[SJP]

Back to the topic at hand - what are his points actually?

Framelines - depends on whether you prefer missing some shots due to inadvertent loss of info, the current framelines make sure you get it all & you can crop afterwards. If you are switching beteen film and m8 then I can see that this could be annoying.

Controls - on/off stiffness can be adjusted by Leica or maybe someone can make a 'locking device'? Back - adjusting ISO by accident is very unlikely (set, set, scroll to different iso, set). Is there a multi button press fast iso change that we do not know of? So wrong ISO is strange but having recessed buttons does make sense for this type of situation. A transparent rubber sticker of 2-3 mm thick with holes at the location of the buttors would solve this more elegantly than gaffer tape.

Exposure controls - maybe manual control would be better? I normally tend to use A but when it gets tight then manual control is more consistent & faster. I can see the point that the selector does not have a detent so counting is impossible. EDIT: in fact the A setting is stiffer than the other shutter dial settings - I get 100% reliable blindfold A setting, admittedly in the comfort of my house not in a war zone bouncing over potholes with bullets and worse flying overhead.

Color correction: he was using the old firmware, not an issue anymore

Automatic exposure: use manual or AE-lock when dealing with highlights

Speeds in finder - OK that should be possible in firmware

Low light capability - I agree that a higher ISO would be nice but ISO 2500 is useable if neccesary (esp. B&W), no fast & wide lens OK we need one. The 28 cron is fast and wide but not wide enough for some. However the examples of low light performance shown are atypical. Just check the web for low light examples using the M8 - there are plenty.

Buffer and sluggishness: he was using jpg, that is a bad idea in general. The M8 should not be used with in camera jpg unless you are on a leasurely holiday, and even then its a bad idea. Use DNG only and run the files though a fast DNG to jpg converter on your computer. When I went to a demo of the M8 after the first shot I tried I asked the guy to switch the jpg option off as the camera seemed far too slow (and that was the old firmware, new firmware is even slower). The next thing I did was to buy the camera & use DNG only.

Overall sluggishness: see previous.

SD card removal: for me the retro-base is fine, making an alternative base with a 'door' for battery and SD card I believe has been done already. Maybe Leica should consider this as an option (a-la-carte in gold)?

Filters: OK but he needs to calculate the price difference with normal (non IR) filters which I am sure he uses to protect his lenses. That would be about half the amount he mentions?

Lack of depth of field: this is weird - the same lens & aperture on the M8 has a smaller DOF due to the smaller circle of confusion compared to film. In the photo's he shows he compares a 21 ASPH on M8 with a 24mm on the 5D, presumably at different apertures but these are not mentioned (EDIT: 2.8 for the 21, 1.4 for the Canon 24 f/1.4 L? Then it is apples and pears.)

Build quality: I find the build quality excellent - but others have had issues. Service seems to be improving in efficiency which would be good news.

His summary:
Quote 1: 'In most situations, usually in bright daylight, it will yield a usable image if one is willing to put in some time with Photoshop.' This is a gross exaggeration.

Qoute 2: 'I have found the Leica M8 to be unreliable, poorly designed, and to deliver substandard results in most of the situations in which I have used it. I can’t think of any camera--or for that matter any electronic device I have recently used--that so thoroughly fails to live up to its potential and its heritage.' I have not seen any website with M8 shots that were so consistently awful - I find it hard to believe that he did not get better results than this. So is it unbiased? He is not fully satisfied with his M8 for this type of work - but that is no reason to exaggerate the faults.