TWO new cameras, in one week!

This post is simply an effort to share my happiness:

I can't explain to you how I got the Diana clone - it's a big secret project that is too much fun for words. All I can tell you is that it says "Shakey's" on the camera, that it's from the 1960s, and that a number of us photobloggers were each given one of these for a project.

The other is a Leica M8. It's equally hard to find right now - heck, a well-working Diana clone is probably easier to find. Unlike the Shakey's Diana, the M8 has a 28mm Elmarit 1:2.8 Aspherical lens on it.

I think you can understand why I'm extremely happy this week.

On Sunday I'm leaving LA. I'm going to NY, then Amsterdam, then Berlin over the next two weeks (as I do every four weeks) and I'm bringing these two babies.

 

you gotta be f'in kiddin me. :hail:

 

congratulations

 

Does the M8 force you to use the viewfinder or can you compose using the LCD?

It is beautiful, but somehow, it doesn't look quite right without the film advance lever.

I borrowed a Leica from the camera shop I used to work for to shoot a roll at lunch one time. I really like the feel & the build quality, but that oddball film loading is for the birds. (not a problem with the M8, I'd guess) I don't care how traditional it is. Sorry for the rant.

 

Oh my god. Leica M8...:stun::hail:

I hereby appoint you camera king of the forums.:king:

 

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bit jealous

 

Some cultural trivia for those who did not grow up in the United Kingdom in the past couple of decades.



jammy dodger n. 1. proprietary name of biscuit containing jam. 2. exceedingly lucky person.



You, sir, are a Jammy Dodger! :thumbup:

 

Thanks all!

No, Jeremy Z, you must compose in the Viewfinder, which is different than SLRs. What you see is not all going on the picture. You have little lines that approximate what you'll be capturing.

Oh, and no Auto Focus. Gotta do it by hand. Makes shooting a whole different thing, a lot more deliberate and contemplative. It has Av mode, but is really a manual camera.

That body and lens right there (it being one of the simplest lenses they have) cost mroe than my D5 and my three L lenses put together.

Yikes.

 

Very nice!!!! Congrats.... a black M8 is in my sights as soon as Leica addresses some of the issues that have come up with the first batch. Love my rangefinders....

For now, I've been enjoying my R-D1...

 

Dude, those are legendary. Keep that close by. In the years to come, that will be one of the collectible digital cameras.