rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well...I always knew someday it would come and here it is...I have to give up film. I won't shoot film without a darkroom, I don't see the point...that's half of the process (to me) so it's back to digital for me. I'm moving to Florida and the house that my wife wanted most didn't have room for a darkroom so it had to go.

I ordered a Fuji X100V but really wasn't thrilled and since B&H is on their Passover break, I had time to think and came to the conclusion that I hate dials, bells, whistles, buttons, menus and endless choices so I chose a Leica M8, which was their first digital camera. It's very simple, manual focus, just a shutter button, shutter speed dial, ISO dial, and a really simple LCD with some simple menu choices. (you have to take the bottom plate off to get to the SD card and battery, just like a Leica film camera!) Love it.

If I had the cash I'd buy the M10D (which has NO menus, NO LCD, or anything) but I'm not rich :)

I added three lenses, a voigtlander 30mm f/1/4, a Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit, and a Leica 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit, that should cover me for what I want to do.

Really all I'm going to use it for is for vacations, family photos and stuff like that, I don't get thrilled over taking pictures for the sake of just taking pictures.

When it comes today, I'll try and remember to post a picture of it.


PS: you wouldn't BELIEVE how much darkroom stuff I gave away...it was insane, I didn't realize how much stuff I'd aquired over the few short years I've been shooting film.

BebuLamar

Certainly the M8 is old and the image quality isn't as good as the newer M10 but for me the biggest draw back of the M8 is the sensor isn't FF. Now your lenses don't give you the same angle of view any more.
In my opinion if I can afford M lenses then the cost of the M10 isn't much by comparison. Say if you buy a Nikon D850 the cost of a 50mm f/1.4 is about 1/6 or 1/5 of the body. But with the M10 the cost of the 50mm f/1.4 is about 1/2 of the body.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I hear what you are saying but the M10 is a LOT more than I paid for the M8. (Used M10 = $5,000, Used M8 = $1,200) Maybe one day but for now...this will do. I don't mind the crop factor at all (I just went to "one wider" on lenses than I normally would) and I LOVE the way the CCD renders the files. I don't "think" that the M10 is a CCD right? The last CCD was the M9.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

You have my heart. I have three enlargers and several sets of pans and reels and no place to set it up. I've limited myself to a Canon 6D (first edition) and two lenses to get by with digital.

photosbytw Loc: Blue Ridge Mountains

SELL THE HOUSE............give up film!!!! That's sacrilegious!!! ................

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Haha...I tried.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

I did not have to face the choice as you did. But I actually like digital. My darkroom was going unused. I had a good friend whose son was in college and taking a photography class. The kid got lucky. He even got my old no-meter version of Ashai Pentax (pre-1980) and my one remaining, excellent screw mount 50mm lens. At least it all went to a good home. I lost track of the son when I lost the friend so perhaps the gear is still in use somewhere.

I still have my old Nikon FM2 from '81 and 2 good lenses but the body is just a souvenir and the lenses are OK on my SONY a6500 but they are manual focus.
I eventually discovered that what we now call Post-Processing is a huge opportunity to things that I was never able to do in my darkroom. In addition, I can now work with color whereas before all I could do was B&W. Make lemonade?

You have my sympathy. Where in FL? We are now snowbirds and today I'm back in the north looking at record cold temps and the second day of snow. The picture is a panorama; the left 3 windows are actually all on one wall. The cactus is in a corner. This was yesterday or the day before. I lose track. I miss the sunny south.

(Download)

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Oh boy...look at that snow. I won't miss it.

We are moving to Port St. Lucie, and I'm looking forward to sun!

PS: I love the FM2, it's my favorite Nikon film camera.

BebuLamar

I think you can still develop B&W and C41 without the darkroom then scan your film.

jwreed50 Loc: Manassas, VA

Welcome to the Leica world. After I largely gave up film, I've been through the M8, then M9 and now an M10. Even if you've given up your darkroom, there's still something special about the Leica "feel" that gets you back to the essence of photography. Enjoy your M8 . . . if a rangefinder fits your needs, it's hard to beat a Leica.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Not for me....that's not satisfying at all. It's only half of the process

BebuLamar

But now I shoot slides and project them.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

All you need is a changed bag and developing tanks. - Dave

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

The developing isn't the part that I'm concerned with, it's the printing. I'm not interested in developing film just to scan it.

In any case, here is the camera and lens #1:

(Download)

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Thanks, I had an M6 that I dearly loved before but had to sell it.

A Leica is a beast of a camera that's for sure!