Erl,
To answer your question, I did get a chance to handle the M8 over at Samys Camera. Ebi was very helpful in demonstrating the camera. This was before all the craziness broke out. I haven't had a chance to work with it but I am impressed with some of the images I've seen posted on the photo-forum especially the Black and White work. I am also impressed by the fact that you can make 20X30 prints (although I haven't seen one personally) with this camera without loss of detail. The consensus seems to be that it does an exceptional job producing big prints.
What has disappointed me is the fact that this camera was simply not street ready and it hit the markets any way. I've never read about a camera having so many problems before, and I guess my disappointment comes from the desire I had to purchase the camera. I was really reallly really really looking forward to the M8! I like the Leica rangefinder thing, I don't get excited about using my DSLR although it delivers, and thus my disappointment.
I would have liked a digital M now rather than later, but I am not one of those people who can lay out $4800.00 for a camera that still needs significant fine tuning. I think Leica blew it. They should have been honest about disclosing the magenta problem before it was discovered by the Leica community. I still maintain that was a FIASCO for Leica.
My strategy now is to wait. Perhaps I'll have to wait for an M9. What ever the situation, I won't be buying a Leica digital M until all this stuff is cleared up. Perhaps next year???? Time will tell.
For those of you who are happy with what you got, I'm happy for you! As I said earlier, in the Black and White arena I am really impressed, which only makes the wait harder.
Cheers,
Wilfredo+
Benitez-Rivera Photography