Call Chantal Mitchell on 0044 (0)1234 721536 for details
This magazine is entirely funded by google advertising, so please use the search and download the software suite for improved, safer, web browsing.
CAMERAS Reviews
It is Christmas!
We had better start saving up...
Perfect for correcting parallax errors!
I'll have two please
Erm, and one of these too!
A dream come true?
The Leica M8 digital rangefinder
by Jonathan Mitchell
Although Voigtlander beat them to it with a 6MP Bessa digital rangefinder, Leica kept their cards very close to their chests and have somewhat belatedley dished up what Leica freaks like me have been dreaming about for some time: a digital M-Series Leica.
This 10.3MP beauty is yours for about £2,000 (€3,000 or US$4,000) and then there's the lenses. Accepting all Leica M bayonet mount lenses, the M8 looks sure to be a hit with Leica lovers.
A new zoom has been created for the 27x18mm CCD chip which has a 1.3 ration on normal focal lengths, so the new range on this Tri-Elmar M "zoom" is 16-18-21mm - which sort of equates to a 20-35mm zoom in 35mm film camera terms.
As for the essentials, it uses SD cards and has a 2.5 inch screen with 230,000 pixels. The viewfinder, like the rest of the camera, has that familiar Leica M Series feel of something that has been engineered to a very high quality.
It is probably about the same weight as it's M-Series film cousin, the M7, as it is made of tough metal and even some brass (probably the only digi camera in the world that has brass in it's construction) and is certainly built to last, though whether the internal electronics will last so long, is perhaps, debateable.
Seemingly savvy about this, Leica offer the camera with a good warranty and they have been quite reserved in bringing out a digital M-Series camera, so lets hope they got it right, with so long to develop it!
Basically, if I had the money, I would certainly bag a couple of these cameras and the new zoom lens, as it is compatible with any Leica M or Leica 39mm thread mount (LTM - also known as screw mount) and keeps the Leica feel, while delivering the latest in technology.
Rating: ******* 7/7
Download the spec sheet (Adobe PDF)
links
Leica Cameras
LUG (Leica Users Group)
DP Review - Leica M8
by Jonathan Mitchell
Although Voigtlander beat them to it with a 6MP Bessa digital rangefinder, Leica kept their cards very close to their chests and have somewhat belatedley dished up what Leica freaks like me have been dreaming about for some time: a digital M-Series Leica.
This 10.3MP beauty is yours for about £2,000 (€3,000 or US$4,000) and then there's the lenses. Accepting all Leica M bayonet mount lenses, the M8 looks sure to be a hit with Leica lovers.
A new zoom has been created for the 27x18mm CCD chip which has a 1.3 ration on normal focal lengths, so the new range on this Tri-Elmar M "zoom" is 16-18-21mm - which sort of equates to a 20-35mm zoom in 35mm film camera terms.
As for the essentials, it uses SD cards and has a 2.5 inch screen with 230,000 pixels. The viewfinder, like the rest of the camera, has that familiar Leica M Series feel of something that has been engineered to a very high quality.
It is probably about the same weight as it's M-Series film cousin, the M7, as it is made of tough metal and even some brass (probably the only digi camera in the world that has brass in it's construction) and is certainly built to last, though whether the internal electronics will last so long, is perhaps, debateable.
Seemingly savvy about this, Leica offer the camera with a good warranty and they have been quite reserved in bringing out a digital M-Series camera, so lets hope they got it right, with so long to develop it!
Basically, if I had the money, I would certainly bag a couple of these cameras and the new zoom lens, as it is compatible with any Leica M or Leica 39mm thread mount (LTM - also known as screw mount) and keeps the Leica feel, while delivering the latest in technology.
Rating: ******* 7/7
Download the spec sheet (Adobe PDF)
links
Leica Cameras
LUG (Leica Users Group)
DP Review - Leica M8