Leica M8 Testing Portfolio

January 13, 2009 ·

Michael Reichmann

This page consists of photographs taken over a few days in late October, 2006, during my initial testing of theLeica M8, prior to the publication of myfield review. I have provided any relevant shooting information, but it should be noted that none of these files have had extensive "manipulation", usually just a few minutes of cropping, B&W conversion in some cases, and basic input sharpening withPhotokit Sharpener.Unless noted otherwiseno noise reduction has been appliedeither in the raw converter or afterward inPhotoshop. The raw conversion software used wasPhase One’s Capture One Pro, V3.7.5. B&W conversion, and toning where done, was performed usingConvert To B&W Pro. All photographs were taken hand-held and cropped as appropriate.

Note that because the M8 does not record the lens’ actual aperture used in the file’s EXIF information I have only indicated it below when my notes have a record, or when I clearly remember the aperture used.

As in most cases on this site, clicking on an image will bring up a larger version. Press your browser’sbackbutton to return to this page.

Some Thoughts on Camera Testing

I am a photographer, not a technologist. For this reason the only testing of a piece of photographic equipment that makes sense to me is to actually use it under conditions similar to those under which the product will be used in the real world. I have tried doing quantitative testing (some of you may recall theDXO Analyzerreports which I did here for a while a few years ago), but in the end I found these to be unsatisfying. They produced lots of graphs and numbers, but actually told me little to nothing that I really wanted to know about how the camera or lens really performed. For those wishing a more rigorous testing approach I recommend you to the many fine web sites that specialize in these. They’ll provide you with lots of charts and tables, as well as numeric comparisons. Not my cup of tea, but it may be yours.

Josh. Toronto, October, 2006

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/500 sec. ISO 640

Reflection. Toronto, October, 2006

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/60 sec @ f/4. ISO 1250
Noise reduction applied with Noiseware Pro.

Leaves and Towers. Toronto, October, 2006

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/350 sec . ISO 320

Teya and Flowers. Toronto, October, 2006

Leica M8 with 50mm f/2.0 Summicron. 1/8 sec @ f/2. ISO 2500
Noise reduction applied with Noiseware Pro.

Reading. Toronto, October, 2006

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/45sec . ISO 160

Park Bench. Toronto, October, 2006

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/125sec . ISO 320

Loitering. Toronto, October, 2006

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/5800 sec . ISO 640

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/180sec . ISO 320

Protest Reflection, Toronto. October, 2006

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/60 sec @ f/8. ISO 320

Peace Flags. Toronto, Oceober, 2006

Leica M8 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit Asph. 1/45 sec @ f/11. ISO 640

Punk Photographer. Toronto, October, 2006

Leica M8 with 50mm f/2 Summicron. 1/350 sec . ISO 320

October, 2006

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Michael Reichmann

See all articles by Michael Reichmann

Michael Reichmann is the founder of the Luminous Landscape. Michael passed away in May 2016. Since its inception in 1999 LuLa has become the world's largest site devoted to the art, craft, and technology of photography. Each month more than one million people from every country on the globe visit LuLa.