Leica M8 - It's arrived!

dougdarter

dougdarter

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Douglas
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It's arrived:woot::woot:

Perfectly packed, in two boxes, the courier delivered them this morning.

It's been a couple of years since I used my M6, so it felt strange when I picked it up. After the D1 MkIIn, it felt small, light and jewel like.

The quality of construction of both the camera and the summilux 50 f2 is exquisite.... more so I think than the M6, though that's just my initial thoughts.

DSCN0363.jpg


The Summicron, despite it's small size, is very heavy - there is a lot of glass in there!

The top plate is much cleaner than the M6 - no engraving. The little window shows frames remaining, and battery state.

DSCN0367.jpg


Back is fairly uncluttered. There is a small multi function wheel, a 2.5" LCD display, the like of which I've never seen before. It's extremely clear and bright. A few buttons to access menu function, capture review, and that's about it.

DSCN0366.jpg


It certainly looks like a Leica M. From this angle you can see that it's about 5mm deeper than the other M models, so much so, that it won't fit my M6 ERC:bang:

DSCN0364.jpg


I only had time for a couple of shot's before the battery threw a fit, and died. It'll have to be charged before I use the camera again, but here is a pic of a Passion Flower, which I took. It's a 100% crop, and slightly sharpened, as the camera was set to no sharpening. Default levels of saturation and contrast. It is definitely a Leica shot. Sharpness, definition and colour are just about what I would expect from this lens.

L1000039.jpg


I had a real 'senior' few moments when I first looked through the 50mm 'brightlines'. Something definitely looked wrong:thinking: It was only when I got my brain back into 'digital' mode, that I relalised that the 50mm summicron on this body, is actually a 75mm with the crop factor. It really does make a difference!!

Ah well, I've still got an hour or so before the battery is charged. I think I'll open the instructions to see if I've missed anything. I doubt it though, this is still, digital or not, a Leica M, and as such, it's a blast, and really easy to use.

Doug
 
That is just plain sex on a cord. **** Nikons, Canons and fat arsed DSLR's.
 
Very cool!:thumbs: Looking forward to seeing more shots!:)
 
It looks absolutely beautiful - I love simplistic design, it just oozes class.
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
Lovely bit of kit Doug. Let me know when you are selling it! :)
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There are some things in life, which once aquired, are hoarded, and left to the No 1 son - this is one of them:lol:

If I ever stop using it, I'll put it on the mantlepiece and admire it, until my eyes are too dim..................:love:
 
well I like the pic - not at all shabby!:thumbs:
 
Brains said:
Hope you enjoy it....(they just don't appeal to me though).

Sure you will have hours of fun with it!
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Im with you there Brains. Congratulations dougdarter, and im glad your pleased with it, but I don't see what the fuss is about im afraid. Maybe its one of those things you have to hold, and see with your own eyes to appreciate it.:shrug:
 
Good luck with new camera and newly extended family.

Mitch
 
Messiah Khan said:
Im with you there Brains. Congratulations dougdarter, and im glad your pleased with it, but I don't see what the fuss is about im afraid. Maybe its one of those things you have to hold, and see with your own eyes to appreciate it.:shrug:
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I think I may have missed something as well :thinking:. I'm sure there's a very good reason but...How come these cameras are so highly-rated and how come they cost so much?
 
Ewan said:
I think I may have missed something as well :thinking:. I'm sure there's a very good reason but...How come these cameras are so highly-rated and how come they cost so much?
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For exactly the same reasons as Star Wars Episodes 4, 5 & 6 will always be better than Episodes 1, 2 & 3

When you're older, you'll understand :thumbs:
 
Ewan said:
I think I may have missed something as well :thinking:. I'm sure there's a very good reason but...How come these cameras are so highly-rated and how come they cost so much?
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Hi Ewan,

It's a quality/heritage thing.

When Oscar Barnack went to work for Leitz in the 1920s, he 'invented' what was essentially, to become the first practical 35mm camera. This camera, from the Leica I to III rangefinders with screw in lenses, then the M series, 1 to 7, with bayonet lenses, are the descendants, of the original, in an unbroken line, up to the new Leica M8 digital.

Any Leica lens, made from the 1920s, up until the present day, can be used on this camera, indeed, any camera made from the 1920s can still be used, and will continue to be used until 35mm film stock is no longer available. The early I to III series, which were made until the 50s, are still used by photojournalists today. They are utterly reliable.

The M series cameras, made from the 50s to date, add nothing except luxury. It Has been said that 90% of all truly historical pictures have been taken with a Leica.

In a recent poll in a magazine survey, the Leica M series was voted the 'Gadget of the 20th century'.

It is also widely believed, that the Leica M series is the closest thing to mechanical perfection ever achieved by man, with the exception of hand made watch movements.

They are beautifully made, with the highest quality materials and components. They have no frills, no autofocus, no TTL viewfinders, just the original 'rangefinder split image' focussing system devised by Barnack in the 20's.

All Leica cameras are sought after and collectible. Some early cameras are now worth many thousands of pounds.

If you buy a Leica, you are buying what is quite simply, the finest camera available, at any price. They are that good.

You just have to look at the comments in this post, from owners of the latest and best Japanese SLRs, to see the esteem in which these cameras are held.

I've just sacrificed my 1D MkIIN system, and all my L lenses to buy this one.

They don't come cheap, but I think that they are worth every penny.

I don't usually use such obviously biased language, but everything I've said is available to check on the web - in fact you'll find loads more like it.............. and you did ask:lol:
 
It looks just lovely and I'd be rather excited to own it too.

I do have to say though, I enjoyed the pictures taken of it more than the picture taken with it.

But I do soooooooo want the shots that come out of this camera to be just exquisite and will be waiting with great anticipation.
 
Ewan said:
I think I may have missed something as well :thinking:. I'm sure there's a very good reason but...How come these cameras are so highly-rated and how come they cost so much?
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Precision German engineering with attention to detail. You can't live long enough to wear one out. Add to that the fact that they have some of the sharpest lenses ever made and you're getting there.

Compared to an SLR the leaf shutter in this camera is whisper quiet, so the Leica rangefinder cameras have always been the chosen tool of the street/candid photographer who wants to keep a low profile. They're also very sought after and highly prized so retain their value very well.
 
dougdarter said:
Hi Ewan,

It's a quality/heritage thing.

When Oscar Barnack went to work for Leitz in the 1920s, he 'invented' what was essentially, to become the first practical 35mm camera. This camera, from the Leica I to III rangefinders with screw in lenses, then the M series, 1 to 7, with bayonet lenses, are the descendants, of the original, in an unbroken line, up to the new Leica M8 digital.

Any Leica lens, made from the 1920s, up until the present day, can be used on this camera, indeed, any camera made from the 1920s can still be used, and will continue to be used until 35mm film stock is no longer available. The early I to III series, which were made until the 50s, are still used by photojournalists today. They are utterly reliable.

The M series cameras, made from the 50s to date, add nothing except luxury. It Has been said that 90% of all truly historical pictures have been taken with a Leica.

In a recent poll in a magazine survey, the Leica M series was voted the 'Gadget of the 20th century'.

It is also widely believed, that the Leica M series is the closest thing to mechanical perfection ever achieved by man, with the exception of hand made watch movements.

They are beautifully made, with the highest quality materials and components. They have no frills, no autofocus, no TTL viewfinders, just the original 'rangefinder split image' focussing system devised by Barnack in the 20's.

All Leica cameras are sought after and collectible. Some early cameras are now worth many thousands of pounds.

If you buy a Leica, you are buying what is quite simply, the finest camera available, at any price. They are that good.

You just have to look at the comments in this post, from owners of the latest and best Japanese SLRs, to see the esteem in which these cameras are held.

I've just sacrificed my 1D MkIIN system, and all my L lenses to buy this one.

They don't come cheap, but I think that they are worth every penny.

I don't usually use such obviously biased language, but everything I've said is available to check on the web - in fact you'll find loads more like it.............. and you did ask:lol:
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Thanks Doug - very interesting :thumbs: Dunno why I haven't heard of them before really :thinking:

Looking forward to seeing the pics anyway :)
 
CT said:
Precision German engineering with attention to detail. You can't live long enough to wear one out. Add to that the fact that they have some of the sharpest lenses ever made and you're getting there.

Compared to an SLR the leaf shutter in this camera is whisper quiet, so the Leica rangefinder cameras have always been the chosen tool of the street/candid photographer who wants to keep a low profile. They're also very sought after and highly prized so retain their value very well.
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Stop it CT, stop it! You're making me want one now :bang: :D
 
dazzajl said:
It looks just lovely and I'd be rather excited to own it too.

I do have to say though, I enjoyed the pictures taken of it more than the picture taken with it.

But I do soooooooo want the shots that come out of this camera to be just exquisite and will be waiting with great anticipation.
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I'm an elderly (well I feel that way) partially disabled retired person:lol:

A photographic trip out needs some planning, ie an advance warning to my doctor, and the local ambulance service, a ready stock of pee bottles, and a carefully planned pocket full of pills:help:

Seriously, I'll get some pics out when I have been able to photograph something other than the bushes in my back garden:lol:
 
CT said:
Compared to an SLR the leaf shutter in this camera is whisper quiet, so the Leica rangefinder cameras have always been the chosen tool of the street/candid photographer who wants to keep a low profile. They're also very sought after and highly prized so retain their value very well.
Click to expand...


Interestingly Cedric, although this has a leaf shutter, it's not quite as quiet as the other M's. Because Leica have seen fit to do away with the cocking lever (so that it can be used in 'continuous' mode), it now uses a motor to re-cock the shutter, so it makes that extra little bit of noise. It's still a whisper compared to the D2n though. They now use titanium shutter blades instead of fabric, so the nature of the noise has changed as well.


Here is the direct link to a MP3 file which first plays the fabric blade noise, then the metal blade and re-cocking noise:

http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/LeicaM8/Samples/Audio/m7-then-m8.mp3

Doug
 
Interesting Doug. There's me completely forgetting that of course it's powered shutter cocking now.
 
Hi dad...;)
Pardon me for mentioning this....but hasn't there been a problem with the new model? can't remember what it was, but I'm sure I've seen it mentioned in the mags. Anyone else know.....or have I completely lost my marbles?
 
photostar_1 said:
Hi dad...;)
Pardon me for mentioning this....but hasn't there been a problem with the new model? can't remember what it was, but I'm sure I've seen it mentioned in the mags. Anyone else know.....or have I completely lost my marbles?
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Hi Janice,

There was, and is a problem, though it's easily fixed.

The sensor does not have an anti aliasing filter. The net result is, under artificial light, and some natural light situations, black man made fabrics such as nylon, cordura, and velvet, look either purple or red.

Leica 'fixed' this by supplying two UV/IR filters to screw onto the fron of the lens.

In normal day to day situations, these are not needed.
 
It's cos you're only 13 or so! Let's see some more pics soon.
 
On a guitar forum I visit, one of the lads had just aquired this:

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Apparently it's a Leica IIIf made in the early 50s.

I don't know much about it, or how to use it, but I've found a couple of manuals on the internet and I'm going to try to teach myself.

What a stunning bit of kit though! They don't make 'em like that any more, eh?
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