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What would be your budget choice if your M8 retires?


rivi1969

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Unfortunately I cannot dispose $3000+ for an M9-ME, so I was wondering (hopefully it won't happen anytime soon) what would I do if for any reason my M8 suddenly decides to stop working for good.

 

If your M8 becomes a paper weight and you only have $1200-1400 for another camera, which one would you choose? In my case I would probably get an X-pro2 body so I could use my Zeiss 35mm f2, or a Fuji X100F (23mm included) 

 

Love to hear your thoughts and have a great week.
Ricardo

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I decided to get another M8, M8u in my case, over an X-Pro2 when my M8.2 was damaged. I like the rendering of M8 sensor and the file size is not large, giving me freedom to shoot more. RAW image from Fuji is a bit too heavy to process in my computer. 

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I too would likely get another M8, make it an M8.2. At this time I have an original M8 and an M8u, both back from Leica Germany with new sensors and CLAs. So they should be good to go for some time, barring theft, loss, or accident. I figure two is nice but redundant, so the M8 is heading off for consignment sale. While the cameras were vacationing in Wetzlar, I was content to use an M240 and a Pentax.

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I was faced with this question myself last year when my beloved M8 was stolen. Since the insurance proceeds (homeowners insurance minus deductible) didn't cover the replacement costs of the body and lens (a CV 15mm Heliar), I still used the available funds towards another M8. I still enjoy the image quality and ability to do handheld IR.

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If you need a rangefinder, it can only be an M8 or an M8.2. If you don't, Fuji cameras are very good but their sensor stack is too thick to get sharp corners on M primes wider than 35mm. At least it is true for my otherwise excellent X-E2. No experience with X100 sorry. 

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I'd use my insurance rider, which itemizes the camera at original purchase cost, providing full replacement value with up to 50% additional cost for current equivalent. ;) 

 

But without that, I'd get another M8.2.

Jeff

Edited by Jeff S
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Well, it all depends what for M8 is in use for. If it is the income camera for weddings, yes, Fuji X-Pro2. Just one suggestion, download and read manual for this camera. I did. And went for M8. Not for weddings, but for real fun.

I was also all set on Fuji X100something at some point. 35 FoV, OVF in the right place, small... and nothing, but AF. So, I went for M8...

 

If M8 will quit on me by the time Fuji will have X100something with MF lens and distance focus scale, why not. If not, Ricoh GR II. This camera is real fun, yet, seriously made. It is, probably, only one camera which is not Leica, but does allow you to fiddle it and it is quick to operate. It has TaV mode, similar to  M8. Set aperture and shutter speed, camera will choose ISO.

 

Or Leica X typ 113. Because once you have Leica in your hands, is hard to erase it from your head.

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If M8 will quit on me by the time Fuji will have X100something with MF lens and distance focus scale, why not.

 

This brings up a question I've always had:  why don't more manufacturers make a manual focus lens with distance focus scale?  Too small of a market, I assume.   I'd seriously consider an XPro 2 camera if there was such an option.  In the meantime, my M8 is going strong.  

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Unfortunately I cannot dispose $3000+ for an M9-ME, so I was wondering (hopefully it won't happen anytime soon) what would I do if for any reason my M8 suddenly decides to stop working for good.

 

If your M8 becomes a paper weight and you only have $1200-1400 for another camera, which one would you choose? In my case I would probably get an X-pro2 body so I could use my Zeiss 35mm f2, or a Fuji X100F (23mm included) 

 

Love to hear your thoughts and have a great week.

Ricardo

 

That's not a difficult as I once thought: I'd just continue to use my older analog M bodies ---if I HAD to purchase another body just to keep an unattached lens from running away, I suppose that I'd pick up an M6 (that's in the price range you quoted, I think.)

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This past days I checked once more all my files I took with my previous Fuji X100 and Fuji X-E1, and to me it is pretty obvious the difference in the general look of the pictures when compared with both my M8 and X1 results, being the Leica shots richer, with deeper tones and more character. I don't know maybe it is subjective, but the Fuji files look flatter and more sterile. Probably the new X100F or X-Pro2 sensors are different but I haven't use them.

 

Thank you all for your responses. Wishing all our M8s will keep working for a long time! 

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  • 2 weeks later...

If your M8 becomes a paper weight and you only have $1200-1400 for another camera, which one would you choose? In my case I would probably get an X-pro2 body so I could use my Zeiss 35mm f2, or a Fuji X100F (23mm included) 

 

first of all, an M8 doesn't stop working. and then in the unlikely event that it would do so, leica will fix it. as i read here, there is hardly any M8 that was repaired and charged more than 800 bucks for it. so a budget of 1200 to 1400 bucks will keep your M8 going and there is no need for dark thoughts like that.

 

and then, an M8 can easily be found with that kind of a budget. so there is no need to live without an M8 for you.

 

but maybe, you would be in a mood for a change. in that case, i would go for the X100F in the first option. if i couldn't get along with only one focal length, i would check out used (or even new) XVario. both (X100F and XV) give good opportunities with using flashlight even during daytime as both sync with flashes in any speed. that opens new creative ways of lightning.

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... $3000+ for an M9-ME, ,,,

Really? Must depend on where you live. 
Used M9 and M-E should have become somewhat cheaper meanwhile.
Perhaps rather less, if you want one with no signs of use, low number of shutter releases, new sensor and warranty of a prominent dealer.
Edited by mnutzer
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Really? Must depend on where you live. 
Used M9 and M-E should have become somewhat cheaper meanwhile.
Perhaps rather less, if you want one with no signs of use, low number of shutter releases, new sensor and warranty of a prominent dealer.

 

 

At least on ebay there is only one for a little less than 3K. All others ask $3500usd and up. 

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_dmd=2&_nkw=leica+m9&_sop=16

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At least on ebay there is only one for a little less than 3K. All others ask $3500usd and up. 

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_dmd=2&_nkw=leica+m9&_sop=16

 

Hello,

 

I'm with David "don't worry".

 

M8, if not economical repairable could be replaced by another one M8 or M8-2 and why not M9/ME (prices lower and lower by then) ;) .

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At least on ebay there is only one for a little less than 3K. All others ask $3500usd and up. 

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_dmd=2&_nkw=leica+m9&_sop=16

 
Place of residence seems to be important.
A short overview of already completed transactions - don't know if these were real sellings or had been interrupted before - revealed the following results for used Leica M9 below 2,300 €:
 

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Edited by mnutzer
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  • 2 months later...

well, since M9 and after  is pretty pricey (around USD 3500 body only in Indonesia), I think I have to rething twice to buy it.

 

Already has my M8 insured though, but lets say another M8 or M/MP will be an option IF my something happened to my M8.

 

Afaik, the Leica is the only camera company that still making a rangefinder (please correct me if I was wrong). Don't have any option out here.

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