M 8 in Limbo ?

[dee]

I was being pressurised to place a replacement as new value on my discontinued M 8 .
This brought home to me that there is no longer a ... serious Amateur digital Leica - the M 9 has leapt into stratospheric Pro Country .
The M 8 now seems abandoned and out in the cold ... a niche market , now become a bleak market .
I wonder how long I will have the pleasure of mine ? Repairs are bound to become hideously expensive .

 

[ashrafazlan]

Don't think there's anything any of us can do except continue shooting and try not to worry about it 🙁

 

[MCTuomey]

yes, shoot more, think less.

 

[Ming Rider]

yes, shoot more, think less.

I'll raise a glass of Newky Brown to that.

 

[aniMal]

...and I will take my M8 on an expedition in an abandoned asylum tomorrow!

I think the stable M8s can take a lot, and I plan on getting a second body at some time in the future!

 

[Ming Rider]

aniMal,

It's nice to see someone putting the M8 `Purple Haze` to creative use, instead of bombasting it.

The noise of the high ISO gives your photo's a real individuality and the colour `swipe`, unique.

Your technique has much mileage to come.

I like your pic's very much.🙂

 

[Keith]

Seeing as the only real differences are IR sensitivity, crop factor and a minor improvement in high ISO performance ... the M8 is still very currrent in my book. Most of what the M9 is capable of can be achieved with an M8 IMO!

 

[Ming Rider]

It's the sign of our throw away society that the old (or older) become sidelined for the new.

You can still send the oldest Leica's to Solm and have them repaired and this doesn't cost a re-mortgage. So why should the M8 be any different?

Personally I believe that a few of the `bashers` feel their photography would somehow improve with the latest model. They are unhappy about the results because of the camera's supposed faults and not their own abilities.😎

 

[Keith]

It's the sign of our throw away society that the old (or older) become sidelined for the new.

Personally I believe that a few of the `bashers` feel their photography would somehow improve with the latest model. They are unhappy about the results because of the camera's supposed faults and not their own abilities.😎

With my fifty eighth birthday looming on the horizon I read that sentence with a wry grin! 😀

And you are very right!

 

[Ming Rider]

With my fifty eighth birthday looming on the horizon I read that sentence with a wry grin! 😀

And you are very right!

Don't despair. 58 is just the start. Mind you, 59 is the end.😱

An M3 will easily show these young wipper-snappers a thing or two.

 

[Keith]

aniMal,

It's nice to see someone putting the M8 `Purple Haze` to creative use, instead of bombasting it.

The noise of the high ISO gives your photo's a real individuality and the colour `swipe`, unique.

Your technique has much mileage to come.

I like your pic's very much.🙂

That's an interesting point you make! We wax lyrically about the swirly bokeh of the Noctilux or interesting OOF area of the Summar ... but a digital camera comes along with a sensor that does a few things a little 'differently' and we slam it! 😛

 

[Ming Rider]

Your right. For years we closely guarded our secret grain `recipes` and now with `digital grain`, we want clean images.

The only difference I can see is digital grain is more uniform because of it's mathmatical origins.

If you don't like digital noise, go back to ISO 80 film or only shoot in blazing sunshine.

There, that's the rant over with. Better get back in my rocking chair.😕

 

[Ming Rider]

As a little boy (cue Hovis music) my first camera was one of those Haminex things with the fold out `lid` that became the handle and took those long cartridge films.

Did my pictures suffer? Well, uhmm, yes I suppose they did (shrinks away slowly, muttering about the war and rationing etc . . .)

 

[pachuco]

Best Leica EVER - M3 😀

An M3 will easily show these young wipper-snappers a thing or two.

 

[Ming Rider]

Best Leica EVER - M3 😀

Just saw your website. I bow to you. How I wish I could have visited the locations you have. To have witnessed the events you have.

You lucky, lucky . . .

 

[pachuco]

Thanks Ming Rider! I'm getting the wander lust again so I'm looking forward to what 2010 holds for me!

 

[Ming Rider]

Thanks Ming Rider! I'm getting the wander lust again so I'm looking forward to what 2010 holds for me!

If you hear the calling, you should go now.

Time waits for no man. 2010 is just another number, nothing different, nothing changed, nothing more.

 

[MCTuomey]

i'm heading out with my worthless M8 this morning to eastern market. maybe get some keepers ...

ming's got it, seize the hour - until my fingers fail me

 

[Carterofmars]

Best Leica EVER - M3 😀

The Dude Abides.

 

[jaapv]

I was being pressurised to place a replacement as new value on my discontinued M 8 .
This brought home to me that there is no longer a ... serious Amateur digital Leica - the M 9 has leapt into stratospheric Pro Country .
The M 8 now seems abandoned and out in the cold ... a niche market , now become a bleak market .
I wonder how long I will have the pleasure of mine ? Repairs are bound to become hideously expensive .

What pessimism! Leica will support the M8 for at least a decade. And what do you mean it leapt? I paid 4192 Euro for my first M8 three years ago, my M9 cost me 5500 Euro - yes, somewhat more expensive, but still in the same league. It is rather that the dollar crashed - and it does not seem fair to hold Leica responsible for that.
As for repairs, even if one would be come neccessary, there is always the option to buy a reasonably priced used M8.....