Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/09/15

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Subject: [Leica] Leica M8 hands on
From: don.dory at gmail.com (Don Dory)
Date: Fri Sep 15 07:52:15 2006
References: <42f.7939c000.323b4167@aol.com> <450AAA7D.2010902@starhub.net.sg>

No, the tripod socket has been moved so new grips will have to be tooled
up.  Also no need for a rapid winder as the camera winds itself, you have to
have a battery to power the electronics so no loss to wind the shutter with
a motor.

Don
don.dory@gmail.com


On 9/15/06, Yan Zhan Lee <yzlee@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
>
> Tom
>
> Would the rapidgrip works on the M8??
>
> cheers
>
> TTAbrahams@aol.com wrote:
> >
> >
> > Yes,
> > Leica  kindly lent me an M8 to try out. I suspect that they thought  "If
> he
> > likes  it, we are on the right track"!
> > Well,  I am happy to say that they are on the right track. The M8 does
> behave
> > like an  M-camera should. It puts minimal "digital" between you and your
> > picture, but if  you are so inclined you can add all the bells and
> whistles to
> > what you are  doing. When I got it (no manual for it) I managed to turn
> it in to
> > a M2/M6  with little fuss. Put it on mono-chrome, put the ISO to 320 and
> stick
> > a  lens on it. I don't shoot color and to me the black/white image
> quality
> > was what  counted. The first couple of 100 shots were done with
> everything in
> > "Standard"  setting and the prints that my local lab pulled were a bit
> flat (to
> > be expected  as you can manipulate the image in the computer after
> wards). The
> > next batch was  shot with higher contrast settings and came out fine.
> The
> > higher ISO settings  have a bit of digital "noise" (1250/2500) but so
> would film
> > if you either used a  T-Speed or Delta 3200 so no big deal.
> > It  does feel like a slightly obese M6. The additional thickness coupled
> with
> > the  rather slippery covering had my right hand cramping up after a
> while. I
> > did get  used to it, except when I switched between a M2 and M8. My hand
> > wanted to  "crush" the M8 to M2 thickness! The lack of a film-advance
> arm is
> > somewhat  disconcerting as it does feel like an M and you are forever
> trying to pull
> > out a  lever to hook your thumb behind - although this is something you
> get
> > used to. I  love the base-plate with its folding "Leica" key lock.
> Battery  and
> > SD card are accessed by removing it and I still have that fleeting
> thought  "
> > Damn, did I rewind the film" before pulling the base plate off! The
> design is
> > that close to an M!
> > The  noise is modest; a soft click and a slight "whirr" sound is not
> > disturbing at  all. My biggest problem with the M8 is that I am a left
> eye focuser and
> > my nose  is squished against the screen. During flu-season that could be
> an
> > ugly sight!  Some kind of cover would be useful - particularly as I use
> it as I
> > would a  regular M, shoot away happily and after 40-50 shots I looked
> for a
> > shady spot  (outdoor patio of cafe works well) and chimped through what
> I shot
> > and deleted  the misses or boring stuff. Like any digital screen,
> however
> > pleasantly sized it  is - I cant see it bright light and as I have to
> take off my
> > glasses to see it  in subdued light - i might just as well be
> comfortable,
> > sipping coffee and  admire my handiwork.
> > I  went through my lenses and anything that could be made to fit was put
> on
> > it.  from 12/5,6 to 135/4 in M-mount and even some Nikkor RF lenses with
> the
> > Orion-copy adapter as well as my Viso III. I need to make a mask (i.e.
> draw the
> >  reduced frame size with marker on the Viso screen). It also works well
> with
> > Bellows II (and a 61/2" Kodak Anastigmat from an old folding Kodak).
> > Lenses  like the 75/2 and the 50/1,4 Asph. works very well, but I found
> that
> > I was suing  my 40/1,4 Nokton and the 28/25 focal length for most of the
> > "keepers".
> > The  technical  stuff I leave to those of us who like that kind of stuff
> but
> > the  long and  short of it is that A/I have ordered one and B/ Leica
> succeeded
> >  where nobody else did. They made me a believer in Digital. The M8 will
> be a
> > complement to my M2's and M6's. It will not relegate film obsolete in my
> > "book"  but it will be additional tool in the arsenal.
> > Now,  all we need is a printer that is dedicated to black and white.
> Four
> > shades -  glossy black, matte black, mid-grey and light grey and while I
> am
> > dreaming - a  spot-varnish feature. Oh, the inks should also be
> reasonably priced!
> > For storing  the digital images I would like to see a digital to film
> transfer
> > that was easy  to use and cheap at that. Film is still the cheapest and
> > safest long term  storage available! Well, if Leica can build a Digital
> M
> > successfully why  cant  other manufacturers do what some of the
> customers want to have!
> >  The demand for a dedicated b/w printer would be huge - think of all
> those
> > neg- files sitting around. I have in excess of 350 000 negatives on
> file-  most
> > are not worth the backing they are on, but some I would like to do quick
> > prints from. The good prints I would still do in a wet darkroom as I
> enjoy that
> > process - staring at a screen does not come close to the pleasure of
> watching
> > a  white sheet of paper
> > turn  into an image.
> > Best  for now,
> > Tom  A
> > -----
> > Tom  Abrahamsson
> > Vancouver, BC
> > Canada
> > rapidwinder.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
>

In reply to: Message from TTAbrahams at aol.com (TTAbrahams@aol.com) ([Leica] Leica M8 hands on)
Message from yzlee at starhub.net.sg (Yan Zhan Lee) ([Leica] Leica M8 hands on)