arthury Posted January 4, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted January 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys, Â I can't keep the money in the pocket anymore ... there you go, Solms. Anyway, called a few local dealers and reserved one this morning and picked it up during lunch. Â Have a few questions for you who are more experienced: Sharpness is not consistent: on the wider lenses, they are crisp but using my 90mm Summicron Asph at f2, it was quite soft. May be the indoor lighting condition was too dim. Magenta is certainly there when in AWB. Will this go away with IR filters? How can you tell if this camera came from the 2nd batch or 1st batch? It's firmware is 1.09. Weight: this is the lightest Leica-M body I've ever held. Is this your experience, too? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 Hi arthury, Take a look here Joining the M8 gang. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest guy_mancuso Posted January 4, 2007 Share #2  Posted January 4, 2007 Arthur probably was not your focus but shutter speed and the three step release. i have had this issue when i first got mine is i am very used to a electronic release from the DMR and Canon's the M8 has a 3 step mechnical shutter that you have to be careful with i keep punching mine down instead of squeezing it down. The release you can feel on the way down and it seems going from beginning to end causes my issues instead the half way approch. keep a eye on this. i am finally getting this down and i am retraining myself after many years of a electronic release.  IR filters will cut out the magenta no question  If you bought from a store it is brand new from Solms with 1.09 it was made after the fix was needed and the ones after November 27th were corrected in the plant  Weight , well just i will just let my back talk too you. LOL  Good luck and have fun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 4, 2007 Share #3  Posted January 4, 2007 Hi guys, I can't keep the money in the pocket anymore ... there you go, Solms. Anyway, called a few local dealers and reserved one this morning and picked it up during lunch.  Have a few questions for you who are more experienced: Sharpness is not consistent: on the wider lenses, they are crisp but using my 90mm Summicron Asph at f2, it was quite soft. May be the indoor lighting condition was too dim. Magenta is certainly there when in AWB. Will this go away with IR filters? How can you tell if this camera came from the 2nd batch or 1st batch? It's firmware is 1.09. Weight: this is the lightest Leica-M body I've ever held. Is this your experience, too?  1. The camera's resolution doesn't vary from lens to lens but the lens itself and many other factors can be involved.  2. Yes  3. It's probably from the new batch but there may still be some of the "generation one" cameras out there even though they were all supposed to have been sent from dealers back to Leica. Ask your dealer to confirm.  4. I'd have to look back at my own article but I believe the weight is the same as an M6 TTL.  Cheers, Enjoy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share #4  Posted January 4, 2007 If you bought from a store it is brand new from Solms with 1.09 it was made after the fix was needed and the ones after November 27th were corrected in the plant  What did they fix in the hardware? Any ideas? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share #5 Â Posted January 4, 2007 3. It's probably from the new batch but there may still be some of the "generation one" cameras out there even though they were all supposed to have been sent from dealers back to Leica. Ask your dealer to confirm. Â My dealer said it was 2nd batch but I have no way to verify. Does anyone know if there's a range of serial # for 1st batch? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
khanosu Posted January 4, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted January 4, 2007 Look for a pamphlet inviting you to register for two free IR cut filters. If this pamphlet is in the box (should be in the same pocket as the manual in the box) then you have a new version with the hardware fix from the factory. The hardware fix takes care of the first generation of horizontal banding as well as the green blobs. Â Furrukh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike prevette Posted January 4, 2007 Share #7 Â Posted January 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Arthur, Â I'm in seattle and got my camera around thanksgiving, Other than that I don't know of anyones else in Washington that has one. Who did you get it from (just curious)? Â _mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4season Posted January 4, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted January 4, 2007 Regarding the softness with telephoto lenses, there are a few factors here: The M8's is a relatively low-magnification finder and is going to be weakest with long lenses. You might want to consider the 1.25x magnifier. Next, if you're viewing at 100%, stop and think just how big an enlargement that really is! You are going to see the effects of slight misfocusing and camera shake more than you've ever seen it before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted January 4, 2007 Share #9 Â Posted January 4, 2007 What did they fix in the hardware? Any ideas? Â Yes it was a assembly board that a circuit was not properly installed. This was the reason for the streaking and blobs. At least that is my understanding of the fix. I have two 1.09 camera's on fixed and one new and the streaking is gone on my copies Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted January 4, 2007 Share #10 Â Posted January 4, 2007 I echo the magnifier suggestion. I've been used to .72 M's and this viewfinder feels wider than it really is. I use the magnifier with everything except the 24mm. The magnifier also comes with a beautiful, small leather case that snaps onto the shoulder strap. These guys can make some really handsome things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share #11  Posted January 4, 2007 Look for a pamphlet inviting you to register for two free IR cut filters. If this pamphlet is in the box (should be in the same pocket as the manual in the box) then you have a new version with the hardware fix from the factory. The hardware fix takes care of the first generation of horizontal banding as well as the green blobs. Furrukh  Yes, I have that pamphlet and have registered the camera and ordered the 2 IR filters. Thanks for the tip, Furrukh! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share #12  Posted January 4, 2007 Arthur, I'm in seattle and got my camera around thanksgiving, Other than that I don't know of anyones else in Washington that has one. Who did you get it from (just curious)?  _mike  I called around and I thot there was a rumor that Kenmore has it and so I called Kenmore. They had one and I bought it from them. The staffs were very friendly, unlike Glazers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share #13 Â Posted January 4, 2007 Regarding the softness with telephoto lenses, there are a few factors here: The M8's is a relatively low-magnification finder and is going to be weakest with long lenses. You might want to consider the 1.25x magnifier. Next, if you're viewing at 100%, stop and think just how big an enlargement that really is! You are going to see the effects of slight misfocusing and camera shake more than you've ever seen it before. Â Good point, Jeff & Bill. I'll consider the magnifier. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share #14 Â Posted January 4, 2007 Here's one early sample which I was kinda successful in removing the magenta cast by playing with the Hues adjustments in PS/CS2, athought I was somewhat vulnerable to vibrations/handshakes at f/2. Â http://www.leica-camera-user.com/people/12907-1st-m8-post.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike prevette Posted January 5, 2007 Share #15 Â Posted January 5, 2007 I called around and I thot there was a rumor that Kenmore has it and so I called Kenmore. They had one and I bought it from them. The staffs were very friendly, unlike Glazers. Â Ha, I had the exact same experiance, and ended up purchassing from Kenmore. They are great, and whats funny is I don't think Glaziers has sold a single M8 yet. Â _mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Gregory Posted January 5, 2007 Share #16 Â Posted January 5, 2007 Just received an M8 today. I got it from Tamarkin's who sent it out to me by UPS. I dealt with Eric Bohman a great fellow to deal with who I've known through the LHSA. Anyway charged the battery, put in a Lexar 133 SD card and took a couple of shots tonight after saying a prayer over the camera before I fired it up. It's firmward 1.09 and the dealer just received a shipment Monday of this week. I remember getting an M6 and MP in the past and just inserting film and going out shooting and not worrying about the camera at all. Well I hope that feeling comes back to me soon!!! Â Scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 5, 2007 Author Share #17 Â Posted January 5, 2007 Scott, Â Congrats! I know how you feel about it. I have been using a Nikon D2X and it has spoiled me in terms of the hi-tech automation. Anyway, I think the M8 really made the Leica lenses shine and it would have made them shine even more if the issues are quickly ironed out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted January 5, 2007 Share #18 Â Posted January 5, 2007 Glazer's in Seattle has given me excellent Leica M sales and service for years. I have heard good things about Kenmore Camera but I'm very loyal to Glazer's because they have treated me so well. They have also sold more than one M8. I bought mine there on Nov 7. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Gregory Posted January 5, 2007 Share #19  Posted January 5, 2007 Scott, Congrats! I know how you feel about it. I have been using a Nikon D2X and it has spoiled me in terms of the hi-tech automation. Anyway, I think the M8 really made the Leica lenses shine and it would have made them shine even more if the issues are quickly ironed out.  Arthury:  I too have been using a D2X which has spoiled me as well. But I had a number of nice Leica lenses sitting there not getting much use and decided to take the plunge. I'm glad I did but I won't be getting rid of the Nikon that's for sure! I'm really looking forward to getting out this weekend and shooting with the M8 to see what it is capable of. By seeing results from other members on this forum and especially the pictures that David Adamson was blowing up at his studio in Washington DC I hoping for good things!  Scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjphoto Posted January 5, 2007 Share #20 Â Posted January 5, 2007 I'm in Portland, and i've been calling all over the region with no luck scoring. Anybody have a line on an M? Thanks, Tim Tim Jones Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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