This week, I become a MAN!

Haha, I'm still working on the 8x10 ;)

I'm not sure how I feel about half cases yet, I'm thinking I might just opt to recover the camera in griptac from cameraleather. But first thing first, use it as is to see.
 
Actually, no interest in the M9, maybe a M-E when the M8 poops out ;)

I like that Grey Blue paint... A lot!

I may be odd, I like the crop factor. I really think the 1.33x factor is a great compromise for somone who likes shooting Normal-Mild Tele. I don't mind the affect on wides, as I've grown out of that perspective. If I get a bug in my butt, the wonderful VC 12 and 15 lenses are still plenty wide on the M8.
 
Whatever you do, don't get one of those sissy thumb rests. Real men don't need no stinkin thumb rest.

BTW, I never received my decoder ring. Who do I contact about that?
 
Never liked those thingies, had the thumbs up with cold shoe.

The camera came with the Leica grip, I'll give that a shot before anything.
 
Good for you! This is better than having a date!

[I mean the dates that are fruits on palm trees ...]
 
B-9 said:
Never liked those thingies, had the thumbs up with cold shoe.

The camera came with the Leica grip, I'll give that a shot before anything.
Click to expand...

Hi Devon

Congrats again.
As fr grips, I love the Leica grip. It's basic round shape is actually better than any of the funky "ergo" molded shapes from other grips.
I mean better as it's a shape any hand size can find secure. It's also integrated into the base plate making a very secure feeling.

The other great option are the Zhou half cases.
They have the perfect amount of extra grip padding on the front.
They are inexpensive and well made. Not frivolously made and priced like that italian guy!

Since you are feeling more like Portrait and mid tele I would highly advise a VF magnifier.
The leica x1.25 is the best although most expensive.
MS Optical has a x1.3 that is a close second and comes in around $100.
Unless you absolutely need a diopeter adjustment stay away from models with adjustable diopter. They slip their adjustment all the time and become a PITA.
One can put a touch of nail polish but.... eventually... it will still slip.
Find the Leica one if you can. The M8 vf Mag is .68 which does not seem like so much less than the .72 but it was for me.

I used the 40mm CLE lens the most on the M8. The Leica 1.25 was perfect imo.
The Canon 50mm f1.2 was a second favorite. I like it for IR as well. F1.2 and IR72 was a great combo for glowing IR images.

Anyway, there is my bit. Enjoy your new camera!!
Cheers!
 
Congrats and enjoy Your M Leica it is is the one and only I have and I never want to buy any other M Digitals . They are all very messy and unreliable.

M8 is a great camera and try to get to know about it so you have a good tool.
 
Is the Leica M8 really this finicky over SD cards?

Ive tried every single card I own from 1gb-16gb, none will format.

I cant really afford to buy anymore memory cards.. is there are definitive card that's works with this camera?

Could it be my battery, even though the top display says both 0 photo's and Full battery, but the LCD says Card full.

Its a generic I ordered, and they sent me a 1600mah instead of 1800mah, and no charger. Got screwed pretty bad by KingBatt.com never ever order from them!
 
Do use SD and not SDHC, this is an older generation camera. 2GB Sandisk Extreme or Ultra (if you can still get them) is just fine.
Alternately update the firmware from the Leica site to get the camera to accept SDHC. SDXC will never work.
The top display will give you the number of shots left, so 0 means full.
Generic batteries for the M8 are hit or -generally- miss. I would recommend real Leica batteries despite the high price.
 
Called around, my brother had a 128mb SD from Kodak. Format in computer, then camera, works great so far. Looks to hold around 18 or 20 Fine Jpegs. Looks like im short rolling still ;)
 
Devon,

First. I suggest formatting your SD card in your computer. Just format it with default settings -- it's the FAT32 file system, as usual. I had difficulty getting my M8 to format cards too, but it isn't a big deal because your computer will format the card just as well, probably better (faster). I have the latest firmware, so SD, SDHC, whatever. They all work. I've used 1, 4, 8, and 16 GB cards with no problem. Haven't tried a 32GB card yet, but I expect no problems.

Second. Batteries are a tricky topic with M8 and M9. You can do the research, but I'll summarize: You absolutely NEED a battery of 1800mah or greater. There are many (too many) 3rd party batteries out there at 1600 or so, I found one at 1400mah once. Those will all cause you headaches at the best. If you have one of those, toss it. Never let it creep back into the world. It may be painful (expensive), but get one or more batteries that are 1800 or greater (Leica brand being your best bet). Most recent Leica batteries for M9 and friends are 1900mah. The later M8 pairings were 1860mah. Early M8 batteries were 1800mah. Regardless, your minimum threshold is 1800 unless you're a self-loathing masochist.

With all batteries, when I first receive them, I like to run them until the indicator on the top of the camera shows the battery is empty -- sometimes that will be 3 empty bars, sometimes that will be nothing because there's not enough charge in the battery to even register. Then fully charge up the battery. After that, I still like to run batteries to "empty", but you can recharge them before they die if you like and not suffer any problems (as long as they are greater than 1800mah batteries and you use the Leica charger).

So, the M8 has finicky issues just like those other digital M's after all! Fear not. This is nothing to panic about. Just format your SD card on your computer and use the correct spec battery and you'll have nothing but joy. That's almost how it is for me :)
 
Perhaps I wasn't clear in my last post. You don't need the camera to format your SD card at all. Just format the card in your computer and pop it in the camera -- all set. Go.
 
This means the camera is still on ancient firmware. Update it from Leica's website. It will give you far better Whitebalance too.
 
Just confirmed that as the problem, well... its still on 1.107 haha

Whew, why didn't I check that sooner?

My camera did not include a cable, is it just a standard usb? or I fear Ill have to wait.

Being only the Second owner, I guess the first gent didn't mind. He does have a rather nice site though! www.FrankIshman.com
 
Congratulations B-9, a dream came true for U.
For me , the M2 is it: no decoder rings (secret or not), no sd-card, no cables, no batteries.

(OK, secretly I also want a M8, or M9, but cannot afford it) ��
 
B-9 said:
Just confirmed that as the problem, well... its still on 1.107 haha

Whew, why didn't I check that sooner?

My camera did not include a cable, is it just a standard usb? or I fear Ill have to wait.

Being only the Second owner, I guess the first gent didn't mind. He does have a rather nice site though! www.FrankIshman.com
Click to expand...

No, you upgrade through the SD card. Follow the instructions to the letter.\Download and read the manual as well.
If the previous owner did not claim his IR filters, you can do so.
 
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