The Leica M series stretches back to the early 1950s, when they offered 35mm film shooters an extraordinary level of refinement and precision. The Leica M8, introduced at Photokina this week, is the logical successor to those forebears – it accepts M-bayonet lenses made since 1954 with focal lengths from 21 to 90 mm. In many ways, the M8 contrasts with its competition now the same way the M3 and M4 contrasted with the Nikon F and Canon F-1 in their heyday. Simply, the Leica M8 is less versatile than other $5000-plus digital cameras. At 10.3 megapixels, with a 2 frame-per-second burst rate for 10 images, no autofocus, and the choice of aperture-priority or manual exposure, its specs are not competitive. But its image quality is superb, its handling very efficient, and its construction uniquely robust. We had the chance to jostle with a throng of Leica enthusiasts (there is no shortage of them in Cologne, Germany) at Photokina to get a first look at the M8. We weren't allowed to save any images shot with the camera, but we gave it a going-over, and have some clear impressions.
Performance Expectations
We weren't allowed to save any images shot with the Leica M8, but we looked over the images in the camera. Our impressions are not definitive, but the shots looked very sharp and the color was very accurate. We look forward to testing the M8's images in a controlled setting and hold high expectations for the long awaited rangefinder.
