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First brainstorming on the Leica M8.2 in respect to the EPSON R-D1:

1. •smaller crop factor of x1.3 versus x1.5 with the R-D1 - preferred lenses change once again for me
   

2. 
   

3. •my favorite lens on the R-D1, the Leica 28 Summicron ASPH is now veeeery wide
   

4. 
   

5. •the 35 Summicron ASPH takes it’s place instead most of the time on the camera
   

6. 
   

7. •the flaws of the 35 Summicron on the R-D1 (coma on outer frame light sources as in night shots) is now much reduced (don’t know, if this is due to the different sensor architecture, the completely missing AA filter on the M8.2 or the software corrections, Leica does within the camera with help of the coded lens)
   

8. 
   

9. •the M8.2 lacks the direct ISO speed control of the R-D1 - changing ISO is quite direct and quick (except, when the camera freezes during data processing) but forces the photographer, to look at a LCD menu
   

10. 
    

11. •the R-D1 ISO speed can be set blind folded by feel
    

12. 
    

13. •write times, image review and zooming for focus checking is as slow as with the much older R-D1, which is a pity
    

14. 
    

15. •the M8.2 clogs rather fast with it’s inadequate buffer and write speed in quick consecutive shooting
    

16. 
    

17. •the Leica M8.2 lacks any distinctive detents in it’s shutter speed dial at certain positions - no blind setting of exposure values in badly lit environment (the R-D1 shutter speed can be set by feel, as well, as the shutter speed on any previous Leica M)
    

18. 
    

19. •exposure lock in AE mode works as with the M7 - half press the shutter release and a small dot in the viewfinder signals lock, paired with the displayed shutter speed
    

20. 
    

21. •works quicker for me than the seperate exposure lock button on the R-D1
    

22. 
    

23. •detent for continious drive mode is too weak - the R-D1 on/off swith is not as nicely machined but much more functional and less obstrusive to the users fingers (the way, it works on the M7 is much better - on/off - thats all one needs)
    

24. 
    

25. •the battery and remaining shots LCD is a very nice and useful touch - it is not lit though and therefore completely useless in low light (my preferred light)
    

26. 
    

27. •no backup display of battery/ remaining exposures
    

28. 
    

29. •R-D1 status display might be a bit playful, resembling analogue needle displays, but much, much more readable in bad light - point for EPSON here
    

30. 
    

31. •the Leica rangefinder is unreached in clarity, precision - going to the R-D1 after handling a Leica M feels dull
    

32. 
    

33. •Leica messed up their great rangefinder and bright lines with the wrong magnification!
    

34. 
    

35. •the M8.2 uses a magnification factor of 0.68 - way too small for using other lenses than 24/28/35mm
    

36. 
    

37. •the need of using a magnifying diopter ruins viewability, brilliance, contrast and usability in low light
    

38. 
    

39. •R-D1 has a x1.0 magnification and a wonderful huge, bright viewfinder window, which is a joy to use (if only the rangefinder patch had parallax correction and the bright lines were more brilliant)
    

40. 
    

41. •the M8.2 feels more compact due to its lower height, it is slightly heavier though
    

42. 
    

43. •the top deck is much cleaner, leading not only to a better look, but to less catching of clothes, stucking in tight bags or jacket pockets
    

44. 
    

45. •I miss the shutter cocking lever of the R-D1 much - very much actually (A Leica M film advance lever to manually cock a mechanical shutter a la Leica M7 with the smooth feeling of that from the M6 or MP would be worth the upgrade to an M10 to me as the only improvement over the M8/ M9)
    

46. 
    

47. •the shutter is quite noiseless - subjectively less loud than the metallic chunk of the R-D1
    

48. 
    

49. •the following shutter motor drive noise makes the camera more obvious though
    

50. 
    

51. •Leica offers the “discreet mode” setting for the M8.2 and M9, which allows the photographer, to disconnect the otherwise automatic noisy shutter cocking from taking the photograph - the noise is delayed, as long one holds the shutter release button depressed after taking the shot - a very nice compromise
    

52. 
    

53. •a mechanic shutter cocking lever though would provide not only almost silent working, but another very nice handling plus + a quicker continous shooting rate in quick action + the deletion of the then not needed “C” mode position on the on/off switch
    

54. 
    

55. •the hotshoe is smoothly integrated into the topdeck design and Nikon flashes do fit much tighter and wobble free on the M8.2
    

56. 
    

57. •exposure compensation in AE mode works by half pressing the shutter and scrolling the thumb wheel - exposure compensation value is displayed in the viewfinder while setting and indicated by a blinking dot (the awful DX film speed warning dot from the Leica M7) - much better as EPSON, who crammed these values on the shutter speed dial
    

58. 
    

59. •shutter speed dial turns endless without stop as in traditional Leica M (bad idea - impossible to set shutter speed blind)
    

60. 
    

61. •I love the simple shutter speed dial of the Leica M6 (one can read the light in a scene by the eye, preset aperture and shutter speed by feel without exposing the camera, preset focus by feel and shoot very unobstrusive)
    

62. 
    

63. •too many buttons on the back of the M8.2 - the “delete”, “protect” and “info” buttons are largely irrelevant for working with the camera
    

64. 
    

65. •the “set” button is in the completely wrong position - it belongs right in the center of the directional pad as with other professional cameras
    

66. 
    

67. •to use important camera functions as ISO speed and WB, one has to take the left hand away from the lens, watch the LCD and confirm every setting by pressing the “set” button with the left hand
    

68. 
    

69. •digital functions of the camera can not be used completely with only the right hand, which would be more ideal
    

70. 
    

71. •to enter a menu point, one has to press the notorious “set” button instead of just entering the menu point by pressing the “right” button
    

72. 
    

73. •to exit a menu with saving changes, one has to press the “set” button with the left hand instead of just pressing the “left” button with the right hand
    

74. 
    

75. •changing the battery is quicker than doing so with the Nikon D3, despite one has to take off the bottom plate
    

76. 
    

77. •changing the SD card is as quick as well and not more time consuming or more difficult than overriding the safety lock of the Nikon D3 CF card door (which I also like very, very much)
    

78. 
    

79. •don’t understand people complaining about the bottom plate, being a nostalgic design fault or hideous solution at all
    

80. 
    

81. •the Leica bottom plate solution allows to have battery and SD card to be acessed via one entrance bay, the implementation is very quick and logic
    

82. 
    

83. •every long time Leica film shooter with some practice changes battery and SD cards quicker on this camera as a fulltime journalist can change battery and CF card/s in a Nikon D3
    

84. 
    

85. •only pitty, Leica didn’t take the chance, to make the M weather tight and implement a sealed bottom plate
    

86. 
    

87. •the files are SHARP and DETAILED as no Nikon digital possibly except the D3x, which I didn’t shoot yet
    

88. 
    

89. •this includes the EPSON R-D1, which shares the Nikon D100 6MP sensor
    

90. 
    

91. •the R-D1 files have been detailed and sharp already with it’s weaker IR filter than todays Nikon DSLRs - the M8.2 tops this by a lot
    

92. 
    

93. •the EPSON R-D1 runs circles around the Leica M8.2 regarding pushed high ISO files
    

94. 
    

95. •EPSON files, regularly pushed in Adobe Lightroom to ISO 3200 or even ISO 6400 do have less visible banding and a more pleasing fine, fibre like grain
    

96. 
    

97. •Leica M8.2 high ISO files do start, to “blotch” with digital noise from ISO1250 on already
    

98. 
    

99. •M8.2 sensor is less critical in high contrast situations and heavy banding in under exposed areas - R-D1 files expose a high contrast streaking in such conditions from over ISO 800 (but look otherwise cleaner with finer grain than the Leica files at such ISO speeds)
    

100. 
     

101. •battery is good for more shots/ charge than the R-D1 batteries
     

102. 
     

103. •batteries are similar compact and light
     

104. 
     

105. •M8.2 does take quicker and bigger SDHC cards
     

106. 
     

107. •downloads to the computer from SDHC cards is much quicker than with the max 2GB cards, the R-D1 can use
     

108. 
     

109. •the black paint of the M9.2 beautifully brasses with use, giving a very nice patina
     

110. 
     

111. •the black paint of the R-D1 “chips” on small impacts and wears down on edges, exposing the dark grey alumum die casting material under it
     

112. 
     

113. •the Leica leather does hold heavy professional use much better than the molded gum grips of the R-D1, which expand and lift off the body after a while
     

114. 
     

This conludes the first thoughts. I get another coffee and will leave you with soon to come photographs, made with the Leica M8.2, which will be my daily companion for the next time.

…

10. February 2010

After long time of waiting, sitting things out, I jumped the shadow and added a digital Leica M to my gear. I stuck my toe into the water with a M6 some months ago, which I continue to use and recently having stocked up on black and white film and developer.

I went further with the first digital rangefinder camera - the venerable EPSON R-D1 and only recently my interest into a digital M-mount Leica has been awaken again. By chance, a nicely used sample has been offered to me, which I used now for the first days.

I will give here some initial thoughts about the usage, differences and potential improvements for my work with a light, digital camera system, based on the exceptional Leica M mount lenses. These thoughts and future words from me will not grow into scientific tests with pages of comparison web thumbnails, MTF charts and technical essays. This business is better worked out by the known specialists around. I will give you my personal and open thoughts about using these tools without talking flowers and fairy tales.

The below photograph of the first signs of life this year has been made during an early morning walk through Shanghai, which has been my first oportunity, to test the new camera.

“morning tree”  | Leica M8.2 | Leica 28 Summicron ASPH | ISO 1250 | 1/8sec | f2

“morning tree”    © 2010 Dirk Steffen