Did I get a Used M8?

[ttriolo]

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Okay, I'll admit it. Maybe I'm just paranoid but when I opened up my package from B&H yesterday containing my long agonized over M8, I did not get the overwhelming sense of "brand newness". Admittedly, it has been a while since I bought a new Leica camera or lens but I seem to remember that the item came in a sealed box and every item inside was package with pristine care. Serious collectors I knew never unsealed their boxes expecting the passage of time would only increase the value of an untouched and unused piece.

 

While my M8 has all the look of a new item, some things give me pause, like the fact that the Leica box was not sealed, the LCD screen did not have any protective film on it (as I would expect), none of the manuals/booklets were shrink-wrapped, etc. So in what condition did the rest of you receive your cameras? Is box sealing just a thing of the past and I'm just behind the times or did I get a used or refurbished M8?

[stunsworth]

I can't remember anything in the box being shrink wrapped. use the camera, if you see any problems send it back to B&H.

[jaapv]

Leica does not shink-wrap anything on th M8....

[farnz]

Tony,

 

IIRC my new M8 arrived just as you've described.

 

Pete.

[rwfreund]

That is exactly how both of mine arrived.

-bob

[gwelland]

Both of my M8's came with a sticker on the front lens cap and the body was wrapped in a clear plastic wrapper. No shrink-wrap anywhere although my first M8 came as a silver box inside another grey shipping box, the 2nd one that came from B&H rather than my local dealer came with just the standard silver finished box. The tab on the box is a give away if it's been opened because it'll crease or scratch unless you're totally anal about opening it or have Secret Service letter opening skills.

 

People who buy Leica gear and leave it shrink-wrapped and never used should be tracked down and .... .... .... Such a waste.

[Shootist]

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About the only thing that was sealed was the cardboard wrapper around the extra plug adapter for the charger, it has tape on it. Otherwise the big box was not sealed, the manuals were not shrink wrapped, there was no, and is no, protective cover on the LCD screen, the camera comes in a separate box and is wrapped in a plastic bag.

 

You got a NEW camera.

 

To check how many times the shutter has been activated you need to take the Image Unique ID and punch it into a HEX calculator and convert it to DEC. So take ONE shot with it, look at that shot with Adobe Bridge and find the IUID.

Normally there will be about 90 to 110 (+/-) shutter activation on a NEW camera.

[ttriolo]

Glad to hear that others experiences are pretty close to mine. Apparently, the way my M8 came packaged is pretty standard practice. It just seems so incongruous that a $5000 item comes in an unsealed, unprotected container while a $15 CD takes 30 minutes and an army of tools to get past the shrink-wrap, tape and anti-theft devices.

[M6J]

Glad to hear that others experiences are pretty close to mine. Apparently, the way my M8 came packaged is pretty standard practice. It just seems so incongruous that a $5000 item comes in an unsealed, unprotected container while a $15 CD takes 30 minutes and an army of tools to get past the shrink-wrap, tape and anti-theft devices.

 

Are you located in Athens, Greece Tony?

[ttriolo]

Are you located in Athens, Greece Tony?

 

No, actually Athens, Alabama USA

[wlaidlaw]

Tony,

 

I had similar concerns as mine, although bought in January, was a very early serial number, 3100302. When I later noticed that the box and warranty certificate serial numbers did not match the camera and were from a much later serial number camera, I got really worried and with Guy Mancuso's help contacted Leica. The dealer got nowhere with his enquiries. Leica confirmed to me that it was a new, not refurbished camera and that it was almost certainly them who had mixed up the box and warranty cert (they were shipped from Solms on the same day, 31st December - post Xmas hangover?). If you still have concerns contact Leica and they may be able to set your mind at rest like they did for me. They have also sent me a corrected warranty book and matching number labels for my box.

 

Wilson

[marknorton]

That orange sticker - can't even remember what it said - was the only change I saw in the packaging of my cameras.

[wlaidlaw]

About the only thing that was sealed was the cardboard wrapper around the extra plug adapter for the charger, it has tape on it. Otherwise the big box was not sealed, the manuals were not shrink wrapped, there was no, and is no, protective cover on the LCD screen, the camera comes in a separate box and is wrapped in a plastic bag.

 

You got a NEW camera.

 

To check how many times the shutter has been activated you need to take the Image Unique ID and punch it into a HEX calculator and convert it to DEC. So take ONE shot with it, look at that shot with Adobe Bridge and find the IUID.

Normally there will be about 90 to 110 (+/-) shutter activation on a NEW camera.

 

Just for fun I looked at the image #10 I had taken with the M8, which is the first one I kept. It has a IUID of 000000b9 = 185. This would mean that my camera had had 175 shutter activations before I got it new??? That seems quite a lot.

 

Wilson

[Shootist]

Just for fun I looked at the image #10 I had taken with the M8, which is the first one I kept. It has a IUID of 000000b9 = 185. This would mean that my camera had had 175 shutter activations before I got it new??? That seems quite a lot.

 

Wilson

 

 

Yes but you have to understand that Leica takes pictures with each individual camera to adjust the rangefinder. Some take more then others. My first one had 87, second bought had 101 and replacement for the first had 95, as close as I can tell.

 

So yours took more shots then all of mine did to properly adjust the rangefinder or the dealer had yours and another out of there boxes for someone to look at and check and mixed them up when putting them back in. That is what I suspect happened and the dealer just doesn't want to own up to it. I seriosly doubt Leica would mix up a box and camera. If they did there would have to be at least one other NEW M8 with mismatched serial numbers from box to camera.

[Alberti]

ttriolo,

I similarly had some concerns, that I voiced to Solms Customer Service. The camera did come from original bags, opened before my eyes in the shop, but afterwards I did find that the sensor had some specs on it from from shot 5 already. (Did't see it until afterwards on prints, use full dia anyway).

Reason to get paranoid of course. Did they hand me a demo-camera? On the other hand, no, really no fingerprints, no scratches on the LCD, no dents or dungs anywhere on the camera, etc.

(But Guy: I still love the camera. If I were a professional I would shout loud though.)

 

Prior to dispatching from the factory, should they put some spray on the camera (the spray called: "this is brand new".) Rather not, let car manufacturers do that...

 

Better is a sound Quality Control process.

- And, if Microsoft uses holographic stickers, why not Leica? Just to give the feeling you did not get a camera that others have toyed around with.

- For instance, to 'close' the body cap, for instance, with a tamper-proof wrapper to the bottom plate. That can be made fool proof. (Not just phantasy, yes, I have professionally fought fraud).

- And let Solms pack in a print of a F22/90 mm white wall to show any dust. (They'll be scared though, I expect. Adds another € 500 to the cost.)

[wlaidlaw]

Yes but you have to understand that Leica takes pictures with each individual camera to adjust the rangefinder. Some take more then others. My first one had 87, second bought had 101 and replacement for the first had 95, as close as I can tell.

 

So yours took more shots then all of mine did to properly adjust the rangefinder or the dealer had yours and another out of there boxes for someone to look at and check and mixed them up when putting them back in. That is what I suspect happened and the dealer just doesn't want to own up to it. I seriosly doubt Leica would mix up a box and camera. If they did there would have to be at least one other NEW M8 with mismatched serial numbers from box to camera.

 

Ed,

 

Leica said they went to two different dealers in Spain. Leica further admitted that they were probably mixed up at the factory or less likely at the Leica Spain importer, where both M8's went, because they don't usually open the boxes there. I am afraid there will always be a niggling suspicion that the manufacturing process of this particular camera was not quite straightforward. Whether it was inside the factory or if it ever left the gates and came back again I will never know. Given its continual little electronic niggles and glitches, it is going at some point for a Solms holiday and Leica have said they will try to arrange a loan M8 for me while it is away.

 

Wilson

[Guest tummydoc]

All 3 of my M8's came packaged as you described. In restrospect it would have been beneficial had someone else used the cameras before me (especially a quality checker at the factory ) because it could have saved me the aggravation of having the first two die quite unauspiciously. Perhaps when the price rises another $900 in October it will give Leica the financial means to put a piece of Scotch tape on the outer box

[roofus]

yeah I bought a used one too ;-)

[ttriolo]

That orange sticker - can't even remember what it said - was the only change I saw in the packaging of my cameras.

 

It says, "For sensor cleaning, please see instructions, p.60/128."

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[DaveEP]

Both of mine came as you described, and from different dealers 6 months apart - so I would not worry.