M8 and Warranty Card

[craigrmurray]

Perhaps this is a stupid question, but considering the problems with the M8, and not knowing when and what Leica is going to do for the solution, I'm wondering the following:

Would it be better to:

1. Send in the warranty card now and wait for possible product recall?

2. Return camera to dealer and wait for possible bug-free M8?

3. Quit whining and attempt to buy 486 IR cut filters (try to find some right now) and just use the damn thing, knowing that it's flawed for some applications?

4. Thank God that I have an R9 w/ DMR that doesn't have IR problems (seems a bit
ironic, doesn't it).

I suppose I've gotten a little panicky this last week with all the forum posts, and I think rightfully so, since I've just dropped five big ones on a partly flawed product that Leica might not be able to fix.

But this is really the rub:

Getting on the M8 wait-list months ago was like writing a letter to Santa Claus/Father Christmas. Every week waiting, waiting for Photokina, searching the Leica AG website, reading the early reviews -- I could hardly stand it. Then they started shipping the things, earlier than expected. My God, I can't wait anymore! Then B&H had some chrome ones. I immediately ordered, one-day shipping. Could this be possible? Christmas is tomorrow?

But then the M-bomb dropped. The magenta bomb. Followed by the banding bomb, then the streak bomb, (STOP, please) then the green-blob bomb.

Then it arrived -- I opened the box. All is forgiven now, it's a thing of beauty, like my first Leica M4 thirty-five years ago. I start shooting pix around the house, then around the yard, walk around the block. Color and B&W. No problems yet, perhaps I got the GOOD camera, no magenta here.

But I knew I had to do it. I set up a black Leicaflex SL2 and a black M6 each on top of a black Billingham bag and a black Lowepro bag. Pushed the shutter. The pic flashed on the LCD. Nausea began creeping from the maw to the mouth. The magenta plague was true.

Sean and Guy have helped a lot. Buy the filters, use the camera, wait for the fix. Lighten up, relax, calm down. All true. But ---

Christmas was over. I'd asked Santa for a Rolls-Royce, but got a Yugo instead.

[larry]

Craig,

You wouldn't have had any problems if you had bought your M8 at Crick's (just kidding). I'm glad my dealer never called, but I'm still optimistic and willing to wait.

Larry

[guy_mancuso]

Great stuff, the thing is when it does arrive and you open the box. Not much matters than waiting for that damn battery to charge. Good Luck

[jonoslack]

Hi Craig
It's the rollercoaster ride.
Does your livelihood depend on pictures on a Billinham bag?

I've had mine for five days now - nearly six - I've taken 500 shots and I've made lots of mistakes. I've understood that although the menus might make you think so . . . . it isn't a point and shoot at all, it's a grown up piece of kit.

Like you, I'm new to M cameras.

I hope that Leica will fix the IR issue, and I'm sure they'll fix the banding and the white balance.

But I've fallen in love, and if my new lover squeezes the toothpaste tube from the wrong end - i only have to think of her beautiful . . . . . .

Work on making it Work - it's a thing of beauty!

[craigrmurray]

Thanks, Guy.

Now if I could just find some 486 filters in stock somewhere. BTW, sure appreciate all of your hard work trying to solve some of these problems. I'm surprised you've found time to shoot pix, considering all of your posts on the forum.

And I'm sure if you keep up all of the hard work, you could be the next SEAN REID ('cause Sean gets to be the next Erwin Puts) LOL.

[craigrmurray]

[quote=jonoslack]Hi Craig

But I've fallen in love, and if my new lover squeezes the toothpaste tube from the wrong end - i only have to think of her beautiful . . . . . .

Jonathan: Thanks for the tea and sympathy. It's just that I've never had a lover that cost five thousand dollars before.

[fotografr]

[quote=craigrmurray]

Originally Posted by jonoslack

Jonathan: Thanks for the tea and sympathy. It's just that I've never had a lover that cost five thousand dollars before.

You obviously aren't married.

[craigrmurray]

Brent: MInd you, I said I'd never had a LOVER that cost $5K, not a WIFE. Just got divorced a few months ago, and believe me, I could have bought a semi-load of M8's for what I ended up with in the settlement.

In hindsight, I'll take the magenta with black any day in comparison with getting divorced again. Hopefully not TMI.

Hope all's going well in Packers land.

[sean_reid]

Originally Posted by craigrmurray

Thanks, Guy.

Now if I could just find some 486 filters in stock somewhere. BTW, sure appreciate all of your hard work trying to solve some of these problems. I'm surprised you've found time to shoot pix, considering all of your posts on the forum.

And I'm sure if you keep up all of the hard work, you could be the next SEAN REID ('cause Sean gets to be the next Erwin Puts) LOL.

No, no....Guy wouldn't want to be me and I don't want to be Erwin. In fact, at the moment, no one in their right mind would want to be Sean Reid and be attacked all over the web. Well, you would get my wonderful wife and daughters so that's a factor to be considered....

In any case, my approach is very different from Erwin's. He's a technical expert in some things and I'm just a working photographer who enjoys writing. Guy is already Guy.

Cheers,

Sean

[guy_mancuso]

Hey there done with you , now the want my butt in a cow sling. LOL

Honestly i don't envy Sean's job at all. It would be fun but i get too emotional when the attacks come. I like the low pressure stress of dealing with corporate clients that have no idea what they want and have to get premission to move a ladder. Plus fight with Purchase Buyers and explain to them I am worth more than the ding bat down the street at 25 per hour . they don't get that part

[scjohn]

[quote=craigrmurray]

Originally Posted by jonoslack

Hi Craig

But I've fallen in love, and if my new lover squeezes the toothpaste tube from the wrong end - i only have to think of her beautiful . . . . . .

Jonathan: Thanks for the tea and sympathy. It's just that I've never had a lover that cost five thousand dollars before.

Here here usually lovers cost so much MORE

[craigrmurray]

[quote=sean_reid]No, no....Guy wouldn't want to be me and I don't want to be Erwin. In fact, at the moment, no one in their right mind would want to be Sean Reid and be attacked all over the web. Well, you would get my wonderful wife and daughters so that's a factor to be considered....

Sean: I wouldn't want to be Erwin Puts, either. Sounds too much like Putz...

Anyway, my tongue was firmly in cheek when I said that. Nor would I want to be Sean Reid right now, considering the attacks. Some day they will stop, and somewhere off in the distant future, you will perhaps be beatified. They'll have a ceremony in Solms: toasts will be given, plaques will be affixed to the wall, wine will be drunk, M13's will be handed out to the worthy...

BTW, I'm sure your wife and daughters aren't quite readly for an upgrade. LOL

[craigrmurray]

[quote=guy_mancuso]Hey there done with you , now the want my butt in a cow sling. LOL

Don't blame ya fore not wanting to be in the sling.

[grober]

Craig,

Send the card in.

You are not alone. I'm already gnawing on my Schneider rep for a good deal on the IR filters we'll all need.

You know we were all bit real good when we picked up that first Leica (which in my case was forty years ago.) Yeah, we're all cheesed about the M8's problems but where else can we go?

-g

[craigrmurray]

Originally Posted by grober

Craig,


You know we were all bit real good when we picked up that first Leica (which in my case was forty years ago.) Yeah, we're all cheesed about the M8's problems but where else can we go?

-g

J. W.

Unless we go the Epson RD1 route, it looks like Leica is the 600 lb. gorilla at the moment.