Things the M8 does wrong (not the big ones)

[John Camp]

I at first thought taking the bottom off to replace the battery and memory card was cool. Now I've done it one too many times, and I don't like it any more. I'll live with it, but there were better ways, especially for cold areas, like Minnesota and Germany, where you may be working in snow and with gloves; a hinged door with a latch would be better, IMHO.

Both my shutter speed and on-off switch are too loose. I've both accidentally turned the camera on, and accidentally shifted from 'A' to 8000.

There should be an alternate battery charger that leaves out the car-charger option in favor of smaller size. I'm willing to pay for it. I wonder if these batteries are used in other machines, and there might be a workable alternate battery charger somewhere? The problem comes in air travel, when it's one more big thing to carry. (Cell phone charger, Mac laptop power supply, M8 power supply, etc.)

I seem to be carrying more little bits and pieces -- the 1.25 magnifier, the little tiny magnifier case, the Whibal cards. I'll soon add eight (!) filters, and probably have to start carrying the filter wrenches I bought for my film cameras.

The release was okay -- but I also bought a soft release, and that's better.

The black grip finish is too slick; the Leica grip makes it lots better, but the finish on that is also too slick.

The little round LCD window on top is cute, but a larger window that also displayed ISO, and had a back-light feature, would be better. Although I have to admit that I am getting used to accessing the ISO through the 'set' button, and it's not really that big a deal anymore -- two quick pushes and you're ready to change.

The Leica-supplied strap does not match the quality of...well, most straps. I threw mine away (after destroying it for the rings) and now use an Upstrap.

JC

 

[jaapv]

It is a missed chance they did not provide an electrical remote release. Not only is the mechanical one a potential entry point for dust and moisture, it is not as smooth. Plus they could have made the handgrip functional by putting a shutter release on top instead of it being the stunted thing which only gets in the way as it is now.

The release was okay -- but I also bought a soft release, and that's better.

The release could be a lot better - this one has not got that silky feel

The black grip finish is too slick; the Leica grip makes it lots better, but the finish on that is also too slick.

I agree. They should have brought back something like the old Vulcanite

The little round LCD window on top is cute, but a larger window that also displayed ISO, and had a back-light feature, would be better.

Yes

The Leica-supplied strap does not match the quality of...well, most straps. I threw mine away (after destroying it for the rings) and now use an Upstrap.

It is not bad - I have become used to them over the years - but I prefer the wide ones they supply with their binoculars and the "Trageriemen für schwere Ausrüstungen"

 

[J. Borger]

Major gripe here: The combination of 50 & 75mm framelines was a bad choice and is very confusing: especially because for the 75mm framelines only corners are shown.
I love the base plate ...!
The M8 (like every other RF) deserves a Luigi Strap .. they are worth every penny: functionol and really beautiful.

 

[jaapv]

Yes - but the choice of framelines was taken decades ago and I agree - an unfortunate one. Bad genes from the M4.

 

[AusDLK]

Ditto on the Luigi straps. All my cameras wear one.

 

[Ben Z]

I at first thought taking the bottom off to replace the battery and memory card was cool. Now I've done it one too many times, and I don't like it any more. I'll live with it, but there were better ways, especially for cold areas, like Minnesota and Germany, where you may be working in snow and with gloves; a hinged door with a latch would be better, IMHO.

I suppose Leica figured if people were ok before taking a baseplate off every 36 shots, they wouldn't object to taking it off every 100 or so. This is probably the least objectionable "quirk" of the M8 I can think of.

"Both my shutter speed and on-off switch are too loose. I've both accidentally turned the camera on, and accidentally shifted from 'A' to 8000."

Making the detents stronger, and adding a lock button for the "A" setting as many other cameras have ( and such as Leica added to the meter mode switch on the R9) should be a simple enough thing for them.

"There should be an alternate battery charger that leaves out the car-charger option in favor of smaller size. I'm willing to pay for it. I wonder if these batteries are used in other machines, and there might be a workable alternate battery charger somewhere? The problem comes in air travel, when it's one more big thing to carry. (Cell phone charger, Mac laptop power supply, M8 power supply, etc.)"

If Leica can make money selling another accessory I'm sure they'll get around to it.

"The black grip finish is too slick; the Leica grip makes it lots better, but the finish on that is also too slick."

It's the same one on the MP. Many people loved it, I didn't. If the M8 continues in production a while longer and Leica doesn't offer alternative coverings, someone else surely will.

"The little round LCD window on top is cute, but a larger window that also displayed ISO, and had a back-light feature, would be better. Although I have to admit that I am getting used to accessing the ISO through the 'set' button, and it's not really that big a deal anymore -- two quick pushes and you're ready to change."

Another seemingly simple improvement that wouldn't take a radical design change. Hopefully all these improvements will be incorporated in the next model along with a stronger IR filter over the sensor (or at least an a la carte option of it) so those of us who would rather not have to use IR filters would have that option.