What is the big deal about the Leica M8?

[amadjuster]

Originally Posted by Murph

I fail to understand the intense desire that people have for the Leica M8. I have some problems with this, and would like to have it explained if you would be so kind.

The same reason some people want to be an Aggie or a Teasip.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by Murph

You know, if I could afford film, I'd probably get an M-6 TTL and a 35/50/90 (used) and shoot that. But film costs too much in the long run.

I guess it's a "pay me now or pay me later" thing. Yes, film & processing are costs which can be spread out in small chunks. A Canon 5D is a cost that has to be paid in one big lump.

[Kanderson]

1) Its a rangefinder derivative with a VERY limited range of focal lengths. Would it not have been better to have added an electronic framing area where you did not need to use an auxillary finder? Certainly the technology is available.

the only time you need an accessory finder is if you wan to go very wide 21mm - other than that the optical finder will blow any existing EVF out of the water and fits the range of avalible lenses. thare are also some advantages to seeing what is just outside what you have framed.

[/I]2) Why in this day and age manual focus lenses? Surely Leica could have made some autofocus lenses like the ones they make for Panasonic (14-50mm)? While nice, do not Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta, or Kodak (schneider) make lenses as good?[/I]

Backwards compatibility with some of the best lenses ever produced - the real cost of a leica system is in the glass - it is wonderfull stuff that will ultimatly cost you about the same as a mid sized car. Also in the normal range the Leicas are extreamly fast and accurate to focuse - and if the eyes are out of focus - you did it not the camera

[/I]3) 10 mp, OK, a D200 has as many, can use any Nikon lens from 10.5mm to 600mm without an add on focusing aid.[/I]

And a Panasonic FZ50 has 10 and include a 35-400 lense and costs $600 but the D200 takes better pictures in low light, until we get som side by side pix the number of pixels means nothing

The M cameras do some things that an SLR (digital or film) can't, the oppisite is also true. The M8 is a compact bulletproof camera with avalible great optics - will I buy one - if I win the lottery probably - but then I am weird and actually have large format equipment.