Review of the M8 in the "Digital Journalist"

For those interested, Roger Richards <a

href=http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0709/camera-corner-leica-m8.html>reviewed

the M8 for the September 2007 "Digital Journalist."</a> <p>

 

It's a short review, so I've linked it but won't summarize it.<p>

 

[Note: Bruno Stevens' <a

href=http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0709/camera-corner-the-leica-m8-on-assignment.html>comments

about the M8 in the "Digital Journalist" </a> were referred to in another thread.]

I can't make up my mind about the lil bustard. I like the size, interface, and files but hate the crop and battery. Comparing shots I have made with my MP on TRX to the files out of the M8 - prefer the film look but find processing film myself to be too time intensive. Shooting wide open with fast M lenses on the M8 - delivers the pop factor I look for. It is a nice little unit - probably too expensive for what you get - but that is a matter of personal preference.<p> My only concern re digital shooting is storage of files - but I have to admit to myself that this is more a bower bird worry than an empirical issue.

<< ... bower bird worry ... >>

 

" ... bird spends hours carefully sorting and arranging his collection, with each object in a specific place ... "

 

I swear I learn somethin' new every day. :-)

 

Don't have one of these myself, and really cannot justify one, cause it's expensive for starters, then of course then I'd want a wider fast lens due to crop, then I'd want ... and so on.

 

But for me the story would absolutely be in the photos. And by now I've seen enough -- and from enough people who know what they're doing and what they're talking about (you included, Pete) -- to feel certain that the doggone thing is capable of producing excellent photos.

Peter, keep it. You will regret selling it and just buy another anyway...I am using one now and enjoy using it much more than my everyday 1D mark II, 1D mark III and 1Ds Mark II cameras.

 

Hope you're well mate...

<i>my everyday 1D mark II, 1D mark III and 1Ds Mark II cameras.</i><p>Maybe you should open a camera store, I don't see that you are using them for anything exciting so far.<p>The MarkIII is essential for sports photography, I use it for every event. Unless you are a professional PJ or sports photographer, or use it for low light wedding photography, there's absolutely no reason to own it.<p>I get plenty of "pop factor" on the shots I sell, it's not any different for equivalent apertures, DOF, etc. See my contribution to the "Picture of the Week" here for this week.

A real user! Makes it sound better than extra-crunchy peanut butter (at least

for B&W which is what Leicas should only be used for, anyhow)

The photographer and subject did it, maybe the viewfinder or lens played a part, but

whatever, I sure love this pic from the M8 in the hands of Bruno Stevens:

 

http://www.drr.net/Bruno/Common/PhotoDetailPage.aspx?

msa=0&pid=8332986&slid=9ca54da3-2ac8-4b78-

a503-253a5c0152d8&slididx=106&lid=0&rstid=82114689-689c-4350-

bc83-3a28e6d0b5bd&aid=1

 

So perfect, transcendent, the kind of pic that only comes along once in awhile if

you're lucky

(the link doesn't go there, you'll need to cut and paste the entire web address into your

browser to get it)

r m8 buyers really looking to save on film processing?

Jeff, what makes you think I don't use my cameras? You obviously know little about me so why assume something negative? Next time you want to do your research before making such comments.....

Hey, if you can do all your commercial work without those cameras, why aren't you selling them instead of dissing them?

"Dissing them?" You are putting a lot of words into my mouth Jeff, what has gotten into you?

 

All I said was "I am using one now and enjoy using it much more than my everyday 1D mark II, 1D mark III and 1Ds Mark II cameras."

 

How do you come to such assumptions based on my above comments, especially when you are not informed?

Kristian,

 

Those two shots you have in your portfolio section are great. Jeff, lighten up and re-read his comments. And who really gives a damn how many cameras he has (I bet I have enough FOR a camera store myself...)

The images in my portfolio do not represent my professional body of work, they aren't even related. They are just a couple of images I posted as my 'personal images of the week'.

 

I have only recently acquired the M8, and will slowly include in into my professional work, in areas where it is best suited. The article is very correct indeed, and only time will tell if I will be able to trust this Leica as much as my Canon's.....which is something I never thought I'd hear myself say......but I am enjoying the thrill of using a Leica RF again and not having to spend time developing and scanning my images.

<p>It's an interesting article - thanks for posting, Michael. What spoils it for me is there are

inaccuracies in the description of the camera that make me question his familiarity with it,

and which by implication affect the rest of his findings. For instance, he refers to 'ISO 200 ..

looks like medium-format files' - and of course the M8 doesn't have such a setting.</p>

hey Kristian! I am well - just too fecken busy with work and not enough play time. Nice to see you posting again. <p> re 'POP' I agree the M8 isn't a Canon D - and you can get pop out of both with a fast lens - but then again a Canon or an M8 aren't a 'blad - that gives me max pop with a 150 on it..and a blad isnt an Alpa - which gives me focus from a foot and half to infinity..

Well, since there are 67 pages of Kristian Dowling's photos of all sorts viewable at the <a href=http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx>Getty Images website</a>, I'd have to guess his cameras are getting a decent workout. <p>

 

Neil, evidently the M8's iso settings go from 160 ---> 320 and so forth in complete stops, but Richards only had a camera on loan, perhaps for a comparatively short period of time, and does not own one ... and goes so far as to say that <i> right now he will not own one</i>. So I'd forgive him some technical inaccuracies even if they do betray a lack of familiarity with the machine. Now if he said the autofocus was spot on, that would test my forgiveness. :-)

There's never enough time to play Peter.....but somehow with my M8, I've found some spare time here and there......Yes Michael, 67 pages, and only from April this year..........and counting......cheers

I'll always want a rangefinder to shoot with, but will RAW / DNG and jpg files be permanently

accessible? I already have files from scanned negs I can't open, but at least I have the neg to

go fall back to.

sorry.. "to fall back to"

Pete, what's wrong with the battery other than that the size of the battery charger is the size

of a car?

"I already have files from scanned negs I can't open"

 

What format did you save them in?

<P>jeff Spirer: <strong>Maybe you should open a camera store, I don't see that you are using them for anything exciting so far.</strong></p>

<p>Hey fella, I think you own Kristian an apology. Looks like he's done a whole lot more with his cameras than you've done with yours.</p>

Actually it's somewhat amazing? inspiring? to read that Bruno Stevens picked up photojournalism at nearly 40 years of age. I don't give a fig about the M8 particularly, but that was pretty cool.<p> Jeff, maybe you ought to chill out a bit-- calling posters blowhards a few days back, insulting a photog with way more creds than you doesn't sound too good from a moderator on this fine forum. And I wonder why you need a Mark III to shoot boxing. I shoot boxing too (will be doing Tommy Hearns next week)and know all the regular shooters in Detroit, and just about everyone I know gets by with a D200 or Canon 20D. Five fps is just fine for boxing if you know when to shoot. I do recall an exception, a fight last year, actually another Tommy Hearns, where an AP guy showed up with one of the big Canons and a 300mm white big boy lens, then had to shoot from 100 feet back just to get the ring into the frame.

Can anyone promise me that this is the very last M8 review or will there be others?<p>I need to know just how much I need to know!