[Leica] M8 WONDER MACHINE! :-)

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

thanks Ted...  for us nuts and bolts guys that is a most helpful   
review...

Steve


On Sep 21, 2006, at 10:40 PM, Ted Grant wrote:

> Howdy crew,
> The report you've all been waiting for. Right?:-)
> It truly is an M camera! No kidding, you'll love it and it's  
> digital and that's even better.:-)
>
> My only major complaint? It's 40 years too late! ;-) Well Ok fer  
> the old guy!;-)
>
> As Tom Abrahamsson put it in my hands I saw and felt by instinct I  
> was handed a Leica M. The Leica M8 to be exact. There isn't any  
> question if you're a regular shooter using an M body camera you'll  
> automatically feel like you have an M body in your hand.
>
> As Tom & Henning mentioned the body texture feel is a tad "silky  
> and smooth." Not a complaint, an observation of feel which creates  
> the hand gripping the body extra firmly to avoid having it slip  
> from ones grip. But after a short bit it wasn't really obvious and  
> you just kept clicking away. love it... you'll have goose bumps if  
> your a regular M shooter... Oh I already said that didn't I. But  
> it's true!:-)
>
> I shot a frame and by instinct I moved my thumb to advance the film  
> and re-set shutter. It was done so automatically it surprised me  
> the advance lever wasn't there.
>
> There has been some comment about the body being "thicker." It  
> doesn't mean a farthing worth of anything as the camera really  
> feels like you have an M6 or 7 in your hands. Or any other M  
> camera. A quite natural feeling.
>
> The screen is bright and image pops up quickly after exposure. The  
> control and setting buttons are simple and easy to use without  
> opening one crossing onto something else and eventually you get  
> where you want to be.
>
> Because I normally used my M7's on AE Lock that's how I used the M8  
> and exposing from the mid-afternoon light through to after dark the  
> exposures were bang bang right on the mark.
>
> The really neat thing? I shot everything B&W and this camera is  
> going to be the king of B&W shooters once again. Not only that, I'd  
> bet there will be a great number of new  photographers who'll buy  
> it for shooting B&W and use a DSLR for colour.
>
> One thing photographers talk about is the loss of lens coverage due  
> to the size of the sensor. We used a 12 and a bunch of others and  
> they were all fine. My joy was shooting with the Noctilux at f1.0  
> and that was way cool!:-)
>
> One way of avoiding this "clipping due to sensor size is just  
> forget it, period." Put the lens on and shoot away with what you  
> see in the view finder. Besides if you're a worry wart about the  
> lens you are using it's very easy click a frame and look on the  
> screen if in doubt about the coverage. And if it isn't quite to  
> your liking step back or closer and you'll be fine.
>
> Talk about "available darkness" at ASA, I think it was 2500!:-)  I  
> was surprised by the look of the "grain size," it looked far better  
> than a B&W of any 3200 roll shot at 1600. Actually I think the 1600  
> setting produced as good an image as a tri-x at 800 with a few  
> subjects that looked as good as Tri-x at 400.
>
> This is a camera to be used for shooting where and whenever you're  
> motivated. I didn't shoot any colour frames as I was having far too  
> much fun shooting B&W. And there was.... "If this is what dynamic  
> range is ?" the detail in shadows and highlights was incredible  
> because the light outside through windows compared to darkness of  
> inside, it was quite possible to see detail in both areas very  
> well. Now if that's what this dynamic stuff is all about then this  
> camera was obviously doing something with it very well in the  
> exposure.
>
> All in all anyone who is a regular M photographer this M8 will have  
> you drooling over it in no time.:-)
>
> Oh and for left eyed photographers? There isn't any question you'll  
> be nose greasing the viewing screen at the first shot you make.  
> Maybe Leica could have a special deal for left-eyed folks with a  
> special Kleenex kind of tissue and a Leica logo to go with every  
> purchase by left-eyed folks. ;-) Trust me you will be wiping a fair  
> number of times.
>
> Now that's absolutely a nickel and dime observation as it's no big  
> deal, as all the rightie eyed's don't have this happen. :-)
>
> I suppose like the old saying. ..."You can make a product perfect  
> for some of the people but you'll never make a product perfect for  
> all the people" will probably apply here when it starts appearing  
> on the street.
>
> But as far as I'm concerned I'm about as ready as I can be to order  
> 3 of them as I usually do when I change cameras under these  
> conditions.
>
> ted
>
> Ted Grant Photography Limited
> 1817 Feltham Road
> Victoria BC  V8N 2A4
> 250-477-2156
>
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