Long Term M8 Owners: Would You Now Recommend Getting an M8?

<p>George:<br>

Why would I have to have a root canal, when I KNOW that no other camera can do what my Leica does. And I know you will understand when I say that those aren't flaws, they are FEATURES. And no, I don't sleep with my camera under my pillow. Any more. At least, not every night.</p>

<p>Oh right. Let's lump all Leica owners into one category whose constituents all think and behave the same way, who all are in denial, who all are just clones in thought and deed. That makes sense? No, that's where the delusion lies.</p>

<p>Leica uses *tend* to worry about a micro scratch on a lens more than other cameras users; thus one can buy used Leica gear at a steep discount if it has cosmetic damage; since the item is totally ruined.:)</p>

<p>I had an M8, sold it. Used film M's, dslr's and ended up buying another M8. I'd recommend it because of the viewfinder, compact size, ease of focussing, image quality, lack of shutter delay, and the lenses. I have a D700, but the M8 fits in my jacket and so gets out more. A digital p&s might be smaller, but lacks the i.q. and speed. The G1 will use the lenses with an adapter, but will lack the viewfinder quality and have a 2x lens factor and has a 105 ms shutter lag on manual focus. The M8 is really a one of a kind camera and I would recommend it to someone wanting the combination of qualities that a rangefinder camera provides in a digital format.</p>

<p>Carol, you are clearly more privelaged than most the way you play down the cost of the M8. The fact is it is damn expensive compared to the competition, and it performs poorly for many people, i.e. low-light. If you can afford what you want to purchase, then good luck to you. I will invest my pennies in Canon. One day I will buy an M6, but as goes for my Leica III, it will be a toy which will only see occasional use. Anything serious will be left to the big guns, i.e. Canon and maybe even Nikon if I jump ship sometime.</p>

<p>I'm still looking at it but from what I've seen so far the M8 makes real natural, film-like black and white images. In comparison the 5D seems to drop out the mid tones. For color the 5D is impressive and unique, and has a medium format feel to the pictures, but some don't like the look of the color. M8 images tend to be sharper, but not so useable beyond true ISO 800. 5D is OK to carry, but somewhat like a moderately heavy box. You always know it's there. You can take a walk with the M8 and sling it over your arm and forget about it until there's something to snap. If I'm shooting in the city where I have the camera always in hand, I can load 2 other lenses and a GRD in my denim jacket pockets no sweat and have both arms completely free. For years people begged for a digital M body, and Leica delivered. Essentially it's the same choice people have had for years. Rangefinder or Single lens reflex. The 'obsolete' argument is baloney. People still make nice photos with cameras 50 years old.</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone who has written in so far. Now it's my turn.<br>

Would I recommend an M8 after having owned one for nearly two years? Yes, but with a few words of caution. <br>

There is no question that the camera's is very good for all the reasons mentioned so far. I have done much of my best work with the M8. On the down side it had its mechanical problems and needed to be sent for repair to Leica twice. Leica gave me loaner M8s for the times they were working on it. For the first time my M8 seems to be free of "quirks." It used to freeze up periodically for no reason. It does not do that any more. I worry about what will happen if it should break down after my warranty is over. The M8 is not well insulated, which means I have to take care to keep it away from dampness and, especially, dust. <br>

I do not worry about the M8 becoming outdated. If it takes excellent pictures now it will do so years from now when a full-frame M9 takes over. My worry about it, as with any electronic camera--particularly a digital camera--is that it will wear out relatively quickly. A mechanical Leica is forever. A digital camera is not. Digital cameras are far more delicate than the best film cameras. <br>

The prospect of my M8's demise has made me an even more passionate user than I ordinarily would have been. I really do live for the day with it. <br>

There is that other quirk: the black into magenta problem that is solved by IR/UV filters. Coupled with that is the need for the coding of lenses, particularly in wide-angles to make up for cyan corners. These are not fatal problems, but they can be expensive to fix. I have spent a goodly sum on IR/UV filters. I use the Coder Kit to code my lenses. It seems to be working fine, except the marker ink on my Summicron 35/2 Asph. keeps coming off. I'll have to have Leica code it. Also, there are no IR/UV filters for some lenses, like the Series 7 for the old Summilux 35/1.4. If you are a black and white shooter you are in luck. You do not need either IR.UV filters or coding. I'm stuck on color, as much as a love black and white.<br>

Another expense you will have to deal with is extra batteries. I suggest you get at least one extra battery as the M8 eats up a lot of power.<br>

A new M8 is expensive by any standard. Yet, it is not overwhelmingly so when compared to top-of-the-line digital DSLRs like the Nikon D3 and D3X. Also, there are a lot of used M8s on the market now. The cheapest I've seen was on sale at Tamarkin, New York for $2695 in Ex+ condition and apparently with no extended warranty. This is close to used M7s and lower than used MPs, which are scarce on the used camera market.<br>

The practical aspects of the M8 aside, there is the M8 ambiance which has kept me a consistent daily M8 user. This has been discussed considerably in this thread, and all I can say is Yes!--the M8 is a wonderful camera to use and it takes great pictures. It handles almost in every way like a film M, though the shutter is not as quiet and the rear monitor can be obtrusive. Above all, it is so wonderfully light--probably the lightest professional digital camera.<br>

Yes, the professional DSLRs do outperform the M8 in many ways, but they are so heavy. The lightness of the M8 will spoil you.<br>

After two years I have no regrets about getting an M8. I would do it again. <br>

I would also cheerfully recommend the M8 to anyone who is a street shooter like me. This is a great time to buy an M8. The bugs seem to have been taken out of it and the euro is now down to almost reasonable levels, which means there might be some good deals out there. The only thing I'd caution the street shooter: If you are primarily a wide-angle photographer, the M8 may not be your camera because it does not render full-frame 35mm- equivalent images. <br>

I can recommend the M8 enthusiastically, but be warned: You'll get hooked. It is not a fondler's camera. There is no Al a Carte program for it. It is strictly a wonderfully functioning tool. I cannot leave home without it. </p>

<p>Get a used one. Lots of them out there that people have hardly touched. I wouldn't spend 6 grand on a new M8.2 but I'd spend half that on a near new M8.<br>

Alex, you shouldn't have to code the 35- not wide enough to show cyan edges. Just put the filter on it and go. </p>

<p><a title="Untitled by Chaospress, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30151432@N00/3124711572/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3124711572_2ed140f3a2_o.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>

<p>Thanks for the tip, Ray. I was doing that all along with no problem--just thought I was missing something... </p>

<p>Nice shot, by the way, Ray!</p>

<p>Thanks Alex. I believe the only thing you'll miss not coding the 35mm is lens ID info in your EXIF data. Not sure about the 28. I'll do a test on it today.</p>

<p>Alex - the new (yet to be delivered) 24 Summilux uses series 7 filters, and the new 21 Summilux uses series 8. So series 7 and 8 UV/IR filters are also being made available. Check with your dealer.</p>

<p>Thanks Ken! Owning an M8 is a full-time job. </p>

<p>My experience with the M8 is a very happy one and I bought one of the first to arrive in Australia. As a rule I dont make recommendations to other people about what camera they should buy - kind of a stoopid question really - I have all sorts of cameras and lenses for different types of shooting.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I took this picture quickly with my M8, through a glass window with a 135mm tele-elmar lens.</p><div></div>

<p>My view pretty much echoes Harry Baker's & Stuart Richardson's. Unless someone is heavily invested in Leica-compatible glass or the RF form-factor, I wouldn't recommend the M8; certainly not a new 1. For the record, I bought mine in early December 2006 & it's had to go to Solms once & Leica NJ once.</p>

<p>I like mine, but I got it used.<br>

And, Alex, a Heliopan thin-ring 49mm UV/IR filter, turned backwards, fits fine inside the lens hood for the pre-asph Summilux 35, taking the place of a Series 7 filter.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>You're asking Leica owners who've spent half a fortune on a camera and then another half on upgrades to try and get things right, and still have to deal with "quirks" to admit they made a mistake?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>No more quirky than having to carry a winding tool with my Hasselblad so I can get the lens off the body if it misfires. - and no more quirky than using many other cameras I own. The Horseman FA with a 75mm lens is a real challenge to use if you're tilting the front standard....just how <em>do</em> you keep the focusing rails out of the photo <em>and</em> achieve the correct lens-to-film distance...? There is a trick to that one, you might even call it a "quirk." I just call it learning to operate the equipment.</p>

<p>You learn how to use the camera, just like any other camera. After that, it's really no different than using an M6. The benefit to me with the M8 is that I can carry the camera and 5 lenses in a bag that's physically about the size of the a dSLR (and yes - I've actually compared it to a Nikon D300....)</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>The M8 has a weak blue channel, and it gets really blotchy under low tungsten light - even at ISO 640. This is tough to correct for in post-processing without going to B&W.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>If you process in PS it's really not that difficult. Duplicate the background to a separate layer. Go into the "Channels" and select the blue channel. Run noise reduction on the blue channel....there are some other noise reduction techniques - but, start with a really good noise software. I have both Noiseware and Neat Image. For the M8, I'm finding that Noiseware is a bit better. </p>

<p>Would I recommend an M8 to someone else? I never recommend camera equipment. I will tell them my experiences and my feelings about strong points and weak points of the equipment - after that they have to make up their own mind.</p>

<p>"A new M8.2 today is going for about $4500 US."</p>

<p>I believe the rebate is for the M8 not the M8.2. You will be looking at a price of $6,000 for the M8.2.</p>

<p>I got mine in March 2007, and while it had to go back to Leica for rangefinder adjustment, I have never regretted the purchase. In fact, I got a M8.2 a few weeks ago. First, I wanted to sell the M8 but then decided to keep it as a back up and for situations where it makes sense to have 2 cameras. <br>

The reason why I like the camera is simply because I like the rangefinder concept which I (unfortunately) discovered only in May 2005 when I got my first M camera. I know that the likes of D5 make outstanding pictures but I enjoy much more the rangefinder, not only because it is smaller, but also because it is simply a different (not better, but different) way to take picutrers which I prefer.<br>

I also think that the results are outstanding, provided you are willing to invest a bit of time for post processing.<br>

Because the reasons why I like the M8 are personal, it makes no sense to recommend the camera to someone. On the other hand, if someone asked me whether I am happy with the camera, I would say yes and explain why many criticisms are, in my view, exagerated.<br>

However, I would also advice that person that shooting with a Leica M8 is rather expensive adiction. You must either have spare cash or be willing to save money to finance it. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>You will be looking at a price of $6,000 for the M8.2.<br>

Here's a cheaper one, $5175:<br>

<a href="../gc/view-one?classified_ad_id=846532">http://www.photo.net/gc/view-one?classified_ad_id=846532</a></p>

<p>I have had an M8 for two years and I'm planning to sell it. (I have to pay for my M8.2 that just came in.) Does that answer your question about whether or not I wold recommend you buy the M8 (or 8.2) ? By the way, I've owned EVERY M model that ever came out and I still have my M7.</p>

<p>I sure did have <strong>fun</strong> testing the M8.2 with my Canon SM, Voigtlander SM, Zeiss Contax Pre & Post War, Leica SM & M-mount Pre and Post lenses... Kind of awkward with a 5D.</p><div></div>

<p>Merry Christmas everyone! Gus is absolutely right about the fun of putting old RF lenses on the M8. Also a great way to test used lenses you are considering buying. </p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for their thoughts. If you have any more, let's hear them.</p>