Editor's Choice 2007: Camera Bags

EDITOR'S CHOICE Digital Rangefinders

Camera of the Year: Leica M8

Though the long-anticipated Leica M8 substitutes a 10.5-megapixel image sensor for the 35mm film used by its M-series counterparts, it looks and feels much the same as those classic rangefinders. It has their rounded, die-cast magnesium-alloy body, huge optical viewfinder, and M-type bayonet lens mount. There's even a removable base plate -- except that instead of giving you access to a film chamber, it covers slots for the M8's SD card and Li-ion battery. Existing Leica M lenses from 16mm to 135mm, all prime, can be used on the M8 -- manual focus only. Because the 18x27-millimeter sensor is smaller than a 35mm film frame, the focal length is effectively increased by a factor of 1.33. For example, a 28mm wide-angle lens becomes equivalent to a 37mm semi-wide in 35mm. The viewfinder displays frame lines to indicate the usable image area for lenses from 24mm to 90mm. (Shorter or longer lenses require a separate, non-focusing viewfinder that slips into the camera's flash hotshoe.) Early users of the M8 complained about color anomalies in images of people wearing black synthetic fabrics. The problem is caused by the CCD's cover glass, which is very thin for maximum image sharpness. The solution: a special UV/IR filter, two of which are now provided with the camera.

Read more on the Leica M8. Next product: Panasonic Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH.