M8.2 Appreciation

[andym91]

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My best decision was buying an M8.2 what feels like and eternity ago.

My worst decision was buying an M9P 

My 2nd best decision was not selling the M8.2 when I bought the M9P 👍

 

Enjoy this wonderful camera and its unique sensor.

 

Andy

[rtai]

I,just 

[rtai]

I just bought a second M8.2!

[boojum]

13 hours ago, rtai said:

I just bought a second M8.2!

Good for you.  Good luck.  Do not let it rest.

[Raid Amin]

I have kept my M8 even after getting an M9 and M10. My M8 is not the M8.2 but maybe more like M8.1 as it has the new shutter and 1/4000 max shutter speed. I like using this camera whenever possible. I carry two M bodies when I go out, and the third one stays home.

[martinot]

On 4/16/2021 at 1:26 PM, earthphoto said:

I use my M8.2 Safari very often. Have a M240 which is left alone at home. I love the colours, the weight and the "S" option.

Just my 2 cents.

I think you should sell your M240. It is a way too great and fantastically good camera to be left (more or less) unused.

[Jeff S]

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On 5/22/2021 at 12:13 PM, Raid Amin said:

My M8 is not the M8.2 but maybe more like M8.1 as it has the new shutter and 1/4000 max shutter speed.

More like M8.03, as three M8 upgrade options included changes to shutter, sapphire screen and 2m frame lines, but still lacked M8.2 finishes, covering and snapshot mode (and black dot on black version).

Jeff

Edited June 7, 2021 by Jeff S

[Raid Amin]

14 hours ago, Jeff S said:

More like M8.03, as three M8 upgrade options included changes to shutter, sapphire screen and 2m frame lines, but still lacked M8.2 finishes, covering and snapshot mode (and black dot on black version).

Jeff

Some preferred the 1/8000 top speed while  others favored the 1/4000 for "claimed" better reliability.

[Jeff S]

5 hours ago, Raid Amin said:

Some preferred the 1/8000 top speed while  others favored the 1/4000 for "claimed" better reliability.

Most preferred the quieter shutter operation, not improved reliability.  
 

Jeff

[farnz]

I always felt that the quieter shutter operation was better achieved using the delayed shutter re-cock that was enabled with a firmware update. 

After an informal test of forum members' 1/8000th and 1/4000th shutters during a number of forum member meetings there was no substantial difference in sound loudness between the two shutters other than one member's 1/4000th shutter that was clearly quieter and the consensus was that it was an outlier.

That makes sense too if you think about it because 1/8000th and 1/4000th shutters travel at the same speed and the difference is only the size of the gap (slit) between the blades during travel across the sensor face.

Pete.

[Jeff S]

Whether true or not, at the time much of the discussion around the new shutter was because folks believed the shutter to be quieter. The shutter was said to be improved (and made quieter), and the max speed was reduced, but I hadn’t read that the lower speed caused the quieter operation. 

I owned two M8.2s, but never used the ‘discreet mode’, which only delayed the inevitable awful re-cocking sound. The M240 and later models finally quieted things down in a more substantial way.

Jeff

[erl]

For what it is worth, I still have my two original M8's, both working as intended, retaining the 1/8000th speed. I no longer use them as the advent of the M9 and later M's with full frame was a game changer for me. I have always visualized my imagery in terms of 'classic' focal lengths of each lens and so the 'crop factor' of the M8's disturbed me. I really should part with my M8's as they are wasting away in the cupboard.

Pete's reasoning above re the 'quieter shutter', IMO opinion is correct. I don't believe the 'upgraded' shutter can be quieter, just slower! Why bother?

[Jeff S]

10 minutes ago, erl said:

Pete's reasoning above re the 'quieter shutter', IMO opinion is correct. I don't believe the 'upgraded' shutter can be quieter, just slower! Why bother?

Two things can be simultaneously true, and not cause and effect.  The revised shutter was said to be improved, with less vibration and quieter. The trade off was a lower shutter speed.  
 

Jeff

[erl]

2 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Two things can be simultaneously true, and not cause and effect.  The revised shutter was said to be improved, with less vibration and quieter. The trade off was a lower shutter speed.  
 

Jeff

Jeff, you may well be correct, I just am not aware of any real world evidence. For me, it is now a moot subject as I no longer use my M8's (shame on me, I know).

[Jeff S]

56 minutes ago, erl said:

Jeff, you may well be correct, I just am not aware of any real world evidence. For me, it is now a moot subject as I no longer use my M8's (shame on me, I know).

My M8.2s served me well and produced great files, particularly for my b&w work.  And I didn’t mind using the ‘sweet spot’ on my lenses due to the smaller sensor. But I hated the re-cocking noise, which made any reduced shutter sound laughable.  I sold them and haven’t looked back, especially given the significantly improved M10 platform.  But, like you, I’m still hanging on to a noisy M9 Monochrom, although If I experience no problems with a recently acquired M10M, the M9M will go.

Hope you’re recovering well, Erl.

Jeff

 

Edited June 8, 2021 by Jeff S

[Tom R]

I own and use exactly one digital Leica camera body: the M8.2 which I purchased years ago from B&H. Out of the box it had about 76 actuations on the shutter. I have used this camera over these last five years or so as a "sketch pad." It has worked very well in this capacity. Lately, I have started using the M8.2 images where I once used color images. Color images created by the M8.2 don't have the same characteristics as film images, but for some applications they are perfectly suited. 

The biggest drawbacks that I have encountered with this camera is the 1.3 crop factor and the need for UV/IR filters. I understand that I really should have my 28 and 35 mm lenses "coded" to ensure optimal performance from the M8.2, but I wonder at the end of the day that I'd be able to see any difference ... . Actually, the big annoyance here is slowing down the work flow; I have to replace filters, remember that I have done so before putting them back on the film M bodies, etc.

When the M8.2 stops working, I will NOT replace it with a Leica digital body. I would prefer to keep my house mortgage-free. If I'm going to use digital images, I could just as easily use a Lumix or some such thing and save lots of money and aggravation for results that will ... well ... look like digital photographs, which is fine, when one wants digital photographs. 

Of course, I understand that many others have different needs, requirements, and expectations.

[erl]

Tom, originally I fitted all my M lenses with IR cut filters, which was essential in many scenarios, especially those I worked in. I still have all those lenses fitted with those filters as there is little if any perceived difference on all my other M cameras, eg. M6,s M7, M9 and M10. Sometimes green foliage is improved using the IR cut filters and any theatrical stage shots with 'black's can turn a horrible shade of magenta without the IR filters. I have discerned no harm from just leaving the filters on, with added physical protection of the front lens element.

Re coding of your lenses, that is good and efficient, but I think you can do that manually in the menu if your don't want to spend the money on lens coding.

[BJN]

Hmmm, I like the re-cocking sound!! I only use discreet mode, I can hear the twang of springs and the gear teeth engaging and if the sound should change I know that something is wrong, so far the sound hasn't changed, (touch wood).

[Tom R]

On 6/7/2021 at 11:17 PM, erl said:

Tom, originally I fitted all my M lenses with IR cut filters, which was essential in many scenarios, especially those I worked in. I still have all those lenses fitted with those filters as there is little if any perceived difference on all my other M cameras, eg. M6,s M7, M9 and M10. Sometimes green foliage is improved using the IR cut filters and any theatrical stage shots with 'black's can turn a horrible shade of magenta without the IR filters. I have discerned no harm from just leaving the filters on, with added physical protection of the front lens element.

Re coding of your lenses, that is good and efficient, but I think you can do that manually in the menu if your don't want to spend the money on lens coding.

Interesting. I don't think that one can obtain the same corrections from the M8.2 menu as others have probably done with the M9 ... ? I might try leaving the UR/IV cut filters on and see what happens when I shoot films (both B&W and color) ... ?

 

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