Amzar File

Leica M8.2 Digital Rangefinder




Even for most people who grew up using film cameras, the term 'rangefinder' would probably still not ring a bell.

The camera preferred by photojournalists, rangefinders were seen as the best cameras during the 1930s to the 1970s, before the invention of the current photography darling - the SLR.

Photography hobbyists still using rangefinders today will probably tell you that their camera of choice is an expensive affair, and new cameras typically cost at least the price of a professional DSLR.

The Leica M8.2 is one of two digital rangefinders available in the market today, and we took it on a travel review of Japan to see how this camera, said to be the holy grail of cameras, performed.

My first impression of the M8.2 is that the design really lives up to the legacy that is the Leica brand. Staying true to the traditional rangefinder design, the M8.2 still sports the classic 'Leica look'. Sitting side by side with my Leica IIIa from 1936, you can tell the cameras are relatives, albeit made a millennia apart.

With a very neat, sleek finish, the M8.2 would have looked perfect if not for the glossy leatherette texture that makes up the camera's body. While using real leatherette is probably a thing of the past, the glossy texture of the body seems to give the M8.2 a slightly plasticky feeling that didn't go well with the chrome finish on the rest of the camera.

The traditional swing-lock and plate base of the Leica rangefinders is one more element of design that remained unchanged in the M8.2. While those using the older models will have to remove the plate base to access the film, the SD card slot and battery is what users have to disembowel the M8.2 to access.

One might find this aspect of design slightly nostalgic, but I've learned that it can be a pain after a while, especially if you are in a rush or need to change an SD card quickly while on the move or in the most unlikely of places - such as dangling off an abandoned railroad bridge.

While the M8.2 might look as bulky as your regular DSLR on a tech specs sheet, the camera is actually much more compact than it looks. Summarit-M 50mm/f2.5 lens is half the size of a regular DSLR's and the M8.2's body is only slightly larger than a prosumer compact digital camera, meaning that it is very easy to carry around.

Rangefinder users prefer their cameras largely for the fully manual settings that they can use in opposition to the full-auto cameras of today. If you're an experienced hand at taking good snaps on manual settings then the M8.2 has a lot to offer and explore.

The M8.2 has five different ISO settings - 160/320/640/1250/2500, which are a strange choice compared to the standard rounded off numbers 100/200/400/800/1600 etc. The low to mid-ISO settings look very good, but I thought pictures looks less appealing on the higher settings of 1250 and 2500 as compared to other professional cameras.

White balance settings on the camera come with six presents, manual, custom temp and an auto-mode. They are adequate, but not particularly outstanding. Also, the simple aperture priority mode is not as fancy as what you would find in some of the newer DSLRs, but it does have its charm when you get the hang of it.

As a digital camera, the M8.2's user interface is simple and easy to use. I found the location of the buttons not exactly in optimal position, but it doesn't really seem that much of a problem once you have familiarized yourself with them.

The Verdict
For those new to photography the Leica M8.2 might intimidate, which is why I would recommend this to those who have at least some experience using a camera with manual settings.
The M8.2 is an ideal camera for existing rangefinder users interested to take the digital leap. While this is a very expensive investment to make, the M8.2 is a camera you can rely on to take stunning pictures once you understand how it works.

by Jasmine Osada Mariko, Plush|05 May 2009
Asiaone