M8 problems fixed?

dave lackey

dave lackey

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Since I am new around here, I haven't heard if the problems with the M8 have been fixed as of this date.

I have an M6 waiting for me to pick up and I can definitely see an M8 in my future. However, if the problems are still there, what can I expect?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
🙂
 
I haven't had any problems with my M8 but this is a new design only a few months in the field. Most who have the camera are, like me absolutely thrilled and wouldn't trade it for any thing else on the market, but that does not alter the fact that this system is still wringing out it's maiden voyage kinks. If you want a mature system with a track record and all the bugs worked out wait a year. If you have a compelling reason to be an early adopter (I did and am happy with my choice) or are OK with the added potential risk go for it. Otherwise if you want to play it safe and are not interested in beta-testing a manufacturers new product then never buy a brand new unproven design in its first few months on the market whether it's a car, camera or computer OS.
 
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Sack the M6 and get the M8. It's fantastic as it is at the moment. Everything improves with time and maybe the next digital M will make your tea as well.

I love mine and as I have said so many times. If you can't take good pictures with the M8 then don't blame the camera.

That said, I just happen to belong to the camp of photographers who simply use the camera as a tool and not in the camp who likes to get involved in the physics of refraction and everything else that is beyond my technically challenged brain.

It's horses for courses I'm afraid. The world would be awful if we all liked the same thing wouldn't it.

All I know is that my M8 is awesome (oh, I hate that word but I'll use it anyway) and in a years time I might not be here.

On that optimistic note ...
 
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It is medium format quality in a small package. Get the IR filters for each lens and set the WB manually and you'll love it. The firmware updates are getting better with each one (1.092). Shot a concert on St P Day with the 90 Summicron and M8 set to 640. Stunning detail, amazing. Printed a shot and looked at it got 2 hours taking in all the rich detail and subtle colors. But had the IR filter on the lens! Waiting for the 60mm filters to get the "heqq" here for my Noctilux and 75 Summilux. Then we're off to the races!
Steve
 
boilerdoc2 said:
It is medium format quality in a small package. Get the IR filters for each lens and set the WB manually and you'll love it. The firmware updates are getting better with each one (1.092). Shot a concert on St P Day with the 90 Summicron and M8 set to 640. Stunning detail, amazing. Printed a shot and looked at it got 2 hours taking in all the rich detail and subtle colors. But had the IR filter on the lens! Waiting for the 60mm filters to get the "heqq" here for my Noctilux and 75 Summilux. Then we're off to the races!
Steve
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Sounds great...would love to see some of your images and see how it compares to my D2H.

This brings up another question about lenses...any problem using the lenses that fit on the M6? Seems I have read that with a couple of exceptions, they work fine. If so, is there a 1.5 lens correction factor like on my Nikon lenses for digital?

Thanks in advance, 🙂
 
i don't know what the problem is. my camera is A W E S O M E. 🙂

in regards to lenses not fitting. i'm not sure what the problem is. i have a 7 M mount lenses and all of them i have had no problems.

i love my M8


🙂
 
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dave lackey said:
Sounds great...would love to see some of your images and see how it compares to my D2H.

This brings up another question about lenses...any problem using the lenses that fit on the M6? Seems I have read that with a couple of exceptions, they work fine. If so, is there a 1.5 lens correction factor like on my Nikon lenses for digital?

Thanks in advance, 🙂
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If you mean the crop factor, it is 1.33, not too much, one focal length FOV difference. If you mean is it more critical to focus "difficult" lenses like the Noctilux or Summilux 75, the answer is a clear yes. But it can be done. Plus, Leica is very strong in retro-compatablilty, and nearly all lenses produced over the last eighty years can be used, with only a few exceptions.
 
Overall, I liked the M8.
Simply put, I'd wait at least until after FW 1.10 comes out to see if you should buy. The potential is there, it's just not being lived upto yet.
 
TJV said:
Overall, I liked the M8.
Simply put, I'd wait at least until after FW 1.10 comes out to see if you should buy. The potential is there, it's just not being lived upto yet.
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Firmware 1.10 is not for fixing problems, it is to enable the camera to correct the cyan vignetting that sometimes intrudes on wide-angle shots, in-camera instead of in post-processing, not that that is very difficult.
 
Firmware 1.10 is not for fixing problems, it is to enable the camera to correct the cyan vignetting that sometimes intrudes on wide-angle shots, in-camera instead of in post-processing, not that that is very difficult.
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Indeed, but the camera is not without its other faults. Maybe I was just plain unlucky, buy I had to send three back because of problems not associated with IR. I would hope that some of those problems can be fixed in FW, then I might consider re-reinvesting my money into the M8.

As I've said before, I liked the camera and I'm happy with the service I've got from Leica, but I'm glad I got out when I could. I wanted something to rely on and I realised I only felt comfortable with film and less electronic components. But that's where I'm from. Different strokes for different folks.
 
TJV said:
Indeed, but the camera is not without its other faults. Maybe I was just plain unlucky, buy I had to send three back because of problems not associated with IR. I would hope that some of those problems can be fixed in FW, then I might consider re-reinvesting my money into the M8.

As I've said before, I liked the camera and I'm happy with the service I've got from Leica, but I'm glad I got out when I could. I wanted something to rely on and I realised I only felt comfortable with film and less electronic components. But that's where I'm from. Different strokes for different folks.
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I'm not sure you were more unlucky than some others, as there are too many reports like this. However, I can only say, that if one is lucky, like I seem to be with two perfect camera's in my bag, albeit one with the upgrade, there is no better digital camera imaginable, maybe even camera - period - for me at any rate.
 
Dave

I love this camera, but I really tried one on a couple of different occasions and took a measured look at the images i took before committing. You can get as many opinions as there are photographers. Im sure any leica dealer will lend you a demo version for an afternoon or so, use your own SD card and take the images home. This is the only way you will know if this camera is for you.


Richard
 
I'm on my third M8. That I have persevered should tell you something - hopefully about this camera's potential and not my gullibility 🙂 The image quality IS very special.

My (uninformed) guess is that, in the initial rush to get this camera to market, quality control was not what it should have been. The backlash against this has probably acted as a wake up call and I expect that general quality will continue to improve over time with the level of random failures (battery etc issues) reducing significantly - there certainly seems to be fewer "my camera died" posts around.

The early adopters probably came in a bit earlier than they should have done - more like beta testers. Its still too early to be certain about the reliability of this camera (at least from my perspective), but when its working it is excellent.
 
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