Firmware is on its way !?

[Jeff S]

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First let me address the satnav for classic cars ....I saw yesterday a pristine E Type jaguar and the guy had both a satnav and a handsfree phone fitted. I did exactly the same on my 933 porsche (very last air cooled model) .

While on cars it seems to me that an industry exists that takes factory fresh current and also discontinued models ...tunes them (think Alpina), adds cosmetic trim, fit specialist (Recaro) seats, build hifi systems etc etc This is a large industry so I would not simply believe that it does not exist.

 

Please note that the OEM car companies do not provide these upgrades; aftermarket specialists do. Perhaps you should find a good aftermarket specialist for your Leica. Given the great demand, seems based on your logic that a whole industry would evolve.

 

Jeff

[Guest jarski]

Solms makes no money at all on these sales but could if they started selling feature upgrades.

 

before M9, this (M8 upgrades) was quite debated issue, especially since Leica CEO at that time gave a hint to this direction, IIRC.

but, in reality of todays camera manufacturing of disposable digitals, it probably would not even be paying itself, or nobody would do it since price would come close to one of M9.

 

but software is another story, which this thread is about. now Leica, wheres that dang 2.005 version ?

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[pklein]

Hi, Nicole! (and just for the record, I'm not arguing about anything with anyone).

--Peter

[john_newell]

Boys, Boys, Boys.....

 

I leave you alone to play amongst yourselves for a couple of months, and come back to find you still squabbling.

 

Heck, I was here yesterday, and there's three new pages of...commentary.

 

BTW, while you can get a II fixed, you can't get it fixed by Leica, and you can't get parts from Leica, although a qualified technician can fabricate or cannibalize parts. The latter is, of course, possible with electronics, too.

[lct]

The M8 is still a current model on the Leica site.

Leica Camera AG - Photography - M8 & M8.2

New bodies can still be purchased in some Leica shops and their buyers are entitled to count on support from Leica.

[Guest BigSplash]

It's not so long ago that you were assuring us in no uncertain terms that the M10 would be released on the 10/10/10. That's now just over 3 months away, are you still confident that the M10 will be released then?

 

I actually suggested that 10/10/10 would be a good date to announce the M10 and I still think that they should do it. The issues as I see it are:

• Can they get Maestro chip set as a M10 ready product in time?
  
• Firmware can it be ready on time ....depends on if it is truly modular architecture or not?
  
• Can new feature modules be readied in time that compliment the software supplied ...eg tethering or corner crop issue and profiles for each lens with Adobe CS5?
  
• Do they make the leap to CMOS sensor for M10?
  
• Should they focus making the current M9 more reliable and volume produceable which I think given the huge demand for this product it must be a consideration.
  
• Do they go for focus verification in M10 ?
  

I think that they will have difficulty to achieve but I live in hope.

[Guest BigSplash]

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Come on Frank, how many people do you think would pay £500 for a firmware update that gave them so little? Especially given that the improvements you suggest are non-essential for most people - or at least the M8 owners I've met.

 

For what it's worth I've shot in the south of France and have never felt the need for a grey card or bracketing.

 

People pay £165 for a Leica lenshood, and £35 for the cap to cover it ...so £500 for a firmware upgarde that offers M9 features seems on that basis reasonable.

 

I too have now taken 3000 images in the south of france and even won a competition here so I am getting the feel. That said I can commend to you the usage of a grey card as it means far more accurate post processing. If this was untrue why do the pros ever use a grey card even in Manchester?

[Nicoleica]

Now now chaps....Nicoleica might see all this.

 

Too late Des. I saw it all! And if I had my sharp knife handy, it might be a case of bullocks instead!

Edited June 29, 2010 by Nicoleica

[stunsworth]

If this was untrue why do the pros ever use a grey card even in Manchester?

 

In 40 years of using Leicas and other cameras I've never seen anyone - pro or amateur - use a grey card. I suspect that while they may be used by some, their use isn't as common as you seem to believe.

[Nicoleica]

In 40 years of using Leicas and other cameras I've never seen anyone - pro or amateur - use a grey card. I suspect that while they may be used by some, their use isn't as common as you seem to believe.

 

I use a grey card on occasion. But only for metering purposes with my old film cameras.

[plasticman]

Come on guys - give the guy a break. It's looking ugly again, and we all know it's because Frank is considered fair game on the forum.

 

Some of what's being said is actually valid enough, and though I personally don't really see the point of these endless discussions about what the firmware contains, I must say I'm genuinely disappointed at the sheer enthusiasm with which some people insist that cameras which in some places are still being sold new, are 'dead' as far as Leica is concerned, and should simply be abandoned and buried forever.

 

We've seen examples of other manufacturers that have actually continued to support superseded models, and as far as I can see this leads to better customer satisfaction and wider brand loyalty. Far more effective in the long run than giving cameras to a few celebs.

 

Anyway, used my M8 for the first time tonight for the last few weeks. Worked fine, as usual. Not as nice as the M6, of course.

[Angelos Viskadourakis]

Angelos, PLEASE breathe. Punctuation is essential to comprehension.

 

Please also understand. The M8 is extinct. No more. Deleted. Discontinued. Leica are behaving perfectly reasonably in regard to the M8, and more so than is reasonable to expect from any other company. Like it or not, with every day that passes, the tiny proportion of M users represented by the M8 gets smaller and smaller. It is an evolutionary dead-end that in time will be beyond economical repair, and after that beyond physical repair due to shortage of parts. The world has moved on, with good reason. Leica has moved on. The future is full-frame, and the future lies with the M9 and beyond. We do NOT "all understand" that "thousands" of M8 photographers are waiting to see what Leica does with the M8, because they have realised that NOTHING MATERIAL IS GOING TO HAPPEN. Thousands have in fact moved on to the M9, with a sigh of relief.

 

I admire your passion, but it is sadly misplaced. Enjoy your camera in good faith, but for Dawkins' sake, get real.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Dearest Bill i enjoy your passion against M8 and your wisdom but unfortunately the future -as all will realize if they keep a close connection with sensors evolution-is not bigger sensors.That is a necessity of the older technology.As i mention many times M8 is the digital M camera ,the rest like M9s and so on-for you better,not for me after very very very long testing-is just a copy of M8 to refresh new sales and just that.M8 has to become what ergonomically had to be from day one and then of course discontinued.Any other solution is not towards any kind of progress.I can see the board of share holders asking vigorously for the return of Mr.Lee,to salvage the wreck.What is debated here is not M8 but the integrity towards the M photographers.With around fourty camera bodies in my company believe me i'm not missing any update by anyone ,this is not the issue.This all thing is not for any personal benefit but for the M system.

Edited June 29, 2010 by Angelos Viskadourakis

[stunsworth]

M8 has to become what ergonomically had to be from day one and then of course discontinued.Any other solution is not towards any kind of progress.

 

Sorry, but are you really saying that the only possible progress for a digital M is to sell an updated M8? Nothing else could possibly represent progress?

[redbaron]

Frank, can you name one company in the entire world that has ever upgraded a discontinued model?

[redbaron]

BTW, Porsche's last air-cooled 911 was the 993, not the 933.

[andybarton]

 

We've seen examples of other manufacturers that have actually continued to support superseded models, and as far as I can see this leads to better customer satisfaction and wider brand loyalty.

 

No one is questioning Leica's continuing support for the M8.x

 

But for people to argue that the M8.x is a current model, just because some dealers still have "new" stock is like trying to claim that the R8 was a current model 3 years ago. It's nonsense.

 

Dealers were selling R8s that had never been owned by anyone, but that doesn't make them a "current" model. Ditto M6's - if you tried hard enough you could probably still buy a "never sold before" M6. Not a current model though.

 

Discontinued.

 

£500 for a firmware update would make Leica a laughing stock. And quite rightly too.

 

This place really is Fantasy Island, sometimes.

 

Maybe the Love Boat will be along in a minute...

Edited June 29, 2010 by andybarton

[Guest Chris M]

I told everyone here that there will not be an M8 FW update in the probable future, and I was railroaded!! by certain members here, for passing on that info that I received from a contact who is a family member of mine who works at Leica NJ that knows a "upper management level" employee, who (helps) make those company decisions.

 

UPDATE, according to my contact,....... There will be (NO) M8 FW update period.

 

Sorry to bear the bad news, but the M8 (as it is ) with the current FW 2.004 is excellent IMHO, members please post all M8 requests directly to Leica, instead of posting here on the forum. ITS JUST A SUGGESTION, and It obviously is a request that is not getting through (HARD ENOUGH) to Leica Germany, IMHO;)

 

Ps ...... I can't make excuses for Leica about the M8, as I SOLD MY M8 and now own a unbelievable X1 ....... and I was told that there will be a very big update coming in the next 4 months for the X1, but I was not told anymore or anything about what it will be by my contact, so, I havn't been wrong so far, ....... lets just see.

 

Pss...... I am not interested in debating my post.... all members in disagreement please take it up with Leica, Thanks:)

 

 

chris m.

Edited June 29, 2010 by Chris M

[andybarton]

UPDATE, according to my contact,....... There will be (NO) M8 FW update period.

 

"Period", in American, is a very, very long time. Indeed.

 

I hope that you are prepared to either eat your hat, or match Bill's promise of contribution to the LUF chosen charity if and when the FW does appear.

 

Money where your mouth is time, Chris...

 

For your assistance, the donation page is here: L•Camera Forum is fundraising for AICR - JustGiving

[Guest Chris M]

"Period", in American, is a very, very long time. Indeed.

 

I hope that you are prepared to either eat your hat, or match Bill's promise of contribution to the LUF chosen charity if and when the FW does appear.

 

Money where your mouth is time, Chris...

 

For your assistance, the donation page is here: L•Camera Forum is fundraising for AICR - JustGiving

 

 

 

How much do you want to bet? $10,000.00 I'll put mine in an escrow acct. for the bet, how about you Andy?, Lets do this bet for the forum, and have it witnessed across the GLOBE, So I can finally get some closer here in regards to you and your subjective comments in regards to this Topic. So are you prepared to eat your own words? "put your money were your mouth is" I never lay all my cards on the table;) but I can tell you that I'm holding a FLUSH of some kind? I call you...............

 

 

Ps..... the losers $10,000.00 of the bet will have there funds directly withdrawn from the escrow acct. and deposited into a Trust to be used and voted on by leica members for the better of this Forum, and the winner gets to keep his money. Let me Know

 

 

 

LOL, CM

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[andybarton]

I am not a betting man. And I have already made my contributions to the charity.

 

Further, I don't have $10,000, but I am delighted that you are prepared to offer that sum to the charity if there is ever an M8 FW update.

 

I will email the charity with the good news when the FW is released.

 

I AM willing to bet that you wouldn't stand by this generous offer, should push come to shove...

Edited June 29, 2010 by andybarton