m8 is still a great camera

[nikonosguy]

I got my m8 about 2 years ago - the price point had dropped from $5000 when they came out new to what was, FOR ME, an acceptable range -- I paid $1800 -- they're now hovering around $1000-$1500 depending on accessories / shutter count, condition...

I love it -- I use it in the studio with strobes and as a daily walk around kit -- I use it as an IR camera, and as my goto rangefinder -- i feel I got my money's worth -- have a good kit of lenses that work for me -- 50/1.2 canon,28/3.5 canon and 90/2.8 elmarit -- my shutter count currently is about 13000 --- plus it's got a cool story behind it...

 

[kknox]

Agreed. I still use mine good value compared to a new M. The B&W straight out of the camera is perfect. The 28mm Elmarit lives on the camera.

 

[flyingpalm]

Second, B&W is very nice.

 

[jim0266]

An acquaintance has an M8.2 he purchased new in 2008. As of January 2016 his M8.2 was still in action with 103,708 shutter activations.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

...$1000-$1500 depending on accessories / shutter count, condition...

Where is no other alternative from what I have seen in pictures and read on the internet to explore my Summarit 35 potential on digital and keep RF experience equal to my M4-2. M8 is true RF, better pictures comparing to Epson's with different rendering from CMOS DSLR and modern mirrorless.

The only problem I have with getting of M8 is higher gamble factor. I'm watching M8 coming and going on ebay for the price range you have mentioned. What bothers me are showing up M8 cameras with low shutter count, but for parts due to dead or damaged shutter.

I have a guts feeling what I'll need to save a lot more and for much longer to get 8.2...

An acquaintance has an M8.2 he purchased new in 2008. As of January 2016 his M8.2 was still in action with 103,708 shutter activations.

 

[presspass]

I've had one since they first came out. It goes out with my film kit in case I need a color photo for work. For most color work, however, I rely on a pair of Canon DSLRs. A good camera, especially since I discovered the discrete shutter release and began using the 160 ISO with a -3 compensation with RAW files, a suggestion made originally on a Leica forum. Both make the camera much more usable.

 

[fenixv8]

I was looking over some older pictures last night. I am really starting to miss the camera, there is a very clear difference in how the M8 and the M240 render pictures. The onlything stopping me from picking one up is the worry of it needing parts that arnt available anymore.

 

[B-9]

I loved my M8,

Sold it becuase I want to shoot more film,

ill buy another someday.

Sold mine for 900$ with over 50k net about 850$ after all the fees and stuff.

Took a little hit on it, but glad someone will enjoy it while I burn some silver.

 

[_goodtimez]

The M8 was my very first digital camera. I sold it to my sister to finance an M8.2, she dropped it in a lake and still used it for 2 more years and sold it.
Since then I sold my M8.2 but soon regretted that action.
So to compensate I bought 4 M8.2s and sold one to my sister again (yet she didn't throw it in the water 🙂 )
We just love the M8.2 as much as a film Leica.

 

[Ruffmeister]

I'm adding to this too and saying the M8 is a great camera. I got one just before Christmas and its been a joy to shoot with.

Great results from the CCD sensor with both colour and B&W. I occasionally chuck a Hoya IR filter on for some infrared, which also works pretty well 🙂

 

[ray*j*gun]

Yep, I love my M8u and i have yet to see a non Monochrome digital that can match the B&W images. The sensor size is fine as well!

 

[eef]

I agree. My M240 is in the shop now (I set it down beside me while out rockhounding, the ground was steeper than I realized I guess, it rolled and cracked the gorilla glass quite badly) so I have been using my M8 again. I was always a 50mm person, but recently I have been trying to be a 35mm person, so for the M8 I set aside my 28 2.8 M ASPH with a UV/IR filter. Put it on, started shooting. Clearly not the camera the 240 is, noisy shutter, noticeably slower to generate previews, and where is the ISO button???

But it seems lighter and handier, and still takes great pictures.

 

[dee]

I have neglected the M8 , having become lazy about AF and a 35 f1.8 for the Sony DSLrs .

I was considering selling what was an inheritance moment of madness .... to buy a couple of X-Po lenses ...but , on reacquaintance , it's now so retro - even in digital terms .

It's set at ISO 320 / monochrome / Amadeo-Contax and Brian Sweeney J3 in Contax mount , with a stunning Helios and Color Scopar 35f2.5.

Yes , it often dies needing the battery to be removed and replaced , but I know the score now .
I will keep it until it dies and becomes an ornament , meanwhile , the literally , BRAND NEW Fuji X-Pro 1 [ £300 body ] will enable my M lenses until I can afford a 35/f2.

emMa8 has a reprieve !

dee

 

[Doug]

I use the 21, 25, and 28mm lenses more often on the M8 than on full-frame, so it's still in frequent use. I do like the look of its output. Crisp, and with good color aided by the UV/IR cut filter.

Both my M8 bodies are currently off to New Jersey for checkup/cleaning service, and one has a column fault again.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Most of valuable images are displayed as slideshow on our home PC screen. This is why it is somewhat important to have them sharp and crisp. My mother-in-law likes it sharp, contrasty and in-color. I came from work late yesterday and was staying with younger kids, while older ones and my wife were at hospital with my mother-in-law.
I started to look on thousands of pictures from particular cameras I have interest in. I was checking pictures available on Flickr and checking what is going on in the house and outside (heavy rain, soft roof gazebo and our cat).

I looked on pictures taken with R-D1. Sensor seems to be really old on this one.
A7, modern sensor, but something doesn't makes me impressed overall.
X-E2, good colors, but slightly soft.
X20 - crap.
6D surprisingly close to X20.
M9, some portraits are amazing if looking at how skin is rendered. CCD thing.

M8 was about the same with M9. Overall it isn't as good, but it has kind of own colors rendering, similar to scans of color slides. Rich colors, lots of contrast, color range is slightly limited. And to me, yesterday night, M8(M9) were two winners for how naturally sharp images are from this cameras. Sigma, perhaps, beats them for colors and crispiness, but I have no merits to get Sigma camera.

 

[TennesseJones]

What's the story? (or have I missed it?!)

I got my m8 about 2 years ago - the price point had dropped from $5000 when they came out new to what was, FOR ME, an acceptable range -- I paid $1800 -- they're now hovering around $1000-$1500 depending on accessories / shutter count, condition...

I love it -- I use it in the studio with strobes and as a daily walk around kit -- I use it as an IR camera, and as my goto rangefinder -- i feel I got my money's worth -- have a good kit of lenses that work for me -- 50/1.2 canon,28/3.5 canon and 90/2.8 elmarit -- my shutter count currently is about 13000 --- plus it's got a cool story behind it...

 

[nikonosguy]

What's the story? (or have I missed it?!)

It used to be seal's m8

 

[Gustaf]

I bought an M8 yesterday!

About 15000 actuations for equiv USD 830. The seller even included an original Leica leather strap!

Overall very good condition. Unfortunately I currently only have access to an old Industar 50/3.5 but am looking for an Ultron 28/2 which feel could be a good match.

Very eager to try it out but light is scarce this time of the year in Sweden...!

 

[jarski]

M8 fan here too, shooting 3 Voigt kit: 15/4.5, 35/1.4 and 75/1.8 🙂

Second body would be nice to reduce lens changing.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I bought an M8 yesterday!

About 15000 actuations for equiv USD 830. The seller even included an original Leica leather strap!

Overall very good condition...

Deal of the year!