ksargent Posted March 13, 2007 Share #1 Posted March 13, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Greetings all, I have been reading (with some chagrin given my deep respect for the Leica marque) about the unfortunate issues with the M8. Some of your experiences has rekindled a thought I had since coming over to digital just a year ago (from a Nikon F3 system). There is no question that Leitz is one of the finest manufacturers of lenses and mechanical cameras in history. But, in regards to the latter, what does that have to do with making a digital camera? I own a Panasonic FZ-30 and a Leica D-Lux 3, and I have heard these and other "Leicasonics" made fun of by some and dismissed by others as toys. However, if one checks the reliability ratings of digital cameras, Panasonic seems to always be near the top. And why not? A digital camera is - once you get beyond the glass and the shutter - electronics and software. The ability to design and make a superb mechanical instrument is no indication that one can make a superb electronic/software-based instrument. When I first began investigating digital, I looked down my nose at cameras made by companies with no backgrounds in photography - Sony, Panasonic, etc. But it finally occurred to me that perhaps companies like Leica were smart to team up with companies invested in electronics expertise. In other words, it makes sense to do what you know and to farm out the rest to appropriate experts. I have the impression that Leica's partners at Panasonic had little or nothing to do with the M8. If that impression is correct, one has to wonder - what if they had? Would there still be the kind of problems that some of you are seeing - and that are doing damage to a great company's reputation (at least with some)? I'm not an M8 owner - although I would like to be. But I can't help but wonder if - when the time comes - I might be tempted to go with the Digilux3 (or its successor) instead, not in spite of the fact that Panasonic is heavily involved in the design and construction of the electronics - but because they are. Ken Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 13, 2007 Posted March 13, 2007 Hi ksargent, Take a look here Doing What You Know (M8 issues). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Artichoke Posted March 13, 2007 Share #2 Posted March 13, 2007 which is often the case on forums such as this folks come in with complaints which is natural & the M8 is a unique digital camera in many respects I have had my M8 for about a month now and have about 3600 images taken with it due to the excellence of the forum members here I have avoided many problems & despite not having received my IR/cut filters yet from Leica, I have been delighted with the results I get, especially using J Roberts excellent C1 icc profiles Leica had the wisdom to partner with Kodak and Jenoptik for the electronics which are excellent ...the sensor is truly outstanding & this little camera never ceases to amaze me in the files it produces this is a ground breaking product in many respects & I think Leica delivered the goods Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksargent Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted March 13, 2007 There is no doubt that some "internet amplification" is going on here. 5 years ago, I owned a Toyota Camry - right in the middle of the engine sludge controversy. If you read the automotive forums uncritically back then, you might very think that every Toyota engine in the world was gummed up with goo. The Net has that effect - my daughter has one of the new Intel MacBooks - which were also subjected to heavy criticism for flaws which only a few users actually experienced. I sincerely hope that this is the case with the M8 as well - because I want one. Ken Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted March 13, 2007 Share #4 Posted March 13, 2007 Couldn't agree more - could you help get some balance back by doing the survey at: http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/18954-internet-survey-luf-m8-experience-date.html Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted March 13, 2007 Share #5 Posted March 13, 2007 Ken, I own a Panasonic FZ7 and an M8, and although they're very different cameras, I've been very pleased with both. As you've noted, Panasonic and Leicasonic cameras don't get much respect around here, which is unfortunate. Most of the "expert" opinions in this regard come from pixel-peepers who have never used or owned one. And then there are those love to knock the M8 based on some known problems and an undetermined number of failures. Reading these posts, you'd think that the entire production run was DOA. The Internet does have a way of magnifying problems and skewing opinions in a very unflattering way. Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
footnoteblog Posted March 13, 2007 Share #6 Posted March 13, 2007 The problems reported as evidence of poor QA is all speculation until Leica issues a statement, which will never happen. So, in the end, it still boils down to speculation. By the way, I'm still using my M8... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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