SCCA Steward
Newbie
New to rangefinders. Thinking of getting into the M8 or M8.2. The 8.2 is just too expensive for me now but was thinking of a demo or gently used M8. What do you really get with an M8 upgrade? I'm sure it doesn't turn it into an M8.2 or is it something close?
Thanks in advance for your expertise!
Thanks in advance for your expertise!
You get to be a brainwashed sap.
swoop
Well-known
It pretty much is the M8.2 after upgrade. Only lacking the paintjob and snapshot mode.
jky
Well-known
Agree with swoop... feature-wise they're pretty much the same thing after the fact - especially with the latest FW.
Olsen
Well-known
I am looking for a 2.hand M8 too as my second body. I have one already which I bought new back in 2007. I don't mind that it is well used, but I will look for a M8 that's been to Solms for fixing the 'line problem'. 'All' M8 I know of have had this problem. So, if a body on the 2.hand market hasn't been in for fixing, then it is very much likely it will have to go, later. It could still be on warranty, but that is not so easy for the 2. owner to fix. Therefore, buy one that has already been for fixing.
Tuolumne
Veteran
I never heard that the banding problem was THAT bad. Pretty depressing for such an expensive camera. Why didn't they just fix it for all cameras manufactured after a certain date, if they knew what the problem was?
/T
Olsen
Well-known
They have fixed it for 'all cameras manufactured after a certain date'. That date and serial number is unknown. Nor is a late number a warranty for that there is no problem. All M8.2 are OK, though.
Yes this 'red line' problem must have been huge for Leica - and the sensor producer, Kodak.
jgw
Member
My M8 was from the first batch of black bodies into the UK. The first ones were silver, and these had to go back to Solms for circuit board replacements. My camera has never had any of these 'lines', 'bands' or 'green blobs' that others have had. It did develop a shutter re-cocking fault around 18 months ago, but this was solved by leaving the battery out over night, and hasn't recurred. Despite what many say, these cameras are not all troublesome. It's just that all the people who complain tend to do it on forums, which give a false impression.
The faults that were part of the M8s design were awfully inaccurate frame lines, and a noisy shutter. Both can now be fixed, for a price.
Jeffrey.
The faults that were part of the M8s design were awfully inaccurate frame lines, and a noisy shutter. Both can now be fixed, for a price.
Jeffrey.
sunsworth
Well-known
Jerrfrey, I bought my M8 in Jan 2007 and hadn't realised that 'all' cameras were affected by this line issue. I must have met a couple of dozen M8 users and no one has ever commented on this.
There is a know problem with very bright light sources occasionally causing problems if they are just outside the edge of the frame. The symptoms are a green line stretching horizontally to the middle of the frame. To put this into perspective I've had it happen once on two consecutive frames - this is out of some 16-17,000.
There is a know problem with very bright light sources occasionally causing problems if they are just outside the edge of the frame. The symptoms are a green line stretching horizontally to the middle of the frame. To put this into perspective I've had it happen once on two consecutive frames - this is out of some 16-17,000.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I'm so sorry you turned out to be a brainwashed sap when you upgraded your M8. Perhaps you'd like to write back to Leica and ask them to redo the upgrade properly. It is under warranty. Unless, of course, it's fubar.
LeicaMSeattle
Established
The line issues, green blobs, and fluorescing pixels reveal themselves typically when you are shooting at ISO settings 640 and higher. Leica will be replacing the sensor as well as upgrading my camera next week.
SCCA Steward
Newbie
OK, so just what does the upgrade cost?.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Sorry, I respect most of your posts, if not all up to now, but this is really nonsense. I personally know 14 persons that own one or more M8-s of which three in my direct family, and none have had any problems of the kind you describe.
There have about ten of these problems reported in the forums- out of 30.000 cameras sold. Please get a perspective.
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dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
I'm one of the ten (or more - depending on who you believe but I know that the problem exists) - so I can safely say that mine had that "line" problem - it's a row of dead pixels - I documented it and sent it into Leica to get it fixed.
They fixed it - I got the camera back and was happy with it.
Cheers,
Dave
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Dave I'm not saying it does not happen, it does and welcome to the digital world 
And yes, a number of ten is also just a wild guess... But I object to a twisting of the facts that it happens to all or even a large proportion of cameras. That is simply a misrepresentation.
And yes, a number of ten is also just a wild guess... But I object to a twisting of the facts that it happens to all or even a large proportion of cameras. That is simply a misrepresentation.
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dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Dave I'm not saying it does not happen, it does and welcome to the digital world
I agree - squeaky wheels are the ones that get the grease so you'll hear a lot more about those that have something go wrong than something that is going "right" per se.
Dave
LeicaMSeattle
Established
I've posted images on the LeicaM site of just a few of the images effected by the pixels and line emminating from a single dead pixel. The cost of the upgrade is or was $1700.00 for the shutter, rangefinder mask, and LCD display glass before the price increase. I also requested the vulcanite replacement of the stock grip material, why they didn't use the vulcanite initially is beyond me.
sfokevin
Established
http://us.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/5861.html
I had the frameline & shutter upgrade... This along with the many firmware upgrades (For Free!) has made the camera even better as time goes on... In this throw away world it is comforting to see a company with this business model
baycrest
Established
Got the framelines and shutter.
The framelines now more accurately reflect what I'm taking a picture of. I don't find the shutter much quieter, but then my hearing isn't as good as it used to be. I find there is less vibration with the newer shutter, but I don't have any hard evidence to back up this claim.
Didn't think I needed the sapphire crystal LCD cover...
Best Rob
The framelines now more accurately reflect what I'm taking a picture of. I don't find the shutter much quieter, but then my hearing isn't as good as it used to be
. I find there is less vibration with the newer shutter, but I don't have any hard evidence to back up this claim.Didn't think I needed the sapphire crystal LCD cover...
Best Rob
LeicaMSeattle
Established
According to the UPS tracking information, I should be getting mine back tomorrow.
You ask what you get? Well, the bank account takes a dip, the camera is reset to zero shutter actuations, and you get a year extension to the Leica warranty. Hopefully the tech remembered to load the 2.04 firmware.
You ask what you get? Well, the bank account takes a dip, the camera is reset to zero shutter actuations, and you get a year extension to the Leica warranty. Hopefully the tech remembered to load the 2.04 firmware.