tried an m8 today...

fondling an m8 is the gateway drug ...... then you want one, then you will want an m9, then you will be smoking crack in an alley, back alley that is .........

I've been a stout RD1s user, and will continue to be, but I did just order a used m8 with full upgrades and one year warranty from Calumet at a great price.
The salesman didnt even know how to check for # of actuations, I had to guide him through it based on my Google search info, Hexidecimals and all.

For anyone who is interested, they have another M8 demo for $2700 but with full warranty, probably 2 years.
 
Being used to my R-D1, when I held an M8 I felt right at home, like my M6. I found the lightmeter reading easier to see and the speed dial was smoother, so it felt fine to shoot like I shoot with the M6 (The R-D1 stays pretty much all the time in AE and the EV compensations). Better framelines, better build, I didn't find the shutter noise to be much louder than the R-D1's and the advance sound is OK with me if I can delay it (firmware solves that).

My only 3 issues are 1) price, as it costs almost twice as the R-D1, 2) IR filters, as I hate using any kind of filter because I shoot against light sometimes and I dislike the reflections when doing so (maybe I just didn't have the best filter) and 3) the noise level at high iso everybody complains so much.

...though I've just downloaded a sample raw file @ iso2500, edited it quickly and the noise level is similar to the one I get on the R-D1 iso 1600 files. So I'm thinking I should cross that third issue out...
 
Joe - you are toast!
Having handled that digital M, you will get one sooner or later!

I did as well after loving the R-D1 soo much (still keep mine).
The M gives a few upgrades on top of the R-D1 (namely even more detailed files with higher resolution on top) and has a few downsides (ergonomics with missing manual dials).
I love my M8.2 and use it as my 90% camera.

I have a strong aversion against anything looking like a camera or laptop bag or expensive at any kind. I use messenger style bags since I can think and have a good count on used and used out ones behind me.

For my daily deeds, I use at the moment a 1 year old and well proven The North Face Messenger Bag (my second North Face M bag).

It looks similar to this one (but in black):
88350.jpg


The North Face are very affordable (mine was 40 EUR full price) bags, that are actually not made for heavy weights, but this one and the Base Camp line (water proof) are very well made bags.

I use a Herringbone camera inlay with dividers (20,- EUR) for three cameras with lens (M8.2 + Noctilux, M7 + 35 Lux ASPH, FM3a + 50 f1.8) and one old Lowe Pro lens pouch with zipper for bits and pieces (film, batteries, SD cards, reader).

I carry additionally one 15" Mac and personal stuff in it.
I changed the shoulder pad to the fantastic Crumpler pad from my "billion dollar home bag" and I am amazed, that this bag still lives!

It is THE perfect messenger bag, to carry two RF cameras and 2 − 4 additional lenses, if needed.

I made a 4 days airplane trip to France with just this bag and:

M8.2,
M7,
15 Heliar M,
Frankenfinder,
35 Cron ASPH,
90 Cron pre A,
135 APO Telyt,
10 rolls film,
4 batteries for M8,
tooth brush,
2 T-shirts, etc
mobile+charger,
trash bags,
tape

That sounds big, but the bag really is one of the small messenger bags!
The best is, that nowadays, every kid wears a North Face bag, which really doesn't look like a few thousand EUR of value!

For the usual city wandering with one one body and two lenses, I take a worn out cotton satchel and a plastic bag from the supermarket.
 
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