Recommended
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Recommended
Reviewed:
Jul 2007
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Leica's first digital variant of its 'M' series rangefinder design that dates back to 1954. The M8 is unashamedly traditional in many aspects of its design (it is, after all, a manual focus rangefinder) but incorporates relatively advanced technologies, such as off-set sensor microlenses to gain optimal performance from the system's close-mounted lenses. Its 10MP CCD sensor is an unusual 27x18mm, creating a 1.33x crop compared to its 35mm film cousins. The lack of effective IR/UV filters on the sensor requires the use of screw-on filters on the lenses, taking the gloss off what aims to be a no-compromise 'classic' camera.
| Quick links: | Announcement | Review | Sample gallery | Forum |
| Announced: | Sep 14, 2006 |
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Average rating:
4.44
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Opinion: Congratulations Leica for protecting existing M-user's investment in glass. This is a terrific step forward for reportage style users, seeking a noise free, unobtrusive shooter. Love that new Tri-Elmar D lens.
Opinion: simply brilliant, compact and realy looks like a fotocamera and not a gasmask.
Opinion: What - there-quarters of a year on the market and still no review???
Superior digital camera, a perfect translation of the rangefinder concept in the digital age. Not a camera for everybody. If you do not want to make the effort to learn to use this tool, or lack photographic knowledge and experience, stay away, it is bound to be a disappointment. A few remaining glitches and some reliability doubts need to be adressed to make this the best digital camera in the 135 class for a long time to come. As it stands - the only digital RF with little chance of being superseded by anything more desirable in the forseeable future.
Problems: I got it last November and I was so pleased I got a second one.
Opinion: Congratulations to Leica! This is what a lot of M-users want. You take the
camera and use it like any other M-camera made since 1954 (except the crop).
The image quality is what Leica customers can expect - simply top of the
market. Very good and real colors when using the M8 RAW-converter-profile in
C1 (so the knowledge about digital post production is a must if you want best
results). This could be a "winner" for Leica camera.
Problems: strange ISO-settings (why starting at 160?), no antidust-function, a bit
"louder" in operation compared to film-based M-camera (but quiter than an M7
with motor), quit expensive (same price as M7 would be better), crop (sorry,
no "fast" 1.4/35 left due to crop-factor), noise-level at higher ISOs could be
better, sometimes incorrect auto-whitebalance, some (very rare) system
crashes (not while shooting, only in playback-mode!, can be fixed with future
firmware-updates).
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 | 22.3 megapixels 3.2" screen Full frame sensor |
