joetothphoto
Member
First off let me say thank you to all the great posts and advice out there... I am asking this as I want to get real world feedback from people who might have used the M8.2 and M9 for news with various lens combos.
I am currently in the process of moving from a sports photography career to a more desk based photo job, i.e. something I don't need a huge kit for. I'm planning on selling the Nikon gear for an M9 and lenses and depending on the price an M8.2.
Now I will be working behind a desk, but when the opportunity arises I would like to be able to cover news and weddings and other various assignments like I normally do outside of sports.
Now before you ask why don't I just keep my Nikon kit and maybe sell my 400mm and reinvest in a newer body... It's just a personal choice I am making to go in a new direction of photography. I have been doing sports photography since I was 14 and now at 34 I would like to go in a different path. I have owned to M6's so I know what I am getting in terms of Leica.
My question is since the M8 is a crop sensor camera, having a three lens combo of a 35 / 50 / 70 or 90mm might not work. i.e. if I had the 35mm on the M8.2 having the 50mm on the M9 is redundant. So I am just looking for people who have used the two bodies and who have found a good lens combo to use between the bodies.
Having said all that, the M9 would be the main shooting body with the M8.2 being used as a B+W camera for some jobs.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I am currently in the process of moving from a sports photography career to a more desk based photo job, i.e. something I don't need a huge kit for. I'm planning on selling the Nikon gear for an M9 and lenses and depending on the price an M8.2.
Now I will be working behind a desk, but when the opportunity arises I would like to be able to cover news and weddings and other various assignments like I normally do outside of sports.
Now before you ask why don't I just keep my Nikon kit and maybe sell my 400mm and reinvest in a newer body... It's just a personal choice I am making to go in a new direction of photography. I have been doing sports photography since I was 14 and now at 34 I would like to go in a different path. I have owned to M6's so I know what I am getting in terms of Leica.
My question is since the M8 is a crop sensor camera, having a three lens combo of a 35 / 50 / 70 or 90mm might not work. i.e. if I had the 35mm on the M8.2 having the 50mm on the M9 is redundant. So I am just looking for people who have used the two bodies and who have found a good lens combo to use between the bodies.
Having said all that, the M9 would be the main shooting body with the M8.2 being used as a B+W camera for some jobs.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
The question is simple. Are you selling personal vision or generic news? The generic news guys will quite rightly try to discourage you from using Leicas. Contrariwse, a friend of mine who is a Fleet Street news photographer reckoned that Leicas accounted for 16 of his 24 news awards (including second and third places).
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
joetothphoto
Member
Roger, that is a good reply. I don't want to do generic news. I have done years of carrying around the large DSLRS and putting people off. I would like to work off my own remit with a smaller kit... maybe unobtrusive is the better word.
David_Manning
Well-known
Maybe a 21/35/50 combo for both? The 50 will give you the reach on an 8.2, and won't necessitate a longer lens for the M9 only.
joetothphoto
Member
Thanks David, have you done any news work with the above combo? Keeping in mind the purchase of an M8.2 isn't set in stone. But that is the combo I kept going to.
CrisR
Well-known
Just a thought - as the pixel density on the M8 and M9 is the same, a shot with a 50mm on an M8 would be the same as that shot with an M9 and cropped to the same 1.3x sensor size. You'd not be getting any greater zoom.
So if you want the closer shot, get a 90mm?
So if you want the closer shot, get a 90mm?
joetothphoto
Member
Cris... so what combo would you use, 24 / 35 / 90?
swoop
Well-known
I cover breaking and general news/features. I primarily use a Leica for my work as it's very easy to tote around. I use a 4 lens kit of 25mm, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm. My most used lens is my 35mm followed by my 90mm.
I once owned an M8 and used the M8 and M9 side by side for around a month until it got annoying. Then I sold my M8. They are both just different cameras.
I once owned an M8 and used the M8 and M9 side by side for around a month until it got annoying. Then I sold my M8. They are both just different cameras.
bugmenot
Well-known
Actually, I would say you'd be better off with the upcoming Leica M.
The reason being that the speed improvements and the buffer alone would be worth avoiding the headaches that M8 and M9 might cause you if you were capturing a critical image.
Also, it is quite a bit more flexible, especially while you get used to RF focusing, the LV can be of some help.
There are other reasons as well, and I just think an M8/M9 combination won't really match the flexibility of the new M
Just my opinion.
The reason being that the speed improvements and the buffer alone would be worth avoiding the headaches that M8 and M9 might cause you if you were capturing a critical image.
Also, it is quite a bit more flexible, especially while you get used to RF focusing, the LV can be of some help.
There are other reasons as well, and I just think an M8/M9 combination won't really match the flexibility of the new M
Just my opinion.
CrisR
Well-known
Personally I'd say use a combo that are all covered by the viewfinder?
28 / 50 / 90 on the M9
24 / 50 / 90 on the M8
Obviously the M9 would produce wider images as the 24mm on an M8 is 35mm, but the M8 wouldn't give greater zoom.
Kits are a very personal thing tho
rent some lenses before you buy?
28 / 50 / 90 on the M9
24 / 50 / 90 on the M8
Obviously the M9 would produce wider images as the 24mm on an M8 is 35mm, but the M8 wouldn't give greater zoom.
Kits are a very personal thing tho
rent some lenses before you buy?joetothphoto
Member
Thanks Cris... I think the 50 and 90 are obvious ones. I might have to try out the 24 / 28 combo. I appreciate the input.
joetothphoto
Member
Swoop, thanks for the input, that is the kind of feedback I like to hear. The M8 purchase would have been secondary and not necessary, I was even going to consider picking up a M6 instead for film shooting.
As someone mentioned the Leica M as an option... my constraints are what I can sell my Nikon gear for. I know my 400mm will go for enough to buy a M9 and Lens, the other lenses and bodies could allow me to get a few more lenses. Thank you everyone.
As someone mentioned the Leica M as an option... my constraints are what I can sell my Nikon gear for. I know my 400mm will go for enough to buy a M9 and Lens, the other lenses and bodies could allow me to get a few more lenses. Thank you everyone.
Damaso
Photojournalist
As photojournalist I can highly recommend the digital Ms for news work with the obvious caveats. I don't use the wides much on my m8 but on the M9 the 35 will be fine....
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
On my M2 I use 21-35-50-85. On the M9 that would be similar. Can't see why you would need anything more.
The 21 on an M8 would be 28, but having the 35 on the M9 and taking four steps back would get you that same 28. Putting the 50 on the M8 would get you 67 and again, stepping back four paces with the 85 gets you pretty close. In the 'old' days one film M would be loaded with color and one with B&W but when shooting RAW it's all within reach. The M8.2 is a pretty expensive camera to tote around as a backup and it weighs the bag. Why not toss in a digital P&S instead, save some cash and your back?
Just my two cents. Haven't done much editorial work yet but have wrecked my back carrying a too-loaded bag from the shoulder for too long!
The 21 on an M8 would be 28, but having the 35 on the M9 and taking four steps back would get you that same 28. Putting the 50 on the M8 would get you 67 and again, stepping back four paces with the 85 gets you pretty close. In the 'old' days one film M would be loaded with color and one with B&W but when shooting RAW it's all within reach. The M8.2 is a pretty expensive camera to tote around as a backup and it weighs the bag. Why not toss in a digital P&S instead, save some cash and your back?
Just my two cents. Haven't done much editorial work yet but have wrecked my back carrying a too-loaded bag from the shoulder for too long!
denizg7
Well-known
Hi,
I am soon getting an M8 and 2 lenses for a job. The m9 is used by an award winning new york times photo journalist.
The thing with NY times , they have bases around the world that are independently for NY times , unlike CNN, FOX, MSNBC , or any other news media corp.
I will try to remember the guys name and post it here.
Always remember no matter how superior asph summicron glass is in terms of sharpness the digital Ms all of them are not superior to DSLRS in terms of high ISO performance. not even the new M
Merkin
For the Weekend
The 90 f4 Elmar would be a good cheap addition to your kit, since they can be had for 100 bucks or so.
Is 35mm your 'normal,' or is 50mm your 'normal?'
Is 35mm your 'normal,' or is 50mm your 'normal?'
denizg7
Well-known
As photojournalist I can highly recommend the digital Ms for news work with the obvious caveats. I don't use the wides much on my m8 but on the M9 the 35 will be fine....
don't mean anything offensive but curious
this is another religious ceremony right?
Damaso
Photojournalist
irq506
just curious
Yeah it can be done. As long as you are on your game with your gear and know how to make it work fast for you. Im faster with an M6 then I am with a DSLR.
I use a Fuji XPro1 and its almost as fast as an M6, it just requires different thinking. I plan on taking one on a long haul trip for a big documentary series. Serious stuff that I got the camera to try out to see it it would cut it and Im confident that it will. I got it to use my Leica glass on, but honestly the native glass is fantastic and faster to operate with the camera so Im just going to use that instead.
I use a Fuji XPro1 and its almost as fast as an M6, it just requires different thinking. I plan on taking one on a long haul trip for a big documentary series. Serious stuff that I got the camera to try out to see it it would cut it and Im confident that it will. I got it to use my Leica glass on, but honestly the native glass is fantastic and faster to operate with the camera so Im just going to use that instead.
joetothphoto
Member
Thanks for all the advice. I think I might stick with the M9 as a main body and invest in lenses. I am familiar with Leica so being comfortable / fast when using it isn't an issue. I've thought about the M, but if I went that route my lenses would be minimal. I know there are trade offs between an M and a DSLR, but the type of work I am doing or want to do wouldn't need that DSLR power. So I am making this transition with all that in mind. Thank you.