View Full Version : Typical use of M8?
I asked this at another forum, but thought I would get more info here:
"May be a silly question.
Who is the typical user of an M8?
Not sport and wildlife I suppose. Photojournalism?
Looks very tempting, discreet, low weight and outstanding IQ.
Regards
Ole G. "
I know street and documentary-what else?
Ole G.
kshapero
10-09-2006, 04:59
Someone with a lot of money. or who lives near a generous pawn shop.
m-waters
10-09-2006, 05:04
The artist who sees photography as art
Who is the typical user of an M8?
Looks very tempting, discreet, low weight and outstanding IQ.
Well, I can only speak for myself, I ordered an M8, am very tempting (i'm often told), discreet, outstanding IQ, only the low weight is a thing of the past...
I would not call myself tempting, discreet or low weight in any way, but an outstanding IQ? Yes please! :D
Seriously, I don't think there will be a "typical" user; the camera will be too versatile for that.
If there will be a "typical" user, or at least a defining characteristic of the majority of users, it will probably be someone who uses or used to use an M film camera.
J. Borger
10-09-2006, 05:48
I asked this at another forum, but thought I would get more info here:
"May be a silly question.
Who is the typical user of an M8?
Not sport and wildlife I suppose. Photojournalism?
Looks very tempting, discreet, low weight and outstanding IQ.
Regards
Ole G. "
I know street and documentary-what else?
Ole G.
Typical user ..... Such thing does not exist ....
Leicas positions the M8 as a camara especially for:
- available light photography
- documentary photography
- travel photography
- fine art photography
They state explicitely they want the M8 to penetrate the DSLR market not as a substitute but as an addition ..... the LF/MF/ Canon Nikon professional series users .......... people serious about photograhy who use the M8 for certain applications and personal work. Who are tired of carrying several KGs of photogear all day.
Not very different from what an M always was!
Well and an M has of course a good deal of snob-appeal .... :)
Btw, mine WILL be used for wildlife; I have a Visoflex and focal lengths up to 800 mmm.
Goodyear
10-09-2006, 06:16
Leicas positions the M8 as a camara especially for:
- available light photography
- documentary photography
- travel photography
- fine art photography
Travel and available light are what brought me to RFs anyway - and for those I would use an M8, could I afford it ;)
J. Borger
10-09-2006, 06:21
Btw, mine WILL be used for wildlife; I have a Visoflex and focal lengths up to 800 mmm.
Well ....... Winogrand used 28mm on his M to shoot animals in the zoo with great succes as we all know:cool: :D
devils-advocate
10-09-2006, 06:25
An interesting question.
I would risk to venture these thoughts: Leica M _*users* (as opposed to mere purchasers) share a number of traits which include a passionate love of photogrpahy as a narrative art for (as distinct from the purely aesthetic), an intense interest in the human condition (both in its more extreme and quotident iterations), a fetishistic love of beautifully conceived and executed machines coupled, ironically, with goal of having as little technological mediation between their eye and the subject, a dichotomy which also takes shape in a desire to be unburdened by their camera equipment while milly being obsessed about realizing maximum image quality.
Leica users also tend to be either sufficiently dedicated to these goals to make the sacrifices necessary to afford their tools of choice, or are successful enough in their endeavours to do so.
- N.
I asked this at another forum, but thought I would get more info here:
"May be a silly question.
Who is the typical user of an M8?
Not sport and wildlife I suppose. Photojournalism?
Looks very tempting, discreet, low weight and outstanding IQ.
Regards
Ole G. "
I know street and documentary-what else?
Ole G.
Hi Ole, why do you ask? What answer did you get on the other forum anyway? you don’t say.
And yes, with respect, I think you’re right it probably is a silly question.
guys who post overexposed pictures of their front yards on the fredmiranda forums?
(i kid, i kid. sort of.)
guys who post overexposed pictures of their front yards on the fredmiranda forums?
(i kid, i kid. sort of.)
Guys who post endless lens test shots in their RFF gallery will find the M8 to be a superior camera base on which they can carry out more lens comparos... (I kid, I kid...)
Guys who post endless lens test shots in their RFF gallery will find the M8 to be a superior camera base on which they can carry out more lens comparos... (I kid, I kid...)
i should do that, then I'd be able to justify getting one...
i should do that, then I'd be able to justify getting one...
An m8 or a gallery?
An m8 or a gallery?
you just blew my mind.
Hi Ole, why do you ask? What answer did you get on the other forum anyway? you don’t say.
And yes, with respect, I think you’re right it probably is a silly question.
The answers I got(FM-forum) was: street photography, documentary and one poster would try it for landscape panos.
Silly or not :) I was just curious to find out how it was used by most photographers.
And IQ remains to be seen, we just think it will be good. And it probably will!
Thanks all.
Ole G.
wparsons
10-09-2006, 07:54
I was reading the early posts and was about to say that the M8 will do anything other than long-lens photography. Of course, with a visoflex, the long lenses come into play. As I'm still working on my Visoflex kit, I didn't think of it right away.
Everything else is on.
Plus, since Leica makes the best lenses, the best pix will come from this camera (well, I guess we have to depend on the photog's skill, but the images from the RD-1 and the DMR, using Leica lenses show what can be.
The answers I got(FM-forum) was: street photography, documentary and one poster would try it for landscape panos.
Silly or not :) I was just curious to find out how it was used by most photographers.
And IQ remains to be seen, we just think it will be good. And it probably will!
Thanks all.
Ole G.
My apologies, "typical use" is a legitimate question. It was "typical user" I thought silly to define.
Sorry
Well ....... Winogrand used 28mm on his M to shoot animals in the zoo with great succes as we all know:cool: :D
My succes might be pretty limited, as I'd be eaten or stomped or chomped before I'd pressed the shutter:p :eek:
PikesPeak
10-09-2006, 08:12
Believe that main users will be (in the USA) doctors, lawyers, etc.
My apologies, "typical use" is a legitimate question. It was "typical user" I thought silly to define.
Sorry
Yes and my English is not so... good!:bang: . It was "use" I was after.
Ole G.
Loves people, natural, street scenes occasional dog or cat, preferably fighting. Hates flash, posed 'candids' and sunsets. :p
Here's an additional reason: to stick it in the face of all my ignorant friends who think Leica shooters are very backward and who have so repeatedly bludgeoned me with their noisy Canon or Nikon DSLRs these past four years!
Come-upance is sure going to be fun!
-g
Same type of users you'll find using film rangefinders.
The artist who sees photography as art
The problem I have with this answer is that it ties artistic creation to the tool. Talk to any true artist -- as opposed to an entertainer or someone who is image conscious -- and they will tell you that the tool is largely irrelevant . It's just a means to an end. This should be especially true today where there are so many photographic options. An artist can get the same output with a high quality digital point and shoot then he can with an M8. There are many valid reasons to buy an M8. Just don't tell me it's necessary.
Here's the answer: a film rangefinder user or former one who hasn't found a digital option yet, except for maybe the R-D1.
Believe that main users will be (in the USA) doctors, lawyers, etc.
That's a truth of the cost of the product. That is also probably true for all highend photography gear. It's not something unique to Leica. But that's why Leica brought out some of these other digital options (e.g., V-Lux 1).
An interesting question.
I would risk to venture these thoughts: Leica M _*users* (as opposed to mere purchasers) share a number of traits which include a passionate love of photogrpahy as a narrative art for (as distinct from the purely aesthetic), an intense interest in the human condition (both in its more extreme and quotident iterations), a fetishistic love of beautifully conceived and executed machines coupled, ironically, with goal of having as little technological mediation between their eye and the subject, a dichotomy which also takes shape in a desire to be unburdened by their camera equipment while milly being obsessed about realizing maximum image quality.
Leica users also tend to be either sufficiently dedicated to these goals to make the sacrifices necessary to afford their tools of choice, or are successful enough in their endeavours to do so.
- N.
That pretty much nails the majority of the group, I would think.
I think you will see a lot of pros in the fields of photojournalism, event and travel photography returning to Leica now that it has a credible digital option. For most it will be the discreet wide angle addition to their DSLR kit, for some it might enable a return to rangefinder as primary tool.
If it can best or even match 800 ISO color negative (which is very grainy and not very high res compared to 100 ISO trans film) - with a fast lens that delivers quality wide open and no mirror slap- it would also provide a unique available light option. I think though that Leica should consider anti-shake technology as this would really stretch the low light capabilities at higher quality ISO's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PikesPeak
Believe that main users will be (in the USA) doctors, lawyers, etc.
That's a truth of the cost of the product. That is also probably true for all highend photography gear. It's not something unique to Leica. But that's why Leica brought out some of these other digital options (e.g., V-Lux 1).
That's a misconception based on a working-class stereotype that doctors, dentists and lawyers are all wealthy and in to "conspicuous consumption". In the USA there are millions of business owners and entrepreneurs who handily out-earn the average doctor, dentist or lawyer. I know 17 people personally who are on waiting lists for the M8 and of them only one is a (retired) lawyer. Of course to be fair, none of them is a professional photographer :D
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