On a side-note, I went shopping for a new winter jacket yesterday. It is starting to get cold here...
I ended up with a jacket which doesn't look like much, i.e. is more anonymous, and has very large, padded, lined pockets. An M8 with a standard lens should fit in one pocket, with extra lenses in a couple of other pockets. The jacket is also loose enough that I could sling the M8 over my shoulder, *under* the jacket, and swing it out when needed. I might not even need a bag over my shoulders for some types of shooting. Quite liberating.
This is the first time ever that photography has had such a heavy influence on a clothes purchasing decision for me. Does anyone else make such decisions?
Here's the latest from Leica on the 30% lens discount:
Dear LEICA M8 Customer,
In our haste to respond as quickly as possible to LEICA M8 owners regarding our CEO's lens offer, we might have mistakenly sent an incorrect version of the price list to some customers.
1. We prepared two versions of the price list - one for countries that implemented a Value-Added Tax such as the EU and Canada, and one for countries that do not have a Value-Added Tax structure.
2. Also the price of the LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f/1 was wrong in both price lists.
3. The prices both price lists represent the complete price that the M8 owner pays to Leica - that means all applicable customs duties, VAT (where applicable) as well as shipping and customs clearing costs.
In the very near future, you will receive the correct price list for the country you live in, and the prices will reflect a price approximately 30% lower than the average Suggested Retail Price of these Leica products worldwide.
We again apologize.
Nope, but according to their tracking system, it has been shipped. I am leaving tomorrow morning for London, so unfortunately I won't get it in time That is the second holiday I have missed with it. Since it is London, I don't want to drag around the 5D. I will bring the M6 and the 50 Lux Asph and CV15. I wish I had my 28 Cron Asph already. Sigh. Maybe I'll see if I can find a cheap 35 Cron somewhere in London tomorrow.
Wow, you got an M6. Well congrats on that, they are really nice cameras, I've considered getting another one, here lately, but just can't seem to convince myself to shoot film again. Sorry to hear about the M8 fiasco and have fun in London.
Huh? How does one sign up for these informational emails? I want a 30% lens discount!
zaknat wrote:
Here's the latest from Leica on the 30% lens discount:
Dear LEICA M8 Customer,
In our haste to respond as quickly as possible to LEICA M8 owners regarding our CEO's lens offer, we might have mistakenly sent an incorrect version of the price list to some customers.
1. We prepared two versions of the price list - one for countries that implemented a Value-Added Tax such as the EU and Canada, and one for countries that do not have a Value-Added Tax structure.
2. Also the price of the LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f/1 was wrong in both price lists.
3. The prices both price lists represent the complete price that the M8 owner pays to Leica - that means all applicable customs duties, VAT (where applicable) as well as shipping and customs clearing costs.
In the very near future, you will receive the correct price list for the country you live in, and the prices will reflect a price approximately 30% lower than the average Suggested Retail Price of these Leica products worldwide.
We again apologize.
Yup, an old friend of mine, Giovanni, lives there at the moment. I can't sleep though. I don't know what it is. I am too old to be excited about a 1 hour plane ride.
I am considering getting a 4th generation Summicron 35mm for my M6, which would still be a useful lens on the M8, even if I likely won't use it much there. Does anyone know what such a lens is worth at the moment, in Germany/Britain/Europe?
Is there a huge difference in the quality of the II, III, and IV versions? From the Leica Pocket Guide they sound similar, with the IV version being slightly sharper, and perhaps more flare-resistant.
I considered too the Summicron 35 for the upcoming M8 but, after reading Erwin Putts Leica lens Compendium, I ended getting a Zeiss Biogon 35/2 !
Don't get me wrong, all Summicron previous versions are worth to have, but I couldn't find on Ebay anything on good enough shape at a fair price. Maybe the Zeiss is not a match for the ASPH Summicron ( maybe..), but surely it's a generation or two above the old Crons. Of course, Cosina-made Zeiss is not Leica, but is very, very good and you can't have it all...
carstenw wrote:
Is there a huge difference in the quality of the II, III, and IV versions? From the Leica Pocket Guide they sound similar, with the IV version being slightly sharper, and perhaps more flare-resistant.
The v2 and v3 are said to be the same optical design. I have the v3 and the v4: they are just about identical in performance and fingerprint. The v4 is easier to use because of the aperture ring design, but I prefer the v3 because of the DOF scale. The v2 has an intriguing barrel design where your shutter finger sets the aperture via a tab. All that said, I shelved my Summicrons and now enjoy a chrome Summaron 35/2.8.
carstenw wrote:
I am considering getting a 4th generation Summicron 35mm for my M6, which would still be a useful lens on the M8, even if I likely won't use it much there. Does anyone know what such a lens is worth at the moment, in Germany/Britain/Europe?
Is there a huge difference in the quality of the II, III, and IV versions? From the Leica Pocket Guide they sound similar, with the IV version being slightly sharper, and perhaps more flare-resistant.
I have one that I really like ..does the pocket guide show the serial number range..I am sure my verison must be a III or IV.
I posted this at the Leica-Forum too:
I had to much time today and did comparison shots with the M8-DMR-5D-D200.
The shots were shot at ISO400 (and 320 for the M8).
I used a tripod for the vegatable shots.
tried to focus on the white upper letters on the blue milk.
The M8 seems to be slightly wrong focus.
I DO KNOW THAT PROBABLY NOT ALL PARAMETERS ARE IDENTICAL; BUT I DID MY BEST.
Processed in C1, whitebalanced on the right upper corner of the card.
No noise reduction, no sharpening, no contrast tweaking, no saturation change. Here and then a slight exposure compensation to make them comparable (max +/- 0.3).
Also one M8 shot with filter and one without (the one where the filter is lying on the table)
Jan, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your bank account, the 28/2 and the 50asph are of the same caliber. I continue to be amazed at how good these Leica M lenses are to use. It's hard to pick a line-up without wanting them all.
That is the second holiday I have missed with it. Since it is London, I don't want to drag around the 5D. I will bring the M6 and the 50 Lux Asph and CV15. I wish I had my 28 Cron Asph already. Sigh. Maybe I'll see if I can find a cheap 35 Cron somewhere in London tomorrow.
I continue to be amazed at how good these Leica M lenses are to use. It's hard to pick a line-up without wanting them all.