Leica Showcase Leica M Image Thread

Wow, some more awesome shots here. I really like the shots taken with the Nokton and Zeiss Sonnar - they render very uniquely and have a lot of character. I've been shooting a film rangefinder recently because its smaller and lighter and I have barely touched my k5 as a result.. somehow I'm really liking the 'rangefinder' experience. So I guess I'm considering an M8,

However I'm a little put off by the DNG raw's I've downloaded from photographyblog's sample gallery (here), the colours looked washed out and files needed a lot of work to look good - but I'm thinking that its because the reviewer didn't get exposure right (over exposed?) and due to what he/she photographed?

What's everyones experience with m8 DNG's?
 
I think the raw m8 dng files usually need a little tweak in lightroom, usually just white balance; and the resized jpegs look great. Very natural. I enjoy experimenting with processing, and provided the photo was correctly exposed, there is sufficient room to push the files around quite a bit, if you under expose, this limited headroom just turns into noise.

One great boon of the m8 sensor (the same sensor as the m9, just a bit smaller, and with an even thinner cover glass) is the delicate range of colours it distinguishes, directly comparing it to e-p1 output - and I was always very satisfied with those - the m8 has a comparable noise ceiling (maybe a bit lower? it's hard to tell) But when both are used at base iso, the m8 produces an even more lovely file.
 
Thanks Kal, I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. I guess i'll b happy with m8 files as you had e-p1 and find the m8 ok - I had a G1 which was worse than the e-p1 at high ISO and that was ok for me.

I'm currently researching possible lens for if I get a m8, but am also considering shooting a cheaper film leica m body (maybe a bessa) and therefore having more money for lenses lol. Though digital obviously has its advantages. For now I'm currently leaning to an m8 and paired with the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 version 2 but the lens doesn't seem available yet :(

One day I'd love the 50 sonnar though, its rendering is something special.

Edit: Kal, your flickr has some very beautiful photos - i'd recommend others to go see if they have a spare moment
 
I took much longer choosing my first (and only; Jeez, the price of these things!) M-Lens than I did choosing the body, which was actually pretty simple once the decision do/or not was made. The Sonnar is idiosyncratic, imperfect, two faced, beautiful, and I knew I'd enjoy the challenge - but was prepared to trade it for a Planar if the relationship was going nowhere... but after a few months, I'm still honeymooning :)

Using just one lens to death has actually been great though, the M8 still gets the worst dust spots I've ever contended with, even in the absence of lens changes.... Now my appreciation for Zeiss glass has got going, I'm seriously considering the 25 Biogon in my future. But thats another story for another year.

And thanks for the compliments on my flickr, much appreciated. Good luck in your travels through rangefinderland, it's a very different place :)
 
M8, J-3 at F1.5, ISO 1250, AWB, Lightroom 3.4.1. Straight export to JPEG from DNG.



M8, J-3 at F1.5, ISO 640, AWB, Lightroom 3.4.1. Straight export to JPEG from DNG.



M8, J-3 at F4, ISO 160, AWB, Lightroom 3.4.1. Straight export to JPEG from DNG.



 
Good luck with the studies Kal.

Here is one of the first shots taken by me with the Summarit 35. I love the muted colours it produces.

Oil-spill.jpg
 

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