"Changing" from Canon to Leica, which 35mm?

Hi everybody,

I am the happy owner of a Canon EOS 1D mark III. Unfortunately, this happy

owner now often finds himself wondering if he really feels like dragging his 3kg

kit of 1D mark III with 24-70 2.8L along on a walk, a visit, or travelling.

Often finding that no, it is just too much bother. Also, I am tired of "normal"

zooms, I find that my photography is slipping away on a big tide of pixels,

zooms and constant technological improvements, and that makes me sad. Not sad

enough to want to return to film photography though. But just today I had the

opportunity to try out an M8 with 28mm 2.8ASPH and 50mm 2.5, and boy oh boy, my

big monster brick of a camera suddenly seemed like, well, a brick. So I am

SERIOUSLY considering selling the Canon and getting a Leica M8. Oh I know that

supposedly there are all sorts of problems with the M8, that is so also with my

(perfectly functioning, lightning-fast, never-had-any-problems) 1D mark III. I

think I would be getting an M8 with a 35mmASPH, either 'cron or 'lux. Any

suggestions? And is there anyone else out there who have taken a similar step?

In other words, am I insane? Sorry for all the rambling, got carried away....

Don`t sell the brick until you are sure you will not miss convenient zooms and tele lenses.

 

 

with a few limitations, the M8 is a wonderful camera. But to do close up and tele work you need to use the old visoflex and scare up some decent old lenses and all the scarce adapters you need.

 

I am a big Leica film rangefinder fan, but one not willing to get a crop sensor digi body for a hugh price. Now they want you to buy upgrades at $1200 for the M8 and then there will more in the future.

Their product line is not stabalized yet.

 

For my work the black going magenta is a non issue but very important to others like wedding photogs. So is the cyan vignetting with wides.

I can fix that with a red circular gradient in photoshop.

 

Suggestion. Get a 40D and use the glass you have and/or get a few small lightweight primes

<i>In other words, am I insane?</i>

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Yes. I am very sorry to say.

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There are numerous smaller sized DSLRs from many manufacturers that are far better and with fewer or no problems.

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i have a canon and an m6 ttl...canon is strictly used for situations where digital is more convenient and faster...but for traveling and street photography the m6 definitely takes the cake!

Well, having just done what you are contemplating, let me offer my $.02 (might not even

be worth that much. :-) I traded a D3/D300 plus all the "stuff" for an M8 kit for much the

same reasons you have given.

 

This is not my first foray into Leica, so I knew the differences. If you like primes, don't do

macro or telephoto and prefer available light to flash. Get a Leica. It is light and easy to

transport and fun to use. As great as the D3 is, it is still a heavy camera. But, be sure you

are comfortable with manual/rangefinder focusing. I just picked up my last piece of kit so

have the M8, SF24D, 35/2 asph, 75/2 asph and 24/2.8 asph. I am a happy little camper

and loking forward to my upcoming visit to Tampa,FL to give it all a good workout.

 

Regarding lenses, faster is always better in my opinion, but I was trying to stay within my

budget so opted fro the 35/2. Leica really do not make any bad lenses.

 

And no, you are not insane, but what do I know! Have fun with whatever you decided to

do.

buy a point and shoot?

I've used Leica gear on and off for about two decades. When I moved to digital, I bought a kit of Canon gear. It was great and quite versatile.

When the M8 came along, I made the switch.

The thing is, I don't need all that versatility. The vast majority (95 percent) of my shooting can be accomplished with the rangefinder range of focal lengths.

So all of my SLR gear is gone at the moment. I know there have been problems with the cameras, but I have never regretted the purchase. Mine has worked well so far and I love the images I create with it.

 

If it fits your style of photography, I think it's a great move.

IMO your MkIII it`s a so practical tool to get rid of it. RF cameras, P&S, film cameras are too limited at this times; don`t know what kind of photography you like, but probably you`ll miss a DSLR soon after selling it (and a very good DSLR after the 1D, I`m afraid).

 

I think that full body pro-cameras are really too bulky for non-pro use. The only choice of what I call a pro-camera without the battery addendum is the Nikon D300. If I want to go lighter I would use a small prime instead of f2.8 zooms.

... and I prefer the `cron over the `lux, just because it`s smaller...

Try the Canon XTi or (the new XSi when it comes out soon) with a 28mm or 35mm prime or the cheesy but sharp and light new 18-55mm IS zoom. A great lightweight travel or walk around kit for under $700 (about 1/7 or 1/8 what the M8 costs before you get any lenses). And it will take all your Canon lenses. Don't get me wrong I'd love to have an M8 but even though I have lenses I just can't justify the price. Up to 11-14" or so I don't really think you'll tell the difference between the XTi and the 1D III or the M8 with good technique. JMNHO of course! 20D/18-55mm IS <center><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/7053894-md.jpg"></center>

Why not "downsize" to a 5D and two primes?

They're just cameras. Get whatever you think might help your photography. At the level of

gear you're talking about, you can't be a college kid or starving artist desperately trying to

scrape together enough money to buy a camera, so money should not be the primary

issue.

 

If you have a top notch Canon 1D III and L lenses, and consider a Leica M8 and a couple of

lenses might do a better job, sell one and buy the other. You'll never know for sure unless

you do. If the Leica doesn't work out to meet your expectations and needs, sell it and buy

something else.

 

The most you can lose is some money ... Canon gear isn't hard to get, neither is Leica gear,

neither for that matter is just about any photo gear. Equipment, in the larger scheme of

things, is utterly replaceable and transitory. It is the photographs you might be able to

achieve that are unique and special.

 

Godfrey

The Leica is a peculiar camera to use, and has a number of idiosyncrasies that you have to learn to work with (viewfinder inaccuracy being the one that drives me nuts). On the other hand, it is probably one of the easiest cameras to use from a setup (menu system) and shooting standpoint.

 

It is not a substitute for your Canon in any way. If you can keep the Canon and add the M8, that would be the best way to do it.

 

If you're used to working with your Canon, unless you have a complete reset on how you see images (framing and available focal lengths, etc.), you may become frustrated at the limitations inherent in the Leica M system.

 

I purchased an M8 as a replacement for my 26 year old Plaubel Makina that needed to go in for viewfinder work. I chose to put the repair money into the M8, as I knew it would be close to $1,000 to repair the Makina.

 

I understand your point about feeling like a beast of burden in order to photograph - that's why the Makina was my favorite camera. So far, the M8 with the 28mm lens is proving to be a good replacement (for me) for the Makina.

 

My advice would be to very carefully review what you shoot, how you shoot, what you anticipate shooting - and look at whether the M8 can meet your requirements.

 

Me - I have 12 other film cameras of all different formats for things the M8 won't do.

I would get a Canon 40D for walking around, same basic controls, takes your lenses, better at high ISO than Leica and no issues with color shifts. I should have your problems. I use a monopod to relieve the weight and workout at a gym to keep my wrist, finger and arm strength way more than I need for such light cameras. Its not so bad I have a couple of Pentax 67 and Mamiya tlr now thats heavy but still no complaints here.

I travel a lot with my work and want the highest quality digital camera in the smallest

possible package. The best compromise I've found so far is an M8 with either just a 35mm

2.0, or the (now discontinued) 28/35/50 4.0.

 

Works for me, but I'd used film Leicas for thirty years so there was no "rangefinder shock" to

overcome. If you've never used a rangefinder before then I'd really try and borrow or hire one

first to make sure you're comfortable with its unique naure.

If you want to go light, consider the new Olympus E-420 which is very light. New lenses (both primes and zooms) will probably meet most of your requirements.

Hey thanks for the swift replies guys. The reason why I put "change" in citation marks, is because I would definately keep my Canon 70-200mm 2.8, and then acquire maybe a used 1D markII(n), they can be had pretty darn cheap these days (all things relative). I would like to keep doing telephoto, and obviously the Leica isn't the right tool for that job. But when travelling the Canon is a damn heavy piece of machinery to drag around, and so are the good Canon lenses. Also you aren't anything near to inconspicuous when you flip out "the brick" with a bazooka zoom mounted. But I would still like to have something in a small package with very good quality, and I don't mind missing the midrange zooms, my best pictures have been made with primes, so I would focus on primes even if I didn't go for the Leica. One thing that bothers me though, is the high ISO performance. My 1Dm3 on ISO 6400 blew the Leica on ISO 2500 away, and if Leica is going to improve the high ISO performance I guess they would have to put in an all new processor, which would probably cost somewhere around, I don't know, my right arm and/or soul? What is your experience with the M8 at high ISO?

Didn't you just post on photo.net A MONTH AGO saying you were thinking of buying that camera?

Christian, you cannot go wrong with either Leica 35mm asph. I think the 35mm Lux Asph is one of the finest lenses in Leica's stable. Get it if you want the f1.4, but pick up a black one, because the chrome and titanium versions are heavy. I use this lens as the equivalent of a fast full frame 50mm on my RD-1s because of the 1.5X crop factor.

 

The 35mm Summicron Asph is good too, but I find it heavier and nowhere near as ergonomic as the 35mm Type 4 Summicron. If you are going for an f2, I would seriously check out the pre-aspherical 'cron. It is a classic, and very nice. If you are scanning used lenses, the older Canon 35mm f2 Black is at least as good as the Type 4 'cron and wonderfully compact.

 

Have fun, and happy snaps.

For walking around at home or global cannot beat Leica M. In my small Tamarc backpack I'll thro in the D200 w/ 25mm Zeiss, or the 'Blad 501CM as backup. The Leica simply tucks away as it was intended. Best -- Paul

Yep, it's true, only a month ago I bought the 1Dm3, and like I said, I love the IQ and everything but the size and weight of it. If I could afford it, I would keep the 1Dm3 AND get the M8, but unfortunately that's not an option :-) And, now that I've had it for a month, I really don't see myself bringing it with me when travelling, for anything but extended trips, and that just seems like a shame. That's why I'm looking for "big quality" in a small package.

Two very very different cameras. Depends entirely on your type of photography. I

cannot live without an RF camera (35 or 120 size), and keep a few old beat-up SLRs

with good prime glass only for occasional work, sometimes macro, sometimes long

focus lenswork. You can probably not live without a bells-and-whistles auto-

everything SLR or DSLR. Nothing wrong with that if that is what you like and/or need.

The M8 is great, but is essentially a manual camera with a computer-controlled

sensor, and is definitely not for everyone.

 

If I liked DSLRs and found the weight of the big Canons and Nikons too much, I might

prefer to trade down a bit, but at least have a lightweight DSLR that I might like to lug

around everywhere, rather than an optimum quality DSLR that stayed at home much

of the time. The great shot we all want to make is often that which presents itself (in

our mind, or in the field) precisely when we left our image-maker at home.

I like my m8. Options for lenses: CV 35 1.4 and Zeiss 35/2. Both wonderful in their own ways.

 

Keep the SLR for wide and long lenses and off camera flash.

 

Michael

I know it's not an option you are considering, but, for the price point and availability of trying a RF at a decent price with the ability to sell it off if not satisfied, why not pickup a M2 or 3 and a lens and shoot some film and keep the Canon for now. Processing can actually turn out reasonably cheap thru certain channels and as a starter kit you can upgrade if you like the ergonomics and working manner. Plus film will give you real feedback without all the trappings of processor noise and color shifts. Plus b&w is still very cool.

I still don't know why the 40d is not your answer. No evaluative metering, AF, no advanced flash and flash fill slow write speeds and frame rate. Also remember RF has less precise VF not ttl view like slr.

 

I have an M4-p and 21/25/35/50/90mm lens could be used on an M8 but right now I am waiting for something like the Canon 5D comming from Nikon since I have lots of Nikon gear too. No doubt in my mind that something that size or slightly smaller with features that are now standard except on the M8 would be an advantage. The M8 is not lighter than the 40D in my hand and just a little smaller. Keep in mind the cost of Leica and Zeiss lenses are like getting more expensive than a lot of L lenses that are good. Like the 35mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2, 100mm f2.0 non L, 50mm L and the 200mm f1.8. If I didn't have so much Nikon gear I would get a Eos3 just to mount some of that glass.