[Leica] Improved M8?

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

Jayanand,

No it's my fault, preferring the Nikon Ergonomics to the Canon's.  Just 
wishing out loud about someone doing mods so i can use my R lenses.  I think 
the R lenses would be a bit  too heavy and large for the M8, that and no 
focus couling would be a bit of a problem.  ;-)

Gene

-------------- Original message from "Jayanand Govindaraj" 
<jayanand@gmail.com>: -------------- 


> Gene, 
> That is Nikon's fault? Does the M8 take Leica R lenses? 
> Cheers 
> Jayanand 
> 
> 
> On 5/29/07, grduprey@mchsi.com wrote: 
> > 
> > Chris, 
> > 
> > Almost every m8 being shipped now has the firmware 1.102 in it. This has 
> > fixed just about all the complaints, except the AWB problem. You should 
> > be 
> > shooting DNG for max image quality, and if so it is a non issue, just 
> > tweek 
> > it if needed. My experience is it is almost dead on 90+% of the time 
> > anyway. The UV/IR filters are being shipped, with a few exceptions, 
> > which 
> > have not yet made it out of production cycle. Even then you can get the 
> > heliopan or other brands redily f rom photo suppliers. The filter thing 
> > is 
> > no different than using a UV filter, end of comment, just use them if 
> > you 
> > shoot color, if you only shoot B&W, then forget the filter issue all 
> > together. Yes there are some other issues which still plague the camera, 
> > but they are just teething problems which all new cameras have. Mine has 
> > been flawless, bought in mid February. My greatest problem with the m8 
> > has 
> > been getting used to the metering patten, which is quite different from 
> > my 
> > m6ttl and Leica r cameras, ! 
> > but i h 
> > ave just about got this licked. 
> > 
> > I have far fewer problems with the m8 than i do with the Nikon D200 i 
> > have. The biggest is it does not take Leica R lenses and there is no 
> > adapter. Nyone know of a camera repair that can modify the D200 with a 
> > Leica R mount, and does not cost a fortune? 
> > 
> > Chris, my advice is to go to your Leica dealer and buy the m8 and start 
> > enjoying it. And do as i do, by using Ted's advice and KISS. 
> > 
> > Gene 
> > 
> > -------------- Original message from "Chris Birchenhall" < 
> > chris@tarsier.freeserve.co.uk>: -------------- 
> > 
> > 
> > > Hi LUGers 
> > > 
> > > The current edition of the UK magazine Amateur Photographer (known as 
> > > AP 
> > in 
> > > the UK) has a review of the "improved M8" by Damien Demolder who is 
> > > also 
> > the 
> > > current editor of the AP. I am an admirer of Damien's reviews which 
> > > tend 
> > to 
> > > be balanced and informed. I am still lurking on the M8 front so I read 
> > this 
> > > review with interest. The "improved M8" is essentially the M8 with the 
> > > latest firmware updates and IR filters. The review is something of a 
> > mixed 
> > > bag. On the one hand Damien is critical of the internet clamour about 
> > the 
> > > red casts and banding and he suggests even Canon had comparable 
> > > teething 
> > > problems. He continues "to their massive credit the people at Leica 
> > > have 
> > > openly acknowledged their faults and endeavoured to fix them". On the 
> > other 
> > > hand, Damien laments the continued lack of support for SDHC cards and 
> > > is 
> > > critical of newly introduced starbust effects on various highlights. 
> > > He 
> > > suggests these "effects are not ugly but they shouldn't be there." 
> > > 
> > > In his conclusion, Damien describes the IR filters "like sticking a 
> > plaster 
> > > over a wound that doesn't heal but stops bothering you", but goes on 
> > > to 
> > say 
> > > he became comfortable with the filters after some use. He suggests the 
> > AWB 
> > > and JPEG mode are not as good as they could be and reaffirms his 
> > > recommendation to use RAW to get the best out of the camera. 
> > > 
> > > I can finally note as an aside comment on one of his illustrations 
> > Damien 
> > > suggests there "is still a bias towards the red channel in this 
> > > camera, 
> > > which makes for dramatic black and white conversions". 
> > > 
> > > As I suspect I am not the only one lurking at the sidelines and 
> > pondering if 
> > > and when to buy a M8 perhaps M8 users or anyone with access to other 
> > > commentators may like to respond to what I take to be a lukewarm 
> > > review 
> > by 
> > > Damien. 
> > > 
> > > Chris 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________ 
> > > 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 
> > 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
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