Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]thanks Nathan seems like your experience and thoughts are in synch with many of us who've worked through a number of systems. Regards, George Lottermoser george@imagist.com http://www.imagist.com http://www.imagist.com/blog http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist Picture A Week - www.imagist.com/paw_07 On Jan 26, 2009, at 4:18 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote: > Hi George, > > As always, thanks for looking and for the kind words. > > To answer your question: yes, I have used all the equipment you > mention. In 2004 I decided to get a DSLR and went to Canon, mainly > because I wanted to use my Leica R lenses. But like you have > written on several occasions, I quickly found that Leica R lenses > work best on a Leica body, and I sold them all except my 100mm Apo > Macro which was just too good to let go. After about a year with > the 20D I bought a second-hand 1D Mark II and used that as my > primary outfit for a couple of years, along with 3-4 L lenses. I > liked that the Canon was rugged, weather-proof (tested several > times in Amsterdam downpours), but boy did my shoulder hurt after > walking around with the bag for a day. I was, however, disappointed > with the optical quality of some of the expensive lenses, > particularly the 16-35mm. Even on a body with a 1.3 sensor factor > it was decidedly soft in corners. > > So I began to look at Olympus, attracted by the lighter bodies and > lenses and the good reputation enjoyed by Olympus optics. After > getting my feet wet with an E-410, I bought an E3 which I still > have, along with the 12-60mm and 50-200mm lenses. I was and am very > pleased with this DSLR, despite the limitations at high ISO. The > lenses were definitely better than their Canon equivalents. > > All along I lusted after an M8, and when the right opportunity > presented itself in early December, I went for it. I have now shot > approximately 1700 images with it, and I could not be more pleased. > It did not take me long to re-learn manual focusing, and now my > percentage of nailed focus shots is higher than with the AF systems > I used before. I can again carry my outfit around all day in my > Domke 803 and not have shoulder pain. My primary lens is the 35mm > Summarit, a brilliant lens which, aside from a bit of barrel > distortion is every bit as good as a Summicron. But the bottom line > is image quality. Let me put it this way: with my M8 files, I no > longer sharpen my images. It is simply not necessary. I spend much > less time processing my RAW files in Lightroom with the M8 than > with any of the other cameras I have owned. > > Is the M8 perfect? Of course not. I would like better high ISO > performance, although I find 1250 entirely satisfactory and far > superior to film (but of course Nikon has shown us how good high > ISO can be). I would also like some weather-proofing, as befits a > camera designed for street photography. And that's about it. Full > frame is not a big deal for me, and really the only Olympus feature > I sometimes miss is the supersonic dust removal. > > Getting the M8 was the best decision (in photography) that I have > made in a long time. Should I have done it earlier? Not really. I > had long said that once I could buy one at a certain price point, I > would do so. That price point was reached in December--around 2500 > Euros, new, with 2-year UK Passport warranty. > > Nathan > > Nathan Wajsman > Alicante, Spain > http://www.frozenlight.eu > http://www.greatpix.eu > http://www.nathanfoto.com > > Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0 > PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws > Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog > > > > On Jan 26, 2009, at 10:29 PM, George Lottermoser wrote: > >> Thanks for taking us on another delightful stroll through your >> life Nathan. >> While the seascapes are lovely; I really enjoy the "moments" in >> Alt 5 and 8. >> >> Also: I can't help wondering if you might provide a report >> on your feelings regarding the M8. >> You're one of we who've migrated through Canon, Canon/R glass, >> (and I believe Olympus-ville) and now use the M8. >> So you must have thoughts and feelings about these >> various systems and how they worked or didn't work for you >> >> Regards, >> George Lottermoser >> george@imagist.com >> http://www.imagist.com >> http://www.imagist.com/blog >> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist >> Picture A Week - www.imagist.com/paw_07 >> >> >> >> >> On Jan 26, 2009, at 1:34 AM, Nathan Wajsman wrote: >> >>> This week's images contain some beautiful views of the >>> Mediterranean, attractive tapas, and at least one sweaty se?orita: >>> >>> http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws/?page_id=179 >>> >>> As always, comments and critique are welcome and appreciated. >>> There are no pictures from this weekend's storm, those will get a >>> separate gallery on my greatpix.eu site, hopefully tonight. >>> >>> On a side note, this weekend I upgraded the Wordpress software on >>> which my blog runs from version 1.5 (vintage 2006) to the latest >>> version 2.7. For the viewer it should not make any difference, >>> but it makes administering the site and fighting comment spam >>> much easier. So I have a special request to those who usually >>> visit my PAW: if the site behaves strangely in any way, please >>> let me know. >>> >>> Nathan >>> >>> Nathan Wajsman >>> Alicante, Spain >>> http://www.frozenlight.eu >>> http://www.greatpix.eu >>> http://www.nathanfoto.com >>> >>> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0 >>> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws >>> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information