Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/06/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Would you buy a M8 or a Lumix G1 - the latter is available here at around US$800 new from Panasonic? This is what I am debating right now. Cheers Jayanand On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 6:52 AM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com>wrote: > If it helps, Stefan Daniel at Leica has just stated categorically (at > dinner > in Germany) that there will be no further new versions of the M8 (although > they are aiming for an M9 and M10 eventually if possible). > Firmware development for the M8 will continue. > The upgrade options are still available with current prices on Leica's > website. > You can have your camera upgraded or serviced if desired by sending > directly > to Leica customer service in Solms. > Aimed turnaround within the workshop is 5 days (plus transport and handling > obviously). > > I asked about booking an upgrade date while visiting. Since I was visiting > from afar, Leica upgraded my camera for collection the NEXT BUSINESS DAY > and > did not even charge me any express service fees. > They also volunteered to check my 50 & 75 against the new focus calibration > measurements from my reassembled M8 (I got shutter and framelines > upgrades). > "Your lenses are good but we can make them better" > Customer service then loaned me an M8.2 on the spot to use over the weekend > while my camera was in the workshop. > By the way the electronic and optical measurement and calibration of the > individual body is done on a very sophisticated and precise rig on 8 > optical > targets set out at .7m, .9m etc and out. > > I shot with my M8, then 500 frames with the M8.2 then back to my M8.1 > (upgrade) for another 500 frames or so over the next couple of days. > So I got a good chance to compare the versions directly in close > succession. > Incidentally I got unlimited access to the new wides from the Akadamie over > the weekend too and shot them on the M8.2. > > My impressions on the different versions: > On price for me in Australia, the upgrades are more economical than buying > a > new M8 vs. a new M8.2. Based on the used/demo or selling my M8 first, price > difference would be even larger. > Obviously you have to do your own sums. > On framelines the upgrade or M8.2 suit me much better at typical shooting > distances. That is I am not constantly allowing for the overly tight > framing > of the original in my style of shooting. Its quite noticeable when shot one > after the other. > On shutter speeds I don't care about the loss of 1/8000th nor the slower > flash synch speed. I do really appreciate the much more M6 like soft > shutter > operation and recocking sound. > That is Brians' fault. After handling his M8.2 I was conscious of the > louder > sounds from my original shutter everytime. > By the way I shot candids with the new shutter at less than 2 metres with > no > disturbance of the subjects at all. More importantly it's just a really > satisfying soft sound. I can't emphasis enough how much more pleasing it is > for me. > The shutter speed dial of the upgrade is actually better than the M8.2 in > my > view. There is no Snapshot mode, which I found was too easily selected > instead of A if changing quickly. I think that the S mode is of very > limited > utility to enthusiasts anyway. > The M8.2 in its black paint is a prettier camera to my taste. I use mine in > a half case so I don't miss the newer less slippery covering and I can live > without the pretty paint. But it is pretty..sob. In chrome there is nothing > in that of course and I think that they are pretty cameras too that will > resist wear very well. But if you want the classic Leica brass showing > through black paint experience..... > Anway, just get an M8, any M8 now, if you are pining for one and can > assemble the required funds. > > > . > 2009/6/21 Ric Carter <ricc at embarqmail.com> > > > > > On Jun 20, 2009, at 3:09 PM, J. Newell wrote: > > > >> > >> If you were buying an M8 today... > >> > > > > > > VERY recent buyer > > > > > >> (1) Would you (buy an M8)? Or would you buy an M8.2, or neither? > >> > > > > > > I got a factory used/demo M8 and am very satisfied. One year factory > > guarantee--same as new but for cosmetics > > > > If I were not cost concerned, the black 8.2 is one of the prettiest > cameras > > I've ever seen. I'd get that AND an M8 (old shutter) for the Noctilux. > > > > > > > >> (2) What would you be concerned about? > >> > > > > > > > > You cannot frame precisely with the M8 viewfinder--do not know about the > > M8.2. It may only be that I have never been able to do instant > comparisons > > before. > > > > I like the 1/8000 of the M8 shutter--one more stop at which I can use the > > Noctilux and Nokton 1.2 wide open--really IS a big deal. M8.2 or updated > > shutter drops to 1/4000. This is the one advantage to the M8 that I see > > other than cost. > > > > > >> (3) What would you expect to pay, roughly, in US$ for a used body? > (I've > >> done the online search and have an idea of dealer price ranges) > >> > >> > >> > > get a dealer to call and ask about availability on demo > > > > > > $2500? > > > > > > > >> Thinking...dissatisfied with scanning negs... > >> > >> > >> > > I did not realize HOW tired I was of processing/scanning until getting > the > > M8 > > > > ric > > > > > > > > > >> John Newell > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > -- > Cheers > Geoff > 'Life's not B&W, except at both ends' > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/ > http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >