Do I really need to send my M8 back?

[Stieglitz]

I bought my M8 in the first batch, in early November. It works well, although there was a magenta IR issue that has been solved, I think, with the IR filters (recently arrived) and the 1.102 firmware (recently downloaded).

So --do I still need to send my camera body in for an upgrade? What work specifically would be done?

I just hate to be without it, and I'm not going to buy a second body to solve that temporary gap.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[kbg32]

Nope. Unless nothing else is wrong, you got everything you need.

 

[FrankS]

I'm sure Leica will rush your camera, Mr. Stieglitz! 😉

(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

 

[jobe]

I also debated sending the camera back. Then I had a number of pictures exhibit a green blob and others exhibit heavy streaking when using high ISO (1250) for night shots. I decided that I will send it back. I also hate to be wiithout it and like you, will not buy a second body. I have considered not going through Allendale and sending it directly to Solms myself. M8 Support in Solms indicates that the in- house rerpair time is now about 10 days. My dealer checked with Allendale last week and they indicated a 6 week turnaround. Have to see what Fedex wants to ship it.
Good luck on your decisionmaking.
Joe

 

[losta]

I have yet to send mine back too. It has been working fine and is an original first production model, I think I got it November 6th. I have been afraid to send it and have the long wait for it's return. I have a trip to Santa Fe, NM the end of this week that I have been really looking forward to. (I'll tell Georgia O. you said hi Stieglitz)

 

[jaapv]

It really improves from the upgrade.No more banding, no more blobs. Plus, should you ever decide to sell it, an unupgraded body will be hard to sell and bring less. If you have it picked up by Solms it should be back in two to three weeks. In Europe Leica organizes the pickup and delivery by UPS. It might be that way in the USA as well if you ask. Basically there will be an extra ground wire added to stop the banding, which is in fact a kind of electronic resonance.

 

[jobe]

I have not heard of any pickup arrangements in the US. I understand that either you or your dealer sends the camera to Leica in N. J. and they in turn ship them out in (weekly) batches. Solms returns batches of cameras to the US on a regularly scheduled basis.
The FedEX route will cost about $250USD round trip and shipping time is cut to about 3 days each way.
Joe

 

[Steve Cook]

Mine has been back to Solms and has only just shown the banding at high ISO at night, after it had been away!

 

[AGeoJO]

Mine was the original batch from early Novemeber. Although I didn't see any green blobs but I noticed some light streaks. I sent it in to Jersey and got it back 5-6 weeks later. Absolutely worth it, IMHO. No more streaks and it was like a brand new camera, even the shutter count was resetted 🙂.