Poll: Who's Getting the Upgrade?

[Ascender]

Why?

Why?

Congrats Charlie.

May I ask why? What do you think makes it worth the €1200?

I'm still in doubt, because the shuttersound doesn't really bother me, and my very first plastic screen-protonus still sticks just fine.

But I sure would like the extra 2 years of full warranty 🙄

Thanks,

Peter

Hmmm.... good question Peter. I guess it's because I'm an addict. As for whether or not it's worth it, probably not. I do, however, think that the inevitable FF upgrade that is speculated for later on in the year will be worth whatever they're asking especially as it will include a whole new sensor with hopefully ;-) an anti-aliasing filter that will remove the need for the dreaded IR cut filters.

-charlie

 

[Ascender]

Bluepenguin And Others

Bluepenguin And Others

BLUEPENGUIN,


I feel you pain regarding being disappointed with your M8. I spent the best part of a year being frustrated with it's inexplicable WB performance among other things but as the Germans say, 'so ist das leben'. At the end of the day (and this is speaking as someone who has multiple systems) I come back to using the M8 as well as my beloved M7 because there just isn't any other camera on that level of excellence that allows me the freedom to take the kind of pictures I like to take...... imperfections and all. I'm sorry you had to sell your M8, I really am because I understand why. I will say though that if you can reconsider, it's well worth it. Just let it do it's thing and work with it until it gives you what you want. I recently spent some time with my friends from Solms, I was in Berlin last week and met up with them one of which is the head of all things 'M' at Leica and they assured me that good things are coming in the future so again, it's worth persevering. You must remember that they are totally aware of what they're not good at and are working hard to remedy it and make everyone happy. They are also a SMALL company by comparison and cannot always make everyone happy all at once. There are things that they would've loved to have implemented from the out start but there's the passion, the intent, the know how, the intention and then lastly .... there's the reality ... the business side.

On a different note, I found on my travels a couple of really interesting Leica collectables that I will share with everyone whenever I get around to posting the pics online. I'm so excited about these so stand by. Also, I have a shoot that I did of my wife on our vacation that is about to be published in OK magazine. Of all the things I've done musically in my career, nothing compares to the satisfaction of being hired for something which is essentially a passion for me, inspiring.
I had some great help from my mentor James Russell who helped me clean up and resurrect the film among other things. Again, I will let everyone know when they're published.

I've been shooting a lot of film recently in addition to my M8 and for this reason I just bought an 'a-la-carte' M7 painted black with an MP winder bound in black ostrich (this is the soul of what Leica is all about). I'm so happy with this, I cannot begin to tell you. Anyway, to all M8 owners and potential owners out there, please be patient. The M8 is still a great camera, the files that it renders are superior on a level with those from Canon ( I know that sounds strange but in my mind despite being the giants, there's nothing that touches the straight RAW files that their cameras produce and you can print that) and more importantly ... the camera is unique and once you use one you'll never go back and for those of you who have got rid of one ..... I guarantee that there will be some remorse as the M8 has a funny way of making you miss it .... quirks and all.

-charlie

 

[cmogi10]

you can get an M7 with an MP winder???

that sounds like a beautiful A La Carte M7, I wanna see pictures when it comes 🙂

 

[Bill Blackwell]

you can get an M7 with an MP winder??? that sounds like a beautiful A La Carte M7, I wanna see pictures when it comes 🙂

<<<<< Look no further than right here.

M7 - BP, Vulcanite, MP re-winding

 

[Tuolumne]

Ascender, it's the pixie dust in the M8 that makes it produce superior pictures to any other camera ever made. Only Leica has pixie dust.

SM,
It's not the pixie dust -- it's the black ostrich leather. 🙂

/T

 

[jamning]

I've decided not to go for the upgrade. Instead, I will be planning to go for a Nikon F6. I just had a chance to try it out and its a really fantastic camera. Great viewfinder, and very quiet autofocus, it makes older Af lenses as quiet as the new AF-S ones.

I might consider a full frame upgrade for the M8 in future if its available. The reason I'm doing this is that I think the M9 will be a full frame camera. It doesn't make sense to keep upgrading and end up with only one camera for nearly the cost of the M9.

For the price of the upgrade. I can nearly buy a new Nikon F6, and after handling it, I think I will be buying it next. The feel and viewfinder in that camera is fantastic.

 

[bluepenguin]

That's a good insight on Leica, Ascender.

I liked my m8 in most case.

But m8 got worst picture than my canon g7, then I had to think again.

Use a UV/IR to make right color not making everybody wears purple dress in conjunction with low/multiple light condition, m8 picture will be less than my canon g7.

When I had Epson R-D1s, I didn't have this problem.

The UV/IR filter will be a pain when the light source is in certain angle that make a whiter soft spots.

Instead of all this fancy dumb upgrade, Leica should fix the CCD so that everybody shouldn't use UV/IR filter.

 

[kenn]

Given my M8 is 4 months old, it's "disturbing" to find out that it takes another $2K to make it the camera it should have been in the first place!

Few companies would have the balls to pull this one off.

I'm more inclined to the class-action thinking above. Even Microsoft who everyone assumes is evil makes the sub-release version upgrades free. It's not so much the money, but the attitude of "yes, now we're ready with the real camera, so in exchange for $2K (CDN) we'll void your current warrenty and give you a new one for 2 years, make the shutter a little quieter, add a spiffy view finder NOT improve the sensor to fix the insane UV/IR issues or image quality (o.k. maybe a little less shake) and you'll have to shoot with something else for a month or so...".

I love the camera, but it's making it very hard to be loyal to the company or frankly recommend it to others. My advice to anyone seeing me shoot with the M8 (and Noct) today will be to look at the G9 for cheap and a EOS-1Ds Mark III for those with similar budget.

Leica has done a wonderful job making M8 purchasers feel and look foolish for being loyal enthusiast of their brand and perceived quality.

Nice move Leica, looking forward to the $1K base plate upgrade and the $1,200 kevlar strap.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcnickerson/

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Given my M8 is 4 months old, it's "disturbing" to find out that it takes another $2K to make it the camera it should have been in the first place!

Few companies would have the balls to pull this one off.

I'm more inclined to the class-action thinking above... Leica has done a wonderful job making M8 purchasers feel and look foolish for being loyal enthusiast of their brand and perceived quality.

Nice move Leica, looking forward to the $1K base plate upgrade and the $1,200 kevlar strap...

This seems a bit strong to me. Leica has responded to their customers' plead for a modular system rather than the common industry practice of releasing a new model every 12 months, or so (with minor changes no less).

Although Leica's announcement came with my own concerns, including charging (full price) for an "upgrade" on a camera still under warranty, you are not required to get the upgrade and Leica is saying base M8 production will not change. Based on this I don't think a class action would gain much momentum.

I think folks will just need to take it or leave it.

 

[Ben Z]

Class action? Why? A new buyer has to pay $7300 ($5500 for the base camera plus $1800 for the upgrade). But if he buys a mint, used M8 plus then pays $1800 for the upgrade, he gets a completely overhauled camera with a brand-new shutter with no actuations, and a full two year warranty. Seems to me that's going to keep the price of used M8's high, lots higher than if they just released an M8.01 with the same rinkydink shutter/LCD modification, sold it for $500 more than the M8, and left all us M8 owners bent over. I love this upgrade thing so far. I just wonder at what point Leica wil figure out that pain in their foot is from a self-inflicted gunshot 😀 Or maybe, more likely, this will be the one and only upgrade and an M9 will appear soon. Just have to wait and see,

 

[jaapv]

That's a good insight on Leica, Ascender.

I liked my m8 in most case.

But m8 got worst picture than my canon g7, then I had to think again.

Use a UV/IR to make right color not making everybody wears purple dress in conjunction with low/multiple light condition, m8 picture will be less than my canon g7.

When I had Epson R-D1s, I didn't have this problem.

The UV/IR filter will be a pain when the light source is in certain angle that make a whiter soft spots.

Instead of all this fancy dumb upgrade, Leica should fix the CCD so that everybody shouldn't use UV/IR filter.

This is a surprise- the RD1 is one camera that is affected by IR as well. See Sean Reid's test on the matter. What is with the multiple light matter? I suppose we you mean AWB.With the new firmware I would call the M8 one of the best cameras in mixed light that I have seen till now. Not that AWB is very interesting, unless you are a Jpeg shooter and in that case quality is a secondary consideration anyway.

 

[jaapv]

Given my M8 is 4 months old, it's "disturbing" to find out that it takes another $2K to make it the camera it should have been in the first place!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcnickerson/

Others would argue that it "should be" with a 8000/250 shutter despite some increase of in noise. It is a neat trick you are trying to pull off. Making a design choice sound like a flaw....