Leica M8 Review

The Leica M8 features 10 megapixel resolution from a CCD image sensor that yields a 1.33x focal length crop, compatibility with almost all Leica M-system lenses manufactured since 1954, storage on Secure Digital cards, and power from a proprietary Lithium Ion battery. The M8 is clearly designed to reproduce the experience of Leica's classic rangefinders as closely as possible, while substituting a digital sensor for the film - and it looks like the company has succeeded nicely. The M8's lines are clean and classic, and the controls look straightforward and approachable - particularly for anyone used to the company's film cameras.

The M8 isn't for everyone, it must be said. You'll need somewhat of a purist's approach to photography to appreciate the finer points. You don't get aids like autofocus or fully automatic exposures (although an electronically controlled shutter does allow aperture priority automatic exposures) - but what you do get is a camera that ensures you're thinking when taking each picture, which a large group of photographers feel yields better results than the more typical "pop everything to auto and press the shutter button" approach to photography.

The M8 is available in both silver- and black-bodied variants, and will ship by the end of November 2006, with US pricing of approximately $5500.