[Leica] M8 Impressions, Pro and Con

[s.dimitrov at charter.net (Slobodan Dimitrov)]

You probably won't be able to shoot right eyed. I'm left eyes myself.  
Every time I tried using my right eye, it made the scene  
incomprehensible.

Slobodan Dimitrov




On Nov 12, 2006, at 5:05 PM, Tina Manley wrote:

> LUG:
>
> I've had my M8 for four days now and I used Leica's for 3 days, so  
> after one week with the M8 here are my initial impressions.  I'm  
> comparing it to the Canon 5D, the camera I was carrying around for  
> everyday use.
>
> M8 Pro:
> It's a rangefinder.
> It's small, light, easy to carry and operates intuitively.
> All of my M lenses will fit and work well with it.
> It's quiet and unobtrusive.  Nobody notices when I'm taking photos.
> High ISOs are better than I expected.
> I can post photos for discussion on the LUG without feeling guilty  
> that they're not from a Leica :-D
>
> M8 Con:
> The battery lasts less than one day of use and spare batteries are  
> over $100 each.
> The battery takes three hours to recharge.
> The buffer fills up quickly.  After taking 4 or 5 photos in rapid  
> succession, you have to let the camera catch up.
> The camera is not instantly "on".  It take several seconds after  
> you turn it on before you can start to take photos or set the menus.
> As a left-eyed shooter, my nose smudges the LCD monitor with every  
> shot.  I'm going to have to learn to shoot right-eyed.
> Either the viewfinder is dimmer than my M7's or my eyes are getting  
> worse (a possibility!)  It's harder to get the focus right than  
> with the M7.
> It's not as indestructible as the M7's.  I'm sure if I dropped it  
> in a river it would be dead.
> It's not full-frame.
>
> Canon 5D Pro:
> It's automatic focus (my eyes are getting old)
> The L lenses are very nice.
> The battery lasts forever - over a week - spare batteries can be  
> bought for $29.
> The battery charges in 30 minutes.
> You can take many rapid photos in succession and the camera never  
> has to stop.
> The camera is instantly on.
> It takes my R lenses with an adapter.
> It's full-frame.
> It's 12.8 megapixels.
> High ISOs are very, very good.
>
> Canon 5D Con:
> It's an SLR.
> It's big and heavy. (Not as big and heavy as my 1DMII, but much  
> bigger than the M8)
> It's not as waterproof or weather-sealed as my 1DMII. (But maybe  
> better than the Leica?)
> It's fairly loud and noticeable.  Everybody comments on the big  
> camera.
>
> You may notice that I didn't mention the magenta cast or streaking  
> as cons for the M8.  I'm not worried about that.  Leica will come  
> up with a solution and in the meantime, it can be fixed in photoshop.
>
> Your mileage may vary since everybody uses cameras differently, but  
> for my purposes, these are the pros and cons of both cameras.  I  
> don't regret buying the M8 at all.  It will be the camera that I  
> carry with me everywhere.  I'll still carry the 5D and/or the  
> 1DMII, depending on what I'm planning to photograph and how far I  
> have to walk to do it.  I'm still working on comparing similar  
> photos from the two and also some film photos that I shot with my  
> M7 in Rockport.  I'll get those posted as soon as I can scan them.
>
> I hope this helps those of you sitting on the fence about whether  
> to get the M8.  Those who aren't interested have already deleted  
> the message anyway ;-)  If you have any questions, I'd be glad to  
> try to answer them.
>
> Leically (again!!)
>
> Tina
>
>
>
>
>
> Tina Manley, ASMP, NPPA
> http://www.tinamanley.com
>
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