BILL3075 Posted May 23, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 23, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Greetings! My new M8 [#310xxxx] arrives tomorrow. Will have 3 batteries total; 3 Sandisk Extreme III 2 gb cards.... I'm asking those of you who have experienced the ups-n-downs, trials and tribulations, the good and the bad, etc., with this camera to suggest what preliminary things I should do before snapping the first image? Many thanks in advance! Wm Mitchell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 23, 2007 Posted May 23, 2007 Hi BILL3075, Take a look here New M8 Arrives Tomorrow: What Precautions To Take. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
carstenw Posted May 23, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 23, 2007 Charge the first battery and insert an SD card, update the firmware to 1.102 if needed, put a lens on. Have fun! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodda Posted May 23, 2007 Share #3 Posted May 23, 2007 Just shoot. Unlike my Nikon I have dust on sensor. I assume because change lenses more often. Bear it until you bear cannoting spot with Photoshop Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted May 23, 2007 Share #4 Posted May 23, 2007 Give all your credit cards to your wife. Yes your wife !!! She will not spend anywhere near what you are going to do in the next 2 months. ROTFLMAO Welcome to the slippery slope. Many threads here to help you out , just cruise around. Gotta run for now but you should get plenty of great help. Okay give her the wallet. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptruman Posted May 23, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 23, 2007 Welcome! I have had mine for a couple of months and have enjoyed it thoroughly. As above you may find there is some dust on the sensor when you examine your first card full of images. Don't do what I (and several others) have done which was to wipe all around the sensor and its surround. You will get a greasy smeary sensor which was not fun to clean off again. Just use a rocket blower such as the Giotto and accept there may be one or two spots which you will need to remove in PS or whatever later. I have a couple of spots and know precisely where they are and will never "thoroughly" clean the sensor again! Ensure you register for the IR filters - mine have just arrived and appear to have fixed the colour problems I had recently. Practice focussing if you are used to AF. I used an M4 years ago and to my everlasting regret sold it and the lenses; I have until recently been using a Canon 5D (still got it but don't pick it up as often) and you will be surprised just how easy it is to forget to focus - doh! Don't rush out to buy loads of accessories. There aren't many that are really useful and its so refreshing to go out with only a small and light bag - my M8 and a few lenses, and that's it. Oh yes, lenses... You will want more lenses. You may not need them but boy will you want them. I have three but want to go wider and fill in some of the gaps. I have started to practice walking towards and away from subjects - its much cheaper but not always effective. As Guy says above, hide the credit cards as you WILL want to use them. I'm trying to restrain myself but the inevitable will happen next time I just happen to walk past the shop. Check out the threads on this forum. There is loads of advice already here. You will be able to enjoy reading this when its got too dark to take pictures outside. Finally, just go out and take some pictures. Enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Mondello Posted May 23, 2007 Share #6 Posted May 23, 2007 Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new M8! Lots of good advice here -- especially from Guy! You say you get the camera, 3 batteries and 3 SD cards, but what about lenses?? I'd say just don't freak out if you see zebra stripes on the LCD display instead of an image from time to time. And shoot DNG+JPG to start so you can immediately compare the quality of the 2. I now only shoot DNG. Oh yeah, Auto WB can be wonky, another reason to shoot RAW (DNG). Spend a few $$ on a subscription to http://www.reidreviews.com and read what Sean has to say about things -- well worth it. Have fun!!! The M8 is the most fun I've had shooting in 30 years (since going Nikon) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tummydoc Posted May 23, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 23, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Being a collector I've purchased many Leica items that have never been used. Had I left my first M8 sealed up in the box I would not currently be on my 3rd M8/2nd replacement, still waiting for my 2 free filters (E43 and E60) and still anxious whether it will die suddenly, part of the body case holding the baseplate will crack off, or I'll be the first to discover some new dreadful failing However given the relative improbability that the M8 will ever achieve collectible status, leaving it in the box would've been rather stupid. So basically you've two alternatives: refuse the parcel at your door and feel secure knowing you've dodged the proverbial bullet, or sally forth down the same slippery slope as the rest of us who believe in the addage no pain no gain Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted May 23, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 23, 2007 Plan to take the day off for picture taking. 'Grats. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
egibaud Posted May 23, 2007 Share #9 Posted May 23, 2007 If you are married or have a girlfriend, BUY HER A CAMERA so she does not use your M8 This advice is top on the list!!! Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL3075 Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted May 23, 2007 Thanks to everyone for the quick replies! I should have mentioned that I've been using film Leicas for some 26 years. Have an assortment of lenses, etc. For the M8, I plan to use the WATE (should be in hand very soon), the 24 asph, the 35 lux asph (possibly the Noct) and either the 75 lux or 90 macro.... Parenthetically, I should mention that the 135 is great, too, even without framelines; it doesn't take long to get used to it, I think..... 2 IR filters are on order (thanks to the Leica Rep), and will send in the 24, the 35 (& possbily the Noct) for 6-bit coding. Will update everyone once I get a chance to put it throught the paces. Again many thanks! Wm Mitchell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted May 23, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 23, 2007 Being a collector I've purchased many Leica items that have never been used. Had I left my first M8 sealed up in the box I would not currently be on my 3rd M8/2nd replacement, still waiting for my 2 free filters (E43 and E60) and still anxious whether it will die suddenly, part of the body case holding the baseplate will crack off, or I'll be the first to discover some new dreadful failing However given the relative improbability that the M8 will ever achieve collectible status, leaving it in the box would've been rather stupid. So basically you've two alternatives: refuse the parcel at your door and feel secure knowing you've dodged the proverbial bullet, or sally forth down the same slippery slope as the rest of us who believe in the addage no pain no gain Come on Vinay i know the world is going to end tomorrow but my god man put a smile on your face your here today. LOL I know I know but try to be happy a little, your killing us here. Have a good day , I mean that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artichoke Posted May 24, 2007 Share #12 Posted May 24, 2007 I am certain you will be pleased with your purchase no one mentioned the biggest problem for a new M8 owner: very few lenses are available for purchase getting Leica lenses is near impossible for many of the more desired models if you see what you want, pounce CV and Zeiss offerings can be excellent, but some of the Leicas are truly outstanding ...sadly everyone seems to read the same reports and these are often in very short supply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsjxyz Posted May 24, 2007 Share #13 Posted May 24, 2007 If you are married or have a girlfriend, BUY HER A CAMERA so she does not use your M8 This advice is top on the list!!! Eric And give her precaution that she will be ignored for several days for all your activities with the M8: 1. Get accustomed with the Auto White Balance. 2. Testing the grain with various ISO 3. Learning the DNG/RAW 4. Having fun with B&W or converting color to B&W ... Jerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Hatcher Posted May 24, 2007 Share #14 Posted May 24, 2007 Whatever you do, don't start exploring the vast array of Leitz contraptions made over the past 70 years or so wondering which ones can be attached to your M8. Do not buy a Visoflex. Do not measure your spare bedroom to see if there is room for a Reprovit in the corner. Do not waste space in your brain memorizing arcane letter codes like OTZFO, OUBIO, SOOKY, and NOOKY. And if you have an eBay account, CLOSE IT! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajtapia1 Posted May 24, 2007 Share #15 Posted May 24, 2007 Congratulations on your purchase. I have had mine since November. I have used Leica since 1962 and have never enjoyed a camera as much as this one! It has been to Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, New Delhi, Tibet, Bangalore, and Bangkok! Go out and shoot some images in jpeg & dng, download on the Capture 1 and be prepared to be happy! Also, ignore a lot of the problems you read about, they represent a small majority considering the great number of M8"s Leica has sold. Al Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL3075 Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted May 25, 2007 Well, the m8 arrived yesterday, and I did all the preliminary things, such as downloading the software, charging the battery, etc. One quick question, though: about 90--100minutes after inserting the battery, & having the camera mostly turned on, the back of the camera felt a bit warm. Is this normal? Hopefully, Sun/Mon I'll do a lot of shooting. Regards, Wm Mitchell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted May 25, 2007 Share #17 Posted May 25, 2007 Wm, I never noticed a warmness to the back (only to the images ). Sorry, couldn't resist. I've shot with the camera on for several hours with no problems. When I did some shoots in December and January, there was still a lot of grumbling about shutdowns and possible connection to the battery, so I left the thing on during shoots. Again, no problems. Have a ball! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6J Posted May 25, 2007 Share #18 Posted May 25, 2007 Naah... useless camera... Give it away to a good friend of yours in Greece that would be happy to get this burden from you! :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberti Posted June 4, 2007 Share #19 Posted June 4, 2007 Greetings! My new M8 [#310xxxx] arrives tomorrow. Will have 3 batteries total; 3 Sandisk Extreme III 2 gb cards.... I'm asking those of you who have experienced the ups-n-downs, trials and tribulations, the good and the bad, etc., with this camera to suggest what preliminary things I should do before snapping the first image? Many thanks in advance! Wm Mitchell What I would do next time I get one is first make a picture of the clear sky, dia at F16. It will show a fingerprint of dust, at least when I bought mine it did have it on the sensor. Now mine [#3111xxx] was from a shop so I think they had used it for demo. But nothing to proof because I only noticed after a week when I got my prints from the lab. No worry though for me, I don't see it too much of it and really, you have to be pragmatic in life. The camera has grace even with some visibilities. --> But I like to suggest that Leica adds a thin white diffusor spot (circ 500 micron max) in the lid on the body so you can check this before opening the seal. (Now a seal isn't there but some kind of fool-proof and tamper-proof sticker should be possible, just look at what gates Inc. goes through. Guy: Something for the Laundry List? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayproth Posted June 4, 2007 Share #20 Posted June 4, 2007 You will want more lenses. You may not need them but boy will you want them. This is only too true. Money is no object, geographical location is no object. Expect to come home, boot up your computer, log onto ebay and type "summicron" or "summilux" in the search field every night. My friends call it "Lens Lust," I call it "Summi-Lust" (not to be confused with the infinitely more dangerous yet unavoidable "Nocti-lust") Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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