marknorton Posted January 13, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just received my second M8, a couple of things to note. Â First, interesting that the serial no is already over 5000 - mine is 31054xx. First one from beginning of November is 31010xx. Â Second, done the usual banding test, all seems fine. Firmware is 1.09, as expected. Â Most significant difference I can see is that the power switch is MUCH better. None of the slop and weak detents in the first camera, it has a much more reassuring feel about it and much more positive detents. Â The shutter release is also improved, still slightly gritty but it looks like there is more resistance to the second stop which makes the release point much more positive. Â I'm going to ask Leica to fix my first one which is in for upgrade. Â So, one black, one chrome, difficult to say which I like better... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 13, 2007 Posted January 13, 2007 Hi marknorton, Take a look here Power Switch Detent. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
cocker Posted January 13, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Hi Mark, Â My M8 is "second batch" - got it last week - and my only real nit pick is that the power switch detent is a bit free. On a couple of occasions I've pressed the shutter and nothing has happened except a red blink at the top of the viewfinder! The switch has accidentally moved onto the self timer. If you notice a difference the first batch must have been really slack! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #3 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Keith, yes, in the first camera, the power switch knob moves around, now it seems much more anchored and the detents are stiffer. I could not imagine this switch moving accidentally to self-timer whereas it has happened often enough with the first camera. Â My first camera may have been faulty, but I would say how it is on the new one is just perfect for the power switch and much improved for the shutter release. If they could remove that last trace of grittiness, it too would be perfect. Â I've told Leica I'm more than happy to pay for current production parts to be put in my first camera. Â As for black and chrome, I do feel the black camera exudes a "hewn-from-solid" feel, where the chrome camera has the classic traditional look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted January 13, 2007 Share #4  Posted January 13, 2007 Most significant difference I can see is that the power switch is MUCH better. None of the slop and weak detents in the first camera, it has a much more reassuring feel about it and much more positive detents. The shutter release is also improved, still slightly gritty but it looks like there is more resistance to the second stop which makes the release point much more positive.   My camera is in Germany (I suppose). I would like to have those things fixed.  They should do it automatically for all "first batch" cameras sent to Solms for repair !!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted January 13, 2007 Share #5 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Mark, how do you contacted them asking for a fix in your "first batch" M8? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted January 13, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted January 13, 2007 My December US-ship M* serial no 25xx, has a pretty crisp power switch. The first time or two that I turned it on, I overshot S, but it now stops where it should. Of course, that means that I have adapted to it, but don't you expect that? Â scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #7 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ruben, I sent an email to Customer Service with full details of serial numbers and so on. Â If you remember the first Luminous Landscape review, Michael Reichmann mentioned this so it looks like they've made a change somewhere. I don't think it's worth having done specially but since my camera is going to be in bits, it makes sense to have them check it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted January 13, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted January 13, 2007 anyone figure out thats 5k in how long ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted January 13, 2007 Share #9  Posted January 13, 2007 Just received my second M8, a couple of things to note. First, interesting that the serial no is already over 5000 - mine is 31054xx. First one from beginning of November is 31010xx. Mark, my serial number starts 3100xxx. I received this camera, from the second batch, on 12/13. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 13, 2007 Share #10  Posted January 13, 2007 Just received my second M8, a couple of things to note. ... [deleted text in between] ...  So, one black, one chrome, difficult to say which I like better... So, is this a fine art of martketing trick from Leica? Slow down the repair for the 1st batch so that the owners will buy a 2nd M8 because they can't wait? Looks like it worked Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #11 Â Posted January 13, 2007 It's true, the use serial numbers are a mystery, it would be interesting to know whether they make a batch for the US market, then one for Japan, then one for Europe. The only country difference I can see is the safety label on the bottom. In Europe it has the waste bin icon, in the US, I assume it has the UL logo. Â Maybe there's someone in Solms who delights in giving us the run-around in trying to understand how serial numbers are used. Â Still, it does hint at several thousand M8s out there by now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #12  Posted January 13, 2007 So, is this a fine art of martketing trick from Leica? Slow down the repair for the 1st batch so that the owners will buy a 2nd M8 because they can't wait? Looks like it worked  Arthur, no, I'd always planned to buy two, one of each! As I explained to SWMBO, "how many pairs of shoes do you have?" Case dismissed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 13, 2007 Share #13 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Arthur, no, I'd always planned to buy two, one of each! As I explained to SWMBO, "how many pairs of shoes do you have?" Case dismissed. Â Just pullng your socks ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted January 13, 2007 Share #14  Posted January 13, 2007 It's true, the use serial numbers are a mystery, it would be interesting to know whether they make a batch for the US market, then one for Japan, then one for Europe. The only country difference I can see is the safety label on the bottom. In Europe it has the waste bin icon, in the US, I assume it has the UL logo. Maybe there's someone in Solms who delights in giving us the run-around in trying to understand how serial numbers are used.  Still, it does hint at several thousand M8s out there by now.   Mark,  I have a second-batch camera with a 31002xx serial number -- go figure. The power switch on mine has very crisp and secure detents.  Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
truando Posted January 13, 2007 Share #15 Â Posted January 13, 2007 I got mine yesterday, just came in from Solms, and the number is 31009xx - and that's a black one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #16 Â Posted January 13, 2007 As I say, the serial numbers are a mystery... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 13, 2007 Share #17 Â Posted January 13, 2007 The power switch and shutter on my second batch one . # 53xx (I had it wrong in an earlier post) feel rather similar to the ones on my first batch one (#11xx) So maybe it is more a question of sloppy tolerances and luck of the draw. The power switch is pretty good on both, but the shutter release does no even come close to earlier M types. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #18 Â Posted January 13, 2007 Jaap, my serial numbers are 10xx and 54xx so you may well be right it's down to luck and Leica may well tell me it's within tolerance. Â As for the shutter release, it's the travel from the first pressure point to the second which I don't like, no silky gliding of PTFE coated surfaces against each other, instead gritty metal on metal. Â I'm wondering if M7 owners could help us here. How is it on this camera? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted January 13, 2007 Share #19 Â Posted January 13, 2007 For what it's worth to those keeping track, my serial number is 31009XX purchased from B&H on Nov. 10. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted January 13, 2007 Share #20  Posted January 13, 2007 Jaap, my serial numbers are 10xx and 54xx so you may well be right it's down to luck and Leica may well tell me it's within tolerance. As for the shutter release, it's the travel from the first pressure point to the second which I don't like, no silky gliding of PTFE coated surfaces against each other, instead gritty metal on metal.  I'm wondering if M7 owners could help us here. How is it on this camera?  Mark,  My M7's release is silky smooth, and my M8, like yours, feels gritty. I think I can live with it, though.  Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.