dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Thanks again for all the information and updates guys.
I really appreciate it.
I still haven't decided if I will buy one from Kurland as of yet.
There are a number of drawbacks but there are a lot of positives too.
Positives:
Firstly, I've called Kurland and spoke with, I think, Eli. Helpful and very nice. Also told me that the price on these will be going up (like everything else Leica sells).
Secondly, he couldn't tell me exactly actuations on any of the Demo cameras - he receives them like this from Leica (he says) so there's no way of him telling the actuations. I would assume they're not very high though.
Thirdly, the price is really good; especially now with the Canadian Loonie being so strong.
Finally, it's digital - I am so accustomed to the "workflow" I have going with Lightroom that I really think I can almost ditch my film ways.
Negatives:
1. UPS - ugh.. I have a UPS Store Mailbox for myself / business and even still UPS has "issues" delivering their packages to their own stores. It must be the worst company to use for shipping. You would think that USPS or Canada Post would be the worst but then you'd be wrong.
2. All The "Problems" with the M8 - Sure we all know about the whole "magenta" thing and green blob thing but then I read about camera lockups, batteries being unable to be released, the camera shoots in 16bit but writes in 8bit (so why even bother with 16bit), only takes 2GB (mostly) SD cards, AWB is not as accurate as we'd like etc. etc. All of this concerns me when I'm spending that much money on a body; even if it is a Leica. I really would like to try out the M8 but based on everything I keep reading it looks like it's a white elephant. I know there are a lot of folks who are happy with theirs and while I do realize that there's no "perfect" camera I just cringe at the thought that I spend the money and I really don't see any benefit for me outside of the fact that it's a digital camera.
3. Buying Used - It's a demo; sure it comes with a warranty but it's already been used by various folks. I'm not too concerned about this point other than the fact that I won't know, until I get the camera, just how many actuations it's gone through.
4. Buying from a Non-Local source - Again, this has got to do with being able to return the camera to a dealer locally and have some peace of mind. I know I can get the camera locally, brand new, at a reasonable price ($5,000 CDN) but saving over $1,000 initially is awfully attractive especially considering point number two above.
I don't know.. overall.. I really want to be excited about investing in an M8 but I also am extremely hesitant about it due to the above listed issues. I do know that my intent would be for it to be a B&W camera - and I do know that the M8 apparently excels at this.
I guess, because of the lifecycle of the bodies I've seen that occurs with Canon/Nikon, I wonder if the moment I do decide to fork over the dough that Leica announces some miraculous upgrade or such.
*sigh*.. so indecisive...
Thanks,
Dave
I really appreciate it.
I still haven't decided if I will buy one from Kurland as of yet.
There are a number of drawbacks but there are a lot of positives too.
Positives:
Firstly, I've called Kurland and spoke with, I think, Eli. Helpful and very nice. Also told me that the price on these will be going up (like everything else Leica sells).
Secondly, he couldn't tell me exactly actuations on any of the Demo cameras - he receives them like this from Leica (he says) so there's no way of him telling the actuations. I would assume they're not very high though.
Thirdly, the price is really good; especially now with the Canadian Loonie being so strong.
Finally, it's digital - I am so accustomed to the "workflow" I have going with Lightroom that I really think I can almost ditch my film ways.
Negatives:
1. UPS - ugh.. I have a UPS Store Mailbox for myself / business and even still UPS has "issues" delivering their packages to their own stores. It must be the worst company to use for shipping. You would think that USPS or Canada Post would be the worst but then you'd be wrong.
2. All The "Problems" with the M8 - Sure we all know about the whole "magenta" thing and green blob thing but then I read about camera lockups, batteries being unable to be released, the camera shoots in 16bit but writes in 8bit (so why even bother with 16bit), only takes 2GB (mostly) SD cards, AWB is not as accurate as we'd like etc. etc. All of this concerns me when I'm spending that much money on a body; even if it is a Leica. I really would like to try out the M8 but based on everything I keep reading it looks like it's a white elephant. I know there are a lot of folks who are happy with theirs and while I do realize that there's no "perfect" camera I just cringe at the thought that I spend the money and I really don't see any benefit for me outside of the fact that it's a digital camera.
3. Buying Used - It's a demo; sure it comes with a warranty but it's already been used by various folks. I'm not too concerned about this point other than the fact that I won't know, until I get the camera, just how many actuations it's gone through.
4. Buying from a Non-Local source - Again, this has got to do with being able to return the camera to a dealer locally and have some peace of mind. I know I can get the camera locally, brand new, at a reasonable price ($5,000 CDN) but saving over $1,000 initially is awfully attractive especially considering point number two above.
I don't know.. overall.. I really want to be excited about investing in an M8 but I also am extremely hesitant about it due to the above listed issues. I do know that my intent would be for it to be a B&W camera - and I do know that the M8 apparently excels at this.
I guess, because of the lifecycle of the bodies I've seen that occurs with Canon/Nikon, I wonder if the moment I do decide to fork over the dough that Leica announces some miraculous upgrade or such.
*sigh*.. so indecisive...
Thanks,
Dave
photogdave
Shops local
If you can earn a return off the camera then go for it. If it's just for your hobby but you've got tonnes of money to blow (I know you don't!), then go for it. Otherwise try and forget about it and enjoy shooting film!
That's how I feel about the M8 anyway!
That's how I feel about the M8 anyway!
kenn
Ken Nickerson
I recently bought an M8 there (demo / ebay) and could not be happier with the experience. Great service, nice folks on the phone and M8 arrived within 48 hours. Excellent experience .
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
I only know of Kurland's store from ads in Shutterbug, and I have to say the prices make me gulp. But then, I'm a bottom feeder.
Shutter "actuations" -- since when do we need to use such a fancy word? Sounds like creeping computerese to me. What's wrong with "cycles"?
Shutter "actuations" -- since when do we need to use such a fancy word? Sounds like creeping computerese to me. What's wrong with "cycles"?
emraphoto
Veteran
hey dave... i am on the cusp of buying and i MAY drive down to nyc next week to buy at kurland. i'm not entirely sure that's the route i'm going but it's looking more and more like it! if i do i'll let you know how it unfolds... i had an ad on photo.net and a fella from toronto emailed and said he had two for sale. if you want i could contact him and make aninquiry for you.
as far as canadiens "blaming ups" for anything... well let me tell you, ups is the shiftiest bunch of shifty folks i have ever dealt with. i have collected and passed leica's through canadian customs myself... in person, AT canada customs. never have they charged me a brokerage fee, ever. taxes yes... brokerage fee's? no. there currently is a class action lawsuit in canada alleging wrong doing by ups and it's "brokerage fee's" in which canada customs has stated that NONE of the "brokerage fee's" collected go to ANY customs agents. some have alleged that the "brokerage fee" has run more than 50% of the items total cost.
apparently there is one starting in quebec and ontario... shifty buggers that ups!
as far as canadiens "blaming ups" for anything... well let me tell you, ups is the shiftiest bunch of shifty folks i have ever dealt with. i have collected and passed leica's through canadian customs myself... in person, AT canada customs. never have they charged me a brokerage fee, ever. taxes yes... brokerage fee's? no. there currently is a class action lawsuit in canada alleging wrong doing by ups and it's "brokerage fee's" in which canada customs has stated that NONE of the "brokerage fee's" collected go to ANY customs agents. some have alleged that the "brokerage fee" has run more than 50% of the items total cost.
apparently there is one starting in quebec and ontario... shifty buggers that ups!
emraphoto
Veteran
perhaps ups should A/ charge an amount in the same ballpark as other "brokers" and B/ offer full disclosure re: said fee's upfront. i certainly don"t want to turn this into a UPS thread but 2 class action lawsuits require a few folks with some credible "issues" with UPS to be filed.
http://www.classaction.ca/content/actions/ups.asp
http://www.epinions.com/bsrv-Office...pinion_list/display_~reviews/pp_~1/pa_~1#list
http://www.graphiccare.ca/blog/?p=17#comment-2
http://www.thegatesofdawn.ca/wordpress/posts/2006/12/10/ups-brokerage-fee-class-action/
http://www.classaction.ca/content/actions/ups.asp
http://www.epinions.com/bsrv-Office...pinion_list/display_~reviews/pp_~1/pa_~1#list
http://www.graphiccare.ca/blog/?p=17#comment-2
http://www.thegatesofdawn.ca/wordpress/posts/2006/12/10/ups-brokerage-fee-class-action/
mw_uio
Well-known
I usually do not say this but today I will, WTF does UPS and their service have to do with "Buyer Experiences with Kurland Photo in NYC?" which this thread is about!!!
Mark
Quito, EC
Mark
Quito, EC
emraphoto
Veteran
well mark, sometimes conversations branch off... that's the nature of conversations.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Hey guys..
Thanks
I have my own opinions on UPS.
I have a mailbox @ a UPS Store that's literally a 2 minute walk from my place.
I have this because Canada Post continually tried to FOLD my subscription to LensWork to fit into my little 4x4" mailbox at my condo.
Now, I've ordered items from B&H and shipped via UPS Expedited (in order to avoid the brokerage fees) and it got to the UPS store "ok".
I've also had items from other retail outlets sent to the UPS store mailbox and the UPS folks can't even locate their OWN store - even after a phone call to them and explaining that the address is a UPS STORE.
So I figure, UPS are only as good as the drivers they hire. At least that's how I look at it imho.
Because of the high brokerage charges though, I would prefer to pay for expedited shipping. If the retailer only offers ground shipping (because that's the deal they've got with UPS), then I refuse to buy from them.
As for the M8, John, thanks for the offer but I'm going to hold out for now on the M8. I want to see where Leica goes from here. Right now the M8 and the R-D1 are the only games in town but I can sit tight for the time being.
Mark, APERTURE PRIORITY !!!
Cheers
Dave
Thanks
I have my own opinions on UPS.
I have a mailbox @ a UPS Store that's literally a 2 minute walk from my place.
I have this because Canada Post continually tried to FOLD my subscription to LensWork to fit into my little 4x4" mailbox at my condo.
Now, I've ordered items from B&H and shipped via UPS Expedited (in order to avoid the brokerage fees) and it got to the UPS store "ok".
I've also had items from other retail outlets sent to the UPS store mailbox and the UPS folks can't even locate their OWN store - even after a phone call to them and explaining that the address is a UPS STORE.
So I figure, UPS are only as good as the drivers they hire. At least that's how I look at it imho.
Because of the high brokerage charges though, I would prefer to pay for expedited shipping. If the retailer only offers ground shipping (because that's the deal they've got with UPS), then I refuse to buy from them.
As for the M8, John, thanks for the offer
but I'm going to hold out for now on the M8. I want to see where Leica goes from here. Right now the M8 and the R-D1 are the only games in town but I can sit tight for the time being.Mark, APERTURE PRIORITY !!!
Cheers
Dave