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Should I get M8 - if so, what WA?


nzdavid

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I realize there's some really useful info already on this site and elsewhere, so apologies if these issues

have been discussed already, but I would greatly appreciate additional input. I'm heartened by the fact

that others seem to agonize for months before buying! And the M8 is surely a significant investment for

most people.

 

I'm a happy Leica M film user. I'm considering M8 only because, 1) for professional use, it would save

money, and 2) one magazine still demands MF, and if not, then digital.

 

I was wondering about Ricoh's GRD for interiors, but that's too limiting for other work, and I'm not too

sure about final file output. Technical quality is the key factor here!

 

I also quite liked the look of an Olympus SLR plus the 7 to 14 mm lens. But I really am a fan of the

whole Leica rangefinder approach, especially its simplicity and straightforward operation. I'm hoping

most early V1 issues have been resolved. I have only had a chance to look at one very briefly so far. My

impressions: It seems fatter but lighter than the film M. LCD seems easy to smudge with your nose,

especially held vertically (I tend to use to elbows next to body for stability, and release shutter with my

thumb, but could tilt it the other way...not sure which is best.)

 

The big question is wide angle lenses: I have a 24 ASPH, a superb lens, which would become a 32.

Sending it away to get digitized (I'm in New Zealand) would take a month or more, a real PITA. Basic

question: what happens if you use an uncoded lens?

 

But I'd need something wider. WATE versus Voigtländer 12 or 15. Does Voigtländer need to be coded?

Would it be worth using with an ND filter to avoid vignetting? Just how much better is the WATE? It may

be subjective, but I really do like Leica sparkle and clarity. "Zoom" may be a bonus, but changing lenses

is not that taxing. Important: is there any barrel distortion with the WATE. I realize this can be corrected

post-processing, but I'd far prefer to start with the best image possible, rather than relying on

software; I just don't have that much time on fiddling with images onscreen.

 

Thank you for your patience and consideration.

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You said the magic word, David. Professional. If you like the Leica M system and you

need a camera for professional work I highly recommend the M8. Coding is apparently a

plus. I still have to get any of my lenses coded and I am doing all right. If you are

publishing, I think you'd have no problems with lack of coding.

 

What wide angle? The Voigtlander 15/4.5 is a very good lens. It is also light and not

expensive. It's equ. to a 20mm lens in 35mm. A 21mm finder will work well with it. The

12/5.6 will give you the equ. of 15mm in 35mm. You can get a nice 77mm filter ring for

it. The bonus with these lenses is that you can use any M to LTM adapter with them. So

you can send out to have an M adapter coded and still use the lens with another adapter.

Not sure where to send out but I know someone here will provide that info.

 

Black into magenta is an issue if you are shooting color and people in synthetic fiber

clothing. Leica will provide you with two IR filters. You need to tell them what sizes you

want.

 

I've used an M8 since February and like it very much. There have been no outstanding

problems, save for the magenta issue--and that can most often be taken care of in

Photoshop.

 

You're biggest problem will be storage. I suggest getting a hard disk drive with 300 to

400 GB. Get Photoshop CS-2 or 3.

 

The M8 is pricey. As has been pointed out, you can get a bulky DSLR and a plastic zoom

lens for much less. Since you have and like the M system the M8 would be the most

satisfying choice in the long run.

 

Do get an extra battery. The M8 is a glutton for energy and a spare battery is essential.

 

How is the backup for Leica in New Zealand?

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Thanks Alex, some useful info there. I shall check out more on the Voigtlander, and that's

really helpful abut just coding the adapter! There's a few other software fixes I might

check out, too. Leica backup should be good, it's just the time and cost of sending stuff to

Germany and back.

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Robert has a point. I wouldn't recommend an M8 to anyone unless he or she is into the

Leica M system, as David apparently is. A backup M8 body is financially problematic. But

one is going to build a Canon or Nikon system entirely from scratch then it is going to

cost a lot. And if you don't happen to like the system that is another problem.

 

Well Robert, tell us about your finances and professional demands.

 

Meanwhile, none of the feisty guys on this forum who bought the $5000 M8 have

wondered why it doesn't automatically take good pictures.

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As a professional I would'nt put my reputation on the line with the M8 untill it's been totally debugged or a new imoroved debugged model is on the market. One thing I've learned over 40 years of shooting is never buy the first model of anything electronic. I use 6 film M in my shooting and have for 40 years but won't buy the M8 untill it meets my standards. I use 1DsII's and L glass for my digital work and find them totally reliable and they produce stunning images. Reliability is no issued even after a couple of hundred thousand frames. Look at the 5D, new 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200. If you don't need the 16-35 you can pick up a 5D and 24-70 2.8L and 70-200 2.8L for about the same cost as the M8 and have a no issue reliable proven camera with excellent support if you need it. Who even knows if Leica will be around in a year and Leica support is poor at best. I don't know about where you live but in the US we have CPS for the pro customers. Any repairs that I've had took 3 days inclusing shipping with the exception of one that took a week and Canon loaned me a new body at no charge untill the repair was completed. Where's Leica on pro service?
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The M8 is excellent, and it sounds like it would work very well for you. The 24 is a great

wide angle choice.

 

For lens coding, you probably could arrange a fast turnaround on milling your adapter

with John Milich in NYC. With air shipping, you likely could have your lens coded in less

than a week. See <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?

msg_id=00LUiM">

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00LUiM</a> for

details of my experience, both with coding and with John's codable adapter on the 15 CV.

 

--clyde

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As an pro, you must have a excellent SWA lens. The best money can buy.

 

The CARL ZEISS ZI Distagon 2,8/15mm is such an excellent choice. This lens must be a good selling SWA lens, because ZEISS has sold out the first production range already, and ask officially in their website to be patience, because the people who had ordered already and waiting, will be served first. That tells me a lot, because this SWA lens is really not a bargain.

 

Cheers

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I use a Ricoh GR-D and a Leica D-Lux 3, but that is because I like the "35mm aesthetic"

and can get the same type of look with these small sensor cameras, which you can see in

my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/sets/72157594271568487/

show/"><u>Bangkok series</u>, </a>

 

 

which has 113 pictures, of which 48 were shot with the M6 on mainly Tri-X film, while all

the rest were shot with the GR-D and some ten or so with the D-Lux 3. <p>

 

 

For tecnical quality there is no contest between the GR-D and the M8, which apperently

has a medum format film look. Your other questions on lenses are best answered by

articles on Sean Reid's excellent pay site. For the investment you may be making it's

worthwhile to spend about $39 to subscribe and be able to read sound, knowkedgeable

and well-balanced reviews, rather than trying to sift through the often conflcting

information that you'll get on forums such as this one.

<p>

--Mitch/Potomac, MD

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Hi David,

coding the lenses is not really a problem. I just had all mine done by John Milich in New York - $25 a piece - and it took only 2 weeks. I live in Australia, so it should not take longer for you. I also bought a coded adapter from John - quite pricey $150 - but beautifully done and works very well.

Regards

Volker

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