Thinking about getting a M8

[dirojas]

Hi everyone, I am starting this post looking for some advice about the idea of getting a used M8 now that the prices are more reasonable. Let me tell you about me a little. I started into photography five years ago, and initially wanted to take landscape pictures. By the second year I started to take street pictures, and I think I have found in this "type" of photography endless enjoyment and personal rewarding. I am a amateur, by the way, although in a couple of weeks I will get my first payment for a photo session I did on a theater play 😉.

I use now a Canon 30D (as you can see in my Gallery), with a couple of small primes, mostly 28 and 50. I love the files of the Canon and I am ok with the quality of the lenses (I would like less aberration close to wide open). The problem is the size/weight of the entire system, and also its look and the noise. I found hard to take candid pictures with a big camera, I think people gets intimidated, and I also got noticed after the first shot by the mirror noise. I have walked days with my entire system and definitelly didn´t like the weight.

My ant found my grandfather´s camera three years ago cleaning some old boxes, and now I am the owner of a Leica IIIa with a Summar. I never met my grandfather because he passed away before I was born, so the camera has an emotional value for me. The thing is, in addition to that, I love taking pictures with it. The size and weight is just right, the lenses are tiny (thinking about adding a CV 25mm), the camera is quiet and is just a pleasure to operate. People in the street react in a different way to this camera than to my 30D, I always get a smile and sometimes also a nice conversation. I was thinking I would love to have a digital version of this camera.

Enter the M8. I would like to stay in the digital side because I prefer it for color due to convenience and cost. My plan is use the Leica III with BW film (and start developing myself) and the M8 for digital. I have some money saved and I figure that if I sell my Canon system (I have 2 additional zooms and a macro lens too) I could built a nice system around the M8 and the IIIa. I also want to try my Summar in the M8.

I have read everything about the M8 but I have never tried one. The thing is I live in Chile, and there is no Leica dealer here. I heard some M8 bodies had different kind of problems, so I am a little scared about it. I guess I will have to send it overseas even for a misaligned rangefinder, for example. Do you have any ideas about how to deal with this?

In addition, do you think now is a good time to get a used M8? Any advice you can provide is welcomed. I think I wrote a little bit too much....😕

 

[PhotoMat]

I too was looking at acquiring a used M8 when I looked at the prices for new M8s at Robert White. Between Leica cashback and the exchange rate between the US dollar and the GB pound, I was able to purchase a NEW chrome M8 for less than $2900, and that includes shipping!

They are waiting for a new shipment of M8s to arrive, but I paid for the camera yesterday in order to lock in at the current exchange rate. You would be hard pressed to find a used M8 at that price, at least for the time being.

Matt

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

The thing is I live in Chile, and there is no Leica dealer here. I heard some M8 bodies had different kind of problems, so I am a little scared about it.

You may want to try contacting this Leica dealer in Argentina:

Optica Cosentino S.A.C.I.
Bartolome Mitre 845
1036 Buenos Aires

www.opticacosentino.com.ar


Suerte.

 

[dirojas]

I too was looking at acquiring a used M8 when I looked at the prices for new M8s at Robert White. Between Leica cashback and the exchange rate between the US dollar and the GB pound, I was able to purchase a NEW chrome M8 for less than $2900, and that includes shipping!

That´s a very good deal, but I am not sure if I can do this from Chile.

Optica Cosentino S.A.C.I.
Bartolome Mitre 845
1036 Buenos Aires

www.opticacosentino.com.ar

Gracias!! I will contact this guys to see if they offer official support. I would not mind flying to Baires to get the camera. However, I don´t see any Leica products in their website.

 

[timothyk]

Its a bit of a risk to enter into the Leica family. Its been 9 months since my initial purchase and i finally have a functional camera system ...2 camera bodies replaced, 2 lenses both needing servicing, and 2 battery re-chargers later and now its all finally working as it should. I do have to say that the printed manual and the camera strap both worked flawlessly out of the box, but software cd required an online update to get the phase one capture application to work.

I love the camera and it finally takes beautiful photos , but you should be prepared to address the awful Leica quality, so expect service to be a component of the system experience.

If you believe that the form factor, the exceptional optics, the simplistic interface and the manual controls provide you the user experience you desire this is certainly the camera for you. I personally feel that these factors make this the system that i desire, but if i had to do it all over again i do not think would choose to do business with Leica given my experiences

 

[dirojas]

Its a bit of a risk to enter into the Leica family. Its been 9 months since my initial purchase and i finally have a functional camera system ...2 camera bodies replaced, 2 lenses both needing servicing, and 2 battery re-chargers later and now its all finally working as it should. I do have to say that the printed manual and the camera strap both worked flawlessly out of the box, but software cd required an online update to get the phase one capture application to work.

😱😱

That´s what I don´t want to live!! It´s nice to hear that finally the system is working for you. So we can say the printed manual is of the best quality available, that´s a nice touch from Leica :bang::bang:

I realise that not all M8´s come with the problems you have had. There is quite a bit of luck involved, although there should be no luck involved at this prices.

I am also thinking about waiting some time to see what happens to the prices. I learnt that in buying digital cameras if you not sure just wait... the price will go down with time.

 

[skwp]

something to consider size wise..I haven't seen the M8 but i understand it to be thicker than an M6. I owned an M6 and I now have a Leica IIIc. The III is somewhat more compact so between the III and M8 there will be something of a difference in size. It's still quite a bit smaller than Canon but fyi...

 

[Keith]

Another consideration is the shutter sound of the M8 ... it definitely draws attention and is not quiet in comparison to other cameras. When I had a D70 I noticed the Leica was as loud and actually to my ears, a little harsher in it's sound. In use it's small (compared to an SLR) however, large by M standards and very solid and quite weighty.

I've had mine two years and though I like it at times it's never been a camera that I can't wait to go out and shoot with ... it just doesn't compare to a film M IMO!

 

[bottley1]

That´s a very good deal, but I am not sure if I can do this from Chile.



Gracias!! I will contact this guys to see if they offer official support. I would not mind flying to Baires to get the camera. However, I don´t see any Leica products in their website.

its there: http://www.opticacosentino.com.ar/detalle.php?m1=FOTOGRAFIA DIGITAL&codigo=3035120

 

[bottley1]

something to consider size wise..I haven't seen the M8 but i understand it to be thicker than an M6. I owned an M6 and I now have a Leica IIIc. The III is somewhat more compact so between the III and M8 there will be something of a difference in size. It's still quite a bit smaller than Canon but fyi...

Its true that the M8 is somewhat bigger (i.e. fatter!) than the M6, etc, but still tiny compared to most DSLR's 🙄

 

[Steve Ash]

I went the road you are going now. I was also confused by different threads in the internet. I bought an M8.2 and some lenses after I went to Photokina and listened to the experience of users. My camera and lenses are working flawlessly. My decision to go for Leica was not my cheapest but best. I love to control the photo by myself and no automatics. Further the camera is small enough to carry it whereever I go.

Regards
Steve

 

[dirojas]

Another consideration is the shutter sound of the M8 ... it definitely draws attention and is not quiet in comparison to other cameras. When I had a D70 I noticed the Leica was as loud and actually to my ears, a little harsher in it's sound. In use it's small (compared to an SLR) however, large by M standards and very solid and quite weighty.

Looks like it is definitely louder than my IIIa. However, I think a half case will damp the shutter a bit. I can´t do that on my 30D :bang: The D70 sounded like my old 300D, which by the way was quieter than my current 30D.

something to consider size wise..I haven't seen the M8 but i understand it to be thicker than an M6. I owned an M6 and I now have a Leica IIIc. The III is somewhat more compact so between the III and M8 there will be something of a difference in size. It's still quite a bit smaller than Canon but fyi...

I have tried a film M, and indeed these cameras are bigger than my IIIa. However, they are still much smaller than my Canon system, specially the lenses.

its there: http://www.opticacosentino.com.ar/de...codigo=3035120

They charge 7500 dollars for an M8:bang::bang:. For that money I prefer going to NYC for a week to get the camera 😎😀. I have still already contacted them by email, to know these guys a little more.

I went the road you are going now. I was also confused by different threads in the internet. I bought an M8.2 and some lenses after I went to Photokina and listened to the experience of users. My camera and lenses are working flawlessly. My decision to go for Leica was not my cheapest but best. I love to control the photo by myself and no automatics. Further the camera is small enough to carry it whereever I go.

That´s the ideal way IMO. What you did at Photokina is what I am trying to do with this thread, Steve.

Thanks everybody for their answers, BTW