Mike Hatam
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For what it's worth, here are my impressions of the M8 after playing with one of Guy's M8 bodies this past weekend in Yosemite. I probably shot about 200 images, and most were very casual - just playing around with it in the cabin - getting used to using a rangefinder for the first time.
Image Quality
Let me get this out of the way right up front... there is no meaningful difference in overall image quality. Both cameras produce excellent files. They each have slightly different strengths - the 5D produces lower noise, and better AWB and skin tones, while the M8 produces cleaner files with more punch at lower ISOs.
But bottom line, when printed even at large sizes (16x20, 20x30, etc), both cameras produce excellent images, and no one could really tell the difference in any meaningful way if both were optimally processed. So can we finally put this particular comparison category to rest? It's really the least relevant when comparing these two bodies.
Usage
The 5D and M8 are completely different. An SLR and a Range-Finder share very little in common. For those of you 5D shooters who have never used a range-finder (such as myself), you really can't fully appreciate this, until you spend a couple of days with one. The range-finder is a completely different experience. It's not just an SLR with manual controls.
I found the M8 to be an absolute joy to use in "people-shooting" situations, such as when we walked around the small towns, or inside pubs, etc. You can get very close to people, and take great shots of them, and they hardly notice they are being photographed. I could never take those types of shots with my 5D - people become very self-concious with a big SLR and lens pointed at them.
The size difference is also remarkable. Not just the body size, but more importantly the lens size. The Leica M lenses are TINY. They are thin and short. Hard to describe until you've seen them. Guy had an M8 body plus 8 lenses, and other accessories, all in a tiny bag that was smaller than my Domke J-3 bag. I was shocked at how small and portable the M8 system is. This is a traveler's dream.
Focusing
I set my 5D so that the "*" button on the back activates auto-focus. I do this because I want precise control of when AF is used. I use AF about 50% of the time, and really like having it available. It took me a few hours to get used to manually focusing the M8. It focuses very differently than manually focusing the 5D. The range-finder "frame-lines", combined with the square in the middle with "stereo" images that overlap, make manually focusing the M8 much easier than I expected, once I got used to it. By the end of the 2nd day, I was able to nail focus fairly consistently - maybe about 2/3 of the time - using wide open apertures on the 24, 35, 50, and 75 lenses.
Shutter
The M8 has a completely different shutter "feel" than the 5D. Hard to explain - you just have to use one for a while. All I can tell you is that I just kept wanting to take more shots with the M8, as there was a moment of joy every time I pressed the shutter. It has an excellent feel and responsiveness.
How to choose between the 5D and M8
I think much of the discussion in this thread has been misguided, because it's focusing on the wrong criteria. Most of the attention is on image quality, which is really a toss-up, so we can just let that one go now. The real question is how you plan to use the system, since they are radically different systems.
To me, the M8 is a specialized system, while the 5D is a general purpose system. They are like apples and oranges. No, more like min-vans and sports-cars. They are not really inter-changeable - you have to pick the tool that matches the intended use.
I think about photography in these main categories (granted, I am an amateur, and other more experiences shooters may pick completely different categoreis):
- people / candids / street
- portraits / wedding / studio
- landscape
- sports / action
- travel
Some systems are "specialized" to excel in one or more of these particular categories. Some are "general purpose", and hope to be reasonably usable in all situations. The M8 is the former, and the 5D is the latter.
The M8 is probably the best possible choice for people / candids / street, and travel. It's perhaps "OK" for portraits / wedding / studio. It really has no business in either of the other two categories (landscape and sports / action).
The 5D is not the best choice for ANY of the categories above. But it's probably in the top 3-5 choices for each and every category. That makes it a very usable camera in a high number of situations.
people / candids / street
Here, the M8 shines, as it is so unobtrusive, and becomes almost invisible and transparent in the environment, allowing for images that just can not be naturally captures with the 5D.
portraits / wedding / studio
Here, the 5D probably wins, but the M8 is also quite usable. The 5D has better flash control, better high ISO performance, and a better selection of lenses beyond 75mm, which can com in handy in these situations. The M8 is also capable here (assuming there is a profile which provides good skin colors), but a step below the 5D.
landscape
The M8 doesn't really belong here. Yes, it can be used in a pinch, but it's not really meant to be tripod mounted, and doesn't have the high pixel count that is usually required for large printing that is often associated with fine-art landscape work. The 5D is a usable choice, but no where near the "top choice" for this category. It pales when compared to medium-format digital backs or film on view cameras, or even the 1DsII. But the 5D is still a decent choice, because it can take a huge number of lenses (including better non-Canon wide-angles), can be easily tripod mounted with an L-bracket, and has just enough pixels to be usable for large prints.
sports/action
Again, the M8 doesn't belong. No long lenses, and manual focus - not exactly a powerful combination for shooting an NFL game  The 5D is also a misfit here, but is at least usable. You can use all the big white lenses on the 5D, and can at least get some keepers using the AF system. But the 5D clearly pales compared to the 1D series' 45-point AF and 8 fps when shooting sports.
travel
I'd pick the M8 easily over the 5D for travel. The focal lengths of the M lenses are perfect for travel, and the size/weight of the kit is a HUGE advantage. It's also very easy to blend in and get great street shots with the M8 that are highly unlikely with the 5D. The 5D can certainly be used for travel (I've done it several times), but it's a large kit to carry, and I usually am dragging around a rather heavy shoulder bag.
CONCLUSION
So the 5D isn't the BEST camera for any category. But it is a decent/usable choice for ALL of the categories. Meanwhile, the M8 is the absolute best choice for some, while being a complete misfit for others.
Hence my comparison - M8 (specialized) and 5D (general purpose).
In the end, my choice is to stick with the 5D. Not because it's a better camera, but simply because it's a more general-purpose camera. At the moment, I can't afford to own more than one sysetem, so the system I pick has to be able to handle the most possible situations for me. For me, the 5D is thus the better answer.
But if I were able to afford let's say three systems, I probably wouldn't own the 5D at all. If I could go fully specialized, I'd own the M8, the 1D2, and a view camera with digital back. That would give me the BEST solution in a large number of categories.
But since I can't afford that approach, it's one system for me - and that leaves me with the 5D as my choice. And I'm quite happy with that choice.
Hope this is helpful to others considering which system to use...
Mike
Edited by Mike Hatam on Dec 13, 2006 at 07:04 AM GMT (Reason: fixed typos)
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