Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/06/20

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Subject: [Leica] If You Were Buying an M8 Today...
From: jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:15:59 +0530
References: <1345084597.6404041245524947387.JavaMail.root@sz0090a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> <D5E2F2EC-8EFD-4230-A766-FABE542F2B41@embarqmail.com> <36172e5a0906201822w46632494mae43a584d1d4a995@mail.gmail.com>

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
>


Replies: Reply from dennis at hale-pohaku.net (Dennis) ([Leica] If You Were Buying an M8 Today...)
Reply from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] If You Were Buying an M8 Today...)
In reply to: Message from john.o.newell at comcast.net (J. Newell) ([Leica] If You Were Buying an M8 Today...)
Message from ricc at embarqmail.com (Ric Carter) ([Leica] If You Were Buying an M8 Today...)
Message from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] If You Were Buying an M8 Today...)