M8, what can go wrong?

[Never Satisfied]

I bought a 8.2 and the only issue I've ever had with it was not using my film bodies any more. It's brilliant!

Andrew.

 

[jaapv]

Cracked sensor is possible with Leica:

Oh- come on. That was a small production run on the M9, not the M8, and was caused by an error at Kodak. 25 cameras on 25.000 M9s...

 

[ruslan]

This is M8, I had this camera two years ago, of course returned to seller.

 

[sper]

You could pay too much for a dated 10mp camera with sketchy reliability issues, when in fact you could just shoot film for RF and DSLR for digital until there is something both affordable, and high quality available with an M mount.

My 5D2 takes Leica R, Zeiss, and Voigtlander lenses, and with a small prime it's not a big camera.

Seriously I have often thought about the M8 as a purchase, I really do like the camera when it works. But from my experience in a camera store, it's not worth the risk! This is not an internet overblown rumor, they really are problem cameras. Odds are, you'll be fine, and Leica does service them (in their own, take forever, way), but the camera is too expensive for that risk! If you got the M8 for about $1000, which is about what they're worth without the Leica fetish, I'd so do it. But when you could get a 5D2 or D700 (and hey, plus an X100 for not too much more), it seems silly to me to invest in the M8.

The only thing that's keeping M8 value up is the high price and unavailability of the M9.

 

[dkphoto]

I bought a used M8, too.
No trouble till today execpt a little problem with the charger, making a high pitch, fizzy noise.

Send it to the shop i bought my Leica and they send it to Leica/Solms.

I hope it'll come back, soon.
Only have 1 charged battery left 😀

 

[cidereye]

But it is what it is, the M8.2 is a cropped sensor DRF. When that is accepted it is a fine RF camera that allows the use of Leica M lenses.

Exactly, OK so their *Can* be issues when buying an M8 and that is accepted of course. However, use your common sense in buying from a dealer with a guarantee, maybe go for a later serial run M8 or one that has had the sensor replaced and you cannot go too far wrong so long as you accept the obvious photographic limitations of a cropped sensor RF Digital camera.

For a 10 mp camera the detail and quality of image is superb even in 2011, just bought my 2nd one today after going back to DSLR and realising where both my heart and brain lie. 😉

 

[jaapv]

This is M8, I had this camera two years ago, of course returned to seller.

In that case it is the only reported case of the M8. One wonders what the seller did with it to crack the sensor. Wise to return it 🙂

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yes they do. it's just owners never notice because the chauffeur takes care of it during the dark of night.

What?! All that money for a Bentley and it still requires care and maintenance? Outrageous. Next thing you'll tell me is that it can be crashed like any other car. Nonsense!! It's an expensive car!

 

[jaapv]

If you can afford it,just buy two and you can afford the repairs.If you can't afford it,well,you cant afford it and won't have complaints.Let me add ten images from my faultless Kia...😀

 

[aldobonnard]

if that can help, just went yesterday to London, to a high street shop very well known for its Leica's sales, and the manager told me : "M8 is a very bad camera, we have plenty of sensor failures, black frames, etc...", as I was wondering whether to upgrade from my R-D1. He offered me to buy my R-D1 straight away. Well, I politely said no thanks, and kept it firmly 🙂 ...
About the M9, perhaps Leica have improved over the M8, I believe they have.

 

[jaapv]

What blah - they probably didn't have any M8 in stock...

 

[cidereye]

if that can help, just went yesterday to London, to a high street shop very well known for its Leica's sales, and the manager told me : "M8 is a very bad camera, we have plenty of sensor failures, black frames, etc...", as I was wondering whether to upgrade from my R-D1. He offered me to buy my R-D1 straight away. Well, I politely said no thanks, and kept it firmly 🙂 ...
About the M9, perhaps Leica have improved over the M8, I believe they have.

Hmm, come on name & shame the shop. 😉

As Jaap said, probably never had any but that is really bad advice they give.

Sure the M9 is a better & improved camera but that certainly does not make the M8 a bad camera or a bad purchase even in 2011, yes there were problems as is well documented with early cameras but by taking the sensible precautions you will end up with a problem free camera and a nice Leica dealers guarantee for 6 months+. Bought my 2nd M8 yesterday and I'm more than happy to use such a *bad* camera. 😀

 

[Turtle]

What blah - they probably didn't have any M8 in stock...

While I doubt anyone here has the statistics to prove either way, it is my impression from reading forums that the M8 had a heck of a lot more serious problems associated with it than, say, the 5D II or D700. Red line issues, shutter failures, dead cameras etc seem to have been more frequent. I say this because I don't think it is balanced to dismiss any suggestion that the M8 could be seen as slightly troublesome. Then there is the IR issue, poor high ISO and porr batter life, so it is not hard to see why some people (or critics) have regarded it as a 'poor camera.' I agree that it is what it is: a DRF, of which there are very few!

Also, the cost of repairs is particularly high compared to a Canon or Nikon (i.e. shutter replacement).

I might well end up buying a M8 or 8.2 in the future, but I will be going in eyes open if I do.

 

[Lss]

Seriously I have often thought about the M8 as a purchase, I really do like the camera when it works.

I also like it when it works, which so far has been 100% of the time I have owned it. The price is what it is, not much you can do about it.

 

[aldobonnard]

Hmm, come on name & shame the shop. 😉
(...)
Bought my 2nd M8 yesterday and I'm more than happy to use such a *bad* camera. 😀

The Leica dealer was speaking based on his long experience, being fed up by all the warranty returns they have had regularly. This is not opiniated, facts speak. When it works, the M8.2 is a nice camera giving excellent results in low ISO, for sure.

 

[masterkin]

I also just got my m8 used a month ago and from my experience with my unit, the m8 is one buggy camera.

I have about 4 to 5 hot pixels and I also got the red banding line in my picture once. I still get the red banding but it seems to disappear from the preview after a second or so. So the final outputs don't have it already.

The camera sometimes turns off in s mode and won't shoot again until I remove the battery. Just today, the LCD started flickering on and off. The battery replace trick fixed it again.

I have a 312xxxx serial and the latest firmware.

Am I happy with the m8? HELL YES!

I can live with these little quirks as long as it keeps on giving me these great pictures.