Sapphire glass M8 ?

[JHAG]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Were the last M8 produced equipped with sapphire glass ?

Apparently, one owner of a M8 bought late 2009 got sapphire glass

from the box (no paid option). Possible ?

[gwelland]

Only the M8.2 came with the sapphire glass as standard. I don't believe any M8's came with the sapphire glass, although it is possible I suppose that a dealer had the cameras upgraded for higher resale.

 

I upgraded my original M8 with the sapphire glass and it definitely is more robust, although it's a value judgement.

[JHAG]

Strangely, Photo Dotti in Milan said so, supposedly claiming a late batch of M8

were built with sapphire. Is that possible ?

[gwelland]

Always possible I suppose. It wouldnt shock me to know that Leica closed out the last of their M8 production with the sapphire glass but It was an expensive addition. Did they mention frame lines or shutter or vulcanite covering as well? The shutter & lines were much more desirable overall for most folks.

[sfokevin]

About a year and a half ago there was a few of us that were lucky enough to have been given free sapphire glass upgrades thrown in when we sent our M8 in for just a paid frameline/shutter upgrade... there must have been a time when they maybe ran out of the old glass ones or there was was a policy to replace the glass on certain ones as they knew they would become defective (ex. the coffee ring syndrome)...

[marknorton]

No doubt in my mind the sapphire glass is worth the money, so if you come across an M8 with it, it's worth considering.

 

The sapphire glass is not only tougher but optically better as well. You can tell it apart from the cheapo-M8c/M9 version because it is cool to the touch and sits slightly more flush with the camera back.

 

Incidentally, when you have the camera upgraded, they replace the entire rear casting, not just the glass which may have something to do with whether it's Leica who stick the glass in place or whether it comes that way from a supplier.

[rob139]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Could be, I have an m8 'Panda', which is a later series M8. I have used it for almost one and a half year, and still the screen is scratch free, nothing! I have wondered whether this is because I'm careful, or that it is sapphire glass. I cannot tell the difference from sapphire or the normal glass, so I can't say for sure. Would be great though. The black paint is brassing pretty seriously, btw.

 

Rob

[JHAG]

If you used it more than a year without protection and it's scratch free, it's sapphire.

[rob139]

No protection, no case.

 

I've asked Leica if they can tell me what the screen of my camera is made of. Will keep you informed. I didn't pay any premium for the camera nor for the sapphire glass, so it would be a nice bonus.

[marknorton]

I can see I need to post pictures of the two...

 

Edit: if you have the means to measure it, the plastic cover protrudes 0.6mm above the surround, the sapphire glass cover protrudes 0.5mm.

[rob139]

Thanks, but I can't measure he difference between 0,6 and 0,5.

 

On closer inspection there seems to be a very tiny scratch, like a small hair on the screen, so it might be just the normal plastic screen.

 

Also it sounds the same when I tap it with my nail, compared with the screen on my Digilux 2.

 

Here is a picture of the screen:

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!

[rob139]

Hi,

 

Just got information from Leica that my screen is the regular one, not sapphire. Oh well, guess I'll just have to be careful.

 

The message also states that only the M8.2 was fit with sapphire glass.

 

Rob