Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried the Leica M8 (their digital camera). That would be a dream to have! (except for the fact I heard it doesn't have AF though correct me if I am wrong) Small...but digital?! I have read reviews and such but just curious what the opinions of OSPers are like on this item. I wish I could play with it...just a little~

There's a good review at Luminous Landscape site. At $4800 it seems like an overly expensive, less versatile alternative to systems like Canon (1DMK3) and Nikon (D2X).

And it doesn't have AF...

And another thing to remember is that long lenses are nigh impossible to use! Getting a lens longer than 135 isn't likely to happen or be easy to use.

Thanks! ok maybe I should have changed the topic line to recommendations on a good digital camera with interchangeable lenses that is small like the leica. If there are any??

Most definately! The canon rebel XT/XTi. The olympus E410 or E500 are very small very well built cameras with low noise(d40 comparable) and great lenses. Since it's a 2x crop factor you can get lenses with awesome range in 35mm equivalent.

Hi. I have an M8 and, I have to say, it is a dream to use. True, it doesn't have AF or long lens reach, but it is sure nice to have such a small system which produces such amazing images. Great lenses! I do shoot Canon as well, but I am adding the M8 to my wedding arsenal at my next wedding in a couple weeks. I can't wait! I warn you though, if you pick one up to try, you're gonna want one bad!
Best,
Ron
Here's a little teaser shot. Love this camera in low light!

I have shot a bunch with Leica film cameras and love them. Very quiet, very unobtrusive and very quick (once you learn to focus). There is nothing out there right now to compete but I have heard rumors that Cosina will be releasing a digital Voigtland Bessa in the next year or so.
The M8 has some pretty strange issues that should not exist on a $5K body. For instance, Leica provides a filter (I think it is a just a UV filter or something) because there is some sort of problem with the sensor. I forget the details but I was thinking about getting one but just couldn't justify $5K + $2-3K for 2 lenses for a camera that has to use a filter because it was not designed and tested correctly.

Speaking of problems...I have a funny story. Last year at the NYC PhotoPlus Expo I played with the M8 + 35mm Summicron at the Leica booth. I took a few shot, chatted with a German representative (he first said that I had a good eye cause my focus was pretty much on), and then showed him a shot that obviously had banding on the image. He then says that it must have been my exposure or my focus was off. I was like, "that looks like banding to me." He continued to deny it.

A few weeks later Leica issueed the press release that addresses the BANDING issue.



But I LOVED the M8. It's a whole different approach to photography.

That's a great shot! I'm a Leica lover (I want a M6 and some lenses) but from what I've read at dpreview and rangefinders.com the M8 is VERY noisy. Can you use ISO 400 or higher?

I've shot wih leica film cameras and have always wanted one. I totally want the m8 but it's way to expensive for me. I do love shooting with a rangefinder it's great to see what's happening when you click also I love seeing outside the frame. Someday I'll have my leica. My dream camera is a digital x-pan.

Since we're dreaming (and I believe in dreaming BIG) I'd like to have both a Leica M6 and a Hasselblad XPan II. Why not?



Speaking of Digital rangefinder alternatives to the M8, has anyone used the Epson RD-1? I've seen some great images in the galleries over at rangefinderforum.com. I believe it has a Nikon D70 chip inside? Since its a CCD chip, I read that you couldn't go wider than 35mm. Is that true?

For the record, I really enjoy shooting with rangefinders. ;-)

Have you considered the Panasonic DMC-L1. It's small and shaped life a rangefinder (flat top). The lens it comes with is sweet (Leica). Plus it will use any four thirds mount lens. There are some nice ones to choose from.

Noise is more present than my 5D at iso 640, 1250 and 2500, but I shoot at 1250 often at night in bars, etc. The "grain" is not objectionable to me. Here are a couple samples at 640.

wow so many choices...thanks for the tips everyone! lots of research to do...

Check out pixel-peeper.com ... you can look at full-res shots from the M8 and various Leica lenses.

I've always wanted an M6 or MP, and the M8 is almost as cool as those (not full frame, which I think is lame for a rangefinder).

The great thing about the M's is their discreet size and noise, and that you get to use all the legendary Leica lenses (some are more hype than actually being great, but they do have great color and sharpness, and tend to be fast).

The M8 + the 50mm f/1.0 Noctilux would be barrels o' fun.

I know Andrew over at LaCour uses one... Andrew???

These are nice, do you have any at higher ISOs?

I believe that Andrew at LaCour uses the M8...maybe ping him to confirm / and get advice.

jinx.

hehe drool...
that's wacky!! 50 at 1.0 my GOODNESS!!!

Yah ... the Noctilux is pretty cool. Not very sharp, but nice colors and a very distinct "look". That and the 35 1.4 would be SWEET on an M6 or MP.

It's true.

Here are a few images...








(the last one is rachel's)

Nice image, and the shadows are so detailed. I tried the M8 using a 50mm f1.0 at WPPI. It was amazing just playing around with it. The images (from what I can tell) looked sharp and it wasn't as bad as I thought doing the manual focus. And the sound it makes when the shutter goes off, niiiice!
I think that lens was worth even more than the camera - around $5600?!

In my editorial days, I used to shoot with an M6. I remember one time I was covering Bill Clinton's visit to Mississippi. I was one of 2 shooters covering the story, but the paper was only issued one press pass. My colleague was back in the press pool while I worked the "front lines" of the story (much closer to Clinton) than I could have if I had been an "official" credentialed photographer.

The point of this post is not that I covered a Presidential visit (as every newspaper photographer has) but that even the Secret Service didn't take a second look at me covering the event with a Leica. Works on chruch coordinators, too.

I shoot with the M8 camera in spite of its limitations. Yes, you can't focus close. Yes, there is no autofocus (but I can focus more accurately in low light with my Leica than my SLR). Yes, it only shoots on aperture priority. Yes, it's a little noisy at high ISOs. I don't care.

Why? Because my impact on the scene is drastically reduced because the people don't think I'm an "official" photographer. They don't take me seriously. Good. That's exactly what I want.

When they don't see me, they are more themselves, and the images benefit because I'm able to communicate more what the subjects were really feeling. So what if it's a little noisy?

As Joe B so fondly says, "There's no such thing as a perfect picture, just the perfect moment."

wow these leica shots are amazing! crisp! But aperture priority only? That makes me a bit sad~
I can live with manual focusing but no manual control? awwww!
Yeah but the discrete ability of the camera and it being oh so light is a HUGE advantage

I misspoke here...you CAN shoot on manual as well. What I meant to say was Aperture Priority is the only autoexposure mode.

Sweet images, Andrew. What you're saying about it lowering your "footprint" so to speak was cool. How much bigger is the M8 than the M6?

It's a little fatter, but Leica says it weighs less. I'd say it's about the same size. The biggest adjustment is not having the wind lever to grip the camera.

Andrew, your work is always superb. I could give you a disposable camera and you would come back with images like these. IMHO you rock my man!

Check this out - what type of film do you use with your M6 (i.e. film speed and type)?

And, given how quite Leica's are do you find yourself wanting to shoot more with them vs. a DSLR?

And FTR - I've shot some cool stuff using my Olympus XA1 and people REALLY don't take me seriously when I use the thumb winder to advance the film. But, with it's sharp Zuiko lens I can create some really great images with it as long as I focus quickly.

BTW - when using your Leica (I haven't used one yet, but a pristine M6 is mine) do you find yourself "shooting short and stopping down" as the old time rangefinder shooters say?

Hey Sam,

Good to hear from you again! I don't shoot much film anymore /:) but when I did it was pretty much all TRI-X 400, or Provia Chrome. Or, a roll of color neg for the newspaper.



The single-frame hand-cranked winder on the M6 made you shoot real slow and intentional, which really made you concentrate on the Moment. DSLRs make me sloppy, I think. The M8 is in-between, with its slow and quiet built-in winder.


You're right -- f/16 is the "Leica Look" but I actually love using this camera in low, low light with no flash. I'm shooting a lot with my 50/1 at f/1. Despite the short depth of field, I'm getting sharp shots because of the way the manual rangefinder focusing works. It's awesome (and works better than a disposable, BTW )

LOL - thanks! But, I don't know - with your skills you could use a disposable and still rock the house.

My Mom tells me that I have "champagne taste on a beer belly budget." So, given your experience with your Leica, do I really need a Leica M6 and a Hasselblad Xpan II? Both superb rangefinders with great glass.

Sometimes I "kick" myself in the butt (and I've got a big butt so that's a lot of kicking) as when I was living in Germany I use to see Leicas all of the time. But, since I didn't know what they were I didn't take advantage of the strong US Dollar to purchase one. At one point the US Dollar was worth 4 German Deutschmarks. It's been so long since I left that I don't know if I spelled that right, but I could have gotten a new Leica for 1/4 of it's cost. I know, I've got to let it go...