Guest kissov Posted April 19, 2007 Share #1 Posted April 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) My D2 is in for repair so I've decided to take the plunge and buy a M8 plus a 28 cron, ir filter, and an extra battery, this will be by far my largest camera purchase in 40 years. After reading this board I'm a little paranoid (lurking member since 2004). Are there things I should check/do when I pick the camera up? Should I unbox it at the dealer and check it? can the serial number tell me anything? Will I be able to tell if the sensor is dirty? the finder is working properly? the lens is focusing correctly? the software is functioning? I want the pleasure of bringing the boxes home and opening them but would it be better to "run" the camera at the dealer? Help, advice, thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 Hi Guest kissov, Take a look here Buying a M8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wparsonsgisnet Posted April 19, 2007 Share #2 Posted April 19, 2007 Richard, I agree that you should power it up at the dealer's. The battery should be holding plenty of charge for the testing. When you get it, it will be set to shoot jpg's. My shots from the morning I picked it up are useless: jpg's under fluorescents. I know my dealer and he's nowhere near that yellow. If you're not a C1 user, yet, you'll find it confusing but rewarding. The M8 was also my largest photo purchase (ever) and I wish I had bought 2 of them! Enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sirvine Posted April 19, 2007 Share #3 Posted April 19, 2007 I hope your experience will be like mine--no problems whatesoever in three months! If you decide to do this, you might want to make sure you use the included battery instead of a battery from the dealer's demo unit, since some speculation is that issues are connected to the specific battery/charger. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted April 19, 2007 Share #4 Posted April 19, 2007 My D2 is in for repair so I've decided to take the plunge and buy a M8 plus a 28 cron, ir filter, and an extra battery, this will be by far my largest camera purchase in 40 years. After reading this board I'm a little paranoid (lurking member since 2004). Are there things I should check/do when I pick the camera up? Should I unbox it at the dealer and check it? can the serial number tell me anything? Will I be able to tell if the sensor is dirty? the finder is working properly? the lens is focusing correctly? the software is functioning? I want the pleasure of bringing the boxes home and opening them but would it be better to "run" the camera at the dealer? Help, advice, thank you. Hi There I'd test it at the dealer - put it on dng, and take a few shots with the lens you're going to buy - I took my laptop to the dealers when I got the second body and took some infinity shots out of the door - then a few of oblique paperwork to check that the focusing was about right. Took 15 minutes, but my excellent dealer said he was getting everyone to check them now - if there's anything wrong it's better to send it straight back and try another one (I had 5 lined up to test - but the first one was fine). Good Luck and enjoy. And if you haven't used C1 before, my advice is to stick it straight into the bin and go for Aperture or Lightroom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tummydoc Posted April 19, 2007 Share #5 Posted April 19, 2007 If you have the luxury of proximity to a stocking dealer willing to let you demo his new stock, then by all means do so! I was not so fortunate, and had to return M8s twice for exchange before getting the third one that's still working, although last weekend it did lock up but a battery removal and reboot brought it back to life. I hope that's not a harbinger of a permanent failure to come but being just a casual amateur I'm not going to stress over it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boilerdoc Posted April 19, 2007 Share #6 Posted April 19, 2007 Chill! You'll love it. 40 years!!! I can't go 6 months without a new camera, but this one is amazing. The D2 is going to gather dust - mine has! Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted April 19, 2007 Share #7 Posted April 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Do yourself a favor, Don't buy the M8. The next thing you know you will have 4-5-6 new Leica lenses, 1.25x viewfinder magnifier, Angle finder, Diopter, Grip base, New bag, flash that works with the M8, and on and on until you have NO money left and NO credit left on any of your credit cards and wishing you could afford a second M8. Or go ahead and buy it. But don't say you weren't warned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted April 19, 2007 Share #8 Posted April 19, 2007 Ed were the hell were you 6 months ago. LOL You know it's bad when you have 2 M8 's and 8 lenses and looking for 9 than we call the little white truck in with a big red dot on it and three guys show up all in white and have a nice white jump suit for you with really nice Luigi leather straps on it. We at least take you away in style. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwolf Posted April 19, 2007 Share #9 Posted April 19, 2007 Richard, I swore I'd never sell my D2, but after three months with the M8, I just did. You'll love it. Definitely turn it on in the store, shoot and review a few pictures, and scroll through the menus. Not much else you can do there. Then shoot a lot and test it before the return period runs out. And I agree about photo editors -- just use whatever you've been using -- C1 is not necessary. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kissov Posted April 20, 2007 Share #10 Posted April 20, 2007 Thanks guys for the input. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted April 20, 2007 Share #11 Posted April 20, 2007 Ed were the hell were you 6 months ago. LOL You know it's bad when you have 2 M8 's and 8 lenses and looking for 9 than we call the little white truck in with a big red dot on it and three guys show up all in white and have a nice white jump suit for you with really nice Luigi leather straps on it. We at least take you away in style. 6 months ago I was looking at what I could afford to spend on Christmas so I would have enough money left to buy a M8. I never thought I would be buying all new lenses instead of just using the older ones I have. I'm now looking to get the 135 APO to replace the 135 f/2.8 bug eyes I now have and maybe the 90 Marco with adapter to replace my Tele-Elmarit. God help me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
photolandscape Posted April 20, 2007 Share #12 Posted April 20, 2007 The battery takes a while to charge, so I'd call ahead and make sure your battery is in your camera, fully charged. You mentioned checking the sensor for spots. I would suggest putting a 75 or 90mm lens on the M8, take it outside, stop it down and shoot the clouds (ok, you can tell I live in the Northwest), or blue sky, if you have such a thing. Then, load it into your computer and blow it up in Photoshop and scan back and forth across the image to check for spots. You'll have some. If they are loose specks of dust, you can brush them off with an Arctic Butterfly or similar device. If that doesn't do it, you may need to ask the dealer to fork over some Eclipse 2 and a swab and clean the sensor (instructions found elsewhere on this forum). If the spots are water or oil-borne, that is probably the only way you'll get them off, and if you can get the dealer to do it and learn from his/her technique, you'll be set in that regard. Backfocus--would test for it too while you're there. May as well. None of this is meant to scare you off--not at all. I came over from a Canon 1Ds, which in its own way was excellent, but the M8 blows the socks off the Canon for what I do--documentary/street photography. I hope you have as great an experience with yours as most members have. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roubaix Posted April 21, 2007 Share #13 Posted April 21, 2007 You'll love it. I've had NO problems with mine. It has completely re-energized my interest in photography. What a fun, tool. Enjoy, Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulN Posted April 21, 2007 Share #14 Posted April 21, 2007 Richard, I agree that you should power it up at the dealer's. The battery should be holding plenty of charge for the testing. When you get it, it will be set to shoot jpg's. My shots from the morning I picked it up are useless: jpg's under fluorescents. I know my dealer and he's nowhere near that yellow. Enjoy. Bill, If you don't mind me asking, where in Boston did you pick it up? I've been contemplating the purchase. I was at EP Levine's and they have them in stock. I'm also sure Ara can get them at NE Photo in Arlington. I picked up a 50 LUX-ASPH from Ara a year and a half ago at a _great_ price; I just had to wait a few months for it to arrive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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