Upgrading from an M8.2

Beemermark

Beemermark

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I've used Leica for maybe 40 years. Body upgrades used to happen very infrequently and it was easy to keep track of the differences between a IIC and a IIIF, or an M3 and M4. A few years ago I got into digital with an M8.2 and really like it. Unfortunately I have not been kind to it. I expect sooner or later (probably sooner) it's going to bite the dust. I would like to get a new (or slightly used) digital M but am blown away by all the different models coming out.

Is there a site that compares the current digital Ms in an easy to read tabular format?
 
Be sure to be aware of the M8/M9 sensor issues that have come up lately. However, there are a lot of newly repaired M9s out there on the market at the lowest prices M9s have ever been.
 
jsrockit said:
Be sure to be aware of the M8/M9 sensor issues that have come up lately. However, there are a lot of newly repaired M9s out there on the market at the lowest prices M9s have ever been.
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And Leica have said further "corrosion" issues will be covered by them even if not the original owner.
You have much research to do :D
 
Many different models with Leica?
As far as I'm concerned, there's only four:
M8
M9
M
Monochrom.

Of course there's the versions with slight upgrades (just like your 8.2), but it doesn't all matter a whole lot.

You should try and keep track of Canon or Nikon's lineup. They probably release around 15 camera's a year each!
 
ChrisLivsey said:
And Leica have said further "corrosion" issues will be covered by them even if not the original owner.
You have much research to do :D
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I have research to do or the OP? Just because Leica says it will cover the issue doesn't mean everyone wants to deal with that. I think it is important for the OP to know.
 
ChrisLivsey said:
even if not the original owner.
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I have a totally different experience, once I got a bad sensor M8.2 and was the second owner, under the European laws, Leica will not cover those repairs. :bang:
It might be different in the USA were they use a kind of passport that transfers the warranty to a new owner with the camera.

Btw from what I read the sensor of the M9 and M gave more issues than those of the M8.2 (first M8 were horrible too)
 
I've been trying real hard to upgrade my body but my wife likes me the way I Am! We're growing old together, just like my Leicas!

Another thought, get high quality scans from your film, Lots of scans can be made for the moola to upgrade.

Farm out the scans. Gives you more time to focus on making photographs.

Hope this helps you.
 
jsrockit said:
I have research to do or the OP? Just because Leica says it will cover the issue doesn't mean everyone wants to deal with that. I think it is important for the OP to know.
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The OP, no slights intended, and I agree the replacement indefinitely can't continue but that discussion is surely outside this thread?
 
Bill Clark said:
I've been trying real hard to upgrade my body but my wife likes me the way I Am! We're growing old together, just like my Leicas!

Another thought, get high quality scans from your film, Lots of scans can be made for the moola to upgrade.

Farm out the scans. Gives you more time to focus on making photographs.

Hope this helps you.
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I thought you were going to say that you want to upgrade your body but your wife won't let you buy a new camera. ;)

As far as film goes you have to buy the film and pay for processing.
 
Upgrading wife!

Upgrading wife!

If you can afford a Leica, you can afford to buy a two way tickets to a nice play with two hotel nights included. When the Leica shows up, pull the package with the tickets and give it to her. If she ask, you just tell her that it is the old camera that you sent for repair few months ago.

BTW, the M8 has no issues with the sensor, only the M9/P. My M9 was serviced by Leica (I am not original owner, but no questions were asked) and they changed sensor and CLAd it. M9 is a great camera, but I love my M8.2 a lot and it is my keeper for every day and b&w use:)
 
I upgraded to the first version of the M9 when I left the M8. I have used it for a good five years now and the M9's sensor (or filter stack) has now been replaced by Leica -- this was before the delamination problem became commonly known. But since the M9 came out, I have started to question whether upgrades, in fact the whole upgrade cycle, is really any good for consumers -- except in the sense that it keeps camera makers in business.

But I have spent some time reviewing my digital files going back to 2002 or so, and I can honestly say that there isn't a really good picture that is either made or broken as a result of the camera I used. And this is going all the way back to the digi-Rebel (up through the Epson RD-1, through the M8 to the M9 and Nikon D3. That M8 of yours is a serious picture making machine.

Does it seem to any of you all like the camera industry has become more like the fashion industry? Dependent on the success of this year's line to get to the next year of production?

Having said all that, if a new Monochrome with a delamination-proof sensor were to make its way to my home, I am sure I could put it to good use. Still, I have spent more money in the last five years on camera bodies than I did in the 20 that preceded it. And I have got to bend that curve back to something reasonable.

Mark: I have been trying to stay on an upgrade path that keeps me off the front lines,as it were. Digital IQ has been so good for so many years that using the model that has just gone out of fashion is a good way to save some money.

But, of course, that was just me. Mark, if you like the M8, you'll love any version of the M9. Good luck and let us know what you choose.

Ben
 
The Leica M-E for Euro 3,800 with free shipping within Europe. Two years warranty and free copy of Lightroom. Google Leica Berlin. Cheers, Peter
 
Beemermark said:
I've used Leica for maybe 40 years. Body upgrades used to happen very infrequently and it was easy to keep track of the differences between a IIC and a IIIF, or an M3 and M4. A few years ago I got into digital with an M8.2 and really like it. Unfortunately I have not been kind to it. I expect sooner or later (probably sooner) it's going to bite the dust. I would like to get a new (or slightly used) digital M but am blown away by all the different models coming out.

Is there a site that compares the current digital Ms in an easy to read tabular format?
Click to expand...

Leica M magic decoder ring:

M3, M2, M3P, M1, M4, M5, CL, M4-2, M4-P, M6, M6TTL, M7, MP, M-A ... the film M cameras from 1953 to the present.

M8, M8.2, M9, M9-P, M typ 240, M-E, M Monochrom, M-P typ 240, M Monochrom typ 246 ... the digital M cameras from 2006 to the present.

M3, M2, M3P, M4, M4-2, M4-P, M-A ... meterless film models, varying differences in viewfinder and film load arrangements.

M6, M6TTL, M7, MP ... include metering. M7 has electronic shutter and AE.

M8, M8.2 ... 1.3x crop sensor digital, 10 Mpixel, minor differences

M9, M9-P, M Monochrom, M-E ... FF sensor, 18 Mpixel. M9-P has upgraded cover glass and some styling differences. MM has the same as M-P but B&W only sensor. M-E is the same as an M9 but cost reduced without a USB port or frame line selector.

M/M-P240, MM246 ... FF sensor, 24 Mpixel. M-P has upgraded cover glass, styling difference, frame line selector, and added internal memory buffer. MM246 has all that and a new B&W only sensor.

If you're going to upgrade to a newer M now, buy an M/M-P typ 240 if you want to shoot color, or an MM246 if you only want to shoot B&W. These cameras are substantially improved over the M8 and M9 generation cameras. IMO, this is the first digital M series that fully realizes what I loved about using the film M cameras.

I had the M9 for three years and liked it, but never went gaga over it. When it needed a new sensor, I took Leica's offer and upgraded to the M-P. Absolutely love it. I ordered an MM246 as well to complement it. I'll be set with these two cameras for years to come.

G
 
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