Leica M8, Erwin Puts Review

[Gary Ferguson]

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/m8report/t006.html


Bottom line seems to be it's more about handling than image quality.

[Fred Ragland]

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/m8report/t006.html
Bottom line seems to be it's more about handling than image quality.
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The article (the first in a multi-part series) thoughtfully deals with what the camera offers and who the M8 buyers will be.  It's well worth the read for those who dream of owning a Leica.

[Kenneth Sky]

After reading the original article and then the recent one of Mr. Puts (as put forward by Michael), he seems to be saying this camera will only be of interest to people already heavily invested in Leica lenses. The comparison with Canon was done with zoom lenses (albeit L quality). How much better would Canon have faired with primes? Has the rangefinder concept been overtaken by the SLR? The M body shape could never pass an ergonomic test with modern DSLR users (take, for instance, the grip). But ultimately, its price will consign it to a very narrow niche.

[pixman63]

I saw this comment, from a non-Leica user FWIW, on another forum.

Trawling around the forums, it appears that Puts may have breached an embargo on publishing images from a beta-test camera, so that a full production model may be better.

The visible vertical lines in the Leica wall shot, which don't seem to appear in any other shots taken with that camera do suggest something is amiss.

Also, as a corrective, I have seen comments from Tom Abrahamsson, who, as someone by no means convinced up to now by digital, was impressed sufficiently by the M8 to order one.

FWIW, there is to be a preview-look (using a pre-production M8) in UK Amateur Photographer dated 30 September 2006, with a full review to follow (hopefully not before too long). The parting comment in this week's magzine's new pages is "we can't wait to test it". That does suggest to me the preview was a positive experience. All will be revealed shortly however.

If the review is positive, I shall be very tempted to sell my 5D, as the rangefinder style holds much greater appeal for me than any SLRs.

[bcf]

The M body shape could never pass an ergonomic test with modern DSLR users (take, for instance, the grip).

It's perhaps time that people realize that a grip is not something everybody wants  

The grip is not a "modern" thing that is an improvement over "ancient" ways, it is just a different way to hold a camera that has now become the norm. I for one have always regretted the ergonomy of my Olympus OM-4, which did not have a grip.

-- Bernard

[Nemo]

You can add a grip for the camera, if you like:

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_s...omics/1376.html

 

[dlashier]

Grips came into existence when cameras/lenses got heavy. They aren't needed for the likes of a Leica and only add to the bulk and weight, unnecessarily imo.

- DL