Could the M8 become a "classic?"

[raid]

I still have my M8. I hope that it will last many more years. I use uncompressed DNG.

 

[Pál_K]

Earlier in this thread someone mentioned batteries. As much as some may love their M8, how long will batteries for it be available?

Two digital cameras that I love are my Konica-Minolta DiMAGE X1 (from 2005 - fits in a shirt pocket and has useful features) and my Pentax K-10D (from 2006). What I worry about is whether batteries will be available for them, say, 10 years from now.

For the X1, I’ve gone through six Minolta-branded batteries and now only a third-party source is available. For the K-10D, which I bought for just $10 last year and love it, I have just one battery.

Just looking at Fuji X cameras or Nikon full-frame from the D700 onwards, it seems that almost every model has its own proprietary battery! I just worry that this supply can’t be sustained.

 

[Coldkennels]

Earlier in this thread someone mentioned batteries. As much as some may love their M8, how long will batteries for it be available?

[...]

Just looking at Fuji X cameras or Nikon full-frame from the D700 onwards, it seems that almost every model has its own proprietary battery! I just worry that this supply can’t be sustained.

For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure all/most of the Fuji X cameras take the same battery (the NP-W126; although there was a revised battery with the same form factor after a couple of years, they're functionally identical).

It's also worth bearing in mind that it's technically possible to recell a battery if you're brave/foolish enough. I know people have done it for handheld games consoles with proprietary batteries; as long as you can match the form factor and capacity of the original cell with a replacement, and you keep the original connectors/circuitry/board during the transplant, it can be done.

I'm not sure I'd want to do it myself, mind you.

 

[former member]

I don't worry about batteries: open the pack up and they use standard cells. There are companies that will rebuild custom packs.

 

[Rob-F]

I took a look on eBay. I see that the M8.2 asking price is in the upper two thousand to lower three thousand dollar range. Whether classic or not, it seems people want them.

I wasn't quite sure if "classic" was the best word when I started this thread. "Collectible" might also express what I was thinking. I'm sure the two are closely related.

 

[Rob-F]

I've had my M8 for 12 years now. I like it. I use it on "RAW" mode and convert to uncompressed DNG.



The M8 was crippled by Leica not understanding Digital Imaging and using a horrible compression scheme. The M8 was a learning experience for Leica, and probably saved the company from going under. One thing for sure: prices of Leica mount lenses have gone up greatly since the M8 was introduced.

Would you say there was a difference between the M8 and the M8.2 in that regard? I never had an M8, but I thought the M8.2 IQ was very good. BTW, I approve of your choice of subject for that photo. I love that smile!

 

[former member]

Would you say there was a difference between the M8 and the M8.2 in that regard? I never had an M8, but I thought the M8.2 IQ was very good. BTW, I approve of your choice of subject for that photo. I love that smile!

The M8.2 uses the same CCD and compression scheme as the M8- so suffers the same flaw. The major difference between the M8 and M8.2 is the shutter: the M8.2 is much quieter.

This is uncompressed Raw, using M8RAW2DNG,



This is the M8 at ISO 2500, compressed DNG:



Both are the same exposure.

 

[Out to Lunch]

In a "classic digital rangefinder" category, the Epson R-D1 takes the cake:
- the first digital rangefinder on the market
- manually wound shutter
- basic data displayed on dials on top of the camera
- a foldable rear screen.

 

[zuiko85]

The ideal digital solution for Leica M series is a digital back to replace the film back on the M3 and forward to current film MP and MA bodies. This would clip into the back and the sensor could be a bit smaller than 24x36. A bottom compartment containing the power and electronic components would replace the bottom plate and make connections to the back through gold contacts.
Improved/updated versions would continue to be made to convert any film M to digital if desired. Of course the film back and bottom plate could always be reinstalled to convert back to film.
Of course there would not be room for a filter stack over the sensor, just a thin cover glass. So no AA filters. A ‘soft release’ would supply the wireless signal to the module of shutter release.
Your ‘digital’ M would never go out if date.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I can't think of any reason the M8 would become a classic other than it is a Leica so Leica aficionados will consider it a classic.

 

[Pál_K]

To me, a “classic” item is one that maintains a high reputation, desireability, and reverence long after its production has stopped; its legendary status supersedes the generation in which it was introduced and attracts new admirers. With any hobby you can easily find examples of this. For digital cameras, I think one camera that has become a classic is the Nikon D700. Only time will tell if the M8 will meet that criteria.

 

[Efra1]

in a "classic digital rangefinder" category, the epson r-d1 takes the cake:
- the first digital rangefinder on the market
- manually wound shutter
- basic data displayed on dials on top of the camera
- a foldable rear screen.

absolutly agree

 

[jsrockit]

To me, a “classic” item is one that maintains a high reputation, desireability, and reverence long after its production has stopped; its legendary status supersedes the generation in which it was introduced and attracts new admirers. With any hobby you can easily find examples of this. For digital cameras, I think one camera that has become a classic is the Nikon D700. Only time will tell if the M8 will meet that criteria.

So the D700 has become a classic and the M8 still has to wait? Why?

 

[aizan]

I think it will be a minor classic because it was the first digital M, but it won’t be a major classic like the Nikon D700, Epson R-D1, or Olympus E-1. The M9 has a better chance of becoming a major classic, IMO.

 

[boojum]

The image quality is what photos are about. The M8/M8.2 have great images, Why do you buy a camera? Image. The rest is trivial and a distraction.

 

[Pál_K]

So the D700 has become a classic and the M8 still has to wait? Why?

On various digital forums, even outside the Nikon-dedicated subforums, I constantly read praises of the D700 even to this day. It has respect. Not infrequently I will read laments from people who have sold their D700 and regret it. I still read posts by people who are thrilled to buy one - 13 years after its introduction. For the M8, I just haven’t encountered that same enthusiasm or passion.

As someone with nearly a dozen film Leicas (both rangefinders and SLR’s), I have nothing against the M8 or any digital Leica. Perhaps some day it will attain classic status as well.

 

[jsrockit]

The image quality is what photos are about. The M8/M8.2 have great images, Why do you buy a camera? Image. The rest is trivial and a distraction.

Which APSC or larger camera doesn’t have great IQ since the M8 was released?

 

[jsrockit]

On various digital forums, even outside the Nikon-dedicated subforums, I constantly read praises of the D700 even to this day. It has respect. Not infrequently I will read laments from people who have sold their D700 and regret it. I still read posts by people who are thrilled to buy one - 13 years after its introduction. For the M8, I just haven’t encountered that same enthusiasm or passion.

You must not come here often. 😉

 

[Dogman]

While there's lots of passion and enthusiasm for the M8 on RFF and other Leica forums, I think in other more generalized photo forums you see the same or more passion displayed for the D700. Many still in use by professionals on a daily basis. The only rival for this love and use the D700 continues to stir is the D3.

Lots more D700s were originally sold than M8s. Lots more D700s still in service. M8 was an experiment that kinda/sorta worked. D700 was a well thought out camera that you could use to drive nails, anchor a boat and still use afterwards. Leica got it together later, in my opinion, especially with the Monchrome models but Leica is so expensive it's a niche product not a camera brand in constant use among a throng of professionals.

To be clear about it, I'm no professional but I have three D700s and among the several other newer models of Nikons I've owned and used, I still prefer using those D700s for most of my photos. It was the camera that made me understand that megapixels alone doesn't mean squat to the quality of photos. So I'm kinda prejudiced in favor of this particular camera model.

 

[jsrockit]

Lots more D700s were originally sold than M8s.

Wouldn't this account for the appearance of more passion? Also, why can't both be classics?