[Leica] Video of M8

[rclompus at mac.com (Richard Clompus)]

I find the M8 a bit intriguing.  I wrote a piece how "film died for  
me" a few years ago on the LUG.  I look back over the last ten years  
in photography and realize how fast film has gone from what you need  
to use to make photographs to almost being irrelevant.  I ended up  
selling most of my R system but for some reason that's hard to  
explain, I've held onto my M Leica bodies and lenses.  I still enjoy  
looking through thousands of slides but find the advantages of  
digital too hard to ignore.  I've become a better photographer with  
digital because I learn from my mistakes faster and can takes loads  
of pictures as I explore new concepts.  I had a B&W wet darkroom and  
was OK as a printer but not great because I couldn't find enough time  
to really experiment.  Then when I finally nailed a print, it was  
always hard to go back the next session and make duplicate copies  
again for friends.  Once I nail the print with CS2 and the R2400  
printer, I can make as many copies for gifts as I need.

It seems every time I spend big money on a Leica, it hurts in the  
beginning but holds its value over time.  My wife and friends think  
I'm nuts to spend that much money on a camera or lens but to have the  
equivalent of an M7 that's digital (now M8) puts me right where I  
want to be.  For the past few  months, I've been using a Ricoh  
digital GR.  Great camera but without manual focus and a rangefinder,  
its still a Point & Shoot.

I'll be in line for an M8 like many of you wondering if its worth the  
price.  Hopefully the photos will convince me it was worth it.

Richard Clompus, OD
Ponte VEdra Beach, FL