New to M8 Purchase Options...

[jncolligan]

Sorry for such a simple question....i’ve not spent this much on a camera body before..so I’m really trying to navigate the options or I might not be able to afford it!​

Just a bit of background so I don’t give any mixed messages… I have (and love) my Konica Hexar RF with both its 35mm 2.0 lens and its 50mm 2.0 lens.​

I’ve learned that these lenses may have issues with the M8, but have infinite adjustments possible, so I will be sending them off to Don at DAG Camera Repair to be confirmed for M8 Alignment as well as getting the six bit encoding performed.​

My ideal option would be to buy an M8 that is nearing its warrantee expiration, then get the shutter and LCD panel upgraded and have an upgraded camera with a new two year warrantee. I wonder what’s fair for an M8 nearing warrantee expiration?​

Barring that possibility, it seems like I can either walk into my local camera store in the UK and buy one for about £3,000 (VAT included).​

Or I can go on to e-bay and get one (and here’s what confuses the heck out me) for about 2,300 (supposedly without the need to pay VAT and also with hefty shipping costs)​

Or I can just watch and hope someone in the UK offers one up and offers it at a price that falls somewhere in between e-bay and the high-street store price…​

I’m not missing anything am i?​

Thanks in advance for any help or opinions.​

-Joe​

 

[jaapv]

Yes you are missing something 😉 There are no issues with the 2.0 lenses. The 35/1.4 has a few difficult copies and the Noctilux is, well, the Noctilux, but more so than on film. The Summicrons are fine. I hope I answered correctly. You typed in white, which made you post virtually indecipherable.

 

[Richard Marks]

Hi the issue with the internet option is that you are legally liable for import duty.
The upgrade options strongest card is an extra two years of warranty but its the price of a new lens! The quieter shutter is not a big issue for me and I quite like the 1/8000 top shutter speed of the current. The real big question is "can the sensor be upgraded and if so what to and when? This is still not imminent and I would save my upgrade cash for that rather than the current one. There would certainly be some additional warranty on the new sensor at that time. The pass port warranty with a new non grey imprt M8 gives you one year unconditional cover for accidental damage. I was very grateful to this as my camera met with a rather nasty ding which would have been very expensive to fix otherwise. This warranty is well worth the difference in proce comapared to e-bay in my opinion. I know that FFordes occasionally sell ex demo M8's and I think it would be worth giving them a call.

Richard

 

[jncolligan]

"The pass port warranty with a new non grey imprt M8 gives you one year unconditional cover for accidental damage. "

Now that's a different story all together...i'm a street shooter:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76363494@N00/

i would love to feel i could be covered for accidental damage..because i'd be allot more likely to bring the camera with me everywhere..

so basically to get that..i'd need to walk into a store and buy it as an add on, how much would tht cost? what is non-grey mean?

Thanks..these are exactly the subtlties i'm exploring..

Also thanks jaapv..i hope your right about my Hexanon glass 🙂

...

-Joe

 

[Richard Marks]

"The pass port warranty with a new non grey imprt M8 gives you one year unconditional cover for accidental damage. "

Now that's a different story all together...i'm a street shooter:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76363494@N00/

i would love to feel i could be covered for accidental damage..because i'd be allot more likely to bring the camera with me everywhere..

so basically to get that..i'd need to walk into a store and buy it as an add on, how much would tht cost? what is non-grey mean?

Thanks..these are exactly the subtlties i'm exploring..

Also thanks jaapv..i hope your right about my Hexanon glass 🙂

...

-Joe

Dear Joe
The 'passport' is included with any new (and most ex demo) UK purchase. It does not have any additional cost it is included. (Grey imports are cameras that appear for sale not from a Leica approved dealer. They are cheaper but may not have a reliable warranty. The only other thing to thing to consider is that you could obtain independent all risks insurance any way and probably would need that for the rest of your leica gear any way!

best wishes

Richard

 

[jncolligan]

that's another great point!! Thanks......my lenses are just as vulnerable/valuable!!...

makes me think if i'm going to get some holistic policy anyway..grey imports or buying off an individual would not matter....

sorry to think out-loud for all you people that already know this...i'm really stressing over spending this much money on a camera body!!

🙂

btw..love your family images..this is what i want to be able to provide in the years to come!

..

 

[Richard Marks]

that's another great point!! Thanks......my lenses are just as vulnerable/valuable!!...

makes me think if i'm going to get some holistic policy anyway..grey imports or buying off an individual would not matter....

sorry to think out-loud for all you people that already know this...i'm really stressing over spending this much money on a camera body!!

🙂

btw..love your family images..this is what i want to be able to provide in the years to come!

..

Many thanks
Do not get stressed. Its only a camera!
Regards
Richard