The digital Leica M8 really is tempting, despite the crazy-high price (nearly US$5,000). That is far too much for even a very fine camera. Even taking into account its luxury-item "surplus value," it ought to be priced between US$2,500–US$3,000. I imagine that would be the price, were it not for the strength of the Euro relative to the dollar.
But putting the price aside, there is another thing that must make even a brand enthusiast -- or brand loyalist -- to reflect on whether it would be worth the trouble to make the change.
The thing is, the Leica M8's digital sensor turns a wide angle lens into a "normal lens," and a normal lens into a "long lens."
To get the wide angle coverage to which I have become accustomed with my Leica M6 + Summilux 35mm ƒ/1.4 lens — and keeping the unique characteristics for which I have used Leica lenses in the first place — I'd have to buy another lens -- a Summicron 28mm ƒ/2. That would lose a stop in speed, too.
I could buy another manufacturer's lens -- a Voigtländer Ultron 28mm ƒ/1.9, which would be cheaper but of far less quality; or a Zeiss Ikon lens -- but then, isn't the whole point of the digital Leica M8 is to not have to discard one's unique Leica lenses -- if I have to buy a new set of lenses, why not just get a camera which takes Four Thirds lenses?
I think I'll save my money for the moment, and buy a film scanner instead!
But putting the price aside, there is another thing that must make even a brand enthusiast -- or brand loyalist -- to reflect on whether it would be worth the trouble to make the change.
The thing is, the Leica M8's digital sensor turns a wide angle lens into a "normal lens," and a normal lens into a "long lens."
To get the wide angle coverage to which I have become accustomed with my Leica M6 + Summilux 35mm ƒ/1.4 lens — and keeping the unique characteristics for which I have used Leica lenses in the first place — I'd have to buy another lens -- a Summicron 28mm ƒ/2. That would lose a stop in speed, too.
I could buy another manufacturer's lens -- a Voigtländer Ultron 28mm ƒ/1.9, which would be cheaper but of far less quality; or a Zeiss Ikon lens -- but then, isn't the whole point of the digital Leica M8 is to not have to discard one's unique Leica lenses -- if I have to buy a new set of lenses, why not just get a camera which takes Four Thirds lenses?
I think I'll save my money for the moment, and buy a film scanner instead!
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