Firmware and battery for M8

[roubaix]

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I have an original M8- still works, still love it. Firmware is 2.014. I hear about a 2.024 but can't find it anywhere. No longer on Leica site and old links in forum are either dead or refer to 2.014. Trying to squeeze some life out of this dinosaur and given that I also canlt find a battery anywhere, getting worried! Help?

[farnz]

3 hours ago, roubaix said:

I have an original M8- still works, still love it. Firmware is 2.014. I hear about a 2.024 but can't find it anywhere. No longer on Leica site and old links in forum are either dead or refer to 2.014. Trying to squeeze some life out of this dinosaur and given that I also canlt find a battery anywhere, getting worried! Help?

The Softpedia website claims to offer free download of firmware 2.024.  I have know knowlege of this website and while I have no reason to think that it's anything other than bona fide I recommend protecting your computer from potential malware as you normally would if downloading.

The M8 uses the BP-SCL1 battery, which is the same battery as the M8.2, M9, M9-P and M Monochrom cameras use so that might help you and I would expect some to still be available in 'dark corners' of the web.

Pete.

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[84bravo]

I have used the download from Softmedia with no problems. I've seen new original Leica M8-M9 batteries at BH and Adorama. Usually around $150. Both currently show back ordered, but I've seen that notice come and go before.

 

[roubaix]

Thanks to all

[Graham (G4FUJ)]

I have seen people have problems with the 2.024 update - a number of posts on here.  I downloaded the update from Softmedia yesterday and applied it to my M8 without problem.

[wda]

Graham, please remind me of the benefits of this upgrade. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Graham (G4FUJ)]

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2 hours ago, wda said:

Graham, please remind me of the benefits of this upgrade. Thank you.

TBH I think all it does is add a few lenses for the camera to recognise, namely:

 - Leica Summarit-M 35mm f/2.4 ASPH.
- Leica Summarit-M 50mm f/2.4
- Leica Summarit-M 75mm f/2.4
- Leica Summarit-M 90mm f/2.4

  It's quite an old update (November 2014) so any new 6 bit coded lenses after that date will not be recognised automatically.

[wda]

Graham, thank you. I'll not bother to update it. The camera does all I expect of it.

[farnz]

1 hour ago, wda said:

Graham, thank you. I'll not bother to update it. The camera does all I expect of it.

If you don't, you won't be able to shoot video* with your M8, David.

 

 

 

*I might have made that up.

[wda]

Oh, dear. Might that be a game-changer for me?

[tommonego@gmail.com]

Is there a way to manually set a lens on an M8? I have looked at the menu tried set, no lens choices. 

[TAFFY]

On 2/22/2023 at 11:35 PM, tommonego@gmail.com said:

Is there a way to manually set a lens on an M8? I have looked at the menu tried set, no lens choices. 

Hi unfortunately this isn’t possible. It only reads coded lenses. In my case I have a ZM 25 coded as a Leica 24.

 

[farnz]

On 2/22/2023 at 3:35 PM, tommonego@gmail.com said:

Is there a way to manually set a lens on an M8? I have looked at the menu tried set, no lens choices. 

As Taffy wrote, no, but there is one oddity.  The screws in the 90/2.8 Elmarit's flange appear at just the right place for the M8's lens detection system to often interpret them as there being a 90/2.8 Elmarit attached and the M8 will apply the appropriate corrections* and insert the details into EXIF.  *There are no distortion etc corrections needed for  lenses longer than about 35 mm because the rear lens element will be far enough away from the sensor.

Some other lens's flange screws appear in the same place and the M8 will accordingly think it has a 90/2.8 Elmarit attached regardless of which lens it is, which isn't quite so helpful.

Pete.

[tommonego@gmail.com]

vor 9 Stunden schrieb farnz:

As Taffy wrote, no, but there is one oddity.  The screws in the 90/2.8 Elmarit's flange appear at just the right place for the M8's lens detection system to often interpret them as there being a 90/2.8 Elmarit attached and the M8 will apply the appropriate corrections* and insert the details into EXIF.  *There are no distortion etc corrections needed for  lenses longer than about 35 mm because the rear lens element will be far enough away from the sensor.

Some other lens's flange screws appear in the same place and the M8 will accordingly think it has a 90/2.8 Elmarit attached regardless of which lens it is, which isn't quite so helpful.

Pete.

Pete,

Interestingly my 1962 90 f2.8 Elmarit wasn't recognized. I looked at the mount and there were no visible screws. It is a beater that I picked up for $100 or possibly less tears ago. I had it CLAd and it now does a good job, on my M8, M3 or CL. After your comments I had to try. I did have it set on "ON UV/IR" if that makes any difference. My FW is 2.024.

Edited March 7 by tommonego@gmail.com

[farnz]

It's a while ago since it happened on my M8, Tom(?), but I think it was the v2 90/2.8 Elmarit-M that caused it (others might be in a position to confirm or correct me).  The 1962 is the version 1 that has the head cell that unscrews so it can be used with the Visoflex II (and III).

Pete.

[tommonego@gmail.com]

Yes the one I have has the head that unscrews. I have tried it on a Viso II, it may be better in closeups than my 65 Elmar. I have a couple of OTRPO tubes that can get me in closer, never sure what the mag is. 

[evildaikon]

Hi All,

I tried to update my M8 via the Softpedia link and noticed it just links to a dead Leica page. However I was able to download 2.014 from the archived Leica page from 2011:

Leica Camera AG - Downloads (archive.org)

I did 2.014 because I had heard of some ppl having issues with the newest firmware - but I'm sure you can find the latest firmware on the internet archive if you 'move forward' in time. I was also able to find the M8 instructions and brochure here.

Apparently Leica will also email you the firmware update if you contact them.

[84bravo]

M8 batteries are back in stock at BH.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/461931-REG/Leica_14464_Rechargeable_Lithium_Ion_Battery_f.html