M8 new firmware release on 3 March

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toyfel

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David Farkas posted on LUF that a new firmware will be released soon. With the new firmware the discrete mode will be enabled on the M8 (classic and upgraded).
 
photogdave said:
Delayed shutter re-cocking by keeping the shutter button pressed down.
It's a pretty cool feature!
Click to expand...

Ok.. I get that.. but this concept that it makes it more "discrete" is bogus.

<rant>
Maybe more "quiet" but, as I continue to preach the concept, being discrete does not exist anymore in today's society if you're using a "traditional" camera (i.e. any camera that you have to hold up to your eye to focus and shoot with). If one wants to be discrete, get a digital point and shoot camera which is far more ubiquitous and will allow you to blend into a crowd far better than any Leica (current or past). 😀
</end rant>

That said, making the M8 quieter is a benefit if you're taking photos in a place that demands it - church, funeral, hospital, etc. etc.

Cheers, 🙂
Dave
 
That is good news indeed.

I would welcome the discreet mode option and certainly hope this is true. David Farkas has a good reputation, so I have every reason to believe that's the case. It's good to know that Leica has listened to its users on this one.

Without having to send my camera in for hardware changes, I will consider my M8 upgrade complete!
 
photogdave said:
Delayed shutter re-cocking by keeping the shutter button pressed down.
It's a pretty cool feature!
Click to expand...



So let me get this straight ... as long as you're holding pressure on the shutter release the camera won't re-cock?

At some stage you have to take your finger off though and if you were in a really silent environment you won't be able to hide that whir! Unless you rush outside for the noisy bit ... could make shooting a few consecutive frames a slow and energetic process! 😛
 
IdeaDog said:
Seems like a really rickety workaround for a loud shutter recocking design. Perhaps you're supposed to pirouette and tuck your M8 in your coat to muffle the recocking between shots?

No. I'm sticking with my earphones solution.
Click to expand...



I suppose thats an option ... or a discrete cough!

Perhaps there's a market for a soundproof shoulder bag about the size of a small Domke that you carry around with you! 😀
 
Nice to know Leica will share it with the classic owners. I would have liked a firmware update that allows one of the hard buttons (like delete) to be user designated so that it could offer a direct menu for exp comp or iso or wb or whatever.
 
oolala discreet advance. I actually want that quite a bit for various reasons.

HOWEVER, what i really want, and there's not mention of it yet, is the freaking ability to set the self timer to ZERO seconds so that i can finally remove my little rubber bumper thingy from the top of my camera.
 
The discrete mode is a really great feature, seriously. It simply gives you another option. You can hold it in until conversation picks up, a car drives by, whatever. If you just let go of the shutter button like normal, the shutter advances like normal.
Also the M8.2, or upgraded M8 shutter is very quiet compared to the original.
It's hard to explain in words, but trust me, when you try it you'll see how good it is!
 
photogdave said:
The discrete mode is a really great feature, seriously. It simply gives you another option. You can hold it in until conversation picks up, a car drives by, whatever. If you just let go of the shutter button like normal, the shutter advances like normal.
Also the M8.2, or upgraded M8 shutter is very quiet compared to the original.
It's hard to explain in words, but trust me, when you try it you'll see how good it is!
Click to expand...


Seriously. I tried an M8.2 at photo village and just yesterday got the ok to send my M8 in for the upgrade. Sadly, I'm going to need to have it around for another two weeks at least until I can part with it. but I can't wait to have it back after I send it in. Two years with it and I hate the thing for all the little quirks it has. But I can't do without it either.
 
I think this is great news. I'm the first to admit I have often thought Leica had lost its way. But if they implement this then I can only give them the thumbs up. A company who actually listens to its customers. How novel.

Now all you guys need is user selectable lens "coding."
 
This is very good news! I have a discrete mode on my 1DsIII and makes a lot of difference. The camera rids itself of this press photographer 'whirl' and sounds more like a M6/7. Sure, one have to lift the finger and let the shutter re-cock, but to get these two sequences split up means a lot for the total sound 'track'. This is a vast improvement. I had no idea that it could be done with a firmware up date.

This silent mode is very useful when photographing wildlife. Should be just as good shooting street scenes with a M8.
 
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