miklosphoto
Member
Has anyone sent in an M8 for upgrade to New Jersey? They say it takes only two weeks to complete the work, is it really true, or it actually takes more time?
Ben Z
Veteran
Mine (shutter-frames-glass trifecta) took about 3 wks door-to-door, but that was in March. My suggestion is get in touch with Karen Lazarus and make sure they have all the parts needed in stock and aren't backed up. She was very helpful, told me I could send mine in and it could sit on their shelf waiting for the framelines to arrive from Germany, or I could continue using the camera and wait for her to notify me. I chose the latter, and she sent me an e-mail when they had the parts.
Pavel+
Established
How much is it now? Do you find the improvements in the framelines to be a strong change? I wonder how much it is just for the framelines.
miklosphoto
Member
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I bought my chrome M8 from PopFlash, an RFF supporter, about 18 months ago. I recently discovered it has the "blue line" disease that will require replacing the sensor, hopefully under warranty. Since PopFlash is sending the camera in for that work anyway, I figured this is a good opportunity to have upgrades done too. I opted for the shutter and the frameline mask, which Leica USA lists at $1600. I'll be interested to see how this progresses. Two weeks turnaround would be great, but I'm prepared for up to 8 weeks...
swoop
Well-known
I sent mine in to Leica NJ. Took about 2 1/2 weeks or so. Not bad at all. Got the framelines and shutter done. Kind of regret not doing the glass.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
My promised one week turnaround on an MP with a bad metering switch has been four now...
Ben Z
Veteran
Framelines in a Leica are just a starting point no matter what. They're fixed in area, so only "accurate" at one distance, everything else requires mental imagination based on shooting experience. The original M8 framelines were/are even more conservative than in the M6 (I think, and I've read others agree, Leica might have forgotten to discard the extra calculation for the amount of a negative covered by a slide mount, which is not required with a digital camera). The new upgraded framelines are now in line with the M6/M7 etc. They are most certainly NOT calibrated for 2 meters like the literature suggests. I made a very precise check on it. They're calibrated closer to 1 meter, but it depends on the focal length.
The main reason I got the upgrade was to get the new shutter (not concerned with noise as much as durability) and another year of bumper-to-bumper warranty. I'd adjusted fine to the old framelines and had a Best-Skins-Ever screen protector you can scratch with car keys and it won't mar or peel, but they way they structured the cost it made reasonable sense to get all 3 upgrades ($1700, because I made my reservation before they upped the price). I passed on the Vulcanite for $300. Offered them $100 but they politely declined
LeicaMSeattle
Established
I sent mine in for a sensor replacement (defective) and had the upgrade with Vulcanite returned in one week.
skueh
skueh
I sent mine for shutter and frame line upgrade in May. I took about 3 weeks.
Three weeks is very good speed, and one week is astounding... especially from the west coast... or perhaps those times exclude shipping time? If so, still encouraging.
Ben's comment about reservations cause me to wonder if Leica USA is operating under a reservation system for the upgrades? I recall hearing there was earlier, but perhaps by now the rush of customers for upgrades has slacked off?
Ben's comment about reservations cause me to wonder if Leica USA is operating under a reservation system for the upgrades? I recall hearing there was earlier, but perhaps by now the rush of customers for upgrades has slacked off?
sepiareverb
genius and moron
When my MP went in for a VF replacement they had me wait for all the parts to arrive, I then sent it in and had a very reasonable turnaround time of two weeks.
kalina
Newbie
I wonder what would happen if I just sent in my M8 which was not bought new and included that promotional form
I would love to get the upgrades, but at list price they just cost too much!
I would love to get the upgrades, but at list price they just cost too much!
miklosphoto
Member
I wonder what would happen if I just sent in my M8 which was not bought new and included that promotional form
I would love to get the upgrades, but at list price they just cost too much!
Kalina,
actually, I bought my M8 two weeks before the upgrade promotion started. I called Leica and asked if they could extend the promotion to my purchase and they said yes. I don't know how long ago you bought yours, but it won't cost anything to call and ask.
BTW, initially they promised me to have it done in two weeks, and as my M8 has been with them for more then two weeks now, I called them and they said two more weeks.
kalina
Newbie
Kalina,
actually, I bought my M8 two weeks before the upgrade promotion started. I called Leica and asked if they could extend the promotion to my purchase and they said yes. I don't know how long ago you bought yours, but it won't cost anything to call and ask.
BTW, initially they promised me to have it done in two weeks, and as my M8 has been with them for more then two weeks now, I called them and they said two more weeks.
It took Leica over two months to return my D-Lux 4 (2 months and 4 days). Granted, it is a Titanium version so they were probably waiting for a colored part. Still, 2 months is nuts!
I actually bought my M8 off of ebay. It had about 3,200 shutter activations on it, so it was pretty underused. Maybe I could plead that since it took so long to repair my D-Lux 4, they should give me a deal on my M8 upgrades
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kalina
Newbie
Okay, so I sent my plea in to Leica and am awaiting for a response. I'm willing to pay for the $1,075 deal for all 3 upgrades. Honestly, I think $2,150 is way too much for these upgrades.
Pavel+
Established
Yup, those are doctor and lawyer boutique prices - crazy.
I may however be interested in the framelines and rear glass upgrade but since one looses a stop of shutter speed, I don't understand the enticement to upgrade the shutter.
I may however be interested in the framelines and rear glass upgrade but since one looses a stop of shutter speed, I don't understand the enticement to upgrade the shutter.
jke
Well-known
If the upgrade does indeed get you a more durable shutter, that may be a good thing. The "old" M8 shutter was supposed to be a repurposed R shutter, so I can't imagine it is too shabby. Of course, none of them are supposed to do this.
kalina
Newbie
I just got an email from Leica USA. I don't qualify as I expected. Oh, well, it was worth a try. They cited that the special prices were created to stimulate sales of new M8 cameras since the M8.2 is out. I think I'll just keep my nonupgraded M8 as-is. If there ever is a sensor upgrade, I'll go for that.
Pavel+
Established
You know, I think the good-will that could have been generated by treating you extra generously and giving you the same discount would pay off for Leica far more than the direct profit to be realized from the upgrade itself. So in that sense it is a bit disappointing ... that Leica is not more forward thinking in its customer relations.