Considering a Leica M8

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felix5616

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I am thinking of buying a used M8. I have had and sold a canon 20D, 1DSII and recently a phase one P45+. I have a leica M6, Bessa R4A and lenses from 12mm to 90 mm for the leicas that i would like to use on an M8. there seems to be alot of negative press about the M8. I am looking for some feedback from M8 users, those that have had and sold and those that decided to keep their M8s. I am particularly interested in image quality, wide angle use, B+W vs. color and what the issue with coding is. How common are camera failures?
thanks
 
I wouldn't worry about the M8 failures. It is a wonderful camera that really shows off the quality of M and LTM mount lenses. Get it because you want to use a d-rangefinder. If you shoot RAW, and know how to process the files, you'll get the most out of this camera and what it has to offer.
 
I left Canon 20D and MarkIIN. Purchased a demo for $2,795 with a 1 yr warr. less that a used one goes for. E-mail me for the store that I purchased it from. I am only using mostly older lens and I am very happy with the system. No problems.
There were problems at first when the camera came out and problems were solved in my opinion.
 
Dave Wilkinson said:
......If stories here are anything to go by.......:eek:
Click to expand...

I mean this in a genuinely friendly way, but...they aren't.

Two suggestions.

First, find a local Leica dealer who's in the "Test Drive" program. They can offer you a nice rental rate on an M8. I think you should try before you buy.

Second, take a hard look at pricing. Used prices are very close to the price of "refurbished" M8 bodies, and those will have (1) been through a factory check-out and (2) have a manufacturer's one year warranty. In spite of my response to Dave, I really wouldn't consider buying an M8 (or, frankly, any other digiproduct) without a factory warranty.

Three, I lied. Make sure that the firmware is up to date and that you shoot raw. The v2.xxx firmware is dramatically better than the v1.xxx firmware in a variety of areas, esp WB (but don't update the dealer's camera...and be aware that you can't go backwards from v2 to v1).

Four, I lied again. Compare the M8 raw files against your best film scans and against what you're getting out of your DSLR. I think you will be convinced. (I also shoot a D300 and a D200, with Nikon "pro" glass.) I spent $100 to rent one and then didnt' buy from that dealer, but I consider the money very, very well spent to allow me to make sure I wasn't making a big mistake before I committed to the M8.
 
Consider waiting a month to find out if there is anything to the M9 rumor. It may turn out that you want to buy an M9, or, if nothing else, it may mean that a lot of m8s and 8.2s start hitting the used market at seriously discounted prices from where they are today.
 
Thank you all for responding. I purchased my Phase one P45+ without testing and it was frustrating at first but the files produced are simply fantastic, but the back with a body and 3 lenses weighed a ton. I still shoot film , so for large images i can use my 6x7, 6x9, 4x5 or 8x10 and scan them on my Creo IQ3. i want a high quality carry around that can use my leica glass. i was hoping for a full frame M camera though.
 
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I'd definitely wait to see if there anything to all this rumor of an M9. If a new camera comes out, I would expect that to push a few more M8s onto the used market as the inevitable trading-up begins.

Personally, I've had 3 M8s. One of them I sold before using. IIt was sent to me by leica to replace my first camera, which was almost useless.
The first one would just die for no reason. It didn't happen a lot. But really, that doesn't have to happen very many times to be too many.

I ended up getting a third M8 a few months after selling my unused replacement model. So far, it has been fairly reliable. Every once in a while, it'll freeze up - but so far that's been cured by pulling the battery out and popping it back in.

Other than that, I love the camera. Produces fantastic images. I just wish I had more faith in its reliability.

Of course, the problem with asking your question here is that you'll just get a bunch of anecdotal stories of love or hate or (as is my case) a combination of the two.

In the end, you'll never get a satisfactory answer to the question of the camera's reliability. Only Leica knows the failure rate, etc. and the company certainly isn't going to let that informmation out. No company would.

If you like the images you've seen from the camera and feel like spending the money on one, then do it.
 
I have been using 2 M8s for almost 2 years. In the early days, one of my M8s had a broken shutter. sent it to solms. was back within 2 wks with an improved shutter, free of charge.

since then the M8s have travelled..5800 mts high, deserts, humids lands, -45c winters... so far they have never missed a beat. have used them at weddings and travelled on terrain which made my bones rattle. no issues with my M8s.

Should add that there was never an issue with my M7 and D700 either.

M9..I don't know. I currently have the M8 and am very satisfied.
 
Switch to M8

Switch to M8

I bought an M8 earlier this years when Leica UK was running its cash-back deal. I was VERY nervous about doing the switch from my M2 and in the end I kept it as "insurance". I don't think I've shot more than half a dozen frames with the M2 since I got the M8, and I've had NO problems at all using the digital camera. The metering is good, and despite what Leica say I have no trouble focusing my 135mm - although composition is another story! I like the M8, and I think it was a bargain compared to the M8.2 at the time. Heaven only knows what an M9 might cost, if it ever actually appears.

I've read all the horror stories, but I also remember that when I ordered my first Leica M2 in 1969 it arrived with a wildly inaccurate rangefinder. Its replacement jammed up solid after only a week, and its replacement, the third camera, had a shutter failure when only three years old. And now we all revere the mechanical M cameras as paragons of precision.
 
The M3, M4 and M5 all had teething pains of one degree or another. Many would tell you that the M4-2 never got over its teething pains.
 
M8.2

M8.2

I bought a 8.2 with 2.004 firmware last month, very expensive but no regret, in fact I plan to buy 1 more and possible with 3 newer lenses in the coming 3 months. The 8.e plus Leica lens is just the kind of performance you want and carrying it is so delightful and comfortable. I now passed my 5D with 2 zooms to my elder son. I bought the 5D 2 years back hope this camera will bring back the photo experience that i had since I started photography 30+ years ago, but the 5D failed in very aspect. Don't get me wrong, the tool is just an excellent piece of tool and so are the 2 lenses, and all together i spent US$ 5.2K. But the 5D is too heavy, advanced and complicated to use.

John
 
If the m9 comes, m8 prices will either drop or plummet. Simple point of fact. This illusion that used m8 prices will rise is fascinating, false, and fun to watch. But it won't happen.
 
Wiyum said:
If the m9 comes, m8 prices will either drop or plummet. Simple point of fact. This illusion that used m8 prices will rise is fascinating, false, and fun to watch. But it won't happen.
Click to expand...

Not necessarilyy - that will depend on pricng and performance of the M9.
 
Price of demo 8.2

Price of demo 8.2

My local L dealer, who in my opinion has never been an M fan, said he is selling down his current stock. Today, he offered me an 8.2 demo, one that has seen little use, for $4800, with whatever Leica warranties on demo models.
Is that a competitive price?

Harry
 
I bought my M8 recently, and the way to get the two UV filters was via registering your M8 serial number on Leica's web page, not by filling in any paper card.

There was a warranty card that had to be filled in and mailed back, though.

Yeah, check with your seller.

....Vick
 
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