Smallish digital camera with a decent viewfinder

I just wish that the digital components could plug out as a module and later be replaced by the inevitable higher resolution technology that will come along soon (much the same as you can do with a 35mm film cassette!). Especially when there is such wonderful workmanship put into the manufacture of the Leica rangefinder bodies which should last a lifetime.

For now I'm sure it is a superb camera and a real pleasure to use - perfect to be accompanied by a fully manual M6 when (if) the temperatures plummet!

Peter

quote:

Originally posted by Huwge:
Nick - not sure what you mean by low-light mode.

I was refering to the quality of photographs taken in low light such as these by Constantine Manos with an M8:

http://inmotion.magnumphotos.com/essays/color.aspx

Click on the "M8" link on the right side of the page.

Northpole, Leica have in the past offered upgrades to camera components for existing cameras such as rangefinder mechanism, lens mounts etc., so they may well offer to do this as digital sensor technology improves.

OK - it's not really a mode, just a feature of good, fast lenses and very good image quality at ISO 640 and below. Above, you either live with noise / grain or accept the compromise of noise reduction software.

I have nice hand held shots at ca. 1/45 @ ISO 640 and lower light than the displayed images. Am not happy that two lenses need to be recalibrated for digital when they were fine with film. But that's part of the price of being an early adapter, I guess. If I had known, I would have checked all lenses with the M8 before purchase. But when it works,...

quote:

Leica have in the past offered upgrades to camera components for existing cameras such as rangefinder mechanism, lens mounts etc., so they may well offer to do this as digital sensor technology improves.

Wouldn't that be just fantastic if they were able to do so? I'm sure it would open up the market for the upper end digi cams which, in my opinion are really only viable for professionals making money from their use before they become obsolete.

Peter

Rockingdoc
Great choice! Where did you get it in the end? I am weakening fast - probably next weekend. I have a hatful of M lenses and two M7 bodies but having gone over to the dark side now they rarely get an outing. I think the M8 will serve at least 80% of my photo needs for a good few years. The pics that I have seen from M8s are mostly lovely. I'm not a professional but the M8 is still "viable" for me if I use it and enjoy the results.
I guess when you get to chillier climes it'll just be the battery that finds its way beneath your Lycra!
Anyhow, perhaps you would report back your impressions when you have had a chance to use it a bit?

I bought it from the Classic Camera in Bloomsbury because they had the hard to find, new "cheap" Leica 2.8 28mm in stock.
First impressions of this new "cheap" six-bit lens is that it is in a different league for sharpness and contrast to any in my sizeable Nikkor collection.
Nice bonus is that my old Nikon SB26 flash works perfectly in auto mode (strangely my SB800 doesn't) so I won't need to buy a Leica flash. Already saving for a 50mm lens.
Only complaint is that Photoshop Elements v.4 won't open the Leica RAW files, and there doesn't appear to be a plug-in available. The Leica plug-in for my D-Lux doesn't work with M8 files. However, the camera comes with Capture One, so I'll just have to learn how to use that instead.

C1 is easy to use, just bear in mind that white balance is a bit erratic on occasion and so it makes sense to shoot with a test card if you don't want the hassle of post processing. Just adjust WB and colour and then save as a tiff for any sharpeing, if necessary, in PSE

I am not advocating this as I don't understand the compression that seems to go on, but you can download Adobe DNG converter and it will create a RAW file that you can edit in PSE. I don't follow why the converted file is so much smaller so I leave it alone, but it is a viable solution.

A nice plug in is Alien Skin Exposure, I think this works with Elements. Gives you a lot of flexibility for B&W

I think Lightroom will open the RAW files too. I did have a trial copy of C1 and used it with the RAW from Leica DMR and it worked flawlessly.

Glad you like the lens. I don't have the 28 but I had 4 of my lenses 6bit encoded (35 2.0, Tri Elmar, Noctilux and 75 1.4) a while ago, so I guess I knew resistance was futile!

Enjoy.

Hi all, sorry to butt in, this thread is way out of my league but I saw reference to the Canon G7 and would like to ask opinions on this camera and the Nikon coolpix P5000 and the Olympus SP-350.

I am no photographer but appreciate good quality photos. I have for the last 10 years a 35mm Olympus IS1000 if anyone remembers it. I have never used its features and only use it as a point and shoot with some fantastic results. I would like to step into the digital age and would like to ask what would be the digital equivalent to my camera and at the same time smaller so it goes everywhere. I am happy with Olympus but looking at reviews they do not seem to fair so well. I wouldn't know how to tell a good camera at the shop and would be in the salesmans hands. Upto £300 less if possible.

DP Review
is where I usually start my research. Found the user comments to be generally helpful.

Rockingdoc
What are your impressions after a week with the m8?

I hadn't realised how much I missed the whole experience of "manual" photography that I grew up with. I just love going back to manual focusing and basic exposure controls. I know I could have done these things with my Nikons, but I rarely did.
For a digital camera, I also like the very simple (and limited) menu options on the M8. It may be just nostalgia, but I can't resist picking it up and looking for shots, playing with depth of field and focusing. I honestly believe it pushes me towards creative thinking as opposed to modern DSLRs which leave me a bit empty. However, I know young talented photographers (who have never owned a manual focus camera) who are much more creative than me with their D200s and D80s.
I think it is a bit like music, whatever you were into in your late teens and twenties takes a very firm hold. I had manual cameras then, so to me they just seem more "right". I have no evidence, but I bet the market for M8s is mainly the over 45 year olds.
My only complaint is that it is very heavy, but having seen photos of a complete strip down, I can see why Leica M8 strip

Well said Doc. I think you have articulated my thoughts exactly. It's how I felt with my film Ms after having used whizz bang state of the art auto everything SLRS. The M* is heavy,as are the film Ms. The lenses are light though, and it all sits easily ina Billingham shoulder bag.


Talking to my friendly Leica shop, you're right about the age thing too. Mind you that's a mixture of the price as well as the nostalgia factor I suspect. Nearly 3 grand for a non auto camera must seem loopy to the younger generation.

The bottom line is whether you like the images it produces. The pleasure of actually making the picture rather than just pressing the trigger and trusting the computer is so rewarding.

quote:

Billingham shoulder bag.

Beware the "Billingham shoulder bag."

Too much of a temptation to over load and strain your shoulders and spine as you try to compensate the weight on one shoulder by bending the spine.

And when you are not walking around with a Billingham you probably are wearing a laptop shoulder bag to keep the distortion on going <g>

Derek
With anything more than an M and a couple of lenses I would agree entirely. My DSLRs are in backpacks, which is more spine-friendly but much less photo-friendly, in that access to the kit is so laborious. Which is probably why my most frequently carried camera is a Dlux3, which fits onto my belt and therefore goes everywhere!

As for laptops, you are so right. And it's not just the laptop. My Dell (sorry Derek!) has a powerbrick and the bag inevitably also carries diverse paper files, and an A4 notebook. Paperless office? Yeah right!

Are the Panasonic Lumix point and shoots any good? They look very nice

Diccus

Diccus I think they are pretty good. They mostly have a Leica-designed lens and the most recent ones seem to produce very good results. My Dlux3 is a Panny in all but name and it impresses me. It has a 28mm(Equiv) wide end to the zoom, captures in RAW, offers 16:9 ratio as well as 4:3 and 3:2, as well as decent Optical Image Stabiliser, which helps to keep the dreaded camera shake at bay. If RAW isn't an issue and you just want to point and shoot JPEGs the the new TZ3 looks like a helluva good machine.

Like all small sensor digicams they have limitations, particularly with regard to image quality above 400ISO. The user forum on www.dpreview.com is worth a look.

I have just bought the new Pentax A30. Just finding my way so far but I'm very happy with it. One of the main reasons I bought this camera is it has some manual functions which most ultra compacts don't have.

Just a note here when you know which camera to buy make sure you have a good look around on the internet because prices vary massively. Also make sure it's a savvy web site. Also do not buy it from Pixmania, I had a bad experince with them.


jim..........

re Laptops and digi cameras - I just picked up a clever gadget for my iPod. £15 or so from ebay. It's a little plug that goes into the dock at the bottom of the iPod and then connects to the usb port on my D50. You can then import the photos onto the iPod (it's fine with RAW and JPEGs). Means either that I can reuse the memory card, or with cards getting really cheap these days, that I have a backup of my photos until I'm back home. Saves carrying a laptop round to back stuff up while on hols etc.

Phil

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
Diccus I think they are pretty good. They mostly have a Leica-designed lens and the most recent ones seem to produce very good results. My Dlux3 is a Panny in all but name and it impresses me. It has a 28mm(Equiv) wide end to the zoom, captures in RAW, offers 16:9 ratio as well as 4:3 and 3:2, as well as decent Optical Image Stabiliser, which helps to keep the dreaded camera shake at bay. If RAW isn't an issue and you just want to point and shoot JPEGs the the new TZ3 looks like a helluva good machine.

Like all small sensor digicams they have limitations, particularly with regard to image quality above 400ISO. The user forum on www.dpreview.com is worth a look.

Cheers Chris -No I don't use RAW

Regards

Diccus

Camerabox sell the black TZ3 for £219.99, seems cheap. Has anyone used this company before?

Regards

Diccus

Sorry Diccus, can't help you there. But I did read an excellent review of the TZ3 in one of the mags this lunchtime. Good luck.

Thanks Chris

If my D-Lux (Panasonic in all but name) had a view finder, I wouldn't have needed to move on. Truly excellent lens. I just couldn't see what I was taking photos of.

Doc
As of this morning I can! Joined the club. Got my Tri Elmar mounted and begiining to get to know the wee beastie! Fab camera to hold!