Why Leica??? would ship when they knew

[Kim Coxon]

I rather suspect that the larger part of Leica's sales is to the weel heeled who also buy deseighner clothes etc. I don't think Leica could survive on the "enthusiast" market alone but as long as it keeps them in business and provides a supply of second hand what does it matter.

Kim

The true spirit of Leica? They have been presenting "special editions" to royalty and the likes for fifty years and more. I would say it is a part of Leica culture to beat the the Celeb marketing drum.Not that I like the practice or approve of it.

 

[ywenz]

The true spirit of Leica? They have been presenting "special editions" to royalty and the likes for fifty years and more. I would say it is a part of Leica culture to beat the the Celeb marketing drum.Not that I like the practice or approve of it.

I'm saying it'd be a shame if they are introducing a uniquly new product with the main goal of attracting a customer base consisting of people like our buddy seal, who self admittadly that he doesn't mind M8's issues, and Leica is more of a status symbol to have around the neck.. Why would Leica spend effort on QC and good solid design when seal and the likes of him are happily buying them up?

I'm also reminded of the picture of Posh Spice pointing at the papparazi. DLUX-2 with the lens cap on.. I wonder why the flash popped up...

 

[fgianni]

My M8 has a build-quality unlike any 35mm-class-camera,

Well you can play footie in the mud with an 1V, 1D or 1DS, wipe out the dirt and continue shooting afterwards, with the M8, you'll have to stop shooting as soon as the rain starts, or take a huge risk.

 

[varjag]

DLUX-2 with the lens cap on.. I wonder why the flash popped up...

Because the camera thought it was dark there? 🙂

 

[Ben Z]

sorry but I dont understand why Leica would ship a camera when knowing the leica m8 had not just a occasional blurp but deep inherent issues that amature or proffesionals would detect with in 100 frames.

The streaks from bright lights could have been something that happened in a final tweak and wasn't caught. It's costing Leica a lot of money having to recall the entire first batch, but the problem is being fixed internally for the customer, so IMHO that's a done deal and time to move on.

The IR thing is a horse of a different color (magenta? 😀 ). There I'm afraid I've been around the block too many times since I fell off the turnip truck not to have a strong suspicion of what went on.

Leica says they knew about the IR thing, that it was a compromise they made in the interest of image quality. If they are being truthful, then that means they knew front filters would be needed from the get go. Had they said so, they probably feared the M8 would be stillborn before it left the factory. So they got them into peoples' hands, hoping that the Leica fans would find enough to love about the M8 they would eventually resign quietly to having to use the filters. Whether that will be the case in enough numbers that they don't have to redesign the M8 with a stronger IR filter remains to be seen, right now it's too early to tell. I can only speak for one previously 99.9% decided buyer they lost, me. 🙁

 

[bab]

The Ir Fliter Doesnt Fit What Should We Do Now Wally?

The Ir Fliter Doesnt Fit What Should We Do Now Wally?

After reading the popphoto article with the response from Leica it would seem to me that Leica had the body ready to go and the damm filter wouldnt fit and focus properly so they made it thinner and put it in a box for five g .

anyway there was this response from a reader on the pop photo forum and i had to laugh but the comment sums it up well

"Considering the cost of this camera, and Leica's reputation as the best of the best of the best...this kind of glaring problem is completely unacceptable. I guess no one testing the camera ever shot anything black?? "

CHEERS!🙂

 

[jaapv]

After reading the popphoto article with the response from Leica it would seem to me that Leica had the body ready to go and the damm filter wouldnt fit and focus properly so they made it thinner and put it in a box for five g .

anyway there was this response from a reader on the pop photo forum and i had to laugh but the comment sums it up well

"Considering the cost of this camera, and Leica's reputation as the best of the best of the best...this kind of glaring problem is completely unacceptable. I guess no one testing the camera ever shot anything black?? "

CHEERS!🙂

This kind of comment is getting wearysome.Did you ever use a M8? Did you ever even see one? Or any Leica? Or a print from a M8? The camera is backordered for many months. The gallery is full of good images, some of them great. I'll let you in on a little secret. It is one of the best digital camera's on the market. And if not for you- there are plenty of easier ones out there. And if you can't tell the difference, that is thousands of dollars saved.

 

[bab]

Jaap

dont mean to upset you i realize you own a M8 and I am sorry your on the bleeding edge...i did that for years and remember how foolish a beta consumer feels. Especially right after spending money on what you thought was the best and two months later the company releases upgraded product and you stuck.

My comments are not for you because your opinon is bias, would you care to discuss the benfits of distrubuting faulty products after having one of the better reputations in the industry for 1/2 a century and having worldly photographers and induviduals using your products.

PS. I have owned more 20 Leicas and many lenses my dissing is of sadness because I was looking forward to owning one again

Respectfully BARRY

 

[aad]

For what it may be worth, the M8 pictures look great. If I were going to buy a high end digital, this is likely the one. I'm not sure what all the noise is really about anyway-if you didn't buy one, none of this should bother you.

 

[John Camp]

I'm also reminded of the picture of Posh Spice pointing at the papparazi. DLUX-2 with the lens cap on.. I wonder why the flash popped up...

Few people know that Posh Spice is also a well-known war photographer, working under the nom-de-photo of James Nachtwey. She just wants to keep her "fun" life separate from the more serious aspects of her work, so give the girl a break, huh?

JC

 

[Harry Lime]

Well you can play footie in the mud with an 1V, 1D or 1DS, wipe out the dirt and continue shooting afterwards, with the M8, you'll have to stop shooting as soon as the rain starts, or take a huge risk.

I'm still baffled that they didn't weather seal the M8.

That annoys me more than the IR issue, because there is no simple fix for this issue.

I've also had this complaint about their film cameras. This spring I shot a documentary in New Orleans and battled dust as fine as talcum powder, which got into everything. As a result I supplemented my kit with a Canon 1-v. Shot with it in the pouring down rain two weeks ago and it worked like a charm.

 

[jaapv]

Jaap

dont mean to upset you i realize you own a M8 and I am sorry your on the bleeding edge...i did that for years and remember how foolish a beta consumer feels. Especially right after spending money on what you thought was the best and two months later the company releases upgraded product and you stuck.

My comments are not for you because your opinon is bias, would you care to discuss the benfits of distrubuting faulty products after having one of the better reputations in the industry for 1/2 a century and having worldly photographers and induviduals using your products.

PS. I have owned more 20 Leicas and many lenses my dissing is of sadness because I was looking forward to owning one again

Respectfully BARRY

Thanks for your concern 🙂. However, my point is that I may be on a cutting edge, but it certainly does not bleed. My camera is troublefree, except for a minor glitch in the very beginning,even if it had the banding problem (I seldomly take photographs of grossly overexposed lights against a black background at 1250 ISO) that will be fixed and all it takes is a 60$ filter to get digital captures that are amongst the best in the 135 class if not the best as some reliable sources claim. No beta-tester blues here, or it would be that I will have to send the camera to Solms for an upgrade for two weeks sometime next spring. It has rapidly made itself into my constant companion.