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Infrared and the M8


ukenagashi

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I just looked at the Leica site and there are only UV filters for the M-System, is that what you meant by mentioning the "UV-IR-filters"?

No, they must cut IR (infrared) as well as UV. There's an example here (although I have no connection to the item or seller). You can always tell because if you reflect light off it from certain angles it will have a strong magenta (purple) hue on one side and a strong cyan (blue-green) hue on the other.

 

Pete.

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Just for my understanding -here at Leica´s website there are ONLY UVa filters: Leica Camera AG - Fotografie - UV- UND POLFILTER

No more UV/IR filters. But thanks for the feedback, because I would like to use the M8 in different ways, primary for IR, but who knows for what else ;)

And additional question: I read that in an older firmware Leica tried to work against the IR effect - do I have to consider the firmware in buying a M8?

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Just for my understanding -here at Leica´s website there are ONLY UVa filters: Leica Camera AG - Fotografie - UV- UND POLFILTER

No more UV/IR filters. But thanks for the feedback, because I would like to use the M8 in different ways, primary for IR, but who knows for what else ;)

And additional question: I read that in an older firmware Leica tried to work against the IR effect - do I have to consider the firmware in buying a M8?

 

B+W still makes UV/IR cut filters. I recently bought two of them for lenses a month ago.

 

I would not try to fix this in firmware as you will without doubt have to compromise the dynamic range of the camera to do that.

 

B+W filters are excellent and about half the cost of the Leica brand.

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As the M8 ages while the M9 and the 240 are here, there are more sellers of Leica UV/IR filters then buyers, on e-bay for example.

My suggestion is to pick your M8 carefully, preferably from a dealer to whom you could return a faulty one, in case you were unlucky.

 

You can search this forum for a simple method to find out the number of shutter releases, without any special software nor a computer. And please have a good look at the LCD, since this component can not be replaced by Leica, just as it has be mentioned here before.

 

Your question, if software updates reduced the IR performance of a M8 (the infrared sensitivity of the M8 was considered a flaw when the camera came out) still is unanswered. I'd think, that if you switch off the lens correction in the camera's menu, you have what you want.

 

But I think you got Jaap's message, that the UV/IR filters are for general photography and not for the infrared spectrum.

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Just for my understanding -here at Leica´s website there are ONLY UVa filters: Leica Camera AG - Fotografie - UV- UND POLFILTER

No more UV/IR filters. But thanks for the feedback, because I would like to use the M8 in different ways, primary for IR, but who knows for what else ;)

And additional question: I read that in an older firmware Leica tried to work against the IR effect - do I have to consider the firmware in buying a M8?

You can simply update the firmware from the Leica’s website.
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Guaranty is always a difficult thing. On one hand it gives a restful feeling, on the other hand a camera such as this that has been gone over by Leica, still has a rest guaranty and has been on the road for quite a few years is not very likely to go wrong, major breakdowns are sometimes handled as courtesy repairs by by Leica.

Another consideration is to which extent the worst case scenario is a disaster or just a major annoyance.

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Got news from the seller of the M8-set:he said he used it for his job in dental laboratory and used the 35mm with good results!? This makes me disconcert-how can this be? All pictures he sent me from the backside of the lens were blurred...hm...don´t know what to do...any ideas?

And a new Leica store offer is a black one with 2500 actuations, changed glass into sapphire glass in Oct 2013 - same price as the silver one with 3558 actuations and the guarantee (July 2014)...heeelp....

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Well, the safest way is to buy from a dealer that can offer a warranty. Obviously, it won't be a Leica warranty, but if the store is reputable it is a good way to take some of the risk out of the purchase.

 

I got mine from KEH and I bought the cheapest one they had. It has over 32,000 shutter activations on it, but other than that looks to be in very good condition and it came with a 6-month warranty.

 

I would buy a high-mileage M8 from a reputable dealer over a low-mileage M8 from an unknown source because the number of shutter counts really is not that important.

 

Shutter count, in my mind, is little more than an indication of how much use the camera had. If the camera has a high count and looks rough, then it probably was used hard. If it still looks reasonably new, then it was probably well cared for. Sort of like buying a used car.

 

Leica has been known to replace shutters for free and the shutters are rated for 150,000 activations. So, even my 32K is not that much.

 

Also, if the expense of the camera is causing you so much fuss you might want to reconsider your purchase. Buying used gear is always going to involve risk. If you are at the edge of your financial reach buying this camera and no reserves left for possible repairs, then maybe you should wait until you have more money.

 

If my camera dies today I may be disappointed, but not financially ruined. I don't live on pins and needles.

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So it´s done. I talked again to the dental man, but he gave strange answers, so I ordered now the silver one from an official Leica store - that one with filters and somewhat 3000 actuations. Thanks for all the help here - and as soon as the package got here, I start doing experiments with the M8 as well as with the M240.

Thanks folks :D

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello,

Regarding the IR and the Leica M8, I have tried the IR digital imaging using my M8.2 with a Carl Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 ZM lens plus a Kenko IR72 filter. I also tried using my M9 as well before purchasing a used (Mint) M8.2. The results from both cams have been stunning to my eyes. With the M8.2 due to its higher sensitivity to IR, it enables you to use a higher shutter speed which is a big plus for hand-held shooting. So far, the ISO is set at 640 and the f stop at around 5.6 or 8 when the sun is strong mid day. With the M8.2, you can use the shutter speed of about 1/30 - 1/60 sec. With the M9, however, with the same setting, the shutter speed becomes around 1/8 sec. Since I do not own a M240, there is no way I can comment on its capability. For me, my M8.2 is definitely a keeper.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I use my M8 for ir with B+W 092, 093 for more intense effect. Newer cameras have ir block but there is some leakage. You will need a tripod if it works at all or a converted camera.

 

M8 is not a half bad cam for regular work, just use the UV/IR filter. I don`t find significant difference between Leica and B+W. I have a few of each.

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