dave_chadderton

Great shots - it really is an impressive semi-pro p&s.

ps You might want to have another look at shot five - I think perhaps it could be a tad embarrassing .....

Vlad,

Have a look here for more info on your Bessa R ...

http://www.cameraquest.com/voigrf.htm

1. You can only use thread mount Leicas - ie, older ones. You won't be able to use the

newer M-Mount Leicas. Also take a look at some of the FSU copies - quality control of the

bodies and lenses is poor, but I have a great Jupiter 50mm/f2 lens mounted on a good

quality Zorki 4 (Leica III copy). Some lenses are RF coupled, some aren't. Some, like the

Voigtlander 25/4 Snapshot Skopar rely on DOF to capture a sharp subject.

2. Sometimes it does - look at the images in the RF and check your photos for focus

errors.

3. They're not necessarily any better. But most people here use Leica/Zeiss (and perhaps

Voigtlander) because they're better than their SLR counterparts. Inherent in the argument

is the fact that most RF lenses are primes, and the Leica/Zeiss glass is as good as it gets

for photography.

Chuk,

To quote Ralph out of the Simpsons, "Me fail English, that's unpossible!"

Bueller?

Bueller?

Anyone?

(Am I the only one without a life and not out taking photos this Easter?!!)

T-E,

The M8 is a "she" ??? What will her name be when you commit? ;-)

I'm thinking of "Agnes" for mine ...

Craig,

Actually, you're probably right, but I think that the performance above is satisfactory for

lenses that cost 'peanuts'!

I know the shots are not the most stunning I've ever produced, but I was fairly pleased

with the 3200 performance of my budget dSLR and wondered how M8 user's max ISO

shots compared?

Dave.

ps. I'm aware that I couldn't get the same close up shots with most Leica lenses, but the

shots above do show how the standard Pentax kit lenses cope with oof areas.

Here are a couple of desk test-shots from my Pentax *ist DL2 (6mp) at max ISO (3200), shot originally in

PEF (raw) format.

I've developed them in Adobe Lightroom (not too much manipulation) and converted them to b&w. As I'm

about to go for an M8 plus 2 lenses, I wonder how it compares at max ISO? Can anyone post indoor

images for comparison?<div></div>

Ken,

I had a CH75 until it was stolen last year and can totally agree with your views.

Peter,

Please don't post anymore shots .... my 'financial director' will not allow me to spend more

money than is absolutely necessary! Apparently our new baby will need some clothes and

such-like?!

Nice stuff - keep 'em coming.

Dave

Cool - it does seem to be a unanimous Elmarit 28/2.8 !

Thanks everyone so far - good to see some good advice for a change !!!

Sadly, funds aren't unlimited and I won't be able to add a raft of other lenses for a while,

so I'm gonna try maybe just the 28mm and possibly a Heliar 75mm (before perhaps going

for the 75mm 'cron later).

Keep em coming!

After much deliberation, I'm about to buy myself an M8 and ONE lens ... but am

undecided between the new Leica 28/2.8 and the Zeiss 28/2.8 Biogon. Aside from

the issue of coding and the 'benefits' of this with the Leica, I have a couple

of questions ...

<p><p>

(1) Does anyone have any examples of the Biogon on the M8?

<p> <p>

(2) How do the two lenses compare?

<p><p>

(3) What's the handling like with both lenses?

"Due to the reduced dimensions of the FourThirds System sensor compared with the 35mm format, the focal length of the lenses is doubled."

<p><p>

Douglas,

<p><p>

Surely you're not suggesting the Leica is wrong or worse still, misleading us??

An F90 plus lenses for $200?

Even the phenomenal Canon T90 will cost about $3-400 body only in the UK. Which is a camera I always regret selling. :-(

Just received an email from Leica talking about their new R-adapter for the

Digilux 3. The crop factor means that the lens focal length is doubled but

there are some interesting proposition for fast telephoto lenses!

<p><p>

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/d_system/accessories/adapters/3940.html

<p><p><p><p>

"Using this adapter, the lenses of the Leica R system are compatible with the

LEICA DIGILUX 3, which widens their application range enormously. There is no

transmission of information or functions between the lens and the camera and

exposure metering is done at the working aperture."

<p><p>

I'm sure I'm being a bit slow, but can anyone explain what the last sentence

means in practical terms?

<p><p><p><p>

Dave.

Shakil,

<p><p>

those last three are fantastic.

<p><P>

Post some more!

I kind of disagree with John above.

<p><p>

If I look at the female subject, I find my eyes drawn to the wallpaper and surroundings. However, once I'm looking at the wallpaper, I find that my eyes are drawn back to the subject. In this sense I think it succeeds in portraying both the subject and her surroundings.

<p><p>

That said, I like both colour and BW shots and don't see any digital abberrations that I can't see in most other comparable (priced, spec'd) digitals. In many respects, I'm beginning to find M8 example shots much more pleasing than many others ...

<p><p>

Which would I choose? To display at an exhibition, the BW. But to sell commercially then the colour is probably better.

I see a number of stores are claiming to have the S5 Pro in stock now. I'm

currently waivering between the S5 and the new Sigma SD14.

<p><p>

I do like the idea of the S5 with some of those lovely new nikon AIS mount ZEISS

manual focus primes lenses ...

<p><p><p>

But first, has anyone got and used the S5Pro yet? If so, what is your opinion?

<p><P><p><p>

__<p>

Thanks, Dave.

"It's just a really ill conceived idea to try and compare the two for price (especially since the lenses used in the price comparison between the Canon and the Leica don't even share the same maximum f-stop) or image quality in a studio, they're both such different cameras. For many applications one simply can not replace the other."

I don't believe it is such a bad idea. Soon, I will have enough cash to afford 'a' camera + lens(es) to around 5000ukp. As a previous Leica M7 owner, I'd love another M body and feel that digital is the way ahead.

I can get my head around one body and one or two lenses (I'm happy with that - I'll buy a prosumer hybrid for my son's football matches).

For me (no jokes here!) size of the camera is not so important as that of image quality. So, I for one, am happy with 1 lens and i body, and don't need to pay too much attention to the size/weight issue.

I want the camera which, for up to approx 5k (ukp), will give me the best results - the more I see from the M8, the more I believe it is better than the others. I don't buy the "the 'Lux is a better lens" argument, as that is exactly the point!

I feel that an M8 plus 28/2.8 and 50/1.4 is ideal for me. If I'd seen that the 5D, D200, 1DS MkII or S5 Pro produced better results for the same price, I'd buy one of those instead (and rejoice in my extra capability!!).

And to answer the LUG-bias issue - READ the post. The guy in question claims to be a studio pro who predominantly uses his 1Ds MkII. And the proof is in the images.

Vivek,

Perhaps the last part of my initial post was a little misleading (unintentional!).

It was merely showing that the 1DsMkII plus lens was 1000 ukp more than the M8 plus lens, and that for 1000 less again, you could get the S5Pro with TWO zeiss prines and a decent 70-200 zoom. I know there is no image comparison there, but for someone with limited funds, we have to decide where our bucks (pounds) are best spent.

Most DSLRs and even compacts will take shots good enough for personal use. Most DSLRs will take shot good enough for publication - my Pentax ist DL2 being a good example.

The images in the LUG forum posting were interesting from the viewpoint that in my opinion, the 10MP M8 (with ALL it's problems) out performed the 16.7MP Canon wonder camera. I know full well that the Canon will win hands down at a sports event etc etc etc, but the test does show that for Leicaphiles and wanabees, the M8 perhaps isn't so expensive after all.

I see I'm wasting my time here.

I was making no particular argument for one over the other, ONLY commenting on the subjectively better image from the m8+50/1.4 combo, which as you can see from my original post is cheaper in the UK than the 1DsMkII + 50/1.2 (5800ukp).

NOT ONE PERSON COMMENTING ABOVE HAS ACTUALLY PASSED COMMENT ON THE IMAGES ...

I guess this forum is full of opinionated who ALL KNOW BEST. I give up.