confused by used M8 ad...

[miatadan]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I thought only the M8.2 had shutter speed only to 1/4000 sec on dial but ad states it a M8

from ad - most M8 shows shutter speed dial up to 1/8000sec

 

It includes a body cap, battery, and battery charger. Condition is excellent. This unit has had the shutter upgraded.

 

Shutter has 2467 actuations.

 

selling for about $2500

 

Is this a good price?

 

Dan

[Jeff S]

An M8 can be upgraded in any or all of 3 ways...shutter, frame lines and/or sapphire screen. Even a fully upgraded M8, however, is still not an M8.2, which has a few other differences. But when the M8 shutter is upgraded, the top speed is changed from 1/8000 to 1/4000, just like the M8.2.

 

Prices often vary greatly (they did for me a couple of years ago, varying by up to $1000 for a mint M8.2), even for seemingly similar condition cameras (# actuations is not the only factor to consider). It pays to shop around. I personally wouldn't buy a used M8 or M8.2 unless from a reputable Leica dealer with a warranty. But that's just me.

 

Jeff

[jaapv]

What Jeff says. However, an upgraded shutter is not better, nor worse - than the original one, just a bit less loud, which was the reason for the change. The downside is that you don't have 1/8000th. The same for the framelines. They are different, not better. If you have a habit of working very close, the original ones may suit you better. At a distance of 3 m the new ones are easier to use, especially for owners that have no rangefinder experience. So it is up to you to decide whether you want to pay extra for the upgrades or even a bit more for an 8.2. As Jeff says, it pays to shop around and a dealer with a guaranty is the best place to get one. Not that these are particularly unreliable cameras, but they are more complex than the average digital cam and expensive to repair.