jbr
Established
Last friday I asked CS-Support of Leica-camera by email if and when an M8 Firmware update can be expected and this morning found the following answer in my mailbox:
Vielen Dank für Ihre Nachfrage an den Leica CS-Support.
Ein M8 Firmware-Update wird in wenigen Tagen verfügbar sein. Wir werden aber unsere Kunden zeitnah über das Erscheinen der neuen Firmware über unsere Hompage informieren!
Vielen Dank für Ihr Verständnis!
(Thank you very much for your enquiry with Leica CS-Support.
An M8 Firmware-Update will be available within a couple of days. We will inform our customers timely about the release of the new firmware on our homepage.
Thank you for your understanding!)
Vielen Dank für Ihre Nachfrage an den Leica CS-Support.
Ein M8 Firmware-Update wird in wenigen Tagen verfügbar sein. Wir werden aber unsere Kunden zeitnah über das Erscheinen der neuen Firmware über unsere Hompage informieren!
Vielen Dank für Ihr Verständnis!
(Thank you very much for your enquiry with Leica CS-Support.
An M8 Firmware-Update will be available within a couple of days. We will inform our customers timely about the release of the new firmware on our homepage.
Thank you for your understanding!)
sc_rufctr
Leica nuts
Thanks JBR
Was there any mention of what's changed or been fixed in the new firmware?
Was there any mention of what's changed or been fixed in the new firmware?
Chyn
Established
That's great news, thanks for the head's up. Eagerly awaiting for any improvements...not that I have many to complain about.
jbr
Established
I didn't ask. And I don't think they would have answered if I did. Anyway, the speculative period is almost over.
arnulf
Registered User
I heard similar rumors about an M9 upgrade that would, among other things, fix the auto WB issue. Hopefully it's true..
Maybe it's connected to this?:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107901692593929&ref=mf
Maybe it's connected to this?:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107901692593929&ref=mf
noimmunity
scratch my niche
this is wonderful news!
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Auto WB issue???
About two years ago I heard last about that - when the AWB was indeed improved in firmware, making it one of the best around.
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Robin Harrison
aka Harrison Cronbi
What I'll find interesting is whether the 0-sec self timer and the menu-coding of lenses will make it in. I asked about these back in April and was told:
"I had already asked my colleagues in Germany about these new features on the LEICA M9, but unfortunately they can not be up-graded to the M8/M8.2 simply by firmware changes. "
...which sounded like utter rubbish to me. If a self timer can be set to 2 or 10 seconds in firmware, but not 0 seconds, then Leica as a digital camera manufacturer is in real trouble.
I'm glad this is on the way. The bigger issue was always: if Leica turn their back on M8 owners after the M9 luanch, what's the outlook for M9 owners after the M10 launch?
"I had already asked my colleagues in Germany about these new features on the LEICA M9, but unfortunately they can not be up-graded to the M8/M8.2 simply by firmware changes. "
...which sounded like utter rubbish to me. If a self timer can be set to 2 or 10 seconds in firmware, but not 0 seconds, then Leica as a digital camera manufacturer is in real trouble.
I'm glad this is on the way. The bigger issue was always: if Leica turn their back on M8 owners after the M9 luanch, what's the outlook for M9 owners after the M10 launch?
ramosa
B&W
a long wait and much discussion about this. i hope it is a reality--though i'm not sure what to expect of it. the lens menu would be nice for many users, but not me (as all of my lenses are coded).
yanidel
Well-known
The M9 does not suffer from as many faults as the M8 at time of launch. I'd be happy if new firmwares come out, but the M9 is fully functional the way it currently is so this is no big issue to me.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Well, not to be difficult, but my M8s, after the initial recall, have always been fully functional as well....
ramosa
B&W
agreed: (knock on wood), but i have not had problems with my M8.
Robin Harrison
aka Harrison Cronbi
And I too would consider my M8u 'fully functional'. But that's not to say I wouldn't feel hard done by if Leica released a firmware update to the M9 to introduce some new feature X and failed to do so for the M8.
yanidel - would you not agree that there may exist a firmware feature that you're not currenty aware of that would improve your perception of the M9?
(Aside: I tried applying this situation to other top-end digital cameras, and somehow it doesn't seem as pertinent. Nikon D2x owners can't expect the same updates as D3x owners. I think it comes down to: the M8/M9 are so similar in hardware/firmware, the feature set is so limited, the feature set is so similar between the two, and there is that ongonig impression that a Leica is build to last, and the customer support should match that.)
yanidel - would you not agree that there may exist a firmware feature that you're not currenty aware of that would improve your perception of the M9?
(Aside: I tried applying this situation to other top-end digital cameras, and somehow it doesn't seem as pertinent. Nikon D2x owners can't expect the same updates as D3x owners. I think it comes down to: the M8/M9 are so similar in hardware/firmware, the feature set is so limited, the feature set is so similar between the two, and there is that ongonig impression that a Leica is build to last, and the customer support should match that.)
yanidel
Well-known
In marketing terms, there is certainly a few "delighter" features that could be added, but all the "must have" are covered with the current firmware IMO.
And I am pretty sure firmware update won't give me weather sealing
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
And I am pretty sure firmware update won't give me weather sealing
...but Yannick you have weather sealing, its called a coat and you stick your camera in it to keep it dry. Didn't you get your free leica raincoat when you purchased the M9
I'm still trudging on with my luddite M8
but in all seriousness, I can't think of anything my M8 really needs...only a few fantasy thoughts i.e. soundless shutter recocking. I'm simply intrigued as to what the update may contain.sc_rufctr
Leica nuts
A faster start up time?
A quicker format time of the memory card?
Who knows but one thing to consider....
This is copied from the Instructions of the current firmware.
The new one will probably have the same restriction.
Notes:
a. It is not possible to “downdate” LEICA M8 and M8.2 cameras to previous firmware releases, once
the version 2.004 has been installed.
f16sunshine
Moderator
In camera dead pixel mapping ala RD1 would be a bonus for users as well as Leicas own service dept.
sc_rufctr
Leica nuts
Sound great but is it possible with the sensor and hardware in the M8?
f16sunshine
Moderator
Not sure Peter. I am an experiential user not a well studied technician. Surely someone more qualified can/will answer.