ryan_peck

<p>David-<br>

can you explain how my M8 is now outmoded? Is it simply because there is a better version? Seems very odd for an expressed IIIf and SL user to be dismissing a camera for being outmoded.<br>

And, what is to be gained, for me, from using Leica lenses when shooting digital, is that I don't have to pay for film and spend time in the darkroom, yet I still get to use a camera that I love.</p>

I can only speak for myself, but i had waited for years for Leica to make a digital M simply because I had 11 M-mount lenses that I

loved and wanted to take advantage of. Would I have bought my M8 if I hadn't already invested so heavily in Leica? More than likely

yes, because I like rangefinders better than SLRs.

But frankly, i'm getting really tired of people complaining about the M8. If you don't like it, don't buy it. If you bought it and don't like it,

sell it. If it's too expensive, tough. Leica has never been the camera of the people. It's always been expensive, but many consider it

worth it. Now I have my beefs with it and I know it isn't perfect. But let's put things in perspective: it's not like the IIIf or M3 just

happened over night. They were refined over the years, perfected if you will. I'm willing to give Leica some time to perfect their digital M

and, until then, i'll use and enjoy what I had dreamt of for nearly 10 years...a digital M that I could use all my lenses on, even a 65 year-

old screw mount 35 f/3.5.

so many people knock this lens, but I have to say it is my favorite lens of all time.

Sure it's heavy, sure it's expensive, but that doesn't change the fact that it is unique.

People have claimed for years that other lenses can duplicate the qualities of it, or fast

films make it obsolete. Nonsense.<div></div>

As a recovering lens hoarder, one thing I always try to remember is that some of the greatest

photos ever taken- Cartier-Bresson, Capa, Winogrand, Queen Elizabeth(!), etc...-were taken

with what many would now consider inferior lenses. Kind of puts things in perspective.

Of course, I tell myself this, but I still can't seem to own less than four 50mm lenses...

I couldn't agree more, Torben. I've had my M8 for almost a year now and am constantly

amazed at hearing M8 owners proudly bragging about not having any problems, etc.

Honestly, as much as I love it (and I really do) I wish I felt about it they way i've felt about

every M i've ever owned; completely confident. Or even my Nikon D70. I've had that for

over 3 years without any issue, at all.

Hopefully, all this will be worked out on the M9. Especially the backfocusing issues on all

the lenses.

I've had my M8 for about 7 months and I guess I fall in the camp of those that love it.

I certainly don't think it's perfect, but it's easy to get over it's failings. My first Leica was a

IIIf and I thought trimming the film would annoy me forever. After a couple weeks and

some prints of my first few rolls it didn't seem to bug me any more. It was just the way it

worked. Same goes with the M8. My only lingering disappointment is the cropping of my

lenses due to the image sensor size. I Hate that. But, on the flipside, I love being able to

take 10 shots with my noctilux and not feel like i'm wasting film. It gives a certain freedom

that I really find myself taking advantage of. No new news there. That's what digital's been

promising all along. I guess with the M8, the excitement is that it's familiar, feels just like

a Leica, I get to use all my favorite lenses and I get to see what I shot immediately.

And John, in regards to your question about whether or not I treat the camera with kid

gloves or like an actual M, I guess I treat it like an M. I've got a great old leather Benser

bag. I just zip that up, throw it in my bag and it's there when I need it. Hopefully, it will

prove to be as durable as my M6.

It's funny, I made the decision to my the M8 when my wife told me she was pregnant. I

wanted to be able to shoot as much as I want, whenever I wanted, without feeling like I

was spending a fortune on film. Factoring in the cost of film and processing, the cameras

paid for about 1/2 of itself already. No kidding. Pretty easy to love that.

Is there any way to encode my lenses myself to avoid sending my lenses to Leica for 6-bit encoding?

If so, how?

thanks

ryan

Hi,

Anyone have any advice on cleaning the IR filters for the M8? I've managed to get a spot of something on it

and am not sure how to clean it. I didn't realize that the surface of the filter was cat tongue-like so am

unsure how to proceed.

any thoughts much appreciated.

Bob, some of your photos were less than razor sharp. And we all know that no photo of

quality can be slightly out of focus...

I have an early 50mm Noctilux that i'm using on my M8. I ordered a 60mm IR filter as one of the pair

offered free and I'm looking for your thoughts on the best way to put it on my 58mm filter-sized lens. Is

there any reason I can't or shouldn't just try to find a step-up ring?

any thoughts much appreciated.

thanks

ryan

For pure beauty:

1. Leica IIIf red dial with collapsible 50mm Summicron

2. Hasselbald 501 w/ silver 50mm Zeiss

3. Rolleiflex 2.8

4. Olympus Pen

but for use and use alone, Leica M4 with 35 summicron. Wow.