What Cameras Did the M8 Displace?

[HAnkg]

After a month of shooting the M8 -the Canon 1Ds and all the L glass went on eBay.

 

[Joe Mondello]

It this replacing due to the M8 or due to owning a new toy?

hehe that's always the question isn't it?

Surely *some* of this is due to the "new toy" factor! Especially among the boy photogs here!!

But more seriously, when I repeatedly hear of folks selling their upper end Canon bodies and ALL their L-glass etc., that's gotta be real.

 

[Joe Mondello]

my entire Canon kit (5D + 5 L lenses & Misc extras)

I believe that proper RFF spelling of this term would be "Micl extras" 😀

 

[Gid]

Basically, the M8 has replaced an M6, an MP and a Bronica RF645. I already had an R-D1 which I still have and use alongside my M8. I just needed to simplify my workflow and for me that means digital, but I will most likely return to film RFs when I retire (in the not too distant future).

 

[charjohncarter]

All of them (that are digital). No question. I wish I had one, and I might. If you don't believe it go to this site for M8 images, then go to Flickred and tag any camera you want. As that Asian guy said in the recent (one year or slightly more) movie with Clive Owens about a bank hold up, 'the quality.'

 

[artur5]

Well I suposse I'm a sort of "rara avis" here.
Yes, I sold my Canon 5D+ Distagon 21 and EOS glass to finance M8 + M lenses.
But then, after reading all the M8 issues -I.R. problem, filters, reliability... I decided to stick to film again, bought a M6 and now I'm developing my Tmax/ Reala again.
( Luckily, nobody wanted my lab stuff when I decided to sell, so I still have my enlarger, dev. tank and Jobo processor. )
I have to say that I'm enjoying more the use of a M rangenfinder vs. a bulky DSLR. In my case It was rather a question of Rangefinder vs reflex instead of digital vs film.
I guess after some time I'll miss digital and maybe buy a RD1 -if they come cheap- .. who knows ?

 

[hofrench@mac.co]

My 20D has gone completely unused, and my Hexar RF has seen little use, which was sort of the idea, to have less film to process and scan. (As much as I love film there's only so many hours in the day.)
My Rolleiflex, by contrast, has held up very well, and I expect will continue to do so.
I'd be very curious to know how people who sold their 5D's to get an M8 feel about the tradeoff now?

Howard

 

[scho]

I keep reading about folks who have sold their Canon 5D systems (several of these) or D200 systems or film systems after getting the M8.

So that's the question . . . what cameras did your M8 displace for you?

In my case, I have given virtually no attention to my D200 kit or my R-D1 but my Canon G7 survives as a go-everywhere thing.

HAve no clue as to whether I'll ditch all my other gear (likely not) but I DO think I can sell off a variety of lenses from my Nikon kit given the M8s strengths.

I'm one of the several that dumped their 5D system after purchasing the M8. The 5D was technically OK, but for me it was ergonomically a loser (like most big, heavy, bulky high end dslr systems). I can now easily carry the M8 with up to 5 or 6 small, light weight (but razor sharp) lenses with no problems. The most I ever carried with the 5D was two lenses.

 

[newyorkone]

Just sold my Canon 5D as well and bought an M8 to go along with my M6

Ditto, about a month ago.

 

[MP Guy]

Adios MP. MP had a roll of film in it since last November and it was on frame 15. So, I sold the MP and have 2 M8's now.

 

[StuartR]

Not to be presumptuous, but why do you feel you need two? The traditional issue of having one camera for color and one for black and white does not really apply, and you are probably not going to run out of "film" mid roll when a card has about 100 raw files per GB. Is it just for backup?

Anyway, I think the number of people who are dumping Canon and Nikon DSLR's is mostly because of the availablility of a Leica digital rangefinder, not per se because the M8 is so fantastic. Don't get me wrong, I have one and I think it is amazing. I just think that now that there is an option that offers comparable image quality to the top of the line DSLR's, people who preferred rangefinders in the film era are coming back to Leica.

 

[swoop]

I sold my 20D, Elan 7n and all canon lenses and flash in order to afford the M8.

It was all just sitting there unused for over a year. Every time I went out or had to do a shoot. I used my M7. Because I just preffered it over using an SLR. I bought the M8 to help me meet deadlines sooner. Because developing or dropping off at the lab, then sorting, then scanning and then touching up just became to be too much of a workflow issue when I'd shoot like 5 or 6 rolls per assignment that's due to the editors in a week.

I still intend on using the M7 for personal work. But when there's a deadline, digital just makes it simpler.

 

[cz23]

Mine replaced the Digilux 2, which was sold recently on Amazon. Still have the 5D, but just sold the 70-200L and bought a used 135 Telyt. My son likes the Canon and I use it once in a while for macro work.

 

[Joe Mondello]

Thought I'd chime back in here myself since I expect to go out and shoot some city scenes tomorrow with my D200 and the Sigma 10-20 -- and probably the 18-200VR.

But since the M8 is small and light -- especially with the 15CV -- it'll be in the bag as well.

Maybe I'll even take a few comparison shots.

 

[Joe Mondello]

Thought I'd chime back in here myself since I expect to go out and shoot some city scenes tomorrow with my D200 and the Sigma 10-20 -- and probably the 18-200VR.

But since the M8 is small and light -- especially with the 15CV -- it'll be in the bag as well.

Maybe I'll even take a few comparison shots.

Hmmm quoting myself . . . 😱

The Crumpler 7 Million Home had the D200, 17-55DX and Sigma 10-20 and the M8 with the 15CV. It was heavy and big. Ugh.

Next day I went out with just the M8 and 4 CV lenses in a small Hadley -- much better for my back and shoulder!

NOT A TEST but here's two similar shots from that day . . .

D200 with 10-20 Sigma at 10mm (15mm equiv FOV) followed by M8 with 15 CV (20 equiv FOV)