wilfredo Posted November 10, 2007 Share #1 Posted November 10, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I got notification a few days ago from Leica about a firmware M8 upgrade, and I am wondering if anyone has done the new upgrade? Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 10, 2007 Posted November 10, 2007 Hi wilfredo, Take a look here Firmware Upgrade. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted November 10, 2007 Share #2 Posted November 10, 2007 Hi Wilfredo, I loaded it this evening - UK time. I'll be out with the camera tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted November 10, 2007 Share #3 Posted November 10, 2007 Wilfredo, I loaded it a few days ago and everything is running smoothly. Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted November 10, 2007 Share #4 Posted November 10, 2007 Downloaded it the morning it came out from the german site, wasn't available on the US site at 4:30 or 5:00 AM. Unzipped it and loaded it on the Chrome M8 as soon as the download was completed. NO problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted November 10, 2007 Share #5 Posted November 10, 2007 Yes, running here fine, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradreiman Posted November 10, 2007 Share #6 Posted November 10, 2007 loaded it but i have some new probs now. more white balance "misses"-shoot raw anyway doesn't matter but the starting point is often very blue or cold. playback of images doing a weird new "jumpy" thing-doesn't matter im a film guy don't even really need the lcd (i thought they should leave it off the m8).....b Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptomsu Posted November 10, 2007 Share #7 Posted November 10, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) loaded it but i have some new probs now. more white balance "misses"-shoot raw anyway doesn't matter but the starting point is often very blue or cold. playback of images doing a weird new "jumpy" thing-doesn't matter im a film guy don't even really need the lcd (i thought they should leave it off the m8).....b I have none of the problems you mention ???? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
@bumac Posted November 10, 2007 Share #8 Posted November 10, 2007 I have updated. It works fine. Grazy wheel is no history. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradreiman Posted November 10, 2007 Share #9 Posted November 10, 2007 my wheel still doesn't work-at all. never has tho and it doesn't really matter to me....b Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6J Posted November 10, 2007 Share #10 Posted November 10, 2007 I loaded it too... My wheel still scrolls back instead of front some times, AWB is still off whenever it feels like it, even if I don't even breath between two identical shots, but, hey, now I can use the new Summarits without problem! (Who needs firmware updates anyway?) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fefe Posted November 10, 2007 Share #11 Posted November 10, 2007 Loaded it, the wheel still has random inverted behavior, but I had the feeling that the display of RAW pictures was faster. I guess it's the syndrom of the "I want this firmware upgrade to do something for me", and nothing really changed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted November 10, 2007 Share #12 Posted November 10, 2007 This is clearly another case of the only real change is to allow the new coded lenses to work. This was all they really cared about and it is reflected in the failure to address the numerous requests to fix problems with this firmware. The sheer arrogance of this company will be its demise. Watch what happens when a competitor comes to this market. If I were Nikon or Canon I would make a RF that could use either the M lenses and my own (which would have some new innovative features. The idea being to take away the market and then move them to my lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted November 10, 2007 Share #13 Posted November 10, 2007 Silly idea though: Leica's core competence was always lenses, and Nikon and Canon lenses are generally not nearly as good (although there are some good ones). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted November 10, 2007 Share #14 Posted November 10, 2007 I don't disagree with your statement on lenses but they might add features such as telling the camera the f stop or providing an autofocus capability. While I don't want the latter there are many folks that would. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
guywalder Posted November 10, 2007 Share #15 Posted November 10, 2007 Silly idea though: not at all, in the 1960s Leica went from being the main player to playing a bit part in the 35mm market, precisely because the Japanese started making cameras that better suited most people, not least because they keep making them easier to use (AE, AF, IS etc etc). Few photographers obsess about their lenses to the extent that Leica's prices and the loss of AF are worth the trip. Even amoung M camera users, not all do so because of the lenses, I am happy to have the optical quality, but thats not the main reason I use them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cme4brain Posted November 10, 2007 Share #16 Posted November 10, 2007 I got notification a few days ago from Leica about a firmware M8 upgrade, and I am wondering if anyone has done the new upgrade? Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography No problems. Here is a testament to the fixed red-eye reduction. Peleng 8mm fisheye lens, self portrait, focus distance my arm length, Leica SF24D flash at point blank range, no red eye. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/37709-firmware-upgrade/?do=findComment&comment=399064'>More sharing options...
carstenw Posted November 10, 2007 Share #17 Posted November 10, 2007 I meant to expand on my previous post, but time and life intervened, so I ended up coming across a little brusque, my apologies. I agree that electronic communication between M lenses and cameras is a good idea. However, first of all, Leica will surely offer this with time, perhaps with something similar to the ROM system in the R system, and secondly, it will not be possible to put Leica out of business with such ideas. The typical Leica strength is the fantastic lenses, not modern conveniences. The cameras are also minimalist, which appeals to many, probably including most, if not all of us. Neither of these are Canon or Nikon strengths. Their strength is the general applicability, as well as the completeness of the system; something for every area. These are different strengths, and to be honest, I doubt it is worthwhile for either Canon or Nikon to go after the small market which Leica dominates. The last rangefinder from Canon was ages ago, and they have no apparent interest in this field any more. Nikon's last was recent, but was a re-release of an older model, which was never proper competition for Leica. The lenses were not as good, and the usability of the camera was severely flawed. The focusing, for example, took place on the camera, not on the lens... There isn't really anyone who can take on Leica where they are strong, ie. simple cameras with superlative optics. The tolerances used at Leica are significantly above anyone else, because it simply isn't economical to produce enough cameras at that degree of precision, for those prices, in those numbers. There are two problems: one is that the precision which the Leica legacy was built on was sufficient for the film cameras, but not for the digital cameras. The R9/DMR somehow managed, with some problems, but the degree of precision for the M is above that, with the rangefinder, the focusing cam, and everything else which goes into making these very simple cameras with the awe-inspiring results. I presume, and hope, that Leica will adapt the manufacturing process, and also the lens designs where necessary, to return to the type of reliability on which they built their reputation. The Summarits are the first step, but will not be the last. If there is one thing which new Leica people like Dr. Kaufmann and Stephen K. Lee know, it is to examine the entire process, top-to-bottom, and spot the problem areas. There will be compromises made, but the system and the brand will survive. These people are as dedicated as any of us, and as talented, in their area. The second problem is Leica's missing competence in areas required to bring it into the future. Through careful partnerships, this is currently being addressed. The question of Leica growing again, and returning to something more mainstream than the niches in which they have existed in recent years, is open. I think that they can do it, and what is more, I think that they will. I merely hope that what I love about this brand will not be too compromised in the process. The only company which I could imagine taking on Leica is Zeiss. They have a different philosophy, and as we may see later, it is possible that they have already started down a path with their photographic equipment (their film lenses are something else) which Leica will also have to follow, ie. rationalise the products, back off from the ultimate performance into the more consistently achievable, and do less of the work in the traditional manner. Very few Zeiss lenses are still made in Germany, and very few of the current Zeiss designs are as ambitious as the Leica M range. The Zeiss lenses are generally one stop or more weaker than the high end of the Leica range. That doesn't make them worse, but it does make them safer designs. Possibly only the Zeiss 15mm f/2.8 is as challenging a design as the Leica lenses, and it is not rangefinder coupled, probably not a coincidence, both due to design constraints, as well as manufacturing tolerances and potential associated warranty costs. The recent dropping of the 75 Summilux-M is probably a sign of things to come. I doubt that the Noctilux will be summarily dropped in the same way as the 75 Lux, simply because this is *the* legendary Leica lens. I expect that it will be re-designed and improved, and that the manufacturing tolerances will at the same time be lowered, with the new design. I expect that Leica will achieve these lower tolerances with the use of one or more aspherical elements. Using such elements can help in various areas, such as close focusing, corner performance, and so on. For this lens, I expect that they will be used to keep the price in check, both manufacturing cost and final sale price, and to keep the tolerances affordable and realistic. On the whole, I think (notice my continued emphasis on this: I don't claim to know the truth, nor the future) that Leica is very well positioned for the future: they have solid financial backing, they have ambitious, talented leaders, they have the best optical technology in the world, they have a devoted fan base, and they have competent partners. The main challenge will be setting the future direction in such a way that we will all still be happy, but the company will grow in strength and size until it is again a solid competitor, if not at the financial level of Canon, then at least at the level of companies like Pentax, Olympus, Ricoh, Fuji, and so on. The top tier (in pure size; not quality or performance) will continue to be Canon, Panasonic, Sony and Nikon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted November 10, 2007 Share #18 Posted November 10, 2007 Excellent, rational comment, Carsten. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradreiman Posted November 11, 2007 Share #19 Posted November 11, 2007 This is clearly another case of the only real change is to allow the new coded lenses to work. This was all they really cared about and it is reflected in the failure to address the numerous requests to fix problems with this firmware. The sheer arrogance of this company will be its demise. Watch what happens when a competitor comes to this market. If I were Nikon or Canon I would make a RF that could use either the M lenses and my own (which would have some new innovative features. The idea being to take away the market and then move them to my lenses. how do you know its "all they really cared about"? it's simply not all you really cared about. i like the way leica is sailing this ship and i will bet you any amount of money that we won't live to see leica's "demise". i personally think alot of the people who are unhappy with the m8 really just want a small slr. when the firmware upgrades don't turn the camera into a small version of the canons the naysayers get all worked up. your hypothetical about you being canon or nikon is exactly what i mean. i personally want the digital m line to be as close to an mp as possible not the opposite. furthermore neither canon nor nikon will ever build an m mount camera-no chance but they might make a smaller slr...brad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted November 11, 2007 Share #20 Posted November 11, 2007 I think both Nikon and Canon already build a very small SLR. The Nikon D40/x and the low end Canon are very small and light. None of the lenses are. Maybe all those that really don't like what Leica has done should go that route. I like my M8, even with whatever flaws it may have (that I knew about before I bought my first one and all the glitches that became apparent before I bought my second one), and will continue to use them until they die or I can't get batteries or SD card for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.