Erwin on the M8 - Part 4

http://imx.nl/photosite/leica/M8_4/m8part4.html

Cutting to the chase, here's what he says:

 

"My view is this: the image quality that the M8 delivers and the sheer joy of using the M camera, is the best argument to select the M8 as the main camera. (I sold my 5D). And the M7/MP stay in my bag loaded with Spur Orthopan and slide film (Velvia 50) when I need or want the ultimate performance of the Leica lenses."

 

Quite a strong endorsement of the M system in general and the M8 in particular.

How much did he get paid to say that?

I am sure the secret Leica Mafia wired him 800,000 euros to his Swiss bank account for his

pivotal half-endorsement of the M8. Seriously though, why would anyone think Solms pays

him? He has been fairly critical of the M8 in many of his previous statements and has not

always towed the company line. He is clearly a guy who likes Leica equipment, but I have not

seen anything to suggest that he is on the payroll (as if Leica even had the money to put him

on the payroll).

"My view" is that if a $5K digital body I just bought exhibited "banding," "mirror/ghost images" and magenta/purple IR exposure in dark areas of images, I'd return the camera for a full refund and I'd wait to purchase a new one until all problems had been resolved without the need for in-front-of-lens filters that will only work properly with new or converted "coded" lenses.

It might be worth noting that Erwin scanned his negatives at 4000 dpi. In the case of Portra 160, we're already seeing grain and so a higher scanning frequency might not pull out additional detail. The Spur Orthopan negs, however, might have additional detail that only a drum scan would reveal.

 

As Kodak predicted a decade ago, before the company adopted a "party line" in favor of digital, a hybrid system of chemical capture and and digital processing might still be the best way to realize the ultimate potential of lenses designed for 35mm systems. Finish by printing the digital file on gelatin silver paper and you just might have the best of all possible worlds.

As an added bonus, it makes people in Africa look purple! how cool is that?

Then is the IR cut filter the Purple-People-Eater of the '50s song?

Would someone smarter than I am please look at the EXIF data on the Leica_Eye image (http://imx.nl/photosite/leica/M8_4/leica_eye.jpg)?

 

Is it, in fact, a 1:1 scaled properly to the scanned film image (http://imx.nl/photosite/leica/M8_4/kodak_eye.jpg)? Or not?

Ahhh, the Leica hack. Next thing he'll say that the M8 image stands up to 4x5 film LOL.

Boy, that's sure a good lesson to NEVER use Spur Orthopan UR to take a picture of anyone with any vanity about their age or appearance! (Same thing for Technical Pan or ImageLink HQ for that matter.)

 

His favorite model is a very tolerant lady indeed.

<I> I will analyze the performance of the M8 with a suite of Leica and Zeiss lenses.

</I><P>Thirty five years owning Leica and I never realized that I had a "suite" of lenses! I

wonder how many are in a "suite"?

A suite could mean a one-bedroom (1 lens).

Hi Ace, English isn't his first language. How would you say it in Dutch?

<i>Hi Ace, English isn't his first language. How would you say it in Dutch?</i><p>

een reeks van lenzen? <br>

:)

IMHO, Eric is right-on. . .

>> Most Leica M users operate their camera handheld: that is the best recipe for image degradation.

 

One can make a case that the M is meant to be hand-held. With its low profile, one can take images that would be difficult to achieve with bigger setups. Then again, put the M on a tripod and that advantage is gone. One may just as well use an SLR.

"Eric Friedemann Prolific Poster, dec 01, 2006; 05:14 p.m.

"My view" is that if a $5K digital body I just bought exhibited "banding," "mirror/ghost images" and magenta/purple IR exposure in dark areas of images, I'd return the camera for a full refund and I'd wait to purchase a new one until all problems had been resolved without the need for in-front-of-lens filters that will only work properly with new or converted "coded" lenses."

 

Don't let the gushing of a handful of people on the internet fool you, your opinion and approach are shared by the majority. There have been many people who returned their M8s and have not re-ordered, many cancellations of unfilled orders, and new orders have trickled to a near standstill. I strongly believe Leica will have to revamp the M8 so it does not need IR filters if they hope to get it back on track, and I believe they are under great pressure from dealers to do so as quickly as possible. I predict a revamped camera before the end of 2007. It only remains to be seen if existing bodies will be upgradable (leaving the owner with a stack of useless filters but at least a camera worth something in resale), and if so how much Leica will charge.

"There have been many people who returned their M8s and have not re-ordered, many cancellations of unfilled orders, and new orders have trickled to a near standstill."

 

I think it is great that we have Leica Camera AG's Sales Manager as a forum participant. How are those MPs selling anyway?

Still no brick wall shots. What's wrong with this guy?!

Ah, leave the guy alone.

 

He enjoys it and has spent a tremendous amount of time testing and analyzing, etc. So he enjoys and favors Leica..so what..he places a great deal of information out there for many of you dopes to talk about..

 

Whether one agrees or disagrees, people don't seem to understand that "it's all good."

 

Good as whether right or wrong, it promotes discussion and additional thoughts and opinions, etc. That's a good thing folks.

 

He does make some very fine points, and many I'd imagine when finsihed reading some of his thoughts come away with a strong opinion of some sort.

 

Again, that is a good thing.

 

Call me soft, but I regretted reading (the last time I was here last year or so) that the guy was shutting down his site, etc.

 

The whining is really boring folks. If the fellow enjoys such analysis, well, let him pursue it. There are many people I know who have no interests, goals, etc. Not your thing, then move on...

 

He is well read in the typical "academic" manner, and although much is just an academic's point of view, at least he has one and enjoys doing what he's doing.

 

Don't steal the guy's fun...and yes, how many languages do most of you speak? I have lived abroad for several years now and am ruining a couple languages in the traditional American fashion!!

 

 

regards.

"Good as whether right or wrong, it promotes discussion and additional thoughts and opinions, etc. That's a good thing folks.

The whining is really boring folks. Not your thing, then move on..."

 

So his article promotes discussion, but any disagreement is whining, so if you disagree you should move on.

"I think it is great that we have Leica Camera AG's Sales Manager as a forum participant. How are those MPs selling anyway?"

 

They aren't. And let's look back a year from now and see if I was correct or not about the fate of the M8.

Do you think the M8 eye sample was properly focused? It looks softer than I would expect.

 

The Kodak 160 was also grainier than I would expect and would think a film like Reala would look nicer. I wish he'd include a slide film as well.

<i>There have been many people who returned their M8s and have not re-ordered, many cancellations of unfilled orders, and new orders have trickled to a near standstill.</i><p>

How do you <u>know</u> that? What is "many" to you? And what are the figures, please? </i>

And you talk about not believing what a few people say on the internet.