Mixing Traditional Photography With Digital
Leica M8 is a state of the art mechanical rangefinder camera with a 10.3 megapixel digital back that comes as close as it gets to mixing the best of film and digital cameras together.
After writing about my idea of the perfect camera I realized that I failed to mention that there is one camera on the market that is a combination of precision film camera with a digital back. The camera is the M8 and M8.2 that comes from Leica Camera AG in Germany.
The M8 looks like any other M series from the last 50 plus years. It has many of the same features as the M7 and MP Leica and operates pretty much the same until you notice the LCD 2.5″ screen on the backside where ISO reminder is on previous Leicas. That is when you realize that this puppy is packing a 10.3 megapixel sensor and is a the type of camera Captain Kirk would be carrying around if Starfleet allowed him carry a camera.
Leica
It was Henri Cartier-Bresson who picked up his first Leica in 193os and changed the photojournalism into the medium is today. Cartier-Bresson called the Leica 35mm an extension of his eye and he would use the Leica to capture some of the most memorable photographs at the beginning of the modern PJ era.
The M8 being the latest in the M line of cameras accepts all the lenses and most of the accessories of the M7 and MP. The top end of the shutter speed of the M8 is 1/8000 of a second and it can synchronize with a flash at 1/250. The sensor has a sensitivity rating range from ISO 160/23° to ISO 2500/35°, making this camera as versatile as any in the M series.
The size of this camera can fool the casual observer into discounting this camera as just another point and shoot digicam. The reality is that the M8 and M8.2 were built to capture arresting photographs in the difficult most of circumstances with ease.
The bad part is about a camera that has this much attention to detail and cutting edge technology is that it cost close to $5,000 to $6000 just purchase the camera and a lens. Other than the price the M8 doesn’t leave the film purist wanting for anything in a digital camera.
If price is no object, fou can find the M8 and M8.2 at Adorama and B&H Photo Video.
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