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New M8 oddity


eudemian

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I have the latest firmware installed, have had no real problems with my M8 after three months use but last night I decided to play with the time delayed setting.

 

Once I select self timer, a slight pressure on the shutter release button is enough to trigger a shot. I must stress this is even before I press half way down, a brief light touch is enough to fire the camera. This is odd behaviour, what does it signify, do I need to be concerned? Is there a simple remedy? Should I contact Leica, if so who should I contact?

 

The selector switch works fine in single and continuous mode, seems odd that it has this characteristic in self timer mode.

 

Eager to hear what you have to say.

 

Still love my M8

 

Tom

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That is interesting, (I meant to put a question mark in the title.)

 

So, I take it you just live with it, does it annoy you or is it par for the course?

 

Tom

 

Par for the course, rub of the green. That is just the way it is.

If you are looking to do some aperture or shutter speed adjustments do them before you turn the switch to timer.

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It doesn't annoy me, nor should it you.

 

The timer is started on the first release to minimise induced camera shake. The main reason to use the 2 second timer is to avoid camera shake when tripod mounted and having a sensitive release to start the timer is just what's required. Having to press more firmly on the shutter release to activate the timer will increase the amount of spring energy in the system and increase the time for the resulting shakes to subside. It's Leica's equivalent of mirror-lockup on an SLR...

 

Once youv'e done it for the 2 second timer, it makes sense in the interests of consistency to do it for the 12 second timer as well.

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Well we live and learn.

 

Thanks for that explanation Mark it makes sense now. I think it startled me at first because it was such different behaviour, but yes I can see the justification for this modus operandi.

 

Tom

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I will occasionally use this when I am handholding the M8 at very slow speeds in

an attempt to minimize shake. I must say that it does take some practice.

 

Bob Moore

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It's not a bug, it's a feature.

 

Another nice feature that some of you may not be aware of is the following:

 

If you set the shutter speed to B and use the self-timer mode the first light touch on the shutter release starts the countdown, the shutter then opens and the viewfinder displays the time the shutter remains open. A second light touch on the shutter release closes the shutter. This "T mode" is a nice alternative to using a cable release for long exposures.

 

Cheers,

 

Stan

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It's not a bug, it's a feature.

 

Another nice feature that some of you may not be aware of is the following:

 

If you set the shutter speed to B and use the self-timer mode the first light touch on the shutter release starts the countdown, the shutter then opens and the viewfinder displays the time the shutter remains open. A second light touch on the shutter release closes the shutter. This "T mode" is a nice alternative to using a cable release for long exposures.

 

Cheers,

 

Stan

 

See p. 94 (in the Acrobat page# window) of the pdf M8 instruction manual under 'Notes:'.

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The only downside of this system is that if you want to assess the shutter speed, you have to do it on S or C and then change the shutter control to timer. I am sorry but I just don't buy that it was a deliberate feature. I don't think my M8 did it before 1.092/1.102. I suspect it all ties in with the changed shutter sequence on 1.092/1.102. If you are using the timer, any vibrations you might cause by a full depression of the shutter release, would have died away by the time the shutter fired. I reported this as a bug to Guy via a PM some time ago.

 

Wilson

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I am confused now.

 

I take your points on board Wilson, I rather suspected the timer was different prior to 1.092 but I hadn't really investigated it so couldn't be categorical about it. This was why I mentioned the firmware version I was using.

 

It could be a bug that is also useful, a bit like the B&W preview.

 

Just as I thought I had understood this anomaly, not sure where I stand now.

 

Don't blast me down for this: perhaps the ultra Liecophiles see only the upside of every problem and maybe the truth lies elsewhere. :):confused:

 

Tom

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