Petition Leitz for Firmware Upgrade to M8/M8.2

[Viktor Sebastian]

How about you all go and take some photographs with your M8s instead? Surely they still work? Or 09.09.09 render the firmware unreadable by the on board micro processor?

 

[mikenic]

I think they are obliged to at least fix the camera hanging up with the delayed release function introduced with the last software upgrade.

Perhaps some of the extra functions can be implemented then?

 

[slungu]

"Perpetual updates" - well, they did it, but also had some hardware changes. It is called M9 and you can get it from your friendly Leica dealer.
Now, seriously, if Leica would throw in a software update for M8/M8.2 users with more than big bug fixes, that would be a major surprise and something that has not been done until now in this business I think. Even if it sounds like simple, it is not the case, and if they have tried to optimize cost and are on the limit with RAM/ROM in the chip, it simply isn't possible. Even if it was, it does cost money, and that amount would go into something not earning money, since you already payed for your M8. Leica are at this time the only player in digital RF. If more players come in, with a Leica-M mount, they would have a harder time in this small market than the other (DSLR) manufacturers, since those have all their own mounts, unlike a unified M-mount market of DRF. But, as much as I would like to see some options, I don't think this will happen soon.

 

[__--]

...Now, seriously, if Leica would throw in a software update for M8/M8.2 users with more than big fixes, that would be a major surprise and something that has not been done until now in this business I think....much as I would like to see some options, I don't think this will happen soon.

It may not happen, but it isn't something that has not been done: Ricoh has provided several substantial upgrades through free firmware uploads for it's GRD and GRD2 cameras; and has thereby gained goodwill from it's users.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Bangkok Hysteria© Book Project

 

[tcline]

It may not happen, but it isn't something that has not been done: Ricoh has provided several substantial upgrades through free firmware uploads for it's GRD and GRD2 cameras; and has thereby gained goodwill from it's users.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Bangkok Hysteria© Book Project

As a GRD2 and M8 owner I wouldn't mind seeing Ricoh enter the high end market. They really seem to understand what people are looking for and support their products in a way that is above and beyond. I love the GRD2, I cannot imagine a small pocket cam being anymore user friendly. It is so tailored to it's intended purpose.