Kevin and anyone else trashing the M8
I've been reading this thread, and thinking about the blanket criticisms of the M8 . . . and I've been mulling it over for a couple of days in Aberdeen.
First of all I though - 'well, Kevin is an industrial designer, maybe it is rubbish, and I just don't realise'.
Then I thought to myself that I have two bodies, one which I've had for 2 years, the other for about 20 months, and I've taken 50,000 shots with them, and I love shooting with them . . . . and I don't add on grips or straps or whatever, until I had one upgraded recently, I shot them 'as is'. I love them, I find them ergonomically lovely, and artistically, they disappear . . . which is what a camera should do (IMHO).
So then I think - well, maybe I'm simply not critical enough, and having spent that money I don't want to admit that I've bought a lemming
Then I think . . .Hang on! I just spent a lot of dosh on a D3 / D700 / 14-24 . 24-70 / 105 macro / 70-300 and various Zeiss ZF lenses this year, and I didn't like:
the colour
the handling
the obsessive complexity.
the files.
. . . .and what did I do . . . I sold the lot, but the M8 bodies stay, and I still love them.
So, what gives - when you guys dismiss the M8 in a few short words, is it because
1. I'm stupid
2. you're stupid
3. you haven't used it enough
4. different folks like different strokes.
Of course, it's 4 - you don't have to like it, but then, the terms you use to issue your dismissal, are not 'Well, I've had a go, and I didn't think it was that great personally'. It's that it is a bad design.
After much thought I've decided that my acceptance (qualified by the obvious rider that it might not be for everyone); does not need to bow down to other people's total dismissal.
So, if you're reading this thread, and you've been thinking you might like an M8, and then you read that it's clearly a poor piece of design (period). Here is me saying that two years of photography with it says that it might be different for some people.
One of the great things about these forums, is that there is very little trashing of equipment . . . I like that!
Finally Kevin - I think your 4:3 photos are great, I've been enjoying them without reservation, I think your better half is a dream, and I really hope you don't take this personally!