First video of the M8: the sound of music

Gabriel,
Just a big :D
Marc

PS: Depuis longtemps je voulais te dire que ton exposition pour l'Alliance Française est tout simplement splendide.
 
I don't think it was highly pixelated to protect someone's identity. I think it''s a teaser. I'm getting tired of this juvenile b.s. -- and I mean from Leica. If they're showing it around to dealers, they should put up the official pictures so that people who are going to pay $5,000 each can take a look.

JC
 
>they should put up the official pictures so that people who are
>going to pay $5,000 each can take a look

Boy howdy, that makes sense...
 
Nemo said:
A higher resolution frame taken from the video:

http://www.macandphoto.com/2006/09/le_leica_m8_prs.html

(Jorge's pictures were accurate).

R.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but how do you come to the conclusion that 'Jorge's pictures were accurate' considering the fact that there are significant differences between the images posted here on RFF and the photos on that blog (number of buttons, type of buttons, writing on front, position of buttons, the 'memory stick lid', etc, etc,). One may be a photo of the actual camera and one is a photoshop guess taking an M7 and slamming on some 'best guesses'.

How are they accurate?

If anything, the photos on that blog should cause Jorge to throw himself onto the phone and get in contact with his source and ask him 'WTF, did you just photoshop what you thought it was gonna look like? I could had done that myself!'
 
Rich Silfver said:
How are they accurate?
Click to expand...

Size, shape...

I feared that Leica would decide to use a flat top plate, for instance, but the video shows the classical shape of the M cameras.

Well, let me be honest... Jorge pictures are in fact real, and the specifications are real too.
 
Last edited:
David,
Leica is in NO way trying to compete with Canon. What would ever lead you to think so?

The M8 is not being designed to draw thousands of Canon users from their "common" hardware.
 
David Murphy said:
OK guys I've been watching this M8 discusion for a few weeks now and I have to ask: what's all the excitement about ? Leica is a film camera company. How can they seriously expect to turn it around and compete with the likes of Canon which has been a player in optics since the 30's and and a pioneer in automating cameras with electronics since the 60's. For that matter how can they even compete with Kodak, which is reborn into the world of advanced digital cameras thanks to their extensive legacy of research in the field of electronic image sensors.
Click to expand...
For one thing, they're not competing directly with brands C or N. This camera presumably plays to Leica's strengths (small, unobtrusive, quiet).

Why is Leica even trying ? This is the same company that won't even build a film camera with such a modern convenience feaure as a swing open back and did not put a TTL meter in a camera until 1984.
Click to expand...
You forget the Leica M5 and CL from the early 70s, both of which had TTL metering. Admittedly, the early market failure of the M5 (which nearly took Leica with it), led to a more conservative design stance. And you'll still get counter-arguments from some regarding the mechanical integrity of Leica's film-loading design ("it ain't broke, so don't fix it"). I'm agnostic on the film-loading issue, which, of course, is a non-issue in the case of the M8. :)

Leica has reveled in their ultra conservative retro approach to cameras. I think that is fine -- I own a Leica III in fact, and I appreciate it for what it is, but I can't help but feel that the writing is on the wall for Leica and the M8 will be their swan song. Leica's are by definition *the* miniature film cameras, and film cameras are rapidly passing from the world of the mass consumer into the world of the specialist and collector.
Click to expand...
This is sort of a damned-if-they-do/damned-if-they-don't attitude, isn't it? Solms has had to make some serious changes for the sake of survival – and this is hardly the first time they've had to. To keep making the best film-based cameras around, they need to take a crack at making digital equivalents that just happen to offer a practical advantage or two that the mainstream has neither the need or desire to develop. They appear to have succeeded with the Modul-R back for the R8/9 series; I predict the M8 will succeed as well. And Leica doesn't need to rule the roost with these cameras to thrive, let alone survive – just sell enough of them to keep them reasonably in the black. Which, coincidentally, will help keep those other Ms we know and love in contention as well.

I actually think Leica could survive a while longer by following the Cosina/Voigtlander business model of making solid modern film camera/lens products that delight the hobbyist and are offered at moderate prices. Instead they seem to have chosen to take-on some of the corporate titans of consumer electronics.
Click to expand...
You just answered your own question as to why they don't: Cosina has that turf well-covered already, as does Zeiss several notches above with the ZI. Also, Leica is aware of the "lineage thing": those who can go out and buy a new M7 or MP; those who can't, but insist on having a Leica, buy a used M(2/3/4/5/6 or thereabouts). And Solms accomodates the latter with availability of parts and, if desired, VF upgrades. These are resons why I'm rooting for the M8 being a reasonable hit in the marketplace, even though I'm not one of those impatiently waiting in line for one (but wouldn't mind acquiring a user black M6).


- Barrett
 
Last edited:
it wouldn't take much for leica to get the amateur market that buys 1dsmkii, 5d, and d2x. just needs the right advertising.
 
ghost said:
it wouldn't take much for leica to get the amateur market that buys 1dsmkii, 5d, and d2x. just needs the right advertising.
Click to expand...

that and Image stabilization in their 70-200 2.8 Zoom:rolleyes:
 
nah, just convince them that it'll improve their photography! that it makes them *real* photographers.
 
David Murphy said:
... For that matter how can they even compete with Kodak, which is reborn into the world of advanced digital cameras thanks to their extensive legacy of research in the field of electronic image sensors.
Click to expand...

The CCD of the M8 comming from Kodak. Leica had just add a "sole" on the CCD to redress the light distortion.
 
David Murphy said:
... For that matter how can they even compete with Kodak, which is reborn into the world of advanced digital cameras thanks to their extensive legacy of research in the field of electronic image sensors.
Click to expand...

The CCD of the M8 comming from Kodak. Leica had just add a "sole" on the CCD to redress the light distortion.
 
David Murphy said:
OK guys I've been watching this M8 discusion for a few weeks now and I have to ask: what's all the excitement about ? Leica is a film camera company. How can they seriously expect to turn it around and compete with the likes of Canon which has been a player in optics since the 30's and and a pioneer in automating cameras with electronics since the 60's. For that matter how can they even compete with Kodak, which is reborn into the world of advanced digital cameras thanks to their extensive legacy of research in the field of electronic image sensors
Click to expand...

Why should they try to compete with Canon et al? Morgan is not competing with General Motors (If they were, Morgan would be winning btw, considering the way the respective companies are showing profits.;) ) I feel Kodak is not quite the shining example of a brilliant turnaround either:rolleyes:
 
The shutter sounds a bit like someone slurping an oyster..

edit: maybe I should clarify: this was really my association! I would love to have one - but unfortunately it's out of my budget
 
Last edited:
Here is the deal. On Sept 15 yo will see the photos of the M8. All those who say my photos are fake , if it turns out that I am wrong. I will make an beg for forgiveness. However, get ready to say "I will never doubt RFF again."
 
Jorge Torralba said:
Here is the deal. On Sept 15 yo will see the photos of the M8. All those who say my photos are fake , if it turns out that I am wrong. I will make an beg for forgiveness. However, get ready to say "I will never doubt RFF again."
Click to expand...
Sounds fair ;)
Marc
 
jlw said:
For fans of Google French, the blog page reads as follows:
Click to expand...
That Babelfish is hilarious! I can say, however that the original French is a lot more clear. What makes me the happiest in this minireview is the statement that in character , feel and handling it could be mistaken for a M7...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom