leicamr Posted July 11, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 11, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have an early M8. I don’t use it much due to the inaccurate viewfinder frames and noisy shutter. I can’t decide whether to have it upgraded or sell it and buy an M8.2. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 11, 2011 Posted July 11, 2011 Hi leicamr, Take a look here M8 upgrade or M8.2. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Gerard Posted July 11, 2011 Share #2 Posted July 11, 2011 Have you tried an M8.2 or M8.u to see if either meet your needs? If they do, it's down to economics/value; and that will depend on what's on the market at the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted July 11, 2011 Share #3 Posted July 11, 2011 Please don't take this the wrong way, but have you considered that Leica rangefinders may not be for you? Yes, the M8.2 and M9 shutter is quieter than the original M8, but it's not that much different. Yes, the frame lines are more accurate at certain distances on the M8.2, but frame lines and accuracy are not a strong point of rangefinder cameras in the first place. Before doing anything I would find a dealer/friend with an M8.2 or M9 to see if it really addresses all of your issues. If this is not possible there are ways to rent a camera for an evaluation. Either option is much more affordable than selling old cameras and buying new. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamr Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted July 11, 2011 Please don't take this the wrong way, but have you considered that Leica rangefinders may not be for you? Yes, the M8.2 and M9 shutter is quieter than the original M8, but it's not that much different. Yes, the frame lines are more accurate at certain distances on the M8.2, but frame lines and accuracy are not a strong point of rangefinder cameras in the first place. Before doing anything I would find a dealer/friend with an M8.2 or M9 to see if it really addresses all of your issues. If this is not possible there are ways to rent a camera for an evaluation. Either option is much more affordable than selling old cameras and buying new. I love Leica rangefinders as I use M6 and M7, I would prefer the frame accuracy of the M8.2 over the M8. I just wondered if an M8u is as good as an M8.2, overall (focus accuracy, reliability etc...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell Posted July 11, 2011 Share #5 Posted July 11, 2011 Yes...I would never have the framelines changed in my M8 because the "upgrade" would be far more INaccurate. I do a lot of my photography at cross-table distances. I also find myself photographing at speeds of 1/6k or above outdoors in order to open up the lens as much as possible. YMMV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 12, 2011 Share #6 Posted July 12, 2011 Only pro of upgrading is to get one more year of Leica warranty as i understand it. It is less expensive to sell your M8 and buy an M8.2 with a dealer's warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezc203 Posted July 12, 2011 Share #7 Posted July 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) John - Your advice is highly personal and somewhat misleading. The M8.2 (and M8.u) frame-lines are set to be more accurate at "normal" shooting distances (aka 2m) as opposed to the 1m on the M8 classic. As for which is better: M8.2 or M8.u - I don't think the different is negligible in terms of focus accuracy, reliability etc. (Assuming they are in similar conditions - aka: years of use, number of shutter accu. etc) Also - Shutter upgrade / Sapphire Screen upgrade are somewhat superfluous to me. I have a VERY good ($15) Zagg Screen Protector and like the option of having 1/6000 and 1/8000 for my Summiluxes in day light situations. So if you're just going to upgrade your frame lines (like what I did) then selling-M8-then-buying-M8.2 is probably going to cost you more than just upgrading the M8 with new frame lines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBatemanJ Posted July 12, 2011 Share #8 Posted July 12, 2011 As I remember correctly, frame lines are set to M8 at 0.7m, M8.2 at 2.0m and M9 (as well as film M) at 1.0m. I think "normal" is totally depend on personal preference/shooting style. I shoot a lot at minimum focusing distance. So, same as john, I like and feel more "normal" of M8 original and M9 frame lines compared with that of M8.2. I agree with seafurydriver about shutter sound. Quieter? Yes, but still much louder compared with film M. SATOKI Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfspencer Posted July 12, 2011 Share #9 Posted July 12, 2011 I have decided to go for he complete upgrade . . . . if New Jersey will ever answer my e-mail. I figure an upgrade is cheaper then buying an M8.2. The plus for me is an extra year's warranty and I know my camera and I know how I have treated it over the years. I don't know how someone else treated their M8.2. But that's just me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 12, 2011 Share #10 Posted July 12, 2011 I have an early M8. I don’t use it much due to the inaccurate viewfinder frames and noisy shutter. I can’t decide whether to have it upgraded or sell it and buy an M8.2. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Mark I doubt that the upgrade will really be the solution. Yes, the shutter is a bit quieter and the framelines are accurate at a different distance, but in general there is not much difference between the two. Actually the M8 is closer to the M6 framelines than to the M8.2 ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevidon Posted July 12, 2011 Share #11 Posted July 12, 2011 I upgraded my M8 a couple of years ago with the discreet shutter, sapphire LCD, and new viewfinder. I am more than satisfied with the results. Of course, I lost the highest shutter speed with the new shutter, but I never used it anyway. If you,in all other respects, like your M8, then by all means go for the upgrade. I found it well worth it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 13, 2011 Share #12 Posted July 13, 2011 I agree with Jaap...the M6, which you like, has frame lines more similar to the M8 than the M8u or M8.2. And the bulk of the noise from both the M8 and M8.2 (and M9) comes from the motor advance, not from the shutter per se, as compared with your film Ms. So, bottom line, I think you won't be happy either way (even though I'm very happy with my 2 M8.2s and don't miss my film Ms). But, if you decide to get a black M8.2, remember the all important black dot that will be included for free. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Gunst Lund Posted July 13, 2011 Share #13 Posted July 13, 2011 ...And the bulk of the noise from both the M8 and M8.2 (and M9) comes from the motor advance, not from the shutter per se, as compared with your film Ms. On the M8, M8.2, M8u and M9 it's the re-cocking of the shutter you can hear after the shutter has fired. There is no motor advance... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 13, 2011 Share #14 Posted July 13, 2011 On the M8, M8.2, M8u and M9 it's the re-cocking of the shutter you can hear after the shutter has fired.There is no motor advance... The motor to advance to the next shot. Of course it re-cocks the shutter...I think we all get it. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 13, 2011 Share #15 Posted July 13, 2011 On the M8, M8.2, M8u and M9 it's the re-cocking of the shutter you can hear after the shutter has fired... You mean the motor which recocks the shutter i guess. Recocking is very quiet per se. See that of R-D1 and R-D1s for instance. It is the shutter which makes noise with the latters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 13, 2011 Share #16 Posted July 13, 2011 I have decided to go for he complete upgrade . . . I figure an upgrade is cheaper then buying an M8.2... Not if you sell your M8. Total upgrade must be around $2K if memory serves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
framestore Posted July 13, 2011 Share #17 Posted July 13, 2011 I have decided to go for he complete upgrade . . . . if New Jersey will ever answer my e-mail. I figure an upgrade is cheaper then buying an M8.2. The plus for me is an extra year's warranty. The full upgrade is $1,845 (approx, Euro 1320.00) plus shipping and waiting 2-4 weeks without camera. In UK, a mint M8 is $2700 (=1700 pounds) and M8.2 is $3970 (2499 pounds). Most dealer offer 6 to 12 months warranty. used M8 + full upgrade = approx, $4545.00 plus shipping, includes 1 year warranty used M8.2 = approx, $3970 includes 6 months warranty used M9 = $6512 includes 6 months warranty or more left : $2K more than M8 + full upgrade, but the actual value is counted if decided to sell again in the future. I would rather buy M9 instead... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 14, 2011 Share #18 Posted July 14, 2011 Joe...prices vary widely by source, and timing. I searched dealers extensively some months back for a mint chrome M8.2 as a companion to my black one. Prices differed by up to $1000 in some cases for seemingly comparable cameras. I ended up with one from Dale Photo, which advertises here, for $3400. Dale just had it back from Leica service with a complete CLA and everything working perfectly. Low actuations and truly mint. Just need to look around. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
framestore Posted July 14, 2011 Share #19 Posted July 14, 2011 Joe...prices vary widely by source, and timing. I searched dealers extensively some months back for a mint chrome M8.2 as a companion to my black one. Prices differed by up to $1000 in some cases for seemingly comparable cameras. I ended up with one from Dale Photo, which advertises here, for $3400. Dale just had it back from Leica service with a complete CLA and everything working perfectly. Low actuations and truly mint. Just need to look around. Jeff My above comments was response to "gfspencer" post^^ I bought my M8 and paid $2400 with 6 months warranty, near mint condition. You paid $3400 for pre-owned body and that's $1000 more, IMO M8 and M8.2 are no different to taking picture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosa Posted July 14, 2011 Share #20 Posted July 14, 2011 I have had an M8 for 3+ years and have never seen the sense in getting the upgrade. The improved screen would bring me no benefit (as I already use a Giotto screen protector), and the slightly quieter shutter just isn't worth the upgrade cost for me. If I were to put more money into my equipment, I'd get an M9, but I haven't been swayed to do that yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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