tashley Posted March 12, 2007 Share #1  Posted March 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Having read all the threads about sudden death syndrome etc, I decided that I couldn't trust my chrome M8 to be reliable though so far it has been perfectly. I travel to shoot quite a bit and don't want to find myself up some distant creek without a paddle. So I had to make a decision: ditch the M8 out of fear it might fold, start to lug my 5D with me, plus lenses, as backup or...  You got it! I bought a second M8 (sexy black) today as the braces to go with my belt.  Is this the first time in history a manufacturer has managed to double its sales by making owners fearful for the reliability of it's product?  Am I smart or crazy?  Cast your votes!  ;-}  Tim  ps I ran the new one with 1.09 next to the old one with 1.092 and the shutter noise difference was remarkable. Then I did a firmware update. Live dangerously, that's what I say... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 12, 2007 Posted March 12, 2007 Hi tashley, Take a look here Smart or crazy, cast your vote.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Photoskeptic Posted March 12, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Tim, when I first got into rangefinders I kept reading about everyone who had a backup body. I, too, bought a "backup" body but have to say I have never had a break down with either. So I set one up for b&w and the other for color. Good light, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted March 12, 2007 Share #3 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Better yet, Leica should sell the M8 in pairs ... one with the viewfinder on the left and the other with one on the right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
canlogic Posted March 12, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Smart...... I hope. Â Still like my 5D for some stuff, macro especially and my 1DMKII with long lenses for wildlife. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted March 12, 2007 Share #5 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Tim, Â You're not crazy, but you do have more disposable income than I do. My backup camera is a Panasonic FZ7, which either proves that I have less money than you, or more misplaced confidence in the reliability of my M8. ;-) Â Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted March 12, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Tim your my hero. LOL Â Â I back up everything and it is very smart. Now just looking for a backup to the wife, Oops she may not like that one. Just kidding Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Walt Posted March 12, 2007 Share #7 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I did exactly the same thing--and I haven't had a problem to speak of with either one. In the days when I did photojournalism, I and other photographers always had two Leica bodies. They did quit, get flaky, etc. Â I do have an idea that if everyone posted when they did not have a problem with the M8, the functioning of this camera would look a lot better. Right now there's a bit of hysteria about the whole thing. Â Best wishes, Walt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted March 12, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Hi Tim, I think its a smart move. I'm at the moment just considering the purchase of an M7/MP to use as a backup. In that way even if the M8 dies on you or the battery goes, I'll still be able to take photo's and still use the same lenses (albeit with a different factor). Plus, in this part of the world at least, its still fairly easy to come by film - ok not Velvia or Tri x, but certainly the drug store variety which does at least still give good results when your stuck in a jam. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 12, 2007 Share #9 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Right now there's a bit of hysteria about the whole thing. Agreed. Still it means we've become famous on Photo.net. I quote from a recent thread there... Â "The L.U.F. Digital Forum has the largest enclave of M8 owners on the net, many professionals, and most with infatigable patience and desire to make the camera work for them. Reports of deceased M8s are rampant there, amongst those very dedicated owners. The latest firmware has not mitigated these failures. One of the strongest M8 supporters, a pro who has written C1 profiles for it, has announced he will part ways with the M8 because he is unable to rely on it... The real story is on the L.U.F. and it's not coming just from non-owners anymore. Of course there are still a few people making "odes" in counterpoint to the factful discussions of the problems. Which is weird because Leica is being very forthright in admitting there are serious operational issues with the M8..." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted March 12, 2007 Share #10 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Hi Tim, I think its a smart move. I'm at the moment just considering the purchase of an M7/MP to use as a backup. In that way even if the M8 dies on you or the battery goes, I'll still be able to take photo's and still use the same lenses (albeit with a different factor). Plus, in this part of the world at least, its still fairly easy to come by film - ok not Velvia or Tri x, but certainly the drug store variety which does at least still give good results when your stuck in a jam. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted March 12, 2007 Share #11 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Where is our friend Blasko? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted March 12, 2007 Share #12 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Yes, the "backup issue" is felt by lot of photogs, and anyone finds its own way... by myself, and for the limited experience I have had till now with electronic cameras, I have a strong idea: BEWARE OF BATTERIES ! When I have my M8, the backup will be my M4. But, as I say, is a strategy that each people has to find for himself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted March 12, 2007 Share #13 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Steve your post exemplifies why good communications by the company is needed in the Internet age. Bad news travels like a phase front, i.e. faster than the speed of light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flatfour Posted March 12, 2007 Share #14 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Tashley - You are smart, wealthy and wise. I wish I could follow suit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 12, 2007 Share #15 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Agreed. Still it means we've become famous on Photo.net. I quote from a recent thread there... Â Can get a bit "heated" over there, though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted March 12, 2007 Share #16 Â Posted March 12, 2007 I don't think you are crazy for having 2 M8's. If you are a Pro and depend on a camera for your livelihood it would be silly to not have a second body at any shoot and preferably one that uses the same lenses, cards and batteries. I have never seen a real Pro photograhper show up with only one body for a shoot that he is making money on. And most of the time the 2 bodies are the same model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 12, 2007 Share #17 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Tim, I have two - like you, one black, one chrome. Can't decide which colour I prefer, every time I think the black has it, the classic chrome look catches my eye... Â Not only good for backup but it can reduce lens changes which keeps the dust out and I'm hoping it might just prevent a recurrence of that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I dropped a 50/1.4 onto concrete while trying to change lenses in a hurry... Â I agree, if you compare the two shutter sounds side by side, the change is very noticeable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_brown Posted March 12, 2007 Share #18 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Â Am I smart or crazy? Â It is too early to tell! Â You will enjoy the second body because you can select 2 lenses for a day's shoot and not have to fool with changing lenses all the time. You WILL need the second body when your first fails. The real problem will come if Leica cannot cope with the failure rate and the repair times get longer and longer. They can't deal with the problem now. This will be the death of Leica. You will have 2 failed cameras to sell on ebay to the collectors. The problem will be that there are too many of them and the price will be very low. Back to film. Â I hope I'm wrong because I have 3 M8 bodies. Two to carry and one for Solms. I have 17 Leica M lenses plus the third party ones. You can see that I'm in this for real. In the short term, I am really enjoying the M8s and wishing Leica well (for their good as well as mine). Â Old man Leitz and Oscar are probably rolling in their graves right now. Â Good Luck! Dale Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted March 12, 2007 Share #19 Â Posted March 12, 2007 Can get a bit "heated" over there, though... Â I can't even post over there anymore without hordes of trolls all over my butt. Not worth teaching them anything. Armchair idiots. There i said it, now sue me. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carcam Posted March 12, 2007 Share #20 Â Posted March 12, 2007 As an ex-sports shooter, I have almost a dozen white lenses and several little-used dslr bodies that will contribute toward my 2nd M8 body (black this time). So far though, my first has been flawless (wish I could say the same about my skills)... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.