Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/03/04

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Subject: [Leica] M8
From: terry at gruberphotographers.com (Kids Gruber)
Date: Sun Mar 4 14:52:11 2007

Has anyone tried the M8 and have they tried getting the ttl flash sca 3052?


On 3/4/07 5:38 PM, "Ric Carter" <ricc@mindspring.com> wrote:

> I don't like cold weather, but I sure like your cold weather photos.
> 
> Ric
> 
> 
> On Mar 2, 2007, at 7:45 PM, Robert Rose wrote:
> 
>> I just came back from Yosemite and Moose Peterson's DLWS workshop,
>> and I
>> uploaded a few of the images I made with the M8:
>> 
>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/rjrose/yose/
>> 
>> Included are several made with the 135, and one IR image.  I hope
>> you like
>> them.  I was there 5 days, and I shot the M8 on one day, and a D2X
>> the rest
>> of the time.  It got down to 18 degrees one day, but rained on us
>> several
>> other days.
>> 
>> Some working impressions.  Your results may vary:
>> 
>> 1.  The M8 performed in rain and 18 degree weather without a
>> hitch.  The
>> battery life was not a problem.  We shot from 6-9 am and 3-6 pm. I
>> ran out a
>> 2GB card in each session, and the battery was still alive through the
>> session.  I used a fully charged battery for each session. I had
>> the review
>> on, and monitor brightness turned up.
>> 
>> 2.  Dust is more of a problem than on the D2x.  Maybe that is
>> because there
>> is a mirror to deflect dust on the DSLR.  The brush from Active
>> Dust worked
>> to clean up the sensors each night.
>> 
>> 5.  The IR shot was manual color balanced using the ExpoDisk. The
>> ExpoDisk
>> (a white diffusion disk) works really well to get manual color
>> balance, but
>> works even better to spot dust problems after changing lenses.  I
>> shot an
>> f/16 image with an ExpoDisk, and then it was easy to see whether
>> there were
>> any big goobers.  The light changes constantly, so manual color
>> balance is
>> not useful for the color shots.
>> 
>> 6.  Precise framing is impossible.  So, for landscape work the
>> camera is a
>> challenge.  You have to look on the monitor and retake the shot.
>> 
>> 7.  I have not printed anything yet on my 3800, but on the monitor the
>> technical quality of the M8 beats or exceeds the D2x (no
>> surprise).  The M8
>> has 10Mb compared to 12Mb, but with slightly larger pixels.
>> 
>> 8.  I am not sure if the larger pixel size helped with dynamic
>> range, but I
>> seemed to have less highlight blowout with the M8 compared to the D2x.
>> 
>> 9.  MY KINGDOM FOR AN IR CUTOFF FILTER.  My images which have
>> people in them
>> all show magenta caps, backpacks, etc.  LEICA WHERE ARE YOU?  You
>> promised
>> them February 7.
>> 
>> 10. AN IR CUTOFF FILTER ruined my D2X wide shots.  In a burst of evil
>> genius, I found an IR cut-off that was 77mm, and put it on my
>> 17-55.  All of
>> the shots at 17mm show magenta vignetting!  While researching this
>> problem
>> at the B&W web page, I found out that you can't use the filter on wide
>> angles lenses.  Go know.  So, that is why the Leica lenses must be
>> coded,
>> and the new firmware installed to overcome this problem.
>> 
>> 11.  ND Grad filters are a challenge to use.  You have to reshoot
>> using the
>> monitor.
>> 
>> 11.  The Leica M8, a Tri-Elmar, a 135, and maybe a 90 are all the
>> lenses you
>> need for landscape shots.  It replaces a TON of DSLR grear if precise
>> framing is not needed, or you are not using ND grad filters.
>> 
>> That's all for now!
>> 
>> Bob Rose
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 



Replies: Reply from len-1 at comcast.net (Leonard Taupier) ([Leica] M8)
In reply to: Message from ricc at mindspring.com (Ric Carter) ([Leica] IMG Yosemite & DLWS Workshop)