Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/05/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>anyone now using an M8.2 who has used an M8? Care to tell us about it? >Its pro's and con's ?? Five minutes with Brian Reid's M8.2 made me realise that many of the things that bug me about the M8 are the things that Leica upgraded in the 8.2. I think Hoppy tended to agree - got an 8.2 yet Geoff? It is vastly quieter and the framelines are more accurate in most working situations. I was out shooting with LuGger Mike Durling a month or so ago and he commented that my subjects for the most part probably don't even realise I have a camera. If I tried to use a dSLR that would change - but not because of the camera, because of me. The M is the right size, it fits my hands well and I'm used to it. I don't want to change. Totally shifting camera would bug me a lot more than trading a 35 mm for my normal 50 mm lens. So you can put me firmly in Tina's camp on this one, though I hesitate to mention myself in such company, because realism tells me that Tina is vastly better and more serious at what she does with a camera than what I do with a camera. The main cons for the 8.2 are the ones that remain from the M8, although if you use flash or work in daylight with fast lenses wide open the slower synch and top shutter speeds might be a loss (I think Dante Stella feels this is an issue). I still think the filters are a kludgy solution to the IR contamination issue. I've found problems with IR contamination in a lot more scenarios than just tungsten light and synthetic fabric. The viewfinder's magnification is still too low (give us a choice - the VF magnifier is a poor substitute for a 0.85 VF). The camera's low light capabilities still basically suck, which is why I always have a film M with fast B&W film handy. And, of course, though it only bothers me conceptually, the sensor is still a 1.3 crop. What I'd really, really, really love is that native B&W sensor M camera that Leica were mooting a few years ago. In fact a native monochrome digital camera of ANY sort might be the only thing that would lure me away from Ms right now. Pentax seems to be the only company wacky enough to do something like that right now, but with those DA star and DA limited lenses they have, that would be allright by me. But I'd prefer a Leica. Oh and as for people who run from cameras like Doug's sister, Delores Durling does that too. It makes for a good fitness regime when I'm around. Marty