potratz Posted February 5, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 5, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello and I am thrilled to say I have made the leap to a Leica M8 after many years of Hassy, Sinar, and Nikon. I was wanting to get back the basics like I use to have with my 501cm and Sinar X except without film. So here is my dilemma: I just purchased a pre-owned M8 with 1 yr leica warranty that was rated as EX for $2400 and I guess I am picky since I baby my stuff so I would rate it as good but not EX. I now have the opportunity to get a brand new M8 with a 2 year Leica warranty but it is $3400 so I could swap up for $1000 more. Would you take the new one in the box with one year additional warranty and which would of course be new or stay with the one that has some wear. Thank you for the input, Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 5, 2010 Posted February 5, 2010 Hi potratz, Take a look here Silly Question...But what would you do?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Fotomiguel Posted February 5, 2010 Share #2 Posted February 5, 2010 To buy a Leica is always a hard desicion but a new one and one year of warranty is really important for me. If it was a lens or a hanalog camera, probably I would buy the second hand one. But digital cameras have always a bit of uncertainty. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbaron Posted February 5, 2010 Share #3 Posted February 5, 2010 Your new one will look like your current one in a few months, so you will have wasted a grand. Spend it on a loved one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted February 5, 2010 Share #4 Posted February 5, 2010 $1,000 is a lot to spend for 12 months additional warranty cover. Yes, it's possible that the camera will fail during the period in a way that costs more than that to fix - but it's unlikely. Only you can decide how much it's worth to be able to drool over a brand-new camera rather than be irked by the signs of previous use, or how much pleasure you get from babying your cameras rather than just treating them as rugged precision tools. I grew up in a mining town. Most of the mining equipment - including giant dump-trucks and the like - was written off (literally by the accountants, not metaphorically by the users;)) immediately it was put into use. Hence, no worries about residual value. That's always seemed a sensible attitude for photographers too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted February 5, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 5, 2010 I would go for the used, PROVIDED that you can "speak" to the seller or at least have a clear return option: 1yr of Leica warranty is a good assurance, but there can be some little problems which are beyond the normal warranty policy. Anyway 1000$ are a not negligible sum... a good lens fits well into... Of course, 2 years from now the new and the used one will not have any significant difference in value. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_panko Posted February 5, 2010 Share #6 Posted February 5, 2010 Electronic devices usually fail within the first 90 days or they run forever has been my experience. The warranty is to take you through the initial period which is why extending warranty on electronics is usually not a good value. I'd take the used camera as long as it works and get an extra lens. On the other hand, if you pride yourself in owning pristine equipment then get the new one and protect it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted February 5, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 5, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is a personal decision but as you are 'picky' get the new one. You'll be happier and also you will get the two free IR filters. Do you know how many shutter actuations the used M8 has? Look at the exif of a recent image in Adobe Bridge (unique image ID is the shutter actuations in hexadecimal). Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
potratz Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted February 5, 2010 THANK YOU! You all helped seal the deal for me since I think I was being a little silly. I do however take very good care of my gear and do use it a lot. I am one of those guys that washes his lawnmower and weedwacker after each use. However I think the M8 I now have is fine and I just ordered another lens 50mm 1.4 from Bergen Camera (Paul which he was a huge help and spent 45 mins talking with me). Again Thank You! So now I have to escape from work early today and go shoot now the question is do I shoot with the M8 or the D Lux 4 that just arrived . Thank You! PS. That is a quick pic from the iPhone so it's a cell phone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted February 5, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 5, 2010 ;)Take the M8 & ditch the DL4; the more you shoot the DL4 the less you'll learn what the M8 is capable of. I've had mine 6-months and shot with just the 28 cron, and am only just finding my feet. Think I'm almost ready for the purchase of a 75mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 5, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 5, 2010 You made the right decision IMHO. I also take a lot of care over my stuff and try to keep things I buy new in as good as new condition as I can but not to the anal extremes of some people. A camera especially is a tool, and like any other tools you own if you intend on actually using it then yes it is going to pick up the marks of use. Even more so with something like an M8 which has a 'shelf life' compared to say a Leica MP. Spend the money you 'saved' on another lens, or prints, or a trip to take photos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 6, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 6, 2010 I think you could get another year's warranty on the used camera by sending it to Leica NJ for frameline upgrade (about $800?). I'm not sure, but perhaps Leica also extends warranty for other, less expensive, servicing. Wouldn't hurt to call and check. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfokevin Posted February 6, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 6, 2010 Spend it on a loved one. Like a nice used 28 or 35 Cron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
potratz Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share #13 Posted February 6, 2010 I got the d-lux for the video feature since I always carry a flip video for work so figured why not have the d-lux instead of the flip. iPhone video takes too long to convert and upload so it has been flip video for some time. I did get a 35mm Cron when I bought the camera this week and just ordered the 50mm 1.4 so I should be fine on lenses for a while so now just need to go shoot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaMSeattle Posted February 6, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 6, 2010 Buy the used M8 as it probably hasn't yet been upgraded and save the money for that. Have fun learning and use the heck out it and then send back to Leica for the shutter upgrade that's assuming that you can work without the 1/8000th shutter speed setting. You'll receive a one year warranty following that work. As for the D-Lux4, keep it as I use mine for the same video and also for impromptu macro/close-up shots that the M8 isn't capable of doing on its own. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
potratz Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share #15 Posted February 6, 2010 Ok I should know this but I have had a couple people mention a 1/8000 camera??? Mine shows 1/8000 on the top dial??? I have not tried it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcoombs Posted February 6, 2010 Share #16 Posted February 6, 2010 Ok I should know this but I have had a couple people mention a 1/8000 camera??? Mine shows 1/8000 on the top dial??? I have not tried it That just means you have an original M8 without a shutter upgrade, or an M8.2. The shutter upgrade reduced the noise level (which bothered some users) but lost the 1/8000th second top shutter speed. Enjoy getting to know your M8! Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 6, 2010 Share #17 Posted February 6, 2010 Ok I should know this but I have had a couple people mention a 1/8000 camera??? Mine shows 1/8000 on the top dial??? I have not tried it You might want to re-read my post #11 in light of this upgrade discussion. The original M8 can be upgraded in various separate ways, short of buying an M8.2 (framelines, sapphire screen, discreet shutter). If you decide to upgrade (framelines, for instance) while you still have some warranty left, I believe Leica will extend the warranty an additional year. You don't have to do all the upgrades, or any for that matter...your camera will still work just fine. Leica might also extend the warranty for other more routine servicing...I'm not sure...hence my suggestion to check with them to find out, given your initial concern about warranty length. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
potratz Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share #18 Posted February 6, 2010 Jeff, Thank you and a new LCD would be nice. I will call on Monday. I was surprised to how easy it was to bring the firmware up to current. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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