leicamode Posted June 4, 2007 Share #1 Posted June 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all, I've just got word that the Chrome M8 is more stable than the Black M8. Reason being the Black M8 is the first batch and althought firmware has been upgraded, there might be potential of problems surfacing. Advised to take the Chrome M8 as it's the later batch is much more stable? <---- all these sound very weird if I may put it this way. This information are from a dealer's perspective. What say you? Are M8's all Black in the initial 1st production? Black M8 users: Have you encountered problems since firmware upgrade? I really want a Black M8 for it's easier to get a black gaffer and conceal the initials...but this advice is spinning me around. Thanks in advance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 4, 2007 Posted June 4, 2007 Hi leicamode, Take a look here Black M8 Versus Chrome M8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jonoslack Posted June 4, 2007 Share #2 Posted June 4, 2007 HI There The first batch was mixed - I got one back in November, and it's chrome. I then got a black one in March, and it's definitely from a later batch. I'm not sure you can tell a lot from serial numbers either - it doesn't seem likely that they build them in consecutive number order. Each of mine has their little foibles, but they've both worked pretty reliably. Sorry - that isn't much help! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2007 Share #3 Posted June 4, 2007 I got my chrome one in the first week of November,one of the first cameras delivered and I would have gotten it a few days later than that if I had opted for black one. This appears to be an unfounded myth. It seems btw as stable as the (chrome) one I got in January. I think a chrome one looks better, but if you like black, go right ahead. Nothing to be said against that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted June 4, 2007 Share #4 Posted June 4, 2007 Depends on a number of things, 1. All the 1st batch should have been sold by now, dealers should be offering 3,4 batch cameras. 2. Is the dealer basing this info on an official note from leica?. Many here have close relationships with their dealers and this is the first I've heard this mentioned. 3. It is my understanding that all first batch cameras regardless of colour were required to be returned to Solms for "upgrade". Hardly just supposed issues with black. 4. Question you need to ask yourself is does your dealer only have chrome in stock and trying to sway your decision process by dis-information. 5. Possibly the most important factor, get what you want, it's your money and if you have your heart set on black get black. Otherwise you'll always regret the decision and less likely to trade out for black at a later date due to financial penalty. 6. I have chrome and it wares very well, I happen to like chrome and I had a choice of both at purchase time. True black is somewhat nicer looking, but I like the more classic look. Point is my money my choice, you should adopt the same attitude. Whatever you decide in the end, enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericperlberg Posted June 4, 2007 Share #5 Posted June 4, 2007 I have no insider information but as a regular reader of this forum and an owner of a black M8 which seems abundantly "stable" discounting the foibles of the latest firmware, I think your "weirdness" detectors are spot on. Sounds like a dealer who is having trouble selling a chrome M8 in stock. Did the dealer give specifics or just try to instill enough fear and worry in you through these vague innuendos to move you to a chrome M8? And if a dealer would say this to move product, then you're shopping at the wrong dealer IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2007 Share #6 Posted June 4, 2007 Maybe this is the moment to ask for a substantial discount if you buy chrome... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Mondello Posted June 4, 2007 Share #7 Posted June 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sounds like a dealer who is having trouble selling a chrome M8 in stock. <snip> And if a dealer would say this to move product, then you're shopping at the wrong dealer IMO. Exactly! I had a big midewest US dealer tell me over the phone that Nikon made 2 grades of D200! one for the "big box stores" like Circuit City and another for real camera shops like his! Total and complete nonsense! Stay away! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted June 4, 2007 Share #8 Posted June 4, 2007 Exactly! I had a big midewest US dealer tell me over the phone that Nikon made 2 grades of D200! one for the "big box stores" like Circuit City and another for real camera shops like his! Total and complete nonsense! Stay away! Yea, the voice that vendors make different "quality grades" for "big box distributors" and for "old-style shops" that are supposed to be more aware to quality for their personal reletionship with customers, is a voice that sometime spreads also in my country: for my direct professional experience in tech gear, I can say it's completely baseless. A "classical" dealer is better finds more solid arguments to confront the big distributors stores Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted June 4, 2007 Share #9 Posted June 4, 2007 Hi Alan, When you hear explanations like the one that dealer gave you, make sure you're wearing long boots and are carrying a shovel to clean out the stall. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamode Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted June 4, 2007 Thanks for all your advice thus far. Speculations will only drive me somewhere I don't want to be at the moment. My concern is with the 1st batch with the impending hardware problems that called for a recall late 2006/early 2007 (not sure about the timing). Does anyone have any problems after the recall / hardware fix? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2007 Share #11 Posted June 4, 2007 There is no discernable difference in performance between "factory-fixed" and later generation cameras. It is highly unlikely or rather impossible that any cameras in the shops now should be from the first batch. Remember, these cameras have been nearly unobtainable and strongly sought after for months and months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamode Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted June 4, 2007 There is no discernable difference in performance between "factory-fixed" and later generation cameras. It is highly unlikely or rather impossible that any cameras in the shops now should be from the first batch. Remember, these cameras have been nearly unobtainable and strongly sought after for months and months. Thanks jaapv for your explanation. Any reason why "these earlier batches" are still strongly sought after in today's context? as opposed to the "fixed" newer batches? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2007 Share #13 Posted June 4, 2007 No- it is just that any M8 in the shop had a shelf life of about ninety seconds.... M8s were selling on E-bay for considerably more than the factory price. So any camera in the shop in January from the first batch is 100% certain to have been sold by the first week of the year, leaving only factory-fresh cameras on the market now. Unless some unscrupulous dealer tries to slip in a return - we have seen one or two examples of that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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