Five photographers who still use the M8

<p>The M8 is special.<br>

Leica quickly abandoned the concept.<br>

Parts as mentioned by Gus, the coming battery problem.<br>

Way better cameras for less money, with support.<br>

Stop seeing Leica as "Leitz".<br>

It's not about lifetime service but to next model.</p>

<p>At $5,195 I paid for my M262 a few months ago, I expect at least double the life of most every other digital camera I use, if not longer. 8-10 years, or $500-$650 per year for a digital camera isn't all that bad at all. Anything beyond would be gravy. I pretty much expect the same service from the M9 I bought second-hand and just had the sensor replaced.</p>

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<p>I met a busy international photojournalist a couple of years ago, he regularly gets published in Report on Business Magazine in Canada, and works a lot around Asia. He has an M8 and one lens. That's it.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I tend to think of myself as 'minimalist'. No flash, no bulky SLR, no superfast lenses, etc. I was mistaken. <em>This</em> is minimalism at its finest. ;-) I'm going to guess that his lens is either a 24mm or a 28mm.<br>

<br>

Not that this kind of minimalism is new. HCB usually had one lens with him most of the time.</p>

<p>I think the M8 battery wil have to be around for a while. They discontinued the M-E just over a year ago. Same battery. B&H has them in stock. I'm not sure I see reason for worry. Now *parts* - that's another problem - or future problem. I agree with that. The international photojournalist with one lens? I'm guessing a 35mm. Cheers and again - good luck with your photography!!</p>

Batteries are easy fixes. Leica had supply problems with the display screens- but unless you smash it, the worst issue is

discoloration.<p>

 

<img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7601/16826256047_1d2d7e8237_o.jpg" width="1024" height="682" alt="I1015897">

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Leica M8 with an Orange Filter, blue channel gets IR only. M8RAW2DNG, custom demosaic routine that i wrote in Fortran.

<p>

 

Unique capability due to the 5% leakage in the IR cover glass. As close to IR Ektachrome that I can get without having a custom sensor made to spec. Have not done that since 1992.<p>

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<p>the M8 is relevant today - unlike almost every single digital camera from 2006</p>

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<p>Utter nonsense. Even if the M8 was a flawless camera (and anyone with half a brain knows the M8 is far from flawless), that comment would still be utter nonsense. Yes it's relevant, but so are countless other digital cameras from 2006 and earlier. </p>

<p>I regularly shoot with my old Canon EOS 1D MkII. That's older than the M8, cheaper than the M8, has no IR issues and continues to pump out beautiful 8MP images from its APS-H sensor.</p>

<p>Gus: I meant you with my reply that everybody has an opinion. You have an opinion, and others have also opinions that may be different from yours. </p>

<p>Taking Gus hand and walking him into the real world.</p>

<p>If you can afford a Leica; why would you care if in some future date, it becomes obsolete....have a little think..</p>

<p>And why would you want a Sony PlayStation?</p>

<p>Big honking inferior lenses.</p>

<p>More buttons than a PlayStation...ugly. Overheats and has poor auto focus compared with a mid range DSLR....and hey, a new version out tomorrow morning.</p>

<p>You just have to wonder what they have to do with photography....or, are they are about selling unnecessary technology to those who think the camera is all about photography.</p>

<p>Im now a" master of photography" because my camera has 42 million pixels. Just wonder how those old masters managed without the Sony A7 and 42 million pixels.</p>

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<p>Big honking inferior lenses.</p>

 

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<p>You can use Leica M lenses on the A7</p>

 

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<p>More buttons than a PlayStation...ugly.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Still better looking than the M5</p>

 

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<p>has poor auto focus compared with a mid range DSLR</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Has better autofocus than any Leica M camera in history.</p>

 

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<p>are they are about selling unnecessary technology to those who think the camera is all about photography.</p>

 

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<p>For something with unnecessary technology, Sony have sold more A7 cameras than all the digital M bodies put together.</p>

 

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<p>Just wonder how those old masters managed without the Sony A7 and 42 million pixels.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Probably the same way Sony users manage without a Hasselblad and a Phase One 100MP digital back.</p>

 

<p>"Big honking inferior lenses." Allen</p>

<p>"You can use Leica M lenses on the A7"James<br>

　<br>

Well, reading my web mates posts (Edward In gold) who has both cameras he stated categorically/spiritually that Leica lenses, paticularythe wide angles, do not work very well on the Sony. I believe him as his knowledge on Sony PlayStations is amazing. He also posted some photos from both cameras annd agreed that the Sony photos looked somewhat cold and clinical.</p>

<p>"Still better looking than the M5" James.<br>

　<br>

It depends on your tastes some folk particulary like the playstation look...all that shiny plastic and cheap metal.<br>

　<br>

"For something with unnecessary technology, Sony have sold more A7 cameras than all the digital M bodies put together"James.</p>

<p>So Macdonalds probably has sold more burgers that most decent restuarent put together...cheap fast food, low wage bill; thats the place to be to turn a coin:)<br>

　<br>

"Just wonder how those old masters managed without the Sony A7 and 42 million pixels".</p>

<p>Probably the same way Sony users manage without a Hasselblad and a Phase One 100MP digital back James.</p>

<p>Cant help thinking, if they had 100mp, what fantastic photographers they would be...hey, blow ups the size of...they could reach the cloads.<br>

　<br>

Thanks for the entertainment, James...all in good humour. Im just a sucker for these "my cam is better than yours" posts. Indeed one of my all time favourite photographers mostly uses a iphone( sort of like Henri Carter Bresson who embraced new technology) not much more simple than a iPhone.<br>

　<br>

Anway, Im still working out how to use the controller on my playstation....so I can play FIFA.</p>

<p>PS</p>

<p>A Leica M can focus quicker that any camera yet made especially with wide angle lenses. Why, if you use the f8 infinity setting you don't need to focus.</p>

<p>Can"t get much quicker than that. </p>

<p>"Still better looking than the M5" - Jamie Robertson<br>

As a fan of the M5, them's fightin' words, Jamie :)</p>

<img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8418/29742446184_6276165d40_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="Picked the

Wrong CornField to Invade!"><p>

 

I find the latency on the Leica to be low.<p>

 

How is it on the other cameras mentioned?<p>

<p>To those Leica M8 fans who are still fighting it:<br>

My "<em>fair & balanced</em>" factual contribution to this discussion is simply about possible buyers and "<em><strong>Caveat emptor"...</strong></em></p>

I've never had a fight with my Leica M8. It has worked perfectly during 7 years of ownership.<p>

 

As far as buyer beware- Leica has shown stronger support for it's cameras than most manufacturers, including repair work

and firmware updates YEARS after the camera was discontinued. Buying any camera- get a warranty or return privilege.<p>

 

1952 Jupiter-3 5cm F1.5, wide-open. <p>

 

<img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1459/24861910840_0a35963d05_o.jpg" width="682" height="1024" alt="Warm February Day"><p>

 

<img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/2/1461/25384299284_f37d4407d1_o.jpg" width="1024" height="682" alt="Spring Day"><p>

 

I have and use a lot of cameras, DSLR, Mirrorless, and Rangefinder.<p>

 

Use what works best for you. Leica works best for me, and the M8 has never let me down.Other cameras have.<p>

<p>Those of us who have, use, and have used the M8 generally love to use it, love the results and easily accept its quirks and limitations, as with any photographic tool of choice. It has proven itself to them (myself included) time and again.</p>

<p>Having said that, I can understand the point Gus is trying to make. I'll admit, when I decided to take the plunge for an M8 two years ago, it wasn't without a bit of "roll of the dice" angst. But I did a lot of research and went into the purchase with my eyes fully open, fully aware of the potential pitfalls. There is a mountain of information on the web (LUF and RFF especially, but also here at PN), where just about everything and anything that has and can happen (it's been ten years after all) is documented and discussed repeatedly. The common problems are known; it's up to the buyer to ask the questions to make an informed decision. It's a risk versus gain scenario, and it was a calculated risk I was willing to take; I got my M8 from the Bay with no warranty from a private seller, having asked the relevant questions about its history. My case worked out fine, my M8 has been a faithful and trustworthy servant. As with any purchase of any used camera, variations and risk exist.</p>

<p>Brian's point is also well taken; a warranty and/or return privilege removes a high degree of that risk for added peace of mind.</p>

<p>And lastly, from the latest information I've seen, Leica still repairs and has all parts for the M8 <em>except</em> the display.</p>

<p><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3888/15395129012_072b4a7dfe_k.jpg"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3888/15395129012_84774eb601_c.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>

<p>R72 Filter, 50/2.8 Elmar-M, IR handheld, 1/24 sec, ISO 1250</p>

<p>Here's somewhat of an example of what I'm talking about.<br /> A response from a young person who experienced a shutter failure on his M8 - "<em>Leica Forum</em>" February 2016:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>"Well, just got the ring from Leica today, $4500 Australian dollars to repair my camera, 2x what I paid for initially. I saved for 3 years <strong>(I'm only a student) and sacrificed so much</strong> to get that camera and kit for it and now its thrown in my face. Look for some nice kit in the classified's over the next week. Safe to say I'm pretty much over Leica" <strong> <em>Kallum R.</em></strong></p>

</blockquote>

I followed KallumR's saga... turns out he claimed the broken camera against his homeowners insurance, sold it for parts

then used the money to buy a M8.2 (with low shutter activations) plus a lens! Sounds like he got over his being over

Leica...

<p>Well, Allan, I have made a vaguely similar mistake: I once wrote, on these forums, that I would never use film again, so enamoured was I by digital technology, and so ignorant was I about what film's performance level actually was, even though I have shot a huge variety of emulsions.<br /><br />I think a company such as Leica really ought to be more helpful than that, although of course I do not know the full story of Kallum's dealings with the company. I'm not saying that Leica should be responsible for all cameras that are out of warranty, but it should operate in a manner that matches our visions and expectations of the company.</p>

<p>I agree with Gus. The Leica M8 was an interim solution for Leica while they produced a real digital M solution, the M9. To me, choosing this camera to buy today would be a somewhat bizarre over-obsession with the red dot that would just not be prudent. I am sure you can take great shots with it, but the idea somehow that the M8 is somehow more relevant today than when it came out strikes me as total fanboy talk.</p>

The M8 is about 1/2 the cost of the M9- $1K vs $2K at the low-end. It's 3 years older. It's the lowest price of any Leica

Digital M camera. the RD-1 cost less, but not by much. The M8 is 10MPixels, the RD-1 is 6MPixels. I suggested the

M8 for a friend of mine about 18 months ago. It's the first rangefinder camera that he has owned. A few months ago he

sent me this:

 

"Just returned from a trip I've been wanting to make since being about 9

yrs old; Yellowstone and Grand Teton Natl Park. I took one camera with

me, the M8, and two lenses; 5cm Sonnar and 35mm Ultron. Some samples of

my photos are attached. I purposefully added vignetting to the Grand

Teton photo.

 

Completely love the M8. The process of using it definitely causes much

greater consideration in framing a picture. Rather than taking a

multitude of pictures, I take much fewer and find myself much more

pleased with the result.

 

Oh, I now always shoot with RAW mode and then use M8RAW2DNG."

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<p>but the idea somehow that the M8 is somehow more relevant today than when it came out strikes me as total fanboy talk</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Who said that?<br>

<br>

Brian, interesting story. Not only are the files very sharp, but the file sizes are also very small, too. And the good thing is that if you are still using Aperture, which is no longer supported, you can still use it to edit files from the M8/M9 (and many older cameras).</p>

<p>Allan, I like your photo.</p>

<p>" but the idea somehow that the M8 is somehow more relevant today than when it came out strikes me as total fanboy talk" Robin.</p>

<p>Who said that? only you Robin.</p>

<p>The red dot thing and fanboy stuff is old history; the same name calling is used on all manufactures.</p>

<p>With any secondhand cameras the manufacturers, might or might not , have the parts available. It was not so long ago that Nikon had a problem with lubricants leaking into their D800 sensors which they initially refused to acknowledge...I suspect there are many D800's still out there with that problem.</p>

<p>For what I have read Sony have not yet received a gold star for customer support...I just wonder how long they will continue to support older Sony A7's? I just get the impression they are more about moving boxes that customer support and service.</p>

<p>From my personal experience Leica has been supportive. When my X1 had a problem(pop up flash stayed up) out of warranty they repaired it free of charge within 7 days of it being sent off.</p>

<p>Lets have a think about Leica.</p>

<p>Robin.</p>

<p>1, Their premium products are made in Germany where a honest wage is paid to their staff.<br>

2. It is obvious, because of that fact alone, their cameras are going to be more expensive.<br>

3. Like any expensive products they are going to appeal to the wealthy and Leica will market their products to this market. Why, because like most Companies they need to make a profit.<br>

4. This does not mean their product is only for the wealthy.<br>

5.The wealthy will also buy top of the range Canons/Nikons...they particularly like those big white Canon lenses which are far more popular than any Leica camera.<br>

6.All cameras are now produced in Asia, Leica is the last of European manufactures; do we really want them to go out of business.<br>

7, Folk are still using M8's, not just because of the red dot, but because the results the camera is giving them.<br>

8. Because a camera is expensive it does not mean folks have to do the jealous thing....not all Leica owners have gold pockets they just like the RF thing.<br>

9. Leica support and serve is at least equal to any other manufacturer, and from my experience, better...they tend to value their customers.<br>

Just a few thoughts.</p>

<p>Ps</p>

<p>A Leica will not make you a better photographer only you can do that. Its just a camera...a tool.</p>