New firmware is up (2.004)

[tightsqueez]

It's the photographer who has the issue with the shutter, not the subject. If we'd listen to our subject more maybe we'd hear less of the shutter.

Hats off to Leica for this one.

 

[jvan01]

so one can toggle between the two shutter modes, then?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Hey it's available and indeed the discrete mode now works on the original M8. Doesn't help too much as the original shutter release is FAR louder than the wind-on sound. So you now get "KLUNK... (gap) ...whisper"

I disagree, the klunk is certainly not even remotely as attention-grabbing as the recocking. This new Discreet mode allows you to deal with it (the recocking) as you are able and see fit.

The shutter upgrade gets rid of all the noise annoyances. If only I had the money. I wonder if Leica does pro-bono work once in a while?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

so one can toggle between the two shutter modes, then?

Yes. Via the main menu.

 

[Ben Z]

Well, I'll never know how discreet my M8 sounds with the discrete cocking, because at this moment it's on the UPS truck in NJ heading for the Leica office, for the shutter/framelines/saphire upgrade. I did ask on the send-in sheet that they update it to the new firmware (it currently still has 1.201). I don't know how often I'll use the discrete mode, but I think it'll be nice to have it as an option.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Also, I'm not installing this on my M8.1 until I get at least two weeks without someone saying "my shutter never re-cocked, my camera is on a trip to Germany"...

No matter how well engineered something may be, there will always be somebody mucking up.

If there are people who don't read and interpret forum postings with due diligence, it should be no surprise that they won't follow a few sensible directions: use a fresh battery, do not interrupt the upgrade, do not touch any buttons.

Also, the few who have a problem are the least discreet about it

 

[g12]

If there are people who don't read and interpret forum postings with due diligence, it should be no surprise that they won't follow a few sensible directions

I was talking about the discreete (sic) feature not working properly (i.e. not re-cocking the shutter and it needing to be fixed by Solms), not the act of updating.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

We'll see if it replicates.

If it replicates, I think you'll have a bigger problem on your hands.

 

[swoop]

Well, I'll never know how discreet my M8 sounds with the discrete cocking, because at this moment it's on the UPS truck in NJ heading for the Leica office, for the shutter/framelines/saphire upgrade. I did ask on the send-in sheet that they update it to the new firmware (it currently still has 1.201). I don't know how often I'll use the discrete mode, but I think it'll be nice to have it as an option.

I just sent mine away today also. But I opted to get just the shutter and rangefinder mask upgrades. The glass seemed a bit of an unneeded luxury I could do without. I also included a note asking them to fix my rangefinder calibration as the focus is noticeably off.

 

[Olsen]

Depends on what you intend to use it for ... in meeting or churches, you are probably right. Yet for street work, this is an improvement as the shutter is not too cameray (as said above), people don't assimilate it to a camera and it blends in Urban sounds. It was more the length of the sound that finally brought attention to it IMO.

In Norwegian & Danish it is diskre' and in Swedish it is diskret - or was it the other way around? After a few beers we will not know what it means anyway. So, why bother?

 

[Jim Evidon]

Discreet???

Discreet???

O.K. I was exited as anyone to find that I could now get a discrete shutter activation for free by downloading the new version 2.004 firmware.

I t just came out today on the Leica A.G. site, so I did it.
At best, I am whelmed; neither over or under, if you know what I mean. I've now discovered that on the M8, the least noisy part of the shutter cycle is the auto cocking feature and not the actual shutter actuation which is still quite loud.

I guess that if discreet is a necessity, one should spend the money and get the new shutter modification or an M8.2, because this firmware update really does nothing for me.

It doesn't particularly bother me because I don't mind the standard M8 "thwunk-whirr" which is no worse and actually a little better than my DSLR "slap, thwunk,slap whirr." O.K., so that sounds like the sound effects from a Roadrunner cartoon, but you get the idea.

As I said, I'm whelmed!!

 

[Olsen]

I find this discrete mode just fine. I have had it my 1Ds III for a year now, and have set the 'discrete mode' as standard. It do make a difference. Both when photographing wildlife and - particularly; children. This is an improvement of M8. Just go ahead and use it.

 

[nitrox1]

Update successful. Works great. My favorite camera ever keeps getting better. Lets hope for manual lens settings in the next update! Thank you Leica!

John

 

[LeicaMSeattle]

I'm with Ben Z, my M8 has arrived in NJ for pixel problems...you can always disguise the camera shutter sound with a bodily sound of one's own choice.

 

[OurManInTangier]

It always amazes me how much contention there is around Leica and its products.

I've downloaded the new firmware and rather like the ability to use the "discrete mode," but am very glad that they've done just that; given us the ability to switch between the two modes.

As a personal opinion I don't think that the 'noise' of the M8 makes any difference at all in most photographers shooting habits. I have photographed strangers in the streets from less than three feet away with the camera to my eye and been rumbled with my M6 and not rumbled with my M8 - nothing to do with the noise of the shutter and eveything to do with me, the situation and the subject.

As someone mentioned earlier I think this issue is all about us, the photographers and not our subjects*

Only my opinion based upon how things have panned out for me of course.

* Clearly if you wish to photograph wildlife with a rangefinder then you may have a different opinion based upon the flightiness of your prey/subject. Also, if you do use an RF for wildlife I salute your efforts but it would be an SLR and a selection of lenses including some long glass for me....maybe I'm just lazy

 

[Hultstrom]

Continuous mode works fine here to. No problems after updating to 2.004.

/M

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Well, discrete means separated, and the release and wind-on are separated, and discreet means unobtrusive, and it is.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Pointless speculation: If the M8 had had this option from the start, I bet there would have been far less grumbling across the interwebs about shutter noise.

I think there would have been less grumbling if it had the name "Zeiss", "Voigtlaender" or "Nikon".


BTW, good to hear that your shutter isn't replicating at all

 

[boy_lah]

Mine works and I for one am grateful to receive free firmware with new features. If it was Canon, you would have had to buy a new camera!

 

[Keith]

I'm actually rather surprised how quiet the re-cocking process is on it's own ... more a whisper than a whir! I think when it's combined with the stapler like sound of the shutter it seems louder than it actually is.

All irrelevant really ... and no point in whinging because generally my camera has been faultless and I'm not about to push my luck by bitching about a sound that never really mattered too much to me in the first place!