No New M9 but M8-2 - Leica Announcement

[splitimageview]

Seems like anyone who wanted to start such a hoax would first have to have stolen all the email addresses of Leica M8 owners.

 

[Tuolumne]

I don't think it's a hoax. But I've never heard marketing hype like "state of the art forever" on anything but late night infomercials. How do you keep a promise like that?

As someone previously mentioned, it sounds like a bad English translation from the original German. Does anyone know what the original German text was?

/T

 

[Joe Mondello]

NOT a Hoax!

Here is what I received from Leica via email earlier today.

I think its an interesting way to go. Why flood the market with depreciated M8s after 2 years and then have to spend even more to get the upgraded camera?

People have been asking for something like this from digital camera makers for years. Leica is the first to offer it.

And yes, I'd rather have a quiet ("noise optimized"?) shutter at 1/4000ths than a louder one at 1/8000ths.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear LEICA M8 customers,
The desire to own a digital camera manufactured by Leica, possessing the identical lifelong value retention associated with every Leica product, was brought to us by many of our customers. Leica Camera AG has now configured the LEICA M8 to meet this demand. With today’s newsletter, we would like to inform you exclusively and in advance of an outstanding innovation regarding your cherished LEICA M8.

Subjects
LEICA M8: An investment in the future
What does the first upgrade kit include?
Firmware update 1.201 available
How do I get the upgrade for my M8?

LEICA M8: An investment in the future


With the introduction of a perpetual upgrade program, every LEICA M8 will forever be a state-of-the-art digital camera. Today’s and tomorrow’s users will always be able to incorporate the latest refinements and developments in handling ease and technology. It is our aim to secure your investment in the LEICA M8 for the future. “While other digital cameras quickly become outdated and are replaced by newer models, our new concept extends the value retention and resistance to obsolescence embodied in the Leica ethos. Over time, we will gradually offer new product features and developments as upgrade options,” declares Steven K. Lee, CEO of Leica Camera AG. “Our customers can therefore still invest in the photographic tools they need without worrying that they will miss out on improvements and technological developments alo ng the way.
This information will be presented during the PMA fair in Las Vegas, beginning January 31st.

What does the first upgrade kit include?


• Scratch-proof sapphire glass cover for the LCD monitor.
• Noise-optimized shutter with a fastest speed of 1/4000s.
• If so desired, the camera will be picked up at your home and sent directly back to you, without any intermediary stage in the process.
• Health-check and complete adjustment of the camera, testing all its functions.
• Installation of the newest relevant firmware.
• New factory warranty of two years covering the same conditions as for a new camera.

Firmware update 1.201 available
In keeping with the overall sustainability of the concept of the rangefinder camera system, Leica Camera AG is now offering all LEICA M8 users an updated version of the camera firmware, which can be downloaded free of charge from Friday, February 1st from our website. Among other things, the new firmware version contains new, substantially improved automatic white balance algorithms for natural color rendering in nearly all light conditions. We will send you special information via e-mail which contains a direct link as soon as we post the firmware update on our website.

How do I get the upgrade for my M8?
• This offer applies exclusively to all registered M8 users.
• We will inform you shortly via e-mail when the website is updated with detailed information about the new M8 upgrade program, and will also inform you as soon as possible how to purchase the first upgrade certificates.
• The fact that you are registered as a M8 owner will give you guaranteed access to an exclusive online area where you will be able to purchase your upgrade certificate.
• Purchasing the upgrade certificates will be possible as of March 2008 - the actual upgrading will commence as of August 2008.
• The upgrades will be fullfiled in the same order as the upgrade certificates were purchased. It is therefore advisable to acquire the certificate as quickly as possible.

We would feel very honored if you would be amongst the first to participate in our new program for the lifelong value retention of your M8.

Yours Sincerely,
The Leica internet team

 

[splitimageview]

From my college German, this looks like a poor translation to me. It shouldn't read 'forever' it should read more along the lines of 'solidify your Leica M8 investment well into the future.'

 

[Tuolumne]

From my college German, this looks like a poor translation to me. It shouldn't read 'forever' it should read more along the lines of 'solidify your Leica M8 investment well into the future.'

That makes much more sense and sounds like good corporate marketing-speak.

/T

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I got an e-mail earlier today, too, from Leica.

The one sticking point of all of this, is the "Noise-optimized shutter with a fastest speed of 1/4000s." part, which sounds like madness.

I'm still holding my breath to read an official technical explanation for this backward step. They better come up with it fast.

It is also madness to "leak" this, and slowly let it sift through the online cracks, rather than officially posting this in their own website(s). I've looked and searched at Leica Camera's U.S. site and nothing.

The e-mail also makes no mention of any price for this "perpetual upgrade program". Hopefully they don't mean a program where you need perpetual upgrades, rather than an upgrade program that is perpetual.

Really, their communications department has a staff of proofreaders that need to upgrade their coffee brand.

Bad communications department. Bad. No treat for you.

 

[splitimageview]

If they had posted it on the website first, people would complain that registered users were not notified before it was simply posted on the web.

I have no problem with them notifying registered owners first; I think it's good. And even before PMA opened. 🙂

I do agree the translation was rough.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

From my college German, this looks like a poor translation to me. It shouldn't read 'forever' it should read more along the lines of 'solidify your Leica M8 investment well into the future.'

Companies cut corners on translations, and get what they pay for, which is a cheap joke sometimes. Many people think they can just ram it through Babelfish or Google Translate and voilà, you have a translation. Drunk Yoda-style. Or Puts-style; take your pick.

What they don't understand is that mechanical word transformations of the linear kind...

Oh, don't remember it. The same as "forget it", to many, I'm sure.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

If they had posted it on the website first, people would complain that registered users were not notified before it was simply posted on the web.

I have no problem with them notifying registered owners first; I think it's good. And even before PMA opened. 🙂

In this age of the Internets, things like this can be done in parallel. Sheer VP incompetence. One person can spoil it for the rest of a company.

 

[Trius]

There's a Scottish company that makes a turntable called the "Linn Sondek" that's perfected this type of deal to a fine art.

They made a good belt-drive turntable, like 25 years ago or more, then continually released "upgrades" for it at absurd prices, driving the "audiophiles" into a frenzy.

You'd buy the expensive Linn Sondek, then every six months you'd have to get the "dork-whimsy" power supply upgrade, the "valpak bozoid" spring enhancement, the "blather-goon" and "doofus-dittok" tonearm mounting plate, ad infinitum.

All for a hefty fee, and of course, once an "upgrade" came out, all the poor fools without the "upgrade" couldn't sleep nights.

Ah yes, but the "doofus-dittok" mount plate was easily worth the price of all the upgrades.

You should hear Ella & Louis now!!!

I might actually miss the 1/8000, though, because for some projects I like to shoot at very large apertures and not worry about overexposure.

ND filters?

The "upgrade forever" is either a mis-translation or a marketing department gone askew, as in Sony's claim that the original CD launch was "Perfect Sound Forever".

I'll still take a ZI. If the M8 chassis is capable of receiving a 35mm size sensor, then I'll really tip my hat to Leica. My guess is that they will leave "full frame" to the SLR chassis, if they decided to move ahead with a serious run at the DSLR market.

 

[BillP]

In this age of the Internets, things like this can be done in parallel. Sheer VP incompetence. One person can spoil it for the rest of a company.

Big deal. If I were a VP - sorry, Director - at Leica I'd be quite happy at the traffic, interest and free advertising this has generated from one tiny "leak".

Shall we get on with debating the considerable ramifications and benefits of this move?

Regards,

Bill

 

[Ben Z]

The one sticking point of all of this, is the "Noise-optimized shutter with a fastest speed of 1/4000s." part, which sounds like madness.

I'm still holding my breath to read an official technical explanation for this backward step. They better come up with it fast.

Wait, there's more madness: I just heard from someone who reads the LUF that the new shutter's flash sync speed will be limited to 1/80!! The upside is, if this new shutter becomes the standard one from now on, the value of used M8's with the original shutter is likely to go up 🙂

 

[CameraQuest]

M8 Shutter Noise

M8 Shutter Noise

One of the biggest complaints about the M8 is the shutter noise, a very unlike Leica M sound.

Presumably a much quieter shutter sound is a major benefit of the new M8 shutter.

We should find out soon. Leica will have probably have examples of the upgraded M8 on display this weekend in Las Vegas.

Stephen

 

[msbel]

Am I missing something or does this email not mention a price tag? I know 1200 euros was floating around, but not on this email to registered owners.

Guess it will be confirmed one way or the other tomorrow at PMA.

 

[BillP]

One of the biggest complaints about the M8 is the shutter noise, a very unlike Leica M sound.

Presumably a much quieter shutter sound is a major benefit of the new M8 shutter.

Apparently so. No doubt there will be a comparison on Youtube within a few days. The sound of the M8 has always been out of keeping, a bit like watching a movie where they dub the sound of an SLR over the top.

But, the more interesting question, for me, is if the new shutter assembly brings the technology closer to being able to accept a FF sensor in the future.

Regards,

Bill

 

[atufte1@mac.com]

The flash sync on the new shutter is 1/180, not 1/80, that was a typo from Guy on LUF, he has already corrected it...

 

[photogdave]

The flash sync on the new shutter is 1/180, not 1/80, that was a typo from Guy on LUF, he has already corrected it...

😀 😀 😀 😀
That was the best chuckle I had all day!
This has been my 1000th post. 😎

 

[ernstk]

There's a Scottish company that makes a turntable called the "Linn Sondek" that's perfected this type of deal to a fine art.

They made a good belt-drive turntable, like 25 years ago or more, then continually released "upgrades" for it at absurd prices, driving the "audiophiles" into a frenzy.

You'd buy the expensive Linn Sondek, then every six months you'd have to get the "dork-whimsy" power supply upgrade, the "valpak bozoid" spring enhancement, the "blather-goon" and "doofus-dittok" tonearm mounting plate, ad infinitum.

All for a hefty fee, and of course, once an "upgrade" came out, all the poor fools without the "upgrade" couldn't sleep nights.

Hmmm. The M.Valdemar bile laden product review probably won't cause too many sleepless nights at Linn...

Regards
Ernst

 

[back alley]

if the conversation keeps flowing towards the personalities then get ready for this thread to be locked.
joe

 

[mas]

Just scanned the above, so if I repeat something, sorry - the info on the upgrades was sent by Leica to M8 owners. The official announcement is tomorrow. You buy your upgrade certificate in March, send the camera in August.

This gives Leica your $1700 for several months. Their credit is no good, so they have to have the money up front to pay the suppliers/shops who will be doing the work.

I have heard from a reliable source that the new shutter module has nothing to do with the noisy cocking mechanism, so those of us hoping to get rid of that noise will be sorely disappointed.

BTW, the upgrade will be dished out in the same order the upgrade certificates are bought. First come, first serve.

What a deal!

Michael