LEICA M8, 1st GOLDEN TICKET!!!

[jaapv]

I don't see any images there...

As soon as we're able to take them, they'll be uploaded, don't you worry 😉
More than you'll want to see, most likely....

 

[aad]

So, Sean, you're sure it was a hoax? Now I'm curious, as you don't seem to be the type to speak without facts. I must say, for what little it mattered to me, I was pretty sure it was authentic.

 

[Laurence]

Hmmm...I wonder if Sean might have checked the flights to Europe, against the times that Charlie posted while "in the air"... it will be interesting to see what it was that blew the hoax.

 

[rvaubel]

Sean

Stop reading this thread and keep writing Part II of your M8 article. That's an order

Seriously, you should consider posting one or two DFN shots on a public forum like this one. Just be sure and imbed a bunch of adveriising links back to your subscription site. I'm sure Jorge would make a one time exception 😎

Rex
the wonder dog awaits his master

 

[Ascender]

It's People Like Sean...

It's People Like Sean...

that would make someone like me lose patience and interest with what is otherwise a really great site full of like-minded individuals. However,

Hi Everyone.



Charlie here posting in from Zagreb/Croatia. Sorry I haven’t been able to post to the Forum before this but the last few trips via bus have been pretty grueling, not in terms of distance but more because the roads in Eastern Europe are pretty bad which makes for a bumpy ride…no sleep! Get it?

Actually, my not being able to post into the forum over the past few days has been quite interesting in that it’s shown me that certain people are basically ill spirited, negative, live their lives in a permanent state of being non believing pessimists and will do anything to try and p*ss on someone’s parade.

I don’t think that in the 17 or so years that I’ve been in the music business, I’ve ever come across a more pathetic example of a loser than Mr knowitall Sean whatever his name is and believe me, my industry’s wrought with them.

In your words Sean “I would normally hold my peace but for certain situations where I’m left no choice”. How dare you personally email me with such an offensive and “accusational” tone. As I said in my response, Don’t ever email me again!!

I had to make a little adjustment there Charlie, rover

http://www.seal.com/files/Charlie_and_The-M8.jpg

http://www.seal.com/files/Charlie_and_the_M8-2.jpg

 

[marbrink]

Charlie,
Thanks for the clarification and good luck with the tour. You're a talented musician. Bought one of your records a long time ago.
I don't understand why people find it so strange that you post here. It's not like you're some sort of alien just because you're a celebrity. People don't seem to understand that celebrities do normal things too, like hanging out at RFF (or is that normal? LOL ).

 

[Toby]

Ha! Ha!

I must admit I was pretty sure it was a hoax but as I didn't have any hard facts I thought it best not to get involved. It just goes to show the strange nature of the internet, and even worse how this feverish anticipation for the M8 has taken hold in these parts. Honestly, it's getting like a bunch of seven year olds three days before christmas.

 

[Ascender]

And Just to further set you straight. Why on earth would a company like Leica give someone in a hi-profile position like me a "loaner", when they know that the next time the paparazzi photograph me, in all likelyhood a Leica M8 will be hanging around my neck? FYI, that is not how it works in my industry pal. What happens is that if you're nice enough to people, they give you whatever it is they're selling so that you feel special and therefore the experience of using their product is all the more enhanced. Do you think that company's give my wife "loaners" when she's on Oprah or when she's on the cover of yet another magazine? Get a life......please.

Oh, and I checked with Leica Sölm and neither Ralph nor Steffen had ever heard of you let alone included you in the M8 development program.

 

[rxmd]

Do you think that company's give my wife "loaners" when she's on Oprah or when she's on the cover of yet another magazine? Get a life......please.

Sorry, I guess it's becoming stale now. If you want the game to go on, you should really show some photos instead of namedropping. Hic Rhodos, hic salta.

Philipp

 

[MelanieC]

Sorry, I guess it's becoming stale now. If you want the game to go on, you should really show some photos instead of namedropping. Hic Rhodos, hic salta.

Would someone explain to me how the links posted in #235 could possibly be fake? I'm not saying this to be snide.

To stay sort of on topic, I'm not in the market for an M8, but I am kind of lusting after a D-Lux 3.

 

[rover]

It is a pretty sad thing. In one way there was no way to be sure of Ascender's identity, on the other, who cares.

Charlie is obviously a Leica fanatic, like a good number of us. A photographer of his own expertise, like all of us. It should make no difference that he is Seal.

Charlie, thank you for clearing that up, you shouldn't have had to. I hope you get to and will continue to check in with us. Hey, when you get a chance it would get to see some of your non self portraits.

 

[Ascender]

M8 Firmware Update

M8 Firmware Update

Hi Toby,
You’re right! I am beginning to sound like a seven year old…very uncharacteristic of me…must stop!!. I just got so annoyed though. I was only trying to share my enthusiasm with other Leica lovers because I couldn’t believe my luck. When it arrived, I was truly ecstatic, jumping up and down with all the enthusiasm of a seven year old. So when Sean actually wrote a personal and extremely offensive email to me, it really p**sed me off.

Now on to more important matters. I got the final firmware today, v.1.0.6 and installed it with no problem. I’ve been using the M8 with Lightroom and the images never cease to amaze me. It’s not that the M8 handles noise better than anything else namely the 5D or the D200 (both of which I own) because it doesn’t, it’s just that the colours and sharpness are so typically Leica and anyone new or familiar with the system is sure to be smitten. Also, there’s the whole process of actually working with it…taking the picture. It’s so much more engaging than the usual DSLR suspects and it really forces you to take less pictures with a higher emphasis on the quality of your subject. One thing that’s happened with me is that I’m remembering just how unforgiving those M lenses are when they’re wide open so zone focusing has been something I’ve had to retrain myself to do. I took some really cool shots in Warsaw and in Prague earlier this week so I cannot wait to get home to my Epsom printer to realize them. I hope that everyone gets the chance to own one or ‘loan’ one at some point because it really is a great experience and I do feel so very fortunate to be a lucky golden ticket winner.
-Charlie

 

[rover]

Would someone explain to me how the links posted in #235 could possibly be fake? I'm not saying this to be snide.

To stay sort of on topic, I'm not in the market for an M8, but I am kind of lusting after a D-Lux 3.

Let's hope rxmd is just catching up to things and about to be surprised by the untimely comment.

D-lux 3, I was just looking at the Panasonic version, LX2 I think. Very nice looking, I want to get a chance to handle one, I have an old digital Minolta thing. Terrible shutter lag. Yesterday I got to play just a little with ray_g's Ricoh GRD, very nice little package. I was told digicams don't have that shutter lag any more.

I think Charlie has some comments about the D-lux 3 somewhere in this thread, I will have to go back and search them out.

 

[chazzzzy]

Just as a note.. the pictures Ascender posted reside on the server www.seal.com (look at the posting) which is where Seal's website resides - um.. so uh.. do you think maybe it's him??? So maybe we can get back to speaking about the M8 and stop acting like 3 year olds?

 

[Rich Silfver]

Entertaining thread.

With comments like the ones below from Sean I'm really looking forward to hearing how he found out that this was a hoax:

In a few days, when time allows, I'll explain why I realized this thread was a hoax. In the meantime, others who've realized that might want to explain as well.

When this all settles down, I'll explain why I knew this all to be a hoax. Some of the information relating to that realization did not come from this thread. Why do I have any interest in this? I guess it's like accidentally tuning into a really bad mystery movie, one wants to change the channel but for some reason he doesn't. This hoax caught my attention.

You must be kidding, spoofs like this have become a core part of the Internet. It's not "pitch perfect" as you suggest but it was well researched and based on what I've been reading, it really hit its mark.

I have no idea who is 'right' or 'wrong' it's just very entertaining.

 

[MelanieC]

D-lux 3, I was just looking at the Panasonic version, LX2 I think. Very nice looking, I want to get a chance to handle one

[...]

I think Charlie has some comments about the D-lux 3 somewhere in this thread, I will have to go back and search them out.

I played with a D-Lux 3 a couple of days ago and I liked it a lot. The screen is HUGE. Without being able to view test images on a monitor rather than on the preview screen I can't really say much. I like the idea of being able to have some manual control and being able to shoot in RAW with a compact digital camera because odds are that if I had such a camera with me I would not have any of my "real" cameras with me. And of course, for a compact digital camera it's extremely sexy looking -- especially in black.

I appreciate Charlie's comments about the LX-2 and D-Lux 3. I had wondered whether there was really any difference between the two. I'm not sure I think the Leica is worth $100 more than the Panasonic for my purposes unless it does a much better job with noise than the Panasonic is reputed to. The Leica does include a longer warranty, and PS Elements, the latter of which I don't need.

For the record, all this M8 talk is making me want one, which is unfortunate because I highly doubt I'm going to be able to justify one on a dog genetics equipment budget!

 

[Toby]

Hi Toby,
You’re right! I am beginning to sound like a seven year old…very uncharacteristic of me…must stop!!. I just got so annoyed though. I was only trying to share my enthusiasm with other Leica lovers because I couldn’t believe my luck. When it arrived, I was truly ecstatic, jumping up and down with all the enthusiasm of a seven year old. So when Sean actually wrote a personal and extremely offensive email to me, it really p**sed me off.

{/QUOTE}

I wasn't really directing that at you, you have the camera and can use it , rather at those who do not have the camera yet and are combing the internet for every scintilla of information, checking delivery dates, re-checking delivery dates, speculating regarding image quality, will it be better than an Eos 1 DS II, Why is my wife leaving with two suitcases? etc etc

 

[chazzzzy]

Regarding the Panasonic Lx-2

Regarding the Panasonic Lx-2

Ascender (Charlie) informed me that the Panasonc LX-2 vs. the Leica D-Lux3 (same body, almost the same camera)..

That they are not the same camera. Leica has different software and therefore processes low light images better as well as regular images.. and as such is a far superior camera.

I was going to get the LX2... but after hearing that, I am going to bite the bullet and pay extra for the Leica.

 

[rover]

And of course, for a compact digital camera it's extremely sexy looking -- especially in black.

That is how you got Joe to buy that make-up bag. I am on to you, I will be a much tougher sell. 😱 😀

 

[iñaki]

Charlie, now you have the final firmware, we would love to see some photos in your gallery😉