Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/06/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I like to have things a while before I decide what I think of them. I bought an M8 last November: It's my first _serious_ foray into digital. I'm the kind of photographer who undertakes personal projects, often with significant effort in a short space of time, but I am not a professional photographer, nor do I try to make a serious living out of it. It's been pretty tough, I've got to say and ironically, one of the biggest motivators for working with my M7 over the last few months has been the desire to cure the frustration of working with the M8. Everything you've read is true and wrong at the same time. Some things will hit some people harder and some things will be irrelevant. Having a digital camera that works like my M7 and retains the viewing system is important to me. The 1.3 crop is neither here nor there, neither are many of the other problems like noise (I rarely rated film faster than 640 in my M7). One of the things that isn't immediately apparent is that good digital sensors punish poor technique. You learn right away, too. Things that would look okay on film even at 8x10 just do not hold up, because the temptation to view at '100%' is there and it's so easy to do. So even if your files print okay at 8x10, you'll know where the limit lies - this didn't really happen with film. The system really can take full advantage of the lenses. Resolution exceeds any 35mm film apart from carefully developed microfilms. Colour rendition is better than anything apart from Kodachrome. The Kodak sensor has many, many advantages, even if the Canon and Sony sensors have other, different strengths. And it's small and handy and has a clear, bright viewfinder. And it uses my M lenses. But more than anything, it's made my photography constant, rather than sporadic. It's just easier because I can change the ISO at will and it's free. We went to an Indian wedding, hung out with friends, their kids and pets (I like cats, but I HATE cat photos but found myself taking some). I shot during dinners at conferences and workshops and got a quick snap of a dying friend and mentor. I'm using more colour, because my B&W conversions still suck and the CCD records highlights differently from film (and I like the way highlights look on film and have become sensitive to how they look from printing loads of negs). But I'm easy about it too; Hoppy took it for a day and I was completely unconcerned. It's just become something I've got and use all the time. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/mate/ If I wasn't into Leicas, an Oly 410 would probably suffice. But I got used to looking straight through and focusing years ago. And with the M8, I'll have a better and more complete document of my life. I'm not pretending that anyone will care, except me. Neither am I saying that anyone else should necessarily get or use this camera, but I like it. Marty -- We've Got Your Name at http://www.mail.com! Get a FREE E-mail Account Today - Choose From 100+ Domains