markdemeny

For travel and landscape, the M8 for sure. I have to say, I love the fact that I can easily carry around my M8 and four lenses in a bike messenger bag. In fact, because of its small size, I always have my M8 with me (but with only 2 lenses).

However, the M8 can't do food shots worth a damn (no macro, and the minimum focusing distance is about 2.5 - 3.5 feet for the lenses you listed, I think) and the full-frame 5D will be able to do this extremely well.

So, in short, stick with your perfectly capable M6 for travel - buy a 5D for your food shots, and buy an M8 (or M9) when you can afford it.

;-)

-mark

I have the CV 40/1.4 as my main lens on my M8. I can't speak to the Summicron 40 specifically, but I can say that using a 40 takes a little getting used to since there are no brightlines for it.

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I actually think the CV 40/1.4 is a really good 'normal' on the M8 and a great performer - it basically equals a 50 on a film camera.

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(<a href=" here - I hope the link works</a>)

I chimp fairly often for a couple reasons:

1) My main lens is a CV 40 - no viewfinder gridlines. Often I'll need a couple shots just to feel out my composition.

2) Architectural shots - the M8 is actually really great at shooting architecture. The lines are *very* crisp - I suspect due to the lack of the AA filter on the sensor. However, you get a bit of parallax and my CV 40 again factors into it.

I added my name.

It seems like it should be an easy thing to do - with my D200 it's *very* easy to set this information. I think that's part of the appeal of the M platform - they have a good ecosystem with plenty of lenses by other companies to appeal to all budgets and needs. The fact that Leica is trying to lock things in a bit is concerning - especially when they don't make all lenses for all uses (a 15mm, for example)

I don't use my 'user profiles' for anything (there aren't a ton of options I need to quickly swap in/out) - I figure user selectable lens profiles would be a good candidate for that.

I finally decided to make the leap and get an M8 in the near to mid future, but

in the meantime get myself a 28mm Elmarit ASPH that I can use and enjoy on my M6.

Of course, I head down to my local shop and they have a few new lenses - but no

28mm. A quick call to Leica indicates an 8 week waiting period(!)... hmm... so I

start looking at the standbys and I see out of stock everywhere... Vistek, B&H,

Adorama... nothing. All back-ordered.

So my question is this; is the 28mm super-popular because it's a 35 equivalent

on the M8, or is this typical for lots of Leica glass?

I have to be honest, after all this, if I actually found a copy I would buy it

in a second (instead of the usual hesitation when dropping that sort of money

for a wee little lens)... do you think this scarcity helps drive our attachment

to our Leica cameras and lenses? When I finally get it will I feel that warm

fuzziness like a music nerd finding that rare bootleg imported album from Japan

(only 500 pressings made!) times, like, one hundred?

Bring as much as you can comfortably carry - and *not* have to check in.

;-)

I used to travel all the time for work and I'd usually have 2 SLR bodies and 3-4 lenses including my 80-200 f/2.8 - this would all fit in my gear bag which I would carry on. (I would only bring my big lens if I was doing any nature stuff). I am fairly young, and used to long hikes with 50+ lbs of gear, so getting to/from the airport with the same wasn't a big deal.

And as for film, personally I prefer Tri-X - but if it's a rare treat for you, I'd spend the extra to shoot T-Max.

In Malmo, don't forget to shoot the Santiago Calatrava "twisty" building there - quite an architectural treat.

This page should outline the differences for you: http://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm

I ended up with an M6 "classic" from 1991 - the cost was only slightly more than an M4-P, and you get a meter which is a useful thing indeed. I think the M6 is pretty much right at that good price point where it's not so new as the M7, but not so collectible as the M4 and older models (the M5 being something of an ugly-duckling in the lineup).

As for Canada vs. Germany (my opinion being biased as a Canuck) - there is no quality difference (this goes for lenses too) and I think most people will agree with me on this point.

Good luck with your purchase - and enjoy.