Scott points out that my newly-arrived New Yorker subscription (addressed to ‘Chranda Gulkard’ – a blend of Linda and my names) features an article about the Leica. I’ve used Leicas for almost 25 years: the M8 has resurrected the use of my Leica gear – the picture of Scott, below, was taken with a 20-year-old 21mm on a new M8 body.

I note that the Metz strobe that goes with the M8 is vastly more complicated (and has a thicker manual) than the M8. There are new lenses for the M8, in particular a 16-21-24mm (not a zoom but 3 discreet focal lengths). It’s not cheap, surprise.

In short, the M8 is a true Leica – very simple, and very expensive (even current film Leicas are very expensive). I love using it, I love the images it produces. But then, I really like the Digilux II, especially in B&W mode, and it’s a modern, reasonably full-featured digital camera (unlike the M8), that costs half of what just an M8 body costs. When the M8 body appeared, I pulled out my Leica lenses, and they just worked… true to the Leica promise…

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