M8: the First 7 Days

[Nick De Marco]

Having just bought Leica M8, I have set myself the task of making a gallery for each day of the first Seven days with this camera - and to take it every where with me.

Here is Day 1: Playing with lenses: http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_1_playing_with_lenses

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93613963.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93613963)

And here is Day 2: Day 2 was going to watch my football team:

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_2_going_to_the_football

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93660962.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93660962)

[Isca]

OK Nick, I have to ask. The QPR manager does not seem to have any Welsh heritage, why's he wearing a daffodil?

I think you need to reset the date on your M8, it's displaying January 7 and 8.

Having fun with it?

[Nick De Marco]

Great fun
No idea about the daffodil

[Nick De Marco]

Day 3 - 15mm and more

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93727201.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93727201)

Now I am really beginning to enjoy this camera and realise why it is the best thing man ever made. I am a convert. And so good to be able to take a camera everywhere.

All of Day 3 can be seen here:

Day 3: 15mm and More Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_3_15mm_and_more)

[POINT OF VIEW]

Finally 2 positive M8 threads back to back, ( yours and jaapv safari ) nice job thanks. Bill

[Dfin]

The Daffodil commemorates St. Davids Day 1st. of March.

[Cranialstrain]

Nick, just wanted to commend you on your shots so far; I especially love this one (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93613965) that reminds me to get an adapter for those old screw lenses, and this one (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93660956) which I think is just an excellent capture (although I keep wishing the sign had been in focus).

Keep them coming :)

[Nick De Marco]

Day 4: Some Old Lenses

http://www.pbase.com/image/93772651.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/image/93772651)

One of the things I LOVE about my new M8 (and there are so many) is being able to use old lenses which have just been sitting in the cupboard gathering dust. And being able to tell which lenses stand out. The 50mm Canon f1.8, which took the shot of the apple, is a very good lens, I have discovered. My 90mm Elmarit is not so hot.

To see all of Day 4 follow the link

Day 4: Some Old Lenses Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_4_some_old_lenses)

[Nick De Marco]

Day 5 - a rather grey London day

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93808407.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93808407)

It's not as easy as you think to come up with a new gallery every day and work at the same time! anyway to se all of Day 5 click on the link http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_5_grey

Only two more days to go (scratches head). But my love for the M8 has not diminished

[tmfabian]

this is such a spiffy idea...i'm very happy for you and your m8

[visiondr]

Having just bought Leica M8, I have set myself the task of making a gallery for each day of the first Seven days with this camera - and to take it every where with me.

Here is Day 1: Playing with lenses: http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_1_playing_with_lenses

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93613963.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93613963)

And here is Day 2: Day 2 was going to watch my football team:

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_2_going_to_the_football

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93660962.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93660962)

I don't mean to be "negative". But, is the colour of the sweater of the gentleman on the right really purple, or is it really black?

You see, with all this fuss over M8 colour rendering, I have suspicions about that sort of thing.

[Nick De Marco]

Must say I can't remember about that visiondr. But I do have one good photo to demonstrate the problem about which you refer. Testing the M8 in RG Lewis I took a photo of Len, who works there and is very helpful, to demonstrate this problem as he was wearing a black man-made fibre and was lit by artificial light (when the problem occurs). Here is what the photo looks like with natural white balance - the false colour rendering is dramatic:

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93575969.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93575969.jpg)


However, it has not been an issue in any of my other photos and so it does not really bother me. Plus t is easily solved by putting one of the two IR filters in front of the lens that Leica supply for free to new M8 owners (I have not bothered to get mine yet but I will once I decide which two lenses to use most on the M8). The other side to this minor disadvantage is that the M8 can apparently work as a very good camera for real IR photography - something I might try on Day 7 if I get the chance to buy the right filter fist.

[Nick De Marco]

Day 6: Meeting a friend for coffee

http://www.pbase.com/image/93845603.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/image/93845603)

For all pics from Day 6 go to:

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_6_a_friend_for_coffee

Many, by the way, were taken with my friend's very clean and nice Leica Summitar 50mm f2 screw fit lens.

[Nick De Marco]

Finally Friday has come, the last day of my first 7 Days with the Leica M8 and I'm very happy with it.

I thought I could not take any photos today, but was pleasantly surprised with the day's output. Maybe I have just got that 'Friday feeling'.

I was playing with a couple of new lenses too which was nice. I splashed out and bought the 'poor man's Noctilux' (but a better focal range for me): the Nokton 35mm f1.2. Many of the photos I took today are at f1.2, or f1.4. It's very nice (but heavy), and a used Canon 50mm f1.4 in vey good condition I picked up at a real bargain price from MW Classic. With these fast lenses and the fact you can hold the M8 much more steady than a DSLR I mangaed to shoot all photos, including those late or indoors, at 160 ISO.

Anyway, here is Day 7 'Friday has Come', and I'm going to cheat and put up 3 photos for today:

(1) Pub

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93885087.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93885087)



(2) Retro

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93885090.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93885090)



(3) Walking into the sunset

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93887285.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/image/93887285)



You can see the full Day 7 gallery at: Day 7: Friday has come Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com (http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/day_7_friday_has_come)

Thanks for all the feedback over the 7 days. I will top off the gallery with the obligatory 'Leica porn' shots of my M8 over the weekend I guess.