Customer Reviews

Leica M Digital Photography: M8/8.2/M9 (Lark Photography Book)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

For the first book based on Leica M8, this is as good as it gets. I have read some unfair reviews here and elsewhere on this title, which I think is quite unfounded. So let me say this here and now - this is not the missing manual that Leica should have included with your M8. There is no extensive 'how to' ala the Magic Lantern series and if you expect some gold nuggets on how to make great photos with the M8, this is the wrong book for you.

So what is this book about what is it good for?

As I've said, this is the first Leica book that's anchored on the M8. In my opinion, it is an introduction to the world of Leica M, with emphasis on its latest offering - the digital M8 rangefinder camera. The book, in a nutshell, contains:

(1) A brief description on the M8 camera with an overview on its features and functions, including a short introduction to rangefinder cameras. This is more useful for people who do not know much about Leica and may be interested in getting an M8 but would like more information, than for owners of M8s or long time users of another M camera.

(2) A description of Leica lenses on some background information on why they are so good, ie the aspheric elements, apochromatic lenses, etc, without being too technical. This is useful for those who are new to Leica or wonder how the lenses would work on the non-full frame M8. It also features the latest crop of lenses, ie the pair of Summiluxes (f/1.4) 21mm and 24mm, Noctilux (f/0.95) 50mm, etc, introduced at Photokina 2008 and images captured with them. Older lenses, including the screw mounts and Visoflexes are also featured.

(3) A list of the accessories that M8 owners would want to consider from viewfinders and magnifiers to flash, filters, cases, software programs, etc, are briefly touched on and then in some detail in the following chapters. This is a good starting point for those whose photographic interests may require gadgets that complement the M8.

(4) Tables and charts on important things like filter sizes of popular M lenses, 6-bit code-able lenses, historical data on M cameras and lenses, etc. This is extremely useful information to have at your fingertips without having to go to several different sources for.

(5) Lots of nice images, some at full page size, peppered throughout the book. This is good for anyone who has not seen photos made with a Leica. Then again, I have seen better photos made with Leica elsewhere.

Granted that most of the information could be found for free online and other marketing paraphernalia. Be that as it may, the time and effort it saves you to scour the depths of the Internet and visits to Leica stores to amass this information, is well worth its price of ownership. I gave 1-star short of perfect for omitting key issues, especially shortcomings and flaws like the IR problem, etc, about the M8.

I would love to see an update to Gunther Osterloh's Leica M: Advanced Photo School based on the digital M cameras and the next Hove Collectors installment on Leica at some point in the near future. For now, Brian Bower's Leica M: Digital Photography fills the gap for both the uninitiated as an handshake with Leica in the digital age and full-fledge Leicaphile for its collectibility as the first book based on the M8.

Brian Bower, a Fellow and Past President of the Royal Photographic Society, is a true master of the Leica. He has already proved this with his books on Leica film cameras, both reflex (R) and rangefinder (M). But this is his first book on digital photography and it is superb. It shows how to get the best from the Leica M8 & M8.2, and the matchless lenses which accompany these cameras. Amateurs, students and photographers, young and old, will relish the clear and concise text with its wealth of Leica wisdom based on first hand experience. Pros will find it an invaluable reference source.

The book covers the background to Leica, the features of the camera, its lenses and accessories. But I urge readers to turn to Chapter 10 - ACHIEVING BEST IMAGE QUALITY. Brian Bower knows how to do this and his superb illustrations prove it. If you own a Leica, this book is a must. If you aspire to own the camera, then the briefest glance at the book will convince you. Brian's mix of enthusiasm and sheer technical know how is irresistible and his book will be welcomed by Leica lovers everywhere.

Nope, not worth it. I was hoping for a compendium that would teach me how to extract the most from this delightful camera. This book just hits the high points, just barely. A better choice is the Leica M: Advanced Photo School (A Lark Photography Book) by Gunter Osterloh. It's a film camera book, but it really tells the "what is" about Leica M rangefinders.

I generally don't make the effort to comment on products that I have bought through amazon, but this book is so pointless that I felt it important to do -- I echo the other 1-star reviews here -- half of this book says less about the M8/8.2 than the free online owner's manual, and the other half reads like a sales brochure for leica-brand accessories -- much more useful to merely search online for free information about the M8/8.2 -- utterly pointless and a complete waste of money

Brian has hit another home run with his book on the Leica M8. I find his photographs technically excellent and artistically pleasing. Brian can wring beautiful work out of the M8, and as one who has been around Leicas for years but is new to digital, I appreciate his tips on using this marvelous tool.

To anyone who has entered the digital realm with the purchase of an M8, I'd highly recommend this book. Though the camera menu is simple and intuitive, there is a lot of depth to the options, and a long learning curve to achieving technical mastery. Brian covers it.

I found this to be a great book, Im pretty new to Leica so any and all information is useful. I have the M8.2, and yes the book really expands on the instruction book provided, but it does provide a little more insight, some personal comments and some historical data - very helpful

I recently purchased a Leica M8. This was a great tool to help me learn about my new camera. It went into depth in plain language. Much better than the manual that came with the camera.

I am a professional with a lot of big heavy Nikon cameras and lenses. They are the best at what they do, but after carrying them around day in and day out I yearn for a light weight, compact camera system that I can use for the photography I want to do for myself. I am looking at the M8 / 8.2 and this book does an excellent job of explaining the Leica system. Well written and illustrated.

For someone who already owns a Leica M of some sort or is thinking about getting a Leica, most certainly is not a beginner(unless you are a celebrity looking to be cool).This book is so basic with little to no useful information. The author rarely goes beyond just stating the history of the M system and camera and lens specs. Most of the information in this book is nothing more than brochure specs with maybe a VERY brief comment at the end. In some cases that being nothing more than "I like this lens" One chapter is actually devoted to some real camera operation and when I say it is light in information that is probably understated. This book is nothing more that a breeze through curiosity and has no practical value. You will glance at it once, but it on the book shelf and I honestly can't see why it would ever be needed again. I would seriously pass on this book it is awful.

Excellent book for those who need introduction to Leica M8 & M8.2. Clear and concise.