Buying a Leica M8 in 2010, advice and opinions.

Jeff S said:
And, keep in mind that even after all these upgrades, the M8 still isn't the same as the M8.2...black chrome versus black paint, no discreet shutter mode

Jeff
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I thought discreet shutter mode is in the last firmware update and doesn't require a hardware upgrade??
 
I don't want the new shutter. Snapshot mode in exchange for 8000th of a second? That's just stupid. Plus the thing is pretty damn quiet to begin with, making it slightly queiter is not worth the money.

I do however want the vulcanite, the better finder, and the saphiire screen.
 
I just bought my first M8. In fact, its my first "real" digital camera. (Until now M2/G1/FE film).
While the 8 isn't nearly as quiet as the 9 or my old M2, it certainly isn't as noisy as my old FE+MD12 or F3+MD4. In discreet mode I would say its quiet enough for the $1000 savings over an 8.2 or $4000 savings over a 9. Unless there is some other super-special reason to get a new shutter, I would be awfully hard pressed to justify a shutter upgrade.

I would like the sapphire glass, but here again, for $1300 I can buy 200+ lifetime supplies of LCD screen protectors. Again - very tough to justify.

Jury is still out on the rangefinder. I can already see that upgrade might be frustrating, but I can get a CV 50/1.1 for <$1100 and learn to live with some framing issues.

Vulcanite vs leatherette? Sorry, can't get too worked up about that one. The 8.2 black-dot I would like, but a piece of black tape or Sharpie is next to free. As for the finish, I see the black chrome as a major advantage of the 8 as a user camera. While the paint on the 8.2 and 9 are lovely, my camera would be brassy within the first year.
Frankly $1100-$2200 seems pretty steep for what really are marginal upgrades. Heck, for $2500 I can just buy another used M8.

So far I really like the 8. I was really worried about the 1.33 crop factor, but after trading for a 28 elmarit I'm totally fine with it. Ok, its not as wide as I would like, but it also helps me justify finally buying the CV15 I've been wanting for so long. Seems like a fair trade.

While I do see it has some limitations to the 8 (especially if I had paid full new price) overall its a pretty decent camera. In a couple of months maybe I'll have a different opinion, but for now I'm more pleased than I thought I would be.

In short, I don't see any major down-sides to buying an M8. Especially as a first foray into "real" Leica digital, it sure beat sitting on the sidelines for another 2 years until 9 prices descend from the stratosphere.

I too would be pretty upset if I had paid $4k for it new with all these little issues. But for $2-2.5k its a pretty good deal and one heck of a user camera.
 
Last time I checked the Leica US upgrade prices, the lowest cost upgrade was the vulcanite for < USD $400, which would give you another year of warranty. Probably worth it, if you can go without your camera for weeks or so.
 
sprokitt, thanks for your thoughts, as an apparent new M8 owner.

I was really bothered by the 1.33 crop until I realized I owned more lenses for my Bessa R4a than for my Nikon D700, and that my 28mm Ultron was a 35mm f2, perfect for general use. It's also a wonderful excuse to get either the C Biogon or the f2 Biogon 35mm from Zeiss. Coming from my Hasselblad I'm perfectly satisfied with the quality Carl Zeiss can deliver. From my field testing with my borrowed M8, the better glass makes a difference. My 28mm f2 is quite softer than the borrowed 35mm C Biogon. However I think my CV 21mm f4 screw mount is my sharpest lens I've used so far on the M8. It's remarkable! Not to say I dislike my Ultron by the way, I love that lens. Leica lenses will never be worth the price, and the ZM lens is a stop too slow for my tastes.

Another question, has anyone made 13x19 inch prints from their M8? What process did you employ to up-res your files and were you satisfied with the results?

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Leica M8 - 35mm C-Biogon 2.8 - Silverefex/Aperture 3
 
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for M8 and M8.2 owners: is the lack of 1/8000 compensated by the reduced vibration of the quieter shutter? does it make enough difference on camera shake or is it more of a perfectionist/pixel-peeping difference?

just "being quieter" doesn't quite justify the loss of 1/8000 imho.
 
sper said:
I don't want the new shutter. Snapshot mode in exchange for 8000th of a second? That's just stupid. Plus the thing is pretty damn quiet to begin with, making it slightly queiter is not worth the money.

I do however want the vulcanite, the better finder, and the saphiire screen.
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I think that you say it well: "want" rather than "need." You can put a thumbs-up, a half-case, or even one-two well-placed felt stickers instead of the vulcanite. The finder you will adjust to in a very short time. And you can use a screen saver instead of the sapphire replacement.

Save your money and do some traveling with the M8, as many often say about overgearing.

I have not printed very much at all above 8x10 and 8x12, but I've cropped and uprezzed several. The M8 files are accommodating.
 
ramosa said:
1/8000: i wouldn't notice the lack of this ... for the type of shooting i do. could be just me, though.
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For some the reduction in the max. flash sync. speed is an issue, personally not but it is another difference with the shutter change.

Can I correct another poster ? With the shutter upgrade you do NOT get snapshot mode, thank goodness 😉

I can recall one occasion only when I have run out of speed and needed 8,000 but that must be down to personal use.

When I looked at an M9 the trade in offer for mu M8u (3 options taken) was pitched half way between a plain M8 and an M8.2. Another consideration ?
 
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