Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape

Alfred Molon wrote:
> In article <1162234474.307309.54060.TakeThisOut@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, Scott
> W says...
>
> > The test photos makes it look like the 5D is blowing it out of the
> > water.
> > Note on the flags crop that not only does the 5D have much less noise
> > but you can easily make out the double lines around the crest on the
> > flag in the Canon photo and the Leica more or less blurs it all
> > together.
>
> That's at the highest ISO levels, which normally you wouldn't use. ISO
> 3200 is an emergency mode anyway and you'll do most of the shooting at
> lower ISO levels.
Except we have heard for years about how great the Leica is in low
light, partly because there is no mirror slap and partly because you
can shoot with the lens wide open. But the 5D will blow away the Leica
in low light shooting and for a whole lot less money. If your selling
point has been low light photography for years you better make a
digital that can work at high ISOs.

Scott
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

"Scott W" <biphoto RemoveThis @hotmail.com> writes:
> Except we have heard for years about how great the Leica is in low
> light, partly because there is no mirror slap and partly because you
> can shoot with the lens wide open. But the 5D will blow away the Leica
> in low light shooting and for a whole lot less money. If your selling
> point has been low light photography for years you better make a
> digital that can work at high ISOs.

The traditional Leica low light shot was also black and white, while
the M8 (and 5D) use a color Bayer filter that kills somewhere between
one and two stops of the light reaching the sensor. Leica gets
interesting when they use a full frame, monochrome CCD.
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

David J. Littleboy wrote:
> "Paul Rubin" <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:
> > "Scott W" <biphoto RemoveThis @hotmail.com> writes:
> >> Except we have heard for years about how great the Leica is in low
> >> light, partly because there is no mirror slap and partly because you
> >> can shoot with the lens wide open. But the 5D will blow away the Leica
> >> in low light shooting and for a whole lot less money. If your selling
> >> point has been low light photography for years you better make a
> >> digital that can work at high ISOs.
> >
> > The traditional Leica low light shot was also black and white, while
> > the M8 (and 5D) use a color Bayer filter that kills somewhere between
> > one and two stops of the light reaching the sensor.
>
> Reality check. The 5D at ISO 1600 will make 13x19 B&W prints that look
> better than ISO 400 8x10s from a Leica loaded with Tri-X that will later be
> developed in Rodinal.
But Paul is suggesting a monochrome FF CCD, which would be pretty neat
but also pretty limited in appeal.

Scott
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

"David J. Littleboy" <davidjl.TakeThisOut@gol.com> writes:
> Reality check. The 5D at ISO 1600 will make 13x19 B&W prints that look
> better than ISO 400 8x10s from a Leica loaded with Tri-X that will later be
> developed in Rodinal.

Why stop there?
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

"Scott W" <biphoto.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> writes:
> But Paul is suggesting a monochrome FF CCD, which would be pretty neat
> but also pretty limited in appeal.

Limited in appeal compared to what? B&W film was also limited in
appeal.

Fuji is now selling an IR version of the S3 Professional DSLR. That
has to be even more limited in appeal than a monochrome camera.
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

Paul Rubin wrote:
> "Scott W" <biphoto.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> writes:
> > But Paul is suggesting a monochrome FF CCD, which would be pretty neat
> > but also pretty limited in appeal.
>
> Limited in appeal compared to what? B&W film was also limited in
> appeal.
>
> Fuji is now selling an IR version of the S3 Professional DSLR. That
> has to be even more limited in appeal than a monochrome camera.

But you can't really do IR with a standard DSLR. Sure you can sort of
do it will a filter and very long exposures but it does not come close
to what a camera that does not have the IR blocking filter can do.

But a color DSLR can do a pretty go job of B/W for those who like that
look.
And from reading a lot of post froms B/W fans many of them would not
want to do their B/W work with a digital camera. They claim to like
the look of silver prints that are done on enlarger and claim that they
like the process of making the prints by hand.

I am not saying that there would not be a market for such a camera but
I think it would be a very small market. Still it would be a whole lot
more interesting than the M8.

Scott
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

Scott W wrote:
> Kinon O'Cann wrote:
>> Reichman's review is up, and if you wish to believe him, Leica has
>> hit a home run with this one.
>>
>> www.luminous-landscape.com
>>
>> I'd like to see some direct comparisons between this camera and the
>> Canon 5D with L primes. Would be interesting.
>
> The test photos makes it look like the 5D is blowing it out of the
> water.
> Note on the flags crop that not only does the 5D have much less noise
> but you can easily make out the double lines around the crest on the
> flag in the Canon photo and the Leica more or less blurs it all
> together.
>
> I really think Leica's offering here falls far short of where it
> should when they are asking that amount of money.
>
> Scott

Then buy a 5D.

If I could afford one without re-mortgaging the house, I would buy one. I
would just about get enough dosh by selling my BMW, but then, I would want a
Ferrari.

Guess my D70 will have to do for now. There's always the Lottery.

Dennis.
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

Scott W wrote:
> Kinon O'Cann wrote:
>> Reichman's review is up, and if you wish to believe him, Leica has hit a
>> home run with this one.
>>
>> www.luminous-landscape.com
>>
>> I'd like to see some direct comparisons between this camera and the Canon 5D
>> with L primes. Would be interesting.
>
> The test photos makes it look like the 5D is blowing it out of the
> water.
> Note on the flags crop that not only does the 5D have much less noise
> but you can easily make out the double lines around the crest on the
> flag in the Canon photo and the Leica more or less blurs it all
> together.
>
> I really think Leica's offering here falls far short of where it
> should when they are asking that amount of money.
>

It's bling. Any of the dslr makers could churn out something better.
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

I would get one tomorrow if I could justify the cost. The sensor technology
is clearly adequate for the Leica mystique.
The reviewer takes great pains to point out that the rangefinder camera
experience is the core value of this camera and you either like it or you
don't.
I wonder if the recent spate of Leica M film clones will make the digital
transition or if they are dead end products?
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

The message <XMq1h.8$0s.3@bos-service2b.ext.ray.com>
from "Kinon O'Cann" <somewhere.TakeThisOut@over.the.rainbow> contains these words:

> Reichman's review is up, and if you wish to believe him, Leica has hit a
> home run with this one.

> www.luminous-landscape.com

> I'd like to see some direct comparisons between this camera and the
> Canon 5D
> with L primes. Would be interesting.

As the review says:

In the case of the Leica M8 I am pleased to report that overall image
quality is
second to none. Only the Canon 5D and 1Ds MKII are better at high ISO,
and at ISO 400 and lower the M8 is their equal. Then again, right now there
are no other cameras producing as clean high ISO images as these two Canons.
But when combined with the superior quality of Leica lenses, and the
fact that
the M8 does not have a resolution reducing AA filter, I would argue that
there
are no current 35mm format cameras which offer superior image quality to the
Leica M8 at ISO 400 and lower.
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

The message <HPt1h.17549$GR.355@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net>
from "bmoag" <aetoo.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> contains these words:

> I would get one tomorrow if I could justify the cost. The sensor technology
> is clearly adequate for the Leica mystique.
> The reviewer takes great pains to point out that the rangefinder camera
> experience is the core value of this camera and you either like it or you
> don't.
> I wonder if the recent spate of Leica M film clones will make the digital
> transition or if they are dead end products?

As an optimist I think that as the cost of digital implementation drops then
the major players will make the transition. That great legacy of supreme
glass cannot be ignored.

Deryck
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

"deryck lant" <deryck.DeleteThis@deryck.com> wrote in message
news:313030303138393545466C6686@deryck.com...
> The message <XMq1h.8$0s.3@bos-service2b.ext.ray.com>
> from "Kinon O'Cann" <somewhere.DeleteThis@over.the.rainbow> contains these words:
>
>> Reichman's review is up, and if you wish to believe him, Leica has hit a
>> home run with this one.
>
>> www.luminous-landscape.com
>
>> I'd like to see some direct comparisons between this camera and the
>> Canon 5D
>> with L primes. Would be interesting.
>
> As the review says:
>
> In the case of the Leica M8 I am pleased to report that overall image
> quality is
> second to none. Only the Canon 5D and 1Ds MKII are better at high ISO,
> and at ISO 400 and lower the M8 is their equal. Then again, right now
> there
> are no other cameras producing as clean high ISO images as these two
> Canons.
> But when combined with the superior quality of Leica lenses, and the
> fact that
> the M8 does not have a resolution reducing AA filter, I would argue that
> there
> are no current 35mm format cameras which offer superior image quality to
> the
> Leica M8 at ISO 400 and lower.
You ought to get something for all that money.
Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape 

In article <1162234474.307309.54060.TakeThisOut@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, Scott
W says...

> The test photos makes it look like the 5D is blowing it out of the
> water.
> Note on the flags crop that not only does the 5D have much less noise
> but you can easily make out the double lines around the crest on the
> flag in the Canon photo and the Leica more or less blurs it all
> together.

That's at the highest ISO levels, which normally you wouldn't use. ISO
3200 is an emergency mode anyway and you'll do most of the shooting at
lower ISO levels.
--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
Olympus 50X0, 7070, 8080, E300, E330, E400 and E500 forum at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MyOlympus/
Olympus E330 resource - http://myolympus.org/E330/
 >> Stay informed about: Leica M8 review on Luminous-Landscape