How do you tell whether your M8 has been upgraded?

L

LWR

All The Gear - No Idea
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I have just picked up my black M8. I've been told it's a fully upgraded camera.

I was wondering if you all could help me understand the following...

- What were the upgrades since the first batch?
- How do I tell if my camera has been updated?

Apologies if I sound like an idiot for dropping $5k on a camera without understanding this... but sometimes the heart rules the head.

The camera is running Firmware 1.09 if that is indicative of anything.

I have a slight sensitivity to this because a few of my 21mm F2.8 shots have had some wierd magenta ghosts/blobs on them...

Any help, much appreciated.

Thanks,

LWR
 
LWR said:
I have a slight sensitivity to this because a few of my 21mm F2.8 shots have had some wierd magenta ghosts/blobs on them...
Click to expand...

Firmware 1.09 is the current firmware.

Could you post a few examples of the "weird magenta ghosts/blobs" that would help as I've never before seen or heard of such a thing and before people start flying off the handle it would be useful to see exactly what you are referring to.

As to updates, the camera had a banding and "green blob" issue on the first cameras that was resolved by Leica- you'll need to post your serial number to help us determine if your M8 was from that batch.

Cheers and please do post a few examples or provide a link to a flickr/ photo address for those images.

Ted
 
Hi LWR

Cameras with the hardware fix from the factory have a brochure in the box inviting you to register for two IR cut filters (packed in the same pocket as the manual). If you have that brochure in the box then it is a safe bet that you have a camera with the hardware fix. Firmware version, as well as serial numbers are not a good indication (there are rumors that batches of serial numbers might be assigned based on logic that does not directly correspond to what we expect).

Enjoy your new camera 🙂

Furrukh
 
Furrukh,
I thought all cameras sold before December 31st were eligible for free filters and that this did not necessarily signify a first batch run- in particular the first run of chrome bodies were supposed to be from the second batch run? Is your information specific to the brochure or is it possible Leica is selling "refurbs" repackaged after being returned and fixed as new?

T
 
kbg32 said:
If you just got it, you have all the upgrades. As for your magenta blobs, etc., could you post a few images? Are you using a UV/IR 486 filter?
Click to expand...

Yep - just got it last week.

Will post the serial number.

Crazy as it sounds - the magenta shots were so upsetting I trashed them - will try to take some more and add back to the list. To be fair, I was shooting into the sun so could have been just a case of lens flare.

Might start taking my R-D1 with me an back-to-back a few shots.

LWR
 
Sailor Ted said:
Furrukh,
I thought all cameras sold before December 31st were eligible for free filters ...
T
Click to expand...

Hi Ted,

All M8s are eligible for two IR cut filters independent of the time the camera was bought (the 30% lens rebate is for those who bought the camera before Dec. 31). The first batch of cameras had horizontal banding and also around that time people discovered the IR sensitivity issue; Leica did a hardware fix to correct for horizontal banding and also announced that everyone will get two free IR cut filters as a “fix” for the IR sensitivity. Ever since then Leica has been adding the brochure in the box inviting the owners to register for two free IR cut filters. Those owners who bought the camera before Dec. 31 additionally got a letter form Leica inviting them to buy a Leica lens for 30% discount. So if you have the brochure inviting you to get the IR cut filters then the camera has the hardware fix (by Leica) for the horizontal banding.

I think it is a good idea to check for this since there are staill a few returned silver M8 bodies form the first batch floating around at some dealers. Black bodies are so rare that they get snatched up fix or no fix 🙂

Furrukh
 
Hi Furrukh,
I just want to clarify a few things based on what I understand you to be saying.

1. If you have an M8 that did not come packaged with a free two filter "brochure" then you have a first run camera- is this 100% correct? If so what does this brochure look like- I do not believe I have such document.

2. (Related to one) Silver as well as Black M8's were built in the first batch? My dealer told me that according to his understanding Silver M8's all came from the second run.

3. Is there a way to conclusively determine if you have a first run M8 or a subsequent run camera (an M8 that does not require the hardware "fix") and if so how exactly do you go about making this determination?

Thanks for the information,
Ted
 
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It's my understanding that firmware 1.10 will offer not only the in-camera cyan corner reduction (with coded lenses) but improvement to the wonky auto-WB and also some fixes for some of the electronic glitches that have been plaguing people recently. What I'm wondering is if Leica's falling-out with Jenoptik is having any effect on getting that firmware done, or on future firmware upgrades that will be needed to address future problems as they're discovered. A friend of mine recently sold his DMR because he got tired of waiting for a promised firmware upgrade and was told by the Leica rep that it had been put on indefinite hold because there was no longer cooperation from Imacon.
 
Ben,
Those sound like reasonable and plausible concerns regarding the aftermath of the Jenoptik fallout **sigh**

1.10 is now past due so we shall see- my question/ concern is regarding whether or not I have a first or a subsequent run camera.

T
 
I'm sure Leica has a list of serial numbers from each run so they know precisely which ones are from the first batch and need the hardware upgrade. You might try calling or e-mailing them. I don't see why they wouldn't be forthcoming...unless their policy is only to upgrade the ones people send back who find the blobs.
 
Hi Ted,

I think that it is the consensus on the various forums that the “filter invitation” brochure is a valid way to check if your camera has the hardware fix by Leica. The brochure is really a small pamphlet; I think just two pages, packed with the other papers in the pocket of the box that contains the manual. It is easy to miss since it is small. The hardware fix corrects for horizontal banding so if you are in doubt just shoot night scenes with bright lights in the frame and sooner or later you will see bands running horizontally (this horizontal banding is different from a new type of banding that exists even in the new batch of camera, the new banding occurs only when the light source is just at the outside edge of the frame; the old banding can be caused by light sources inside the frame).

Most of the first batch of “un-fixed” cameras were in fact silver; only a small fraction were black. I know many people who got silver cameras form the first batch; that batch had the horizontal banding issue. Many sent those cameras to Leica to get the hardware fixed for banding.

Hope this helps.

Furrukh
 
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Yes! I found the "Free with your LEICA M8 " brochure- it's silver / white with the Leica Red "DOT" logo in the upper left hand corner (doing a dance for joy).
 
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