Much better high ISO: Is there any hope for firmware upgrades for the M8?

[eleskin]

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Firmware upgrades can improve high ISO. My question is will the M8 ever get much improved high ISO through a firmware update?

 

I would think this is possible since these cameras are basically computers and the firmware is the program or operating system.

 

Any hope out there?

 

ALSO: I know Leica develops the firmware for the M8, but could we see third party firmware? I have a Minolta Diamage Scan Multi that has much improved third party software, better than what Minolta provided.

 

So could some genius develop software that could make the M8 fully useable at all ISO settings without the noise problems?

 

If it can, the M8 will have a very long life ahead of it for years to come!

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[mjh]

My question is will the M8 ever get much improved high ISO through a firmware update?

No.

 

I know Leica develops the firmware for the M8

No, Jenoptik does.

 

but could we see third party firmware?

No.

[Guest Linsengericht]

Firmware upgrades can improve high ISO.

 

Smart signal processing can improve high ISO results. If you use RAW/DNG, the RAW development tool performs the noise reduction, so you don't have to wait for firmware changes.

 

The good news is that today, the noise reduction algorithms are better than back in those days when the M8 was released. You will see better results with current software. One example would be Adobe Camera RAW which has improved a lot.

[colonel]

Smart signal processing can improve high ISO results. If you use RAW/DNG, the RAW development tool performs the noise reduction, so you don't have to wait for firmware changes.

 

The good news is that today, the noise reduction algorithms are better than back in those days when the M8 was released. You will see better results with current software. One example would be Adobe Camera RAW which has improved a lot.

 

Its absolutely true that a significant amount of noise reduction comes from software, e.g. compare high ISO Sony A900 with Nikon D3X.

 

However noticeable updates also tend to include noticeably more cpu power, and obviously the M8 cpu stays the same.

 

The other thing to note is that the implicite rate at which the sensor looses dynamic range as ISO is pushed can not be changed.

 

For me, dynamic range is as important as ISO performance, which can always be cleaned up in Adobe et al. So I am looking to new sensors to improve this equation.

 

Which I why I am waiting for the M10. For me the dynamic rnage difference between the M8 and M9 is not enough for the price.

 

ho hum!

[eleskin]

I tested the M9 and compared it to my M8 and found out too the dynamic range was similar and high ISO was improved but not by that much. Resolution is increased, but my M8 files held up great when upsized and I can see little difference to the M9.

 

For me, if the M10 had Fuji X100 high ISO, I would be more than happy!!!!

[colonel]

the fuji x100 is a bit of a red herring. the lens is good but not that good. the manual focus doesn't really work as the dial is fly by wire. i still think the best aps-c small camera is the nex5 for quality and versatility.

i would like canon 5dii iso performance at high iso and the m9 performance at low iso. etc.

[Guest Linsengericht]

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However noticeable updates also tend to include noticeably more cpu power, and obviously the M8 cpu stays the same.

 

Agreed.

 

What I was trying to say is this: When shooting RAW, the noise reduction is done outside the camera anyway. No need to update the camera firmware.