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M8.2 Durability


Stealth3kpl

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M8.2 looks new despite constant use since just over a year ago.

 

Wish price would come down so I could pick up a nice used back-up. Otherwise, might wait for next iteration of M9 and keep M8.2 for as long as it lasts. Great camera...zero problems.

 

Jeff

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2½ years & looks like new, basically zero problems except sudden (battery) death syndrome once. One of my regrets in life would be that I didn't buy Leica stuff earlier. Not a very serious regret but still..... it really is great fun & gives me a lot of satisfaction.

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I wonder how new the M9's will look in three years with the paint finish? I have an M6 I bought in 1992 and the real silver chrome finish is like new.

 

I bought a black chrome M8 in 2007 and it too looks new!

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I own a used M8 that had approximately 1,600 shutter actuations prior to my purchase. My M8 has been and I believe that it will continue to be very reliable.

 

I completely understand the OP's original question. For some months prior to my purchase, I read extensively on this site and others, looking specifically for reliability issues. The vast majority of issues that I read about are related to electronic issues (sensor mapping, circuit boards, firmware/internal software). While no one wants to hear about any reliability issues associated with an expensive camera that he/she is interested in purchasing, my experience is that electronic issues are usually more easily resolved than mechanical ones. Once electronic issues are resolved via hardware replacement/upgrade or via software revision, the issues are solved for the longer term. Mechanical issues of are usually the opposite, if a defect shows up in a large number of cameras, the same defect will eventually recur after replacement of any causative part.

 

My belief is that since most of the M8/M8.2 problems have been electronic and limited to a relatively small number of units, an owner of a properly functioning M8/M8.2 can look forward to many years of dependable service.

 

Most of us will sell our cameras because we want something else and not because they will have broken due to reliability issues.

 

My $0.02.

 

Best to All,

 

Rick

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I know, it has been beaten already, but I do not see my M8.2 as the bombshell, I would take everywhere.

 

I have no reservations whatsoever, using the Nikon D3 in any weather or condition.

The M8.2 is fluky - the on / off switch changes position way to easy, the rear buttons get pressed occasionally, when the camera is normally hanging over a shoulder, while using another camera, the camera can lock up (and did a few times on me in a quite short time of usage).

 

It is not the tool, one takes and forgets about it. I am always aware of potential flaws.

 

People will say, they used their digital M in the rain already and had no issue, but I am aware, there were others with disastrous stories, which I don't want to test out.

 

Nevertheless, I really, really like the M8.2 and won't sell it quickly. It gives just not the peace of mind other cameras in the same price range give - it is not a film Leica in that sense.

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One of my daughters dribbled ice cream all over my M8.2 at the weekend, right on the shutter speed dial, and I didn't notice it until the following day, by which time it had congealed to something akin to very sticky latex. It was a nightmare to get off, especially from the dial, but the camera remained blithely immune to all the things I was doing to it. I suspect I could have taken a sand blaster to it and it would have shrugged it off.

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No one posts how reliable their camera is so looking down the current forum titles only faults seem to be listed. Pete

Are you surprised - if they did they'd be accused of being 'fanboys' and besotted with their Leicas;). My M8 hasn't failed other than being dropped (still worked fine but rattled - repaired under passport warranty) and a pixel remap due to a high ISO line (dealt with quickly in Solms). Must be something near 20k actuations on this body now and its been around in the dry, wet, damp, up mountains, on diveboats, etc., and still works fine. Well enough to encourage me to invest in an M8-2 aswell.

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I have a used M8, purchased off ebay, and with serial number sequence 311... . I have had no problems with the camera. A few problems with memory card (not being formatted properly). Have expanded my glass to: CV 1.2 35mm, Summicron - C 40mm, Leica 90mm 2.8, CV 15 mm rangefinder coupled. Love the ability to change it up.

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My M8 does not look as new at all. Lots of marks, LCD scratchs, white pain is desapearing, black paint as well. I use it as a second body and quite often to train. The important thing is that it still works perfect as the first day.:)

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