Thankyou Leica!

[Keith]

It's funny ...since all the rumours about the likely release of an M9 I've looked at my M8 in a slightly different light. I've always been a little precious about the camera based on the exhorbitant price I had to pay for it here in Oz but with an M9 on the horizon why be precious ... it's not going to be worth much in a few months, let's face it!

I bought a used M grip for it that I spotted on eBay the other night and also ordered a stick on screen protector for the LCD panel ... not because I'm afraid of scratching it because it already has a few marks on it but I don't want it getting to the stage where it affects the quality of the screen's image when reviewing in bright light. (chimping)

The M grip will make the camera far easier to hold with my prefered lens, the 35mm 1.2 Nokton, and the Leica will now have to live without it's luxurious Luigi half case and can just wear and get marks on it like any normal camera should. It will get tossed unprotected into the Domke like my OM SLR does and will start travelling with me a lot more often on a day to day basis and will now be expected to perform duties as a digital point and shoot ... albeit a manual focus one!

So ... thank you Leica for the $8000.00 M9 ... (if it's true) 😛

 

[photobizzz]

I guess I kinda know what you mean, NOT that a Canon RF is on the same level as a M8 by a long shot but I just sold my very very nice M2 and now have 3 Canon bodies and 3 Canon lenses for the price I sold a M2, Canon 50/1.2 (got another) and 9cm Elmar so if something gets a mark I dont get crazy, and I shoot, shoot... which is I guess is the point! Can't wait to develop the shots from the drive from Texas to Alaska, just waiting on my tanks next week with the rest of my stuff coming on a huge truck! At least Anchorage has a camera store that stocks developers - been missing that!

 

[__hh]

I too have recently sold my Luigi case and have gone "commando" because I no longer feel the need to keep my M8 in "mint" condition. It's a nice feeling being able to use the camera the way it was meant to!!!

I did also buy the grip for the M8, but have found it too large for my small hands. Anyone need a grip for theirs ???

 

[Keith]

I too have recently sold my Luigi case and have gone "commando" because I no longer feel the need to keep my M8 in "mint" condition. It's a nice feeling being able to use the camera the way it was meant to!!!

I did also buy the grip for the M8, but have found it too large for my small hands. Anyone need a grip for theirs ???

Now you tell me ... I just paid ninety odd dollars US for the grip and postage of course. 🙄

It would have been far better to have supported local gas! 😛


C'mon ... scratch those M8's people .... they're worth nuthin' now! 😀

 

[jarski]

C'mon ... scratch those M8's people .... they're worth nuthin' now! 😀

😱 cant believe what am reading. am lurking eBay every now and then for affordable unused shelf queen M8 that never got anywhere from the house, and has shutter count under 3000 😱

edit: I commented this before reading the other thread "Scuttle Butt" about new rumors about M9. I can finally see being owner of used M8 sooner, rather than later. interesting times... 🙂

 

[__hh]

Now you tell me ... I just paid ninety odd dollars US for the grip and postage of course. 🙄

It would have been far better to have supported local gas! 😛


C'mon ... scratch those M8's people .... they're worth nuthin' now! 😀

Keith,

you should have read the WTT section of the classifieds 🙂 I had it listed there, looking for possible trades.

 

[Olsen]

Keith (et al),

I will strongly advice you to keep your M8s up to shape. It might come handy when you are going to buy the new M9. Here in Norway, the price of 2.hand M8s has been dropping to bellow 1/3 of the new price. The reason for this is the uncertainty of Leica's future and the M-rangefinder system. Buying a M8 and you could risk buying a camera without a future.

Now that a M9 is in the horizon, the future of the M-rangefinder system and Leica seems secured. That, I am convinced, will bring the value of 2.hand M8s up! I am certain about it.

Think about all those who will sell their M8 to finance their M9s. They will have to be very careful to price their M8s as high as possible to be able to raise the 8,000 US$ (which I am sure will be 10,000 US$ when it hits the shelves, due to the financial status of the dollar, USA and all that)

 

[yanidel]

I think these expectations that the price of the M8 will fall a lot is simply wrong. There are thousands of M film users that would probably like to at least own a M8 but the current used price is still too high (above 2000 euros). Once it gets lower and gravitate towards €1500, there will be a lot of demand and not that much supply. I won't sell my M8 but keep it as a backup (if I buy a M9 ...)
For the median European worker, €5000 is insance, €3000 worth a great family vacation and €1500 is a stretch but can be made, even by a student.

 

[Rob-F]

I think these expectations that the price of the M8 will fall a lot is simply wrong. There are thousands of M film users that would probably like to at least own a M8 but the current used price is still too high (above 2000 euros). Once it gets lower and gravitate towards €1500, there will be a lot of demand and not that much supply.

I agree. The R-D1 still sells for at least half the new price, even with the M8 and M8.2. This is true despite the fact that the R-D1 has only 6MP; only has brightline frames for 3 lenses; and has a rangefinder that goes easily out of alignment. The M8 will have a similar history.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

My M6 rides naked in the front seat of my truck with me all the time. Just a camera. I've never understood buying a camera with the idea I have to keep it in perfect condition for when I sale it.

As far the M9 securing the M system's future (if it really ever goes into production), that's a stretch. Leica is selling precious few cameras now. An even more expensive digital M (perhaps even larger than the current M) is unlikely to be a big seller for them.

 

[MCTuomey]

i'm with yanidel and jarski. i bought an M8 when its price dropped within my range. bring on the M10, leica. in a few years the M9 will be in my reach 🙂

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

bring on the M10, leica.

Uh-oh, people are talking about the M10 now. Looking forward to the M11 with autofocus, cupholder and MP3 player! 😉

 

[johannielscom]

When my rear monitor screen got scratched enough from the buttons on my shirts, I just put cellotape over it. The sticky film you're supposed to put over it came off at the corners all the time and I got tired with it.

Mine has its first scratches on the body as well already, DIM (did it myself).

M9 or not, I'm gonna wear this camera out, I hate the filters but will not be able to afford an M9 without selling the black M3 ánd M5 ánd M8 ánd investing savings, which is a no-go for me. And, I do not need a full frame camera, the M8 is additional to me, I shoot the M3 and M5 far more.

 

[johannielscom]

Heck, I should have added I would consider trading the M8 with 4 filters for an MP and cash. I might even pick up a Panasonic G1 kit to use the M-lenses on.

PM me if interested.

 

[mark-b]

Eight thousand for an M9? Oh no. I'd rather wait for the full-frame digital Bessa.

 

[swoop]

I just noticed today while on assignment my M8 has all sorts of brightmarks on it. And the back of my lenses are in dire need of cleaning. It's good to know some things are replaceable.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Maybe the whole thing is a scam and they already have the replacement M back door, with a full frame sensor and full size LCD screen in a package 8mm thick, working off of a battery that fits in the film compartment? They just want to sell a bunch of M8, M9, and M10 bodies first for the Big Bucks before the Chinese start marketing the $19.95 digital conversion kit for M Leicas (battery extra). 🙄

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[benmacphoto]

I'm with you on this one Keith. I bought the M8 to use as a camera and it was within my budget. With all of the rumors on how much the M9 will cost, I don't think I will need to upgrade. My M8 gets "thrown" into my domke bag with my M6 and out I go to shoot. I remember the day I put my first mark on the M8, but that doesn't bother me because I've been getting great shots actually using it as a camera.

I baby my M6 though....

 

[ampguy]

not sure about grip

not sure about grip

I used a grip on 1 of 4 of my RD1s, and haven't tried a grip on the M8, but since the M8 is a bit bigger (thicker) than a film M, there's probably only a 10-20% chance I'd keep the grip on, but if I saw one for a bargain, I'd probably give it a try.

I too have recently sold my Luigi case and have gone "commando" because I no longer feel the need to keep my M8 in "mint" condition. It's a nice feeling being able to use the camera the way it was meant to!!!

I did also buy the grip for the M8, but have found it too large for my small hands. Anyone need a grip for theirs ???

 

[DougFord]

😱 cant believe what am reading. am lurking eBay every now and then for affordable unused shelf queen M8 that never got anywhere from the house, and has shutter count under 3000 😱

edit: I commented this before reading the other thread "Scuttle Butt" about new rumors about M9. I can finally see being owner of used M8 sooner, rather than later. interesting times... 🙂

[FONT=&quot]Wait till the second week of Sept before you buy. You can buy two for the price of one; maybe paint one or whatever. They’ll be selling used for 1500usd by then. The Leica M8 will become the ultimate cult camera. [/FONT]