however, as they hold their value better.
 
I love the way I can fit the M6/50mm in my fleece pocket. Can't do that with D700/50mm. On flights M3/M6/50mm/film doesn't take up much room in my hand luggage. D700 means taking Lowepro rucksack. I suppose if I just brought D700 and a 50mm I wouldn't need the rucksack!
However not sure if M6/M8 a better combination for my purposes than M6/D700 (which as a combo I haven't really given a chance). At moment I have settled on M6/Lx3.
I suppose I do have a bit of Leica GAS, especially now that M8 are showing up at, what I consider, reasonable prices.
 
Don't sell the DSLR; it's complementary to the M. Just get an M8 and use the 50 you already have to see how you get along with the camera and the digital process. I wouldn't jump to conclusions about color versus b/w until you experiment with both.

Remember that you can use the frame preview lever to see alternate fields of view. This will help you to determine which, if any, additional lens works for you with the gear you have.

And, if it doesn't work, you can always sell the M8 for about what you paid.

Jeff
 
You do not mention if you rely on income from your photography, I suspect you do not. In that case you are free to use the equipment you like and shoot what you want.

Pick up a used M8. Try it out. If not for you, sell it. Cheaper than renting a camera. M8 prices have been very stanle for the last year.

IR cut filters: with M8 users moving to the M9, they come up used at good prices. I've picked them up for as little as $5 for a 49mm filter, typically $20 for older "Hot Mirror" filters, and $30 and $40 for Leica and B&W filters.
 
Well I was in a similar position to you having used a Nikon D200 for a while, sold that and all lenses to buy my first M8. I quite enjoyed the M8 but it didn't quite deliver what I'd envisaged for some strange reason, part of that I think was that I bought it mint/boxed from a dealer and I was almost afraid to use it and get it scratched.

I then bought an M2 and loved it. I decide this was where it was at "for me" so the plan was hatched to sell the M8 and buy a nice M6 TTL 0.85 which I did. I loved the M6 but still missed having a serious digital camera for added convenience so I went out and bought a Nikon D2X which I loved but the weight and grief in carrying it around combined with people staring at me when I was out shooting made me question why I sold the M8 in the first place so I sold off all my Nikon gear I'd collected lock, stock & barrel to buy an M8 once more.

I soon learned that finally I was now where I wanted to be gear wise and have a very nice outfit that I love shooting with. I now view my "new" M8 exactly as it should be viewed, as a tool and if it get's scratched when used so what and enjoy using it so much more. I still shoot film for most B&W though and love every minute of it but find the M8 a great compliment to my RF film shooting.

My point - Sometimes it can simply just take time and experience to discover what you really want from a camera system. You have to work out what you really need, drop the D700 and you will be faced with limitations unless you can afford both. I just had to accept I can no longer shoot wildlife as physically I cannot hulk heavy gear around any more due to poor health and cannot afford two quality systems. Your situation might be different.

As Brian so wisely said, go to a dealer, handle the camera and give it serious thought before making your decision. The M8, when used correctly, delivers wonderful images and the simplicity of the camera menu when compared to any Nikon or Canon is for me akin to having a millstone removed from my neck and opens up the doors of freedom for a photographer. Most problems have been sorted with the camera but always buy from a dealer to be on the safe side. UV/IR filters are no real big deal and so long as you accept for most colour work you need to use them then it is no hindrance. The VF is beautiful and bright and a pleasure to use.

Find one, have a play around with it and go from there. 🙂
 
I am in the same boat but as I have a D300 i would need to sell off all my Nikon gear to get an M8 and lens. i also have and greatly enjoy my M6 and M3 and Keep telling my self "if i just ditched that heavy SLR and got a digital Leica i could share lenses and life would be great...." Maybe it's just GAS though.

My D300 takes great pics but now would be the time to ditch it i think... 🙂

i can't make up my mind either. i think maybe i will wait and see what you end up doing 🙂
 
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cidereye said:
As Brian so wisely said, go to a dealer, handle the camera and give it serious thought before making your decision.
Click to expand...

Actually, I think Brian (and I before him) made a different point, which is for him to buy the camera to try it out, then sell it (at likely no loss) if it doesn't suit. No substitute for using the camera for real, not just a few moments at a dealer.

Jeff
 
Really appreciate all the replies. I feared by post was a bit wishy washy and rambling to invite serious discourse, but I have been pleasantly surprised!

Thinking it over, I reminded myself I have a few family events over the summer, where the dSLR and flash stuff will come in handy. So I won't be doing anything hasty. It's the closest I come to a 'paid' assignment (the currency being the odd bottle of wine!).

For the moment I will happily continue scanning my black and whites and keep my eye out for a nice 35mm lens.

So, for now, I will contain my desire for an M8, but definitely will consider it again in the future. I will review what lenses I use with the dSLR, and consider selling anything I don't really use.

That's the plan today anyway 🙂
 
As someone who owned an M8, sold it for a dslr, then got back into film rangefinders for most of my photography, and then went and bought a used M8.2, I would say a big yes.

I find the M8 compliments my film Ms, which I still use a lot, rather than replaces them. Sometimes you want the ease of digital, and sometimes you want to put one of your film lenses on a digital body. The irritation of the crop factor and the filters are outweighed by the use and pleasure I get from the camera, and do not justify the huge leap in proce for an M9 for me.
 
Have thought about it some more, and decided to rethink my camera equipment somewhat and do a rejig:

I am going to liquidate my investment in FX Nikon camera gear. So will be selling D700, 14-24 and some other less expensive lenses also, which either don't suit DX or my photography style. It's great equipment, but it just doesn't suit me. I am going to replace it with a more consumer grade DX body. So lighter, longer, more plastic, more menu digging. That covers my need for 'event' photography, macro, tele and flash photography.

For my more personal photography, I am going to get an M8 to complement my M6.
I am thinking of maybe selling my M3 also, if funds are needed. Previously I used the M6 for slide and the M3 for B&W or sometimes one for ISO 100 and one for ISO 400 B&W. The M6 is going to stay doing B&W, but I think the M8 will replace the slide photography as it were.

Thinking M8 rather than 8.2, mainly because M8 more plentiful second hand and prices lower. Though will keep an eye open for both (thoughts and opinions welcome!).

Now currently I have only one RF lens (Summicron 50mm), and it serves me well most of the time. Occasionally I wish I had something wider, where 35mm frame lines would have suited better.

Now with the 1.33 crop factor on the M8, the 50mm will have the field of view of 67mm. This might be nice for portraiture, but definitely not for general purposes.

I had decided to get a 35mm lens to complement the 50mm on the M6. However if the M8 and the M6 are to share a lens, would a 28mm be a more useful combination with the 50mm? Giving a 37mm field of view on the M8 (as opposed to 47mm for a 35mm). 28mm might suit me for travel photography and landscape.

Thanks again everybody who replied, every post worked its way into my subconscious and helped me sees things a bit clearer.
 
If you have the opportunity to go to a Leica Akademie class, you'll have the ability to try an M9 for the day. Most of what's true about the M9 also applies to the M8. I went out and subsequently bought a used M8.
 
Go ahead ... sell the D700, but be sure to keep an image shot at 6400 ISO with the Nikon near by so that when you're cursing the M8's woeful performance above 640 you can be reminded of what your options were!

😀
 
Keith said:
Go ahead ... sell the D700, but be sure to keep an image shot at 6400 ISO with the Nikon near by so that when you're cursing the M8's woeful performance above 640 you can be reminded of what your options were!

😀
Click to expand...

True enough! I bought the D700 for the high iso performance, thinking it would save me lugging a tripod around. However the weight of the camera made up for the lack of tripod, or made me want to use it with a tripod. Plus I find it hard to get out of the 'keep the iso low' habit.
It is true though, I have a fair amount of 6400 shots and the noise control is remarkable.
 
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