Could the M8 become a "classic?"

[bcostin]

I think it qualifies as a classic, if any camera made in my lifetime qualifies as such. I bought my M8.2 from the RFF classifieds back in 2018. I don't remember the count when I bought it, but it now has 48,000 actuations and appears to be working just fine. I suppose it'll die some day, but so will I. That's not unique; many all-mechanical cameras are only repairable by cannibalizing spares from a limited pool of donor bodies.

I actually suspect that certain well-loved digital cameras will become more repairable as time goes on. It seems counterintuitive, but it's already happening with early home computers and other consumer electronics which were previously unrepairable. The main hinderance is that most manufacturers (sadly including Leica) hoard support information for long-discontinued cameras like trade secrets, which is foolish and unhelpful. As CHDK and Magic Lantern on Canon digital cameras demonstrate, when companies soften their stance toward community tinkering it allows wonderful things to happen.

 

[mnutzer]

As far as I got to know the Leica company in their various departments, they have no interest in jeopardizing their reputation by supporting DIY handicrafts.
Then they will be more likely to accept an end of the used digital camera and promote the sale of a new one.
What can perhaps still be exchanged for standard components in old computers with huge quantities and a lot of space inside cannot be compared with the highly specialized hard- and software of digital cameras.
Especially since Leica is dependent on suppliers for sensors and mainboards and e.g. the software for the M8 and M9 was developed by Zeiss/Jenoptik.
For hobbyists there are enough old mechanical Leicas.

 

[boojum]

As far as I got to know the Leica company in their various departments, they have no interest in jeopardizing their reputation by supporting DIY handicrafts.
Then they will be more likely to accept an end of the used digital camera and promote the sale of a new one.
What can perhaps still be exchanged for standard components in old computers with huge quantities and a lot of space inside cannot be compared with the highly specialized hard- and software of digital cameras.
Especially since Leica is dependent on suppliers for sensors and mainboards and e.g. the software for the M8 and M9 was developed by Zeiss/Jenoptik.
For hobbyists there are enough old mechanical Leicas.

Unless, of course, you have an M8 or an M9. I understand the dynamics of the marketplace. But some how it just does not seem right. Color me naive.

 

[bcostin]

As far as I got to know the Leica company in their various departments, they have no interest in jeopardizing their reputation by supporting DIY handicrafts.

It's not really jeopardizing their reputation, though, except in their imaginations. All those generations of wonderful mechanical Leica cameras have been kept working by those very same DIY handicrafters, and experience demonstrates that no one really blames Leica if repaired gear is not in like-new operating condition.

"What can perhaps still be exchanged for standard components in old computers with huge quantities and a lot of space inside cannot be compared with the highly specialized hard- and software of digital cameras."

A valid point. Unfortunately a lot of what were were once standard components are no longer available, and that's been where recent innovations have saved the day. Hobbyists have used new FPGAs and microcontrollers to reverse-engineere brand new drop-in replacements for proprietary chips that haven't been made in 40 years. They've written new firmware to make modern peripherals replace ancient hardware. They've worked out how to do microscopic rework of surface-mount components that even the original manufacurers never intended to be repairable.

Doing the same with digital cameras would definitely have serious challenges, but hobbyists are ingenious at figuring out how to fix unfixable things. Unlike a lot of throwaway technology, digital Leicas are loved and valued enough that there's an incentive to keep them going, and I'd really like to give them a chance.

 

[mnutzer]

... All those generations of wonderful mechanical Leica cameras have been kept working by those very same DIY handicrafters, and experience demonstrates that no one really blames Leica if repaired gear is not in like-new operating condition. ...

May be my aversion to tinkering with old Barnacks is caused by too many seen Leicas with bad synchronizations afterwards, as the connection socket was installed at most unlikely places.
After all, this gives photographers a chance to buy cheaper old Leicas with only little value to collectors.

 

[Rob-F]

Ten years after I started this thread, it seems that the M8.2 is experiencing some "Mark Twain Effect": The reports of the M8.2's death are greatly exaggerated. Check the eBay prices! I should have kept mine.

 

[boojum]

Ten years after I started this thread, it seems that the M8.2 is experiencing some Mark Twain Effect": The reports of the M8.2's death are greatly exaggerated. Check the eBay prices! I should have kept mine.

I have anM8.2 with a CV 35 on it. It's a good, solid performer. I like the color.

 

[Rob-F]

When I posted the above, yesterday, I saw eBay prices at around $2500. This morning, asking prices for nicely collectible M8.2 with boxes and papers are in a $4K to $5K range. Yes, M8.2 has become acollector's item! Or at least will do so if they actually sell at such prices. You can get a used M10 for that!

 

[boojum]

When I posted the above, yesterday, I saw eBay prices at around $2500. This morning, asking prices for nicely collectible M8.2 with boxes and papers are in a $4K to $5K range. Yes, M8.2 has become acollector's item! Or at least will do so if they actually sell at such prices. You can get a used M10 for that!

Yeah, I have the box, too. Pristine. It is a good camera with good color and killer mono.

 

[peterm1]

I had a similar pleasant experience when I decided to sell my M8 (original version) recently. Maybe two years ago I enquired about selling prices and was told that they were selling for around $1,000 Australian which would mean that, should I sell it on commission I would get about $800 Australian in my pocket. I could not see the point given the small amount being quoted, so decided to keep it though I was not using it much lately. A few months ago I saw something I wanted to buy and decided now was the time to sell it as a trade in. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the amount offered me now was $2,400 Australian as a trade on another camera. Of course, mine had a few high-end accessories too (a leather half case, a Leica grip,a diopter eyepiece adjustment / magnifier and several batteries, but I was very pleased with the offer and gratefully accepted. Also I NEVER blaze away like I am using a machine gun the camera had under 10,000 shutter actuations on it (I suspect this was a big selling point working in my favour). I noticed a few weeks later this store had it offered for a price of $1000 more than they had paid me - but fair enough - they are in business to make money and I doubt I could have done as well had I sold it privately. The reason for the sudden escalation in prices for the M8, it seems, is that suddenly everything old is cool again - especially CCD sensors now that people (especially younger shooters) have woken up to their merits for image making.