Hi John and thank for your M8 review.

For the first time I've read a review from a user that often shot picture like mine and in a camera looks at features important to me.

I'm thinking of buying a M8, and your comment about dynamic range "similar to 1DsII" it's a pleasure to read.

How do you deal with focus and recompose? I've noticed that you often shoot at wide apertures with a subject off centre (as I do).

Do you have plans to purchase a wide angle lens? Maybe the 25mm ZM?

Thanks again,
Mattia

Hi Mattia -

You'll want to read the last page - just went up tonight. I plan on selling the M8 kit. After comparing the 10 MP M8 file to the 21 MP 1Ds3 file (both using a Zeiss 50mm F2 lens), I was surprised to see so much detail with the 1Ds3. I've been somewhat unimpressed with the 1Ds3, so I expected the M8 to put up a better fight. In those files the differences in dynamic range probably isn't that noticeable. In more extreme pictures, such as the steam engine on the 3rd page, I was surprised to much back despite shooting into the sun. The sensor definitely has a good dynamic range potential - I wish the output file was a 16-bit DNG. I think experienced Photoshop'ers could make good use of the added bits.

Focus and recompose is risky. At F2 on the 50mm ZM there were plenty of missed shots. At F4 the results improved so long as the re-compose wasn't too drastic. If focusing & recomposing, I tried to keep re-compose part as minimal as possible. If shifting all the way to the edge of frame, you better have lots of DOF.

I was thinking of adding the M8 kit to the 1Ds3 as quick, lightweight grab & go option. At this point I'd rather just buy a 5D Mark II with the same money and re-use the lenses I already have for the 1Ds3. Unfortunately the Zeiss ZE announcement was made AFTER buying the M8. Had I known Zeiss ZE's were real, and not just a rumor - I probably would have passed on the M8 all together. There are raw files available on the 4th page. Download those and have a look.

UPDATE - 50mm Summicron Review Added

Added a quick review of the Leica 50mm F2 Summicron M this past weekend. It's a short review and I'll probably add more in a month or two after some more use with the lens (we have a couple outings planned for October, so the frame count will go up). Here's a link to the review: http://www.pebbleplace.com/Personal/Leica_50mm_Summicron.html

Well, here's the kicker... The M8 isn't fully waking up when powered up. It wakes up once the shutter button is 1/2 pressed. It's an earlier M8 and the problem sounds like the sudden death syndrome (SDS) but it's not quite as bad. The camera works fine, but it cast a major doubt on the camera's dependability, so I didn't take it on the trip New England trip. Now the M8 has to go to NJ for service... During our trip many shots required relatively accurate framing and some of those were with off-axis focus, so the M8 would not have worked well at all. Most likely I'll sell the M8 after it's fixed. I'm very frustrated with it at the moment.

The pictures from the New England trip are being uploaded to the site (http://www.pebbleplace.com/Personal/Photographs/Pages/Boston.html). I had planned to use the M8 for some street shooting in Boston, but that turned out to be more architectural type images. I didn't plan it that way, that's just how it worked out. The M8 would not have done well in that role because the framing isn't very accurate.

BTW - Nice looking lens with the patina.