Avotius
Some guy
I find myself at a crossroads once again. The M8 is a camera I have always lusted after. I bought a Olympus EP1 thinking I could cure my digital M mount fever with that, nope. not even close.
So I have had a good couple of months and got a good chunk of change sitting around now. I am once again thinking about jumping for an M8 and then selling off the EP1 and my M6 (but keeping my R2A...maybe) to offset some of the cost.
M8's show up here frequently. I must admit I am tempted. They are about 1500-2000 dollars cheaper on RFF (in the states) than here and my old man can bring me one next month.
But M8's are also pretty old tech now a day, not that it bothers me that much since it still takes a good picture, and megapixles dont bother me. Filters do kind of but they should be easy to find.
Anyway enough blathering, would you buy a used M8 now?
So I have had a good couple of months and got a good chunk of change sitting around now. I am once again thinking about jumping for an M8 and then selling off the EP1 and my M6 (but keeping my R2A...maybe) to offset some of the cost.
M8's show up here frequently. I must admit I am tempted. They are about 1500-2000 dollars cheaper on RFF (in the states) than here and my old man can bring me one next month.
But M8's are also pretty old tech now a day, not that it bothers me that much since it still takes a good picture, and megapixles dont bother me. Filters do kind of but they should be easy to find.
Anyway enough blathering, would you buy a used M8 now?
totifoto
Well-known
I would not buy one.
I had one for a few months and it was a lot of fun but in the end it just made me love my M6 even more.
I had one for a few months and it was a lot of fun but in the end it just made me love my M6 even more.
porktaco
Well-known
for $1, of course
for $10,000, of course not
it really depends on price
for $10,000, of course not
it really depends on price
back alley
IMAGES
not unless it was a really good deal.
i'd be more inclined to get an m8.2 though.
i'd be more inclined to get an m8.2 though.
Harril
Member
I also wan´t buy M8 or M8,2, it´s daydream, but now i only use my E-P1 with few old Hexanon lenses. But one day...
P
Peter S
Guest
Here in Holland the prices are also coming down and I am having the same struggle. I actually took a M8 for a test drive twice, once before and once after the M9 was announced. Did not like how it felt (thicker than the M6) the crop factor was also not to my taste, IR filters are definitely needed and you will also have to hand code your lenses. All in all, a so so experience (but we all have different tastes/preferences)
I have decided to wait till Photokina to see whether a new Digilux 2 may be announced (dreaming) and if not to continue saving for the M10. By the time that camera will be announced (my guess 2-3 years from now) I should have enough money and also I hope it will be a more mature digital rangefinder. The M9, full frame and all is a product that Leica put on the market because they had to do something. I think the engineers/designers would have loved to have had another year to come up with a more refined/up to date product. In my eyes the M9 is already old technology and the M8 even more so. A couple of thousand dollars for a camera body is a lot of money and I can only spend such an amount once every few years so i decided to wait. Until then very happy with my M6's and Coolscan and canon S90
I have decided to wait till Photokina to see whether a new Digilux 2 may be announced (dreaming) and if not to continue saving for the M10. By the time that camera will be announced (my guess 2-3 years from now) I should have enough money and also I hope it will be a more mature digital rangefinder. The M9, full frame and all is a product that Leica put on the market because they had to do something. I think the engineers/designers would have loved to have had another year to come up with a more refined/up to date product. In my eyes the M9 is already old technology and the M8 even more so. A couple of thousand dollars for a camera body is a lot of money and I can only spend such an amount once every few years so i decided to wait. Until then very happy with my M6's and Coolscan and canon S90
I just purchased an M8.2 because I wimped out on spending M9 money. I personally wouldn't purchase the original M8 these days unless it was dirt cheap... i just hated those loose framelines. The M8.2 has tighter framelines that are more accurate. The M8 just feels like a better camera as well.
Last edited:
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
They still aren’t ‘dirt cheap’ - but low enough now that you are likely to recoup most of your investment should you decide to sell/trade-up. As long as you are willing to commit to IR/CUT filters and six-bit code all of your lenses (a self coding kit will do), then I would say go for it.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
M9 users agree the M9 is a pretty mature product....Here in Holland the prices are also coming down and I am having the same struggle. I actually took a M8 for a test drive twice, once before and once after the M9 was announced. Did not like how it felt (thicker than the M6) the crop factor was also not to my taste, IR filters are definitely needed and you will also have to hand code your lenses. All in all, a so so experience (but we all have different tastes/preferences)
I have decided to wait till Photokina to see whether a new Digilux 2 may be announced (dreaming) and if not to continue saving for the M10. By the time that camera will be announced (my guess 2-3 years from now) I should have enough money and also I hope it will be a more mature digital rangefinder. The M9, full frame and all is a product that Leica put on the market because they had to do something. I think the engineers/designers would have loved to have had another year to come up with a more refined/up to date product. In my eyes the M9 is already old technology and the M8 even more so. A couple of thousand dollars for a camera body is a lot of money and I can only spend such an amount once every few years so i decided to wait. Until then very happy with my M6's and Coolscan and canon S90
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
Yes I would. I'd suggest an M8.2 if you could swing that. But otherwise, I'd buy an M8.
I've owned several over the past few years. They can be quirky cameras - there is no doubt. But they also are wonderful photographic tools.
My one bit of advice: Be sure to get at least one, if not two, extra batteries. It's great to have the extra power supply, but those extra batteries also come in hand if the camera happens to go into one of those unexplained lock-ups. I find that changing batteries generally cures it.
I've owned several over the past few years. They can be quirky cameras - there is no doubt. But they also are wonderful photographic tools.
My one bit of advice: Be sure to get at least one, if not two, extra batteries. It's great to have the extra power supply, but those extra batteries also come in hand if the camera happens to go into one of those unexplained lock-ups. I find that changing batteries generally cures it.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
I love mine. It has entirely replaced my M7, in fact.
ramosa
B&W
i have an M8 and have no interest in an M8.2, nor any current interest in an M9. the benefits of the M8.2 are small, and the price of the M9 is way too much (for me at this point). despite the presence of the M8.2 and M9, the M8 is a and not outdated in a substantial way ...
i'd recommend it ... unless you have the means to get an M9.
i'd recommend it ... unless you have the means to get an M9.
tlitody
Well-known
no I wouldn't
_mark__
Well-known
Never, I would buy a used 5D mkII with a nice prime L lens.
pevelg
Well-known
Yes, though I am going for the M8.2
peter_n
Veteran
No! Special filters, reliability issues etc, who needs it?
Vickko
Veteran
Yes. Here's why:
- I'd buy if I could get a year or so warranty. Leica was selling refurb units pretty regularly, at really good prices. I would NOT buy if there wasn't a warranty
- it is still far far cheaper than the M9. And the M8 has different features than the M9, namely the faster shutter (to 1/8000, great for getting at those large f-stops that you paid so much for)
- it "doubles" my stable of Leica lenses, and yes, UV/IR filters are a nuisance, but not that much of a nuisance. I like using my Leica glass at the longer effective focal length
- you can buy adapters, and have even more fun with other glass, like LTM and Nikon RF glass.
I had an RD1, and always wished that it was an M8. I have a GF1 too, but it handles quite a bit differently than the M8. It makes me wish the M8 was auto-focus, but, that is a completely different story. I bought the 4/3-Leica adapter, but haven't used it yet.
Buy the M8, if you've always wanted one. It is a lot of fun.
And, if you don't like it, at least you know, from first hand experience.
...Vick
- I'd buy if I could get a year or so warranty. Leica was selling refurb units pretty regularly, at really good prices. I would NOT buy if there wasn't a warranty
- it is still far far cheaper than the M9. And the M8 has different features than the M9, namely the faster shutter (to 1/8000, great for getting at those large f-stops that you paid so much for)
- it "doubles" my stable of Leica lenses, and yes, UV/IR filters are a nuisance, but not that much of a nuisance. I like using my Leica glass at the longer effective focal length
- you can buy adapters, and have even more fun with other glass, like LTM and Nikon RF glass.
I had an RD1, and always wished that it was an M8. I have a GF1 too, but it handles quite a bit differently than the M8. It makes me wish the M8 was auto-focus, but, that is a completely different story. I bought the 4/3-Leica adapter, but haven't used it yet.
Buy the M8, if you've always wanted one. It is a lot of fun.
And, if you don't like it, at least you know, from first hand experience.
...Vick
rsosa
Established
nope, will wait for M9 or later
gdmcclintock
Well-known
I purchased a M8 from Photo Village in NYC about 7 months ago. Usually I use uncoded lenses with IR filters, Hexanon-M 28mm and Biogon 35mm. Even if I had the money, M9s are not available right now, apparently. I am delighted with the camera and am not sure I will upgrade when the M9 is available.