Should I get a M8?
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raid
Dad Photographer
50mm Summicron
50mm Summicron
50mm Summicron
raid
Dad Photographer
JianL
Established
In my experience Leica digitalis are the most temperamental and high maintenance cameras I've ever owned. Of course, a rangefinder is different to a DSLR, so it comes with its own unique issues (for example, misaligned rangefinder mechanisms) that I can accept.
But, there are lots of other issues that should not be there, such as the camera locking up; hot pixels on the sensor (yes, I know about the cosmic fairy dust arguments, but I've never experienced this issue on any other digital cameras that I've owned) and SD card issues.
Both of my M8s had hot pixels, with the first one requiring a remap; it also had the coffee stain issue. Both have locked up occasionally. One segment of the viewfinder LED no longer illuminates on my M8.2.
My Brand new M9P arrived with hot pixels on the sensor!
These problems coupled with the hassle and cost of getting them repaired make Leica digital ownership a real labour of love. Any potential owner should be alive to these issues before committing his or her money, and as one person has said, be prepared to write off the M8 should problems develop because repairs won't be cheap.
That's not to say digital Leicas are duds. They are a joy to use and deliver brilliant images, but when your camera is faced with yet another trip to the shop or locks up just as you press the shutter, it can seriously piss you off. So, by all means buy a secondhand M8, but hope for the best and expect/ prepare for the worst!
Would I buy another one? Yes I would, but it would have to be an M8.2 and cheap, I.e. less than £900.
But, there are lots of other issues that should not be there, such as the camera locking up; hot pixels on the sensor (yes, I know about the cosmic fairy dust arguments, but I've never experienced this issue on any other digital cameras that I've owned) and SD card issues.
Both of my M8s had hot pixels, with the first one requiring a remap; it also had the coffee stain issue. Both have locked up occasionally. One segment of the viewfinder LED no longer illuminates on my M8.2.
My Brand new M9P arrived with hot pixels on the sensor!
These problems coupled with the hassle and cost of getting them repaired make Leica digital ownership a real labour of love. Any potential owner should be alive to these issues before committing his or her money, and as one person has said, be prepared to write off the M8 should problems develop because repairs won't be cheap.
That's not to say digital Leicas are duds. They are a joy to use and deliver brilliant images, but when your camera is faced with yet another trip to the shop or locks up just as you press the shutter, it can seriously piss you off. So, by all means buy a secondhand M8, but hope for the best and expect/ prepare for the worst!
Would I buy another one? Yes I would, but it would have to be an M8.2 and cheap, I.e. less than £900.
Eric T
Well-known
I have an M8. It is a great camera but there are drawbacks. The sensor is a dust magnet. I had to clean it constantly. The shutter is noisy. The highest ISO that can be used in low light is 640. You will get great photos if used carefully.
The problem is that there are some great modern alternatives for the same or less money. These include the Fuji X-Pro1, Fuji XT-1, Olympus EM-1, and Sony A7. All of them have better low light sensitivity, higher resolution, autofocus with the option of accurate manual focusing, quieter operation, and sensor cleaning. And all of them have great lenses and can use M-mount lenses with adapters. Take a good look at these. I have the X-Pro1 and am very happy with it.
The problem is that there are some great modern alternatives for the same or less money. These include the Fuji X-Pro1, Fuji XT-1, Olympus EM-1, and Sony A7. All of them have better low light sensitivity, higher resolution, autofocus with the option of accurate manual focusing, quieter operation, and sensor cleaning. And all of them have great lenses and can use M-mount lenses with adapters. Take a good look at these. I have the X-Pro1 and am very happy with it.
Lss
Well-known
It's not about the number of pluses, it's about what matters to the individual. I would need to come up with some carefully designed weights if I needed to rely on a list to dictate my camera choice and expect to be happy with the outcome.
Lss
Well-known
It's wise to factor in some expectation of service when dealing with anything that is out of warranty. And even if you still have warranty (like my RX1R that couldn't quite take sitting in the same bag with my M8).
In the end, I think a lot of this comes down to price. The Leicas are expensive, and this includes service. A lot of other stuff is not expensive. And service may not even be a real option there.
gliderbee
Well-known
doolittle
Well-known
You're taking the mickey now aren't you?
Leica markets a camera as Monochrom, it's just a name.
Monochrome literally means one colour. Limited to shades of one colour. A picture limited in palette. A picture consisting of just black and white could be considered monochromatic, or just blue on white, but that's not what is being discussed.
In photography black and white has a commonly understood usage.
Maybe things were different in the 1920s.
rivercityrocker
Well-known
If you want to get down to brass tacks on this color/black & white/monochrome issue, all digital cameras start with a monochromatic image. The camera (or RAW converter) processes it to a color file using information interpolated from the Bayer filter array and demosaicing algorithms. Even if you go from a RAW file straight to black and white the BFA color information is still used in the black and white conversion.
So in a sense files from the M8, M9, and M240 are all B&W/monochrome and color at some point.
And as far as calling it black and white or monochrome that really depends on how pedantic you want to get with the semantics of it. I think most people on the forum are reasonably bright enough to understand the concept without the nitpicking.
So in a sense files from the M8, M9, and M240 are all B&W/monochrome and color at some point.
And as far as calling it black and white or monochrome that really depends on how pedantic you want to get with the semantics of it. I think most people on the forum are reasonably bright enough to understand the concept without the nitpicking.
jsrockit
Moderator
Nice one raid.
mikeyyah
Newbie
Nice pics, Raid!
So I received the camera the last week and was a slightly disappointed with the stiff wheel selector. I'm not sure if it's my copy or a known issue (not a biggie).
I've read somewhere that you can push the camera to ISO 1250 and get useable images; viewing the images from the lcd looks okay, but I have to upload them onto my computer.
Speaking of my computer! My imac lcd panel just went ka-put so I can't even view my images on my computer. *sigh* Such is life.
I'll report back when I get my computer fixed and images uploaded.
So I received the camera the last week and was a slightly disappointed with the stiff wheel selector. I'm not sure if it's my copy or a known issue (not a biggie).
I've read somewhere that you can push the camera to ISO 1250 and get useable images; viewing the images from the lcd looks okay, but I have to upload them onto my computer.
Speaking of my computer! My imac lcd panel just went ka-put so I can't even view my images on my computer. *sigh* Such is life.
I'll report back when I get my computer fixed and images uploaded.
JianL
Established
The LCD is absolute rubbish. It's only good for checking composition and the histogram. The beauty of the files only come through when viewed on a monitor.
The shutter dial is reasonably stiff on my machine but not so stiff that it's difficult to turn. Pretty much the same as my M9.
The shutter dial is reasonably stiff on my machine but not so stiff that it's difficult to turn. Pretty much the same as my M9.
jsrockit
Moderator
Well, it looks like I'm going to have a M8 again. I wanted a M mount camera for the 35mm c-biogon (that I missed) and this was the cheapest solution that I would actually use.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
That's all it was ever intended for... it's not a color-corrected, Hi-Def monitor... it's for making settings, viewing composition, and checking the ?histogram. I don't know why anyone would expect it to be anything else.
I'm an inch from pulling mine off the market... I know that if I sell mine, I'll never have another as unique or nice.
JianL
Established
I don't know why some people feel the need to defend every little criticism levelled at the M8. 🙄
rivercityrocker
Well-known
I was lucky enough to get mine back after I sold it. As terrible as the M8 supposedly is, I really like it and missed it when it was gone. It's a definite keeper.
Takkun
Ian M.
A week into owning mine: no regrets. The LCD works, and that's all I can ask for.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
The M8 has some limitations, there is no doubt (buffer write speed being the most critical IMO,) but LCD quality is not one of them. The LCD is perfectly acceptable for its intended use, which is NOT watching movies in Hi-Def. It is a menu selection platform first and foremost. The other functions are ancillary, and I don't understand the criticism leveled at it. This is an issue of having realistic expectations of the equipment, not the equipment itself.
JianL
Established
"...watching movies in Hi-Def." Huh?
You're making this up as you go along.
Anyway, you're right I'm wrong.
