A Sunny Sunday Walk with the Leica M8
I reviewed the Leica M8 a little while back and needless to say, I was pretty smitten with it. Now that I’ve spent a bit more time with the camera, I’ve developed some further thoughts and feelings on it, but is it all still as positive as my previous assessment, or is the love affair over?
Now this doesn’t warrant a full review, it was more the coming together of two increasingly rare things - a sunny day and me having some free time! So I quickly grabbed the M8, who had started to gather dust and hit the streets with no real plan. The one thing I did have in-mind, was I wanted to capture colour and not necessarily go to the most obvious locations.
PLEASE NOTE: I PURCHASED THIS WITH MY OWN MOMEY AND NO PAYMENT OR CONTROL WAS EXCHANGED FOR PUBLISHING THIS UNBIASED REVIEW
I left the house with the Leica in-hand - not even a case or bag, literally just a wrist strap and that’s it! Now my first observation about this camera is ‘it’s a bit of a looker’ - it definitely gets attention and for those in the know, that little red dot really turns heads! However, that attention isn’t always wanted so I would highly recommend being careful where you whip your prized possession out.
As you can probably tell from the images, I had decided to venture into some of the less photographed areas of Birmingham. I took my chances on the streets being quiet on a Sunday morning and this leads me on to another one of my, let’s say, very subtle annoyances with this camera - the size.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not a big camera by most modern DSLR or even mirrorless standards. Then again, it’s not exactly pocketable. I have added a very small grip to the front of the body that improves the ergonomics somewhat and always have a wrist strap attached - but there is no getting away from the fact that after a while, it can feel a little awkward to carry. Most users will have a neck strap or bag so it really isn’t an issue, just one of my observations.
Another thing that jumped out at me in using this camera for a few hours is how much I enjoy the viewfinder. It’s big, it’s bright and even with my lack-lustre eyesight, shooting is a pleasure. Framelines are clear and for the most part, you feel confident in what you're seeing will be how the shot looks. Reviewing your images is a different matter though, the LCD is - and I really am trying to be generous - adequate at best.
I should also mention that I was shooting with the Voigtlander 28mm Ultron II lens - a great lens that has been pretty much permanently attached to the M8 and is more than a fitting companion for the camera. The lens itself is somewhat compact, well made and performs great. My only issue with the glass is not actually the problem with the glass, it’s the camera, again…
You see, for reasons that I’m not going to dwell on, you are best served by adding an IR Cut filter to the front of your lens when shooting on the M8. That’s fine but I like to shoot with a Black Pro-mist filter on most of my cameras in an attempt to dampen the ‘digital’ feel (I appreciate the irony of wanting sharp lenses, amazing sensors and then intentionally ruining them! But that’s how I roll).
The added bulk on the front of the lens makes this setup even less (potentially) pocketable and makes adding a lens hood, well a bit ridiculous as it all just protrudes so far! Fortunately, I’ve not really experienced anything too negative in the lens flaring department and even with filters and step-up-rings and what-not attached, the camera still feels good in the hand and is pretty manageable.
Enough of the camera talk though, this was a leisurely walk after all! I had so much fun just following my nose, shooting whatever jumped out at me and not having any real care for the final results - this was the kind of photographic experience that I had been missing. The best part though, I didn’t find myself yearning for another camera that I’d left at home, the little(ish) Leica was great for this kind of relaxed photography.
It would be appropriate to call the M8 a fair-weather photography camera - it really does not perform well in low light conditions. However, on a beautifully sunny morning, this camera bursts to life and the image, albeit with not the most awe-inspiring subject matter, speaks for itself. Colours pop off the screen and there is a beautiful detail in the modestly sized files.
I’ve fallen into the trap of searching for and saying that certain cameras have a ‘film like’ feel before. I don’t honestly believe that a digital camera can give you what shooting film does. To coin the phrase of a much better ‘Ross’ - it’s the ‘Happy little accidents’ that make film what it is. However, there is no doubting that the colours out of this camera and the achingly classic Leica body, all contribute to the feeling of something much more, analogue.
As I strolled the streets, barely with a thought in my head, I would say the only thing that could really improve the shooting experience would be a manual shutter lever, Epson R-D1 style! I’ve pined for an R-D1 for many years but they will remain out of my price range for the foreseeable future. However the thought of physically interacting with the M8 in the same way you would a (dare I say it!) M6 - but with CCD colour goodness and none of the chemicals - well that’s a combo hard to beat in my book!
“I got home and couldn’t wait to get the images into Lightroom and apply my own not-so-subtle edit to them”
I got home and couldn’t wait to get the images into Lightroom and apply my own not-so-subtle edit to them. Just as much as I had enjoyed my walk in the sun with my best M8 (sorry!!) I loved seeing the images come to life. There’s enough dynamic range that if you expose something correctly, protecting the highlights, you can make some wonderful images. The thing that will really please you though are the colours - no whacking the vibrance slider half way off your screen here, the M8 provides colour in abundance.
So, the question remains - does the M8 live up to my initial high praise? Yes, yes and then some. I only realised when I got home how much I had missed shooting with this camera and how I must take it out more often! It might not have escaped your attention that I have posted this on the same day that I posted my review of the Sigma DP2 Merrill - another camera that needs good light but is a colour monster!
Now, comparing the CCD sensor Leica to the Foveon masterpiece that is the Merrill is no easy task, both are amazing. However, the Merrill makes you work for it and the satisfaction is when it hits. With the M8 though, this is just a more pleasurable experience with the same gratifying rewards. I would be hard pressed to pick another camera over the Leica M8 for sheer photography enjoyment and that, on a sunny Sunday is what it’s all about. I love this camera.
About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
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