Leica M8/M9 - frameline match upgrade?

[gwelland]

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Just picked up another M8 and am considering getting the frameline upgrade for it so that it matches my M9 more closely. Has anyone had their M8 upgraded recently?

 

I'm just wondering if Leica offer the 1m frameline optimization now to match the M9 or not? The previous upgrade took the framelines from 0.7m to 2m which personally I thought was a huge improvement. Now I'd prefer parity between cameras though so both at 1m. I'll give them a call but I figured someone here might have already tried or got some experience with this.

[gwelland]

Just for closure - it turns out that this actually can be done. Same price as for M8 -> M8.2 frameline upgrade ($1100), although Leica NJ warn that turnaround is currently 2-3 months.

[ho_co]

Excellent! Good to know!

 

So there are M8 standard framelines (0.7 m);

M8.2 standard framelines (2 m);

and traditional framelines (1 m) available.

 

 

Thanks for doing the research and posting it, Graham!

[gwelland]

Howard

 

Yes that's correct.

My question to Leica NJ:

I was wondering if it was possible to have the viewfinder of a Leica M8 that I have recently bought upgraded to match the frameline optimization of my Leica M9? As I understand it, the framelines for the original M8 were set for 0.7m optimization, but the M8.2 and upgrade were set for 2m. However, the M9 is now optimized for 1m I believe. I’d like my M8 & M9 match if possible.

 

Is this something that can be done? If so, any thoughts on price & turnaround?

 

From Leica NJ technical info line: technicalinfo@leicacamerausa.com

Dear Mr. Welland,

 

I checked into this and finally have an answer. I’m told that it is possible to do the upgrade. The price would be the same as it was for the M8 to M8.2 upgrade which is $1,100.00 Due to the backlog of work right now, the turn around time is likely to be about two to three months.

 

I did also get another response and a call back before this though stating that it was not an option (I won't list that contact because they weren't on Leica's web site contact list), although I trust Mark Brady's response above.

[UliWer]

Is there really so much difference between the framelines for the M8 (set for 0,7m) and for the M9 (set for 1 m)?

 

I could understand the difference to the M8.2 frames, as they were set for 2m but don't really see a substantial one for the M9.

[gwelland]

At $1100 & 2-3 months away the practical answer is that I'll live with the slight difference, particularly as the M8 is primarily my backup camera.

[geoffreyg]

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Its a bit of a pickle. Of course one wants the upgrade, but take the worth of the M8, add $1100, factor in the time frame, and wonder if it just isn't better to save up for a M9 trade in sometime in the far future....?

[ho_co]

Graham, thanks!

 

 

I think we users of upgraded M8s should get together and all send our cameras at once to have the M8.2 frames removed and the M8 frames re-installed.

 

It would give Leica a chance to say, "See, we were right after all," and it would give the forum a chance to run a thread on "How long it took to get my M8 frames."

 

And more importantly, we would all be happy at all the money was making on us.