[Leica] Leica M8 hands on

[grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey@mchsi.com)]

Why would you need it or want it?  Auto shutter cocking and no coupling 
mechanism.

Gene


-------------- Original message from Yan Zhan Lee <yzlee@starhub.net.sg>: 
-------------- 


> 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 donâ??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 â?? 
> > 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 
> > 
> > 
> 
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