elviskennedy Posted January 30, 2008 Share #1 Posted January 30, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just received this email from Leica; Dear LEICA M8 customers, The desire to own a digital camera manufactured by Leica, possessing the identical lifelong value retention associated with every Leica product, was brought to us by many of our customers. Leica Camera AG has now configured the LEICA M8 to meet this demand. With today’s newsletter, we would like to inform you exclusively and in advance of an outstanding innovation regarding your cherished LEICA M8. Subjects LEICA M8: An investment in the future What does the first upgrade kit include? How do I get the upgrade for my M8? Firmware update 1.201 available LEICA M8: An investment in the future With the introduction of a perpetual upgrade program, every LEICA M8 will forever be a state-of-the-art digital camera. Today’s and tomorrow’s users will always be able to incorporate the latest refinements and developments in handling ease and technology. It is our aim to secure your investment in the LEICA M8 for the future. “While other digital cameras quickly become outdated and are replaced by newer models, our new concept extends the value retention and resistance to obsolescence embodied in the Leica ethos. Over time, we will gradually offer new product features and developments as upgrade options,” declares Steven K. Lee, CEO of Leica Camera AG. “Our customers can therefore still invest in the photographic tools they need without worrying that they will miss out on improvements and technological developments alo ng the way. This information will be presented during the PMA fair in Las Vegas, beginning January 31st. What does the first upgrade kit include? • Scratch-proof sapphire glass cover for the LCD monitor. • Noise-optimized shutter with a fastest speed of 1/4000s. • If so desired, the camera will be picked up at your home and sent directly back to you, without any intermediary stage in the process. • Health-check and complete adjustment of the camera, testing all its functions. • Installation of the newest relevant firmware. • New factory warranty of two years covering the same conditions as for a new camera. How do I get the upgrade for my M8? • This offer applies exclusively to all registered M8 users. • We will inform you shortly via e-mail when the website is updated with detailed information about the new M8 upgrade program, and will also inform you as soon as possible how to purchase the first upgrade certificates. • The fact that you are registered as a M8 owner will give you guaranteed access to an exclusive online area where you will be able to purchase your upgrade certificate. • Purchasing the upgrade certificates will be possible as of March 2008 - the actual upgrading will commence as of August 2008. • The upgrades will be fullfiled in the same order as the upgrade certificates were purchased. It is therefore advisable to acquire the certificate as quickly as possible. Firmware update 1.201 available In keeping with the overall sustainability of the concept of the rangefinder camera system, Leica Camera AG is now offering all LEICA M8 users an updated version of the camera firmware, which can be downloaded free of charge from Friday, February 1st from our website. Among other things, the new firmware version contains new, substantially improved automatic white balance algorithms for natural color rendering in nearly all light conditions. We will send you special information via e-mail which contains a direct link as soon as we post the firmware update on our website. We would feel very honored if you would be amongst the first to participate in our new program for the lifelong value retention of your M8. Yours Sincerely, The Leica internet team Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 30, 2008 Posted January 30, 2008 Hi elviskennedy, Take a look here M8 Upgrade - It's Official!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bill Posted January 30, 2008 Share #2 Posted January 30, 2008 JF, thank you very much for sharing this. It seems the "rumour" is true then... Regards, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jquimby Posted January 30, 2008 Share #3 Posted January 30, 2008 Does anyone know if this "upgrade" is now standard on new (from the factory) M8's or are they still shipping the "original" M8 and this is upgrade is simply optional? I ask because if they are now shipping the new shutter as standard my question is why? is there something wrong with the one thats in there? As the shutter is slower and claimed to be quieter i can't really see it as a true upgrade. simply a configuration option based upon preference. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamriman Posted January 30, 2008 Share #4 Posted January 30, 2008 If true whats with the 1/4000 shutter speed downgrade? Perhaps noise only optimized up to 1/4000 sec. Think I answered my own question. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfalo Posted January 30, 2008 Share #5 Posted January 30, 2008 Unfortunately they skip an important information: HOW MUCH IS IT? In general I´m not sure how to make sense of this move: Is this upgrade kit a good thing for us? Or do they force us to back Solms with even more money? (At least if one wants to sell an M8) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 30, 2008 Share #6 Posted January 30, 2008 Yes, but the upgrades themselves don't start until August 2008! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 30, 2008 Share #7 Posted January 30, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Would it be a new shutter module? that's my take. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jquimby Posted January 30, 2008 Share #8 Posted January 30, 2008 Does anyone know if this "upgrade" is now standard on new (from the factory) M8's or are they still shipping the "original" M8 and this is upgrade is simply optional? I ask because if they are now shipping the new shutter as standard my question is why? is there something wrong with the one thats in there? As the shutter is slower and claimed to be quieter i can't really see it as a true upgrade. simply a configuration option based upon preference. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethC Posted January 30, 2008 Share #9 Posted January 30, 2008 It's a great concept though, even if the cynics among us might suggest it's purely a marketing ploy. You can buy a Canon Digital Rebel used for $200 as obsolescence seems to be rife as people chase the latest greatest. Leica are doing what they can to ensure that the M8, like previous M's, retains its value to customers. Even if the shutter is only now 1/4000th second that's not such a big deal, I am relying solely on people here to tell me it's 1/8000th second now as I don't think I've ever used it. I for one have to congratulate Leica on positioning it like this. I'd like to think I'll be using the M8 as long as I used my last film camera and not as long as I used my first, second, third digital cameras. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 30, 2008 Share #10 Posted January 30, 2008 Love it, you buy the upgrade voucher in March but nothing happens until August at which point your camera gets upgraded. In effect, you're lending Leica €1200 interest free for 6 months. Who's going put their money down until we know how quiet a "noise optimised shutter" is? I think we need some WAV files or a trusted assessment. Maybe the shutter doesn't exist yet. Not impressed by the loss of 1/8000, I assume they will be replacing the shutter speed dial. All in all, a bit of a damp squib... New firmware looks more promising though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted January 30, 2008 Share #11 Posted January 30, 2008 Great stuff , thanks for posting the official word. Relief now i can talk about the firmware. I have had it for several weeks now and it really does a much much better job on AWB and also the presets for different lighting conditions. Frankly i have shot a lot in the last several weeks with it in bunch of lighting scenes. daylight is very good and so is believe it or not fluorescent is really well done . Tungsten still looks very well balanced, I have thousands of shots from a convention i did with stage lighting and it nailed it very well, strobes look very well also. So overall they really tweaked it very good and i think the jpeg shooters will be a lot happier.Here is just a couple quick staging shots from a model and talent convention I did 2 weeks ago. i have a bunch more and i will post some later also Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/44027-m8-upgrade-its-official/?do=findComment&comment=466883'>More sharing options...
roubaix Posted January 30, 2008 Share #12 Posted January 30, 2008 Super, just super. I got my M8 back last week after 2 months in NJ replacing the screen....except it is the old screen. It will take a while before I upgrade. No new sensor? Ouch. Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 30, 2008 Share #13 Posted January 30, 2008 Great, I look forward to the numerous "how long for upgrade", "my camera has been in solms for X weeks now and no news" and "wow, my M8 just got a whole lot better" "love my sapphire screen" threads to come.................. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
etrigan63 Posted January 30, 2008 Share #14 Posted January 30, 2008 Great shots Guy! Do you have a link to the firmware? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
canlogic Posted January 30, 2008 Share #15 Posted January 30, 2008 I would hope they are setting this up to minimize turn around. I guess thats the reason behind the certificates. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted January 30, 2008 Share #16 Posted January 30, 2008 I will be at PMA on Saturday and i do have meetings setup with Leica so hopefully i can get even more detail from those meeting that i can bring to the forum and such. If folks have questions on what they would like me to ask , than please start a thread and i can bring it to the table and hopefully get answers for you. Have a great day Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tashley Posted January 30, 2008 Share #17 Posted January 30, 2008 If true whats with the 1/4000 shutter speed downgrade? Perhaps noise only optimized up to 1/4000 sec. Think I answered my own question. I think you did! But it raises another question: many Leica lenses are very very fine wide open, and that gives one the choice not only of low light shooting but also of DOF and bokeh in normal daylight. Unless of course the high base ISO of 160 and the brightness of the day means that you need a 1/8000th exposure to allow you the aperture you want to use. So if they are going to go to 1/4000th in order to achieve shutter quietness, they should also introduce either a lower base ISO or some sort of software ND filter because otherwise I'm going to have to put an ND filter on my IR filter and that is the point at which for me it is too ridiculous for words! :0( Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tummydoc Posted January 30, 2008 Share #18 Posted January 30, 2008 Unfortunately they skip an important information: HOW MUCH IS IT? In general I´m not sure how to make sense of this move: Is this upgrade kit a good thing for us? Or do they force us to shuffle even more money to Solms? (At least if one wants to sell an M8) The big unanswered questions are: will new M8s henceforth come equipped from the factory with the upgraded features, and if so, what will the price be? The answer to that question is essential to guaging the impact this new programme will have upon the resale value of existing M8s. Given history, I would not be surprised that if the majority of owners do in fact choose the upgrade, that M8's with 1/8000 shutters may someday be prized for their rarity Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roubaix Posted January 30, 2008 Share #19 Posted January 30, 2008 James. At least I'm in the front of line of the winers...Seriously, I love my M8 and will definitely upgrade at some point. For now, just the firmware. Shots were great Guy. Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elviskennedy Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share #20 Posted January 30, 2008 I think the best part is Leica's comments regarding the on-going upgradability of the M8. If true, the M8 could be the first digital camera to be worth more than 50% of it's purchase price 2 years after it's release. In any event, any forward progress on the M8 is a good thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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