MY M8 has arrived!!! - With unwrapping slideshow

[Larry Kellogg]

Hello,
Well, I picked up my M8 tonight! I am still waiting for the battery to charge and haven't taken a single shot yet.

Here are some pictures from the unveiling:

(Forgive the poor quality shots)

http://web.mac.com/mac.hive/iWeb/Site/Unwrapping the M8.html

So, one silly question, does that plastic on the bottom peel off? I assume it does does but it sure is on there tight, with lots of undecipherable symbols. What is that? I guess the sticker is for the battery - don't throw in fire, INCA, PC, EMV, MIC, etc

A few other comments. I didn't get the grip I ordered. I miss it already, I got so used to carrying the R-D1 by the grip. Did anybody get the grip and can post a picture of what it looks like on and off the camera? I also have to wait for the extra battery and the 28, such is life.

Regards,

Larry

 

[dreilly]

CVS Pharmacy is selling M8s? I wonder if I can use my discount Rx card! 🙂

Seriously the bottom plastic thing probably peels off, but you may want to leave it on if it doesn't bug you. It'll protect the bottom from scuffs and the like. Quite a few Hexar AFs still have the plastic on the bottom after all these years.

 

[akptc]

This kind of porn should be illegal 🙂
(thanks for sharing though)

 

[wongyboi]

CVS Pharmacy is selling M8s?

If you look closely at the last slide "The M8 Assembly Bench"

You'll see that not only can you get a Leica M8 from CVS Pharmacy but they'll also throw in some meds to help you control your excitement/sanity.

 

[AusDLK]

I am developing a bit of a negative Nancy reputation on various forums because I have the audacity to say that some of this new Leica stuff doesn't measure up to expectations -- so here I go again...

The Leica grip for the M8 is pretty lousy. It's just basically a round peg that sticks up from a bottom plate (that replaces the stock bottom plate). Sure it is a grip but it doesn't provide that positive of a hand hold -- same as the slick covering on the camera itself provides less than a confident grip -- since it is small, cramped, and doesn't provide secure finger positioning.

Tom A. has an M8 grip in the works. His Rapidgrip for pre-M8s is the best around. I'm not touching the Leica grip (no pun intended) and recommend waiting for Tom's.

PS. My M8 arrives in the morning...

 

[Larry Kellogg]

If you look closely at the last slide "The M8 Assembly Bench"

You'll see that not only can you get a Leica M8 from CVS Pharmacy but they'll also throw in some meds to help you control your excitement/sanity.

Ha ha, 🙂 I was hoping someone would see that! Yeah, the Leica dealer is handing out Valium to take some of the edge off of the purchase!

Larry

 

[Larry Kellogg]

I am developing a bit of a negative Nancy reputation on various forums because I have the audacity to say that some of this new Leica stuff doesn't measure up to expectations -- so here I go again...

The Leica grip for the M8 is pretty lousy. It's just basically a round peg that sticks up from a bottom plate (that replaces the stock bottom plate). Sure it is a grip but it doesn't provide that positive of a hand hold -- same as the slick covering on the camera itself provides less than a confident grip -- since it is small, cramped, and doesn't provide secure finger positioning.

Tom A. has an M8 grip in the works. His Rapidgrip for pre-M8s is the best around. I'm not touching the Leica grip (no pun intended) and recommend waiting for Tom's.

PS. My M8 arrives in the morning...

Cool! Hey, if Tom builds a better grip, I'll buy it. Does anyone have any ideas if one of Tom's softies is a good idea to use on the M8?? I haven't tried it yet, but I have one. The threaded part on the softie seems a lot smaller than the threads on the camera. Is that by design?

Ok, the battery is charged, time to play!

Regards,

Larry

 

[espressogeek]

Dangit, I want an M8 but cant find anyone who has a spare one in stock!

 

[eddie con]

it's the best striptease show i have seen in years, larry!!! but my wife says it is better i see a real striptease show than get an M8 to undress.

 

[Bob Ross]

Hello,
Well, I picked up my M8 tonight! I am still waiting for the battery to charge and haven't taken a single shot yet.

Here are some pictures from the unveiling:

I also have to wait for the extra battery and the 28, such is life.

Regards,

Larry

Hi Larry,
That was fun.....I'll review it again after my box arrives....🙄
I will be getting the extra battery, but a diopter and a lens will be trailing behind.
Thanks for the show.
Bob

 

[boilerdoc2]

😀 My God! That was better than a Viagra! Where is my M8? Where! only have a couple of weeks to wait. A COUPLE OF WEEKS!!! ARGH!

 

[haagen_dazs]

i am jealous!!!

 

[Trius]

{panting, short of breath} ... I just got back (cough, gulping air) from running to all the CVS stores in the Rochester (whew!) area ... not a single M8 on the shelves! Damn you (wheeze) Larry!

 

[MarcoS]

Where did you get that nice wrist strap ? 🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

Danm Leica, even with a digital camera they managed to keep the awkward bottom loading idea! 😀😛

 

[jlw]

Danm Leica, even with a digital camera they managed to keep the awkward bottom loading idea! 😀😛

I am still wondering: Is it possible to use the M8 with the bottom plate removed, or did Leica put in a switch to disable it?

If the camera worked with the bottom plate removed, this might provide a workaround for situations in which weather-sealing was not an issue and in which you needed to be able to change cards quickly.

Otherwise, I guess the answer is to buy bigger cards so you don't have to remove the bottom so often...

 

[Larry Kellogg]

Where did you get that nice wrist strap ? 🙂

Good eye! I found that on eBay from some guy in Hong Kong, if I recall correctly. It is a nice strap and has held up well on the R-D1 for the last two years. I can't quite read the name stamped on the strap but it might be "Joseph Kussac" ?? I will try to find the receipt or the box...

Regards,

Larry

 

[nksyoon]

I am still wondering: Is it possible to use the M8 with the bottom plate removed, or did Leica put in a switch to disable it?

If the camera worked with the bottom plate removed, this might provide a workaround for situations in which weather-sealing was not an issue and in which you needed to be able to change cards quickly.

And it would be funny (for others) to watch if you accidentally hit the battery catch and dropped your battery to the floor.

 

[Larry Kellogg]

I am still wondering: Is it possible to use the M8 with the bottom plate removed, or did Leica put in a switch to disable it?

If the camera worked with the bottom plate removed, this might provide a workaround for situations in which weather-sealing was not an issue and in which you needed to be able to change cards quickly.

Otherwise, I guess the answer is to buy bigger cards so you don't have to remove the bottom so often...

You can turn the camera on without the bottom cover but you get the message:

Attention

Bottom cover removed.

and the camera shuts down. As someone pointed out, it wouldn't be funny to accidentally press the battery release lever. With my luck it would bounce into the street and get flattened by a cab.



Regards,

Larry

 

[graphicjoe]

I am developing a bit of a negative Nancy reputation on various forums because I have the audacity to say that some of this new Leica stuff doesn't measure up to expectations -- so here I go again...

The Leica grip for the M8 is pretty lousy. It's just basically a round peg that sticks up from a bottom plate (that replaces the stock bottom plate). Sure it is a grip but it doesn't provide that positive of a hand hold -- same as the slick covering on the camera itself provides less than a confident grip -- since it is small, cramped, and doesn't provide secure finger positioning.

Tom A. has an M8 grip in the works. His Rapidgrip for pre-M8s is the best around. I'm not touching the Leica grip (no pun intended) and recommend waiting for Tom's.

PS. My M8 arrives in the morning...

Dave,

If the problems are too bothersome, I'll take that bothersome little camera off your hands for--say, $2500. I hate to see anyone be unhappy, so I feel this is the least I can do.

Joe