Should I buy a Leica M8 in 2025?

[Nitnaros]

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Bought my M8 in 2007 in NYC;

went to Leica NJ for repair (vertical line in images) in 2008; and to DAG for rangefinder calibration;
27k shutter actuations, still on old firmware (reading some reports here, not very motivating for upgrading);
cover of the LCD came off, and leatherette has dog ears in one corner, otherwise no problems.

—

Back then  didn’t like the 1.3 crop factor which made me buy M9 (that one got sensor corrosion, repair led to upgrading to 10-P; and have now M11, which is clearly the most capable M for me).

Now I am thinking I have to dust off the M8 to see how I like it in 2025.

I also have an M9-Mono and that one I really love.

 

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[Olaf_ZG]

I must be nuts. Most probably bought a second one…

[3D-Kraft.com]

Am 6.1.2025 um 03:22 schrieb Ko.Fe.:

IMO, if you are film shooter or just have film M, M8 is closest to film M.

IMO the M9 is closest to film because there is no crop and you need no IR-cut filters. The shooting experience and color rendering is quite the same with the M9 having a little resolution and ISO advantage.

Theoretically, the M8 / M8.2 has some advantage when you want to make IR-photography, but that did'nt count for me. It may also be interesting when you plan to use lenses with bad border/edge performance, because that gets cropped anyway.

So, depending on available budget, my recommendation would be (in that order): M9 (but only with ID15/ID16 sensor!), M8.2, M8.
I bought an M8.2 and an M9 shortly after another and decided to keep only the M9.

Edited February 22 by 3D-Kraft.com

[Ko.Fe.]

26 minutes ago, 3D-Kraft.com said:

IMO the M9 is closest to film because there is no crop and you need no IR-cut filters. The shooting experience and color rendering is quite the same with the M9 having a little resolution and ISO advantage.

Theoretically, the M8 / M8.2 has some advantage when you want to make IR-photography, but that did'nt count for me. It may also be interesting when you plan to use lenses with bad border/edge performance, because that gets cropped anyway.

So, depending on available budget, my recommendation would be (in that order): M9 (but only with ID15/ID16 sensor!), M8.2, M8.
I bought an M8.2 and an M9 shortly after another and decided to keep only the M9.

I had silver M8. And M3 DS ELC. They have same feel of quality build. But I never had silver M9

[Tirpitz666]

I still don’t have one but I’m about to take the plunge, after having being torn between it and a M9.

Apart from the difficulty of finding a M9 with a “definitive” sensor at a sensible price, I’m still not fully convinced that colors straight out of camera are exactly the same, even when using the IR Cut filter, at least based on all comparisons I’ve watched.

All the pics that I’ve seen so far taken with the M8 remind me A LOT of the DMR in terms of colors and overall rendering (kinda makes sense, since they sport almost the same sensor and were pretty close in time), which I owned for some months and then decided to sell to fund a S 006.

And while I’m of course super satisfied by the Big S’ images, I somehow miss that “DMR look” at times. To me the M8 would represent exactly that, a lighter DMR but fully usable at least until ISO 400, instead of having to be stuck at ISO 100 🙂

Edited March 22 by Tirpitz666

[Dazzajl]

48 minutes ago, Tirpitz666 said:

I’m still not fully convinced that colors straight out of camera are exactly the same, even when using the IR Cut filter, at least based on all comparisons I’ve watched.

When I was trying to choose between M8 and M9 I never thought the colours were even close. The M8 is very warm and the 9 is quite cool. Both are really lovely but I was drawn slightly more to the 8

I’m fairly sure that either would give that great feeling from shooting it. 

[Tirpitz666]

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I’ve formed exactly the same opinion, the M8 has that warmth that also typical of the DMR, while the M9 looks definitely cooler (and much more similar to the S 006). Of course with some post you can get there, but right off the bat the M8 files looks immediately “likeable” to me, like the DMR ones. Guess it’s also part of the secret mojo why is still going strong in 2025 notwithstanding all the limitations 😊

[farnz]

On 3/22/2025 at 9:42 PM, Tirpitz666 said:

usable at least until ISO 400

ISO 320; the M8 doesn't have ISO 400.  The M8's base ISO is 160 so it has ISO 160, 320, 640, and 1250. 

It's also okay to significantly underexpose and pull up in post-processing since there's a wealth of detail in the shadows.

Pete.

[Tirpitz666]

Yes thank you, I read about that.

Is anyone still using M8raw2dng even if it was discontinued? Is it worth the hassle as low ISO? Or makes only sense for low light/high ISO shots?

[farnz]

1 hour ago, Tirpitz666 said:

Yes thank you, I read about that.

Is anyone still using M8raw2dng even if it was discontinued? Is it worth the hassle as low ISO? Or makes only sense for low light/high ISO shots?

After a brief flirtation with M8raw2dng it was clear to me that I didn't often need full 16-bit files so it was 'reserved' for pictures where it really offered some benefit and, consequently, I've rarely used it since.  Even the M8's native (14-bit?) dng files contain sufficient detail to allow underexposure and pull-up in PP for me if i need to do it.

Pete.

[Tirpitz666]

Thank you, I see the point, the only thing is that original RAW are initially 14bit but then they get compressed to 8bit (very questionable decision from Leica to save a few MB per file), so a lot of information gets lost in the process.

Probably for a lot of “normal” shooting situations it won ‘t make a real difference I guess, since it seems that the whole procedure has become somehow forgotten over time, but probably for some demanding shooting scenarios could still be worth it, guess I’ll give it a spin when I will finally get the camera 🙂

Edited March 24 by Tirpitz666

[tommonego@gmail.com]

Am 24.3.2025 um 14:12 schrieb Tirpitz666:

Yes thank you, I read about that.

Is anyone still using M8raw2dng even if it was discontinued? Is it worth the hassle as low ISO? Or makes only sense for low light/high ISO shots?

I tried M8raw2dng and found it a hassle to use for not all that much benefit. The main problem was it wasn't sticky, so if the camera goes to sleep you have to do the button dance all over again. After realizing there wasn't a noticeable difference what was the point.

[a.noctilux]

On 3/24/2025 at 11:11 PM, Tirpitz666 said:

Thank you, I see the point, the only thing is that original RAW are initially 14bit but then they get compressed to 8bit (very questionable decision from Leica to save a few MB per file), so a lot of information gets lost in the process.

Probably for a lot of “normal” shooting situations it won ‘t make a real difference I guess, since it seems that the whole procedure has become somehow forgotten over time, but probably for some demanding shooting scenarios could still be worth it, guess I’ll give it a spin when I will finally get the camera 🙂

When I used one M8, so many years ago, first I used the jpeg (lazy guy).

When later on, I tried out DNG comparing to JPEG, since then I used only DNG.

 

Using the DNG (I don't know the number of bits) on M8 is the thing to do.

 

[3D-Kraft.com]

Am 24.3.2025 um 23:11 schrieb Tirpitz666:

Thank you, I see the point, the only thing is that original RAW are initially 14bit but then they get compressed to 8bit (very questionable decision from Leica to save a few MB per file), so a lot of information gets lost in the process.

"Compressing" to 8-bit RAW doesn't simply mean removing 6 bits (out of 14 bits). It's a type of delta compression, and in "normal" photography situations (except perhaps astrophotography), no information is lost.

[Tirpitz666]

Thank you all, guess that at the end if the tool is basically not used anymore by anyone (at least this is my impression by now), most likely the inconveniences were outweitghting the benefit for most at the end.

 

Will do a couple of tests myself when I get the camera 🙂 

[Angel Genkov]

Hey everyone,

I just snagged an M8 with only 1400 clicks, for 1800eur from MPB, the condition is as new, literally. However, it has a hot pixel (visible) and of course, a line from it. There are a few more pixels, though, but seems the camera fixes them, as I don't see them in the raws, but only on the low-res preview when shooting pitch black at high iso.

Also, I have contacted Leica and they are happy to remap the sensor, so the camera is going to their service for a remap and diagnostics which they told me would cost a total of 140 eur, which is basically for free.

I think I love the colors and the BW is just amazing.

I have paired it with a Voigtlander 28/1.5 and I think with the crop its around 35 which is my favorite length.

Also, would not recommend MPB, I've been trying to reach them for weeks regarding the line and they completely ignore my messages. Usually they return back a small fee (not that I want it, but still, the sensor was not in the stated condition), that can cover the repairs. 

All the best,
Angel

[Tessar.]

13 hours ago, Angel Genkov said:

Hey everyone,

I just snagged an M8 with only 1400 clicks, for 1800eur from MPB, the condition is as new, literally. However, it has a hot pixel (visible) and of course, a line from it. There are a few more pixels, though, but seems the camera fixes them, as I don't see them in the raws, but only on the low-res preview when shooting pitch black at high iso.

Also, I have contacted Leica and they are happy to remap the sensor, so the camera is going to their service for a remap and diagnostics which they told me would cost a total of 140 eur, which is basically for free.

I think I love the colors and the BW is just amazing.

I have paired it with a Voigtlander 28/1.5 and I think with the crop its around 35 which is my favorite length.

Also, would not recommend MPB, I've been trying to reach them for weeks regarding the line and they completely ignore my messages. Usually they return back a small fee (not that I want it, but still, the sensor was not in the stated condition), that can cover the repairs. 

All the best,
Angel

MPB  (UK in my experience) is a a bit of a crap shoot, but you can always return the camera for a refund.  With the M9 variants, they don't check to see if the sensor has been replaced and aren't helpful in terms of getting that information, luckily Leica customer service are. Stock response is to return if not happy with it.  Condition rating can be optimistic too.  That said, I did get a great M-A for a really good price in January, so there are deals to be had.

I got my latest M8 on eBay from Photographica in Copenhagen (I'm in the UK), because I noticed it was an upgraded M8u.  I emailed Leica customer service and they confirmed the history of the camera and that all the upgrade mods were done when the camera was sent in.  Given how much M8s are hyped and have increased in price recently I'm pretty sure they'd have upped the price if they'd realised what it was, so I didn't mind as much getting stung for import vat.

Good to know about the remap service, I think I have one hot pixel which appears in low light or when I under expose a bit.  Haven't noticed it in the raw files though, just on the screen.

[Angel Genkov]

19 hours ago, Tessar. said:

MPB  (UK in my experience) is a a bit of a crap shoot, but you can always return the camera for a refund.  With the M9 variants, they don't check to see if the sensor has been replaced and aren't helpful in terms of getting that information, luckily Leica customer service are. Stock response is to return if not happy with it.  Condition rating can be optimistic too.  That said, I did get a great M-A for a really good price in January, so there are deals to be had.

I got my latest M8 on eBay from Photographica in Copenhagen (I'm in the UK), because I noticed it was an upgraded M8u.  I emailed Leica customer service and they confirmed the history of the camera and that all the upgrade mods were done when the camera was sent in.  Given how much M8s are hyped and have increased in price recently I'm pretty sure they'd have upped the price if they'd realised what it was, so I didn't mind as much getting stung for import vat.

Good to know about the remap service, I think I have one hot pixel which appears in low light or when I under expose a bit.  Haven't noticed it in the raw files though, just on the screen.

I got mine from MPB Germany. Honestly I did not expect it to be in such a great condition (visually). However, every time I had an issue with them, they were so bad in customer service that I dont think I want to bother with them anyway. 
 

As I have a trip coming, a friend of mine borrowed me his M8 and Ive been playing with it for a few days and I am still blown away by the colours and the overall feel of the images and I shoot only JPEGs.

I cant wait to get my one back.

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[JaSko]

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[Angel Genkov]

Hey, In case anyone is wondering, I am still expecting my M8 to arrive from Wetzlar, but here is an update - the quote I got from Leica is 140EUR + vat, so 166EUR total for sensor remap and CLA.

They were also super kind to include a 49mm IR Cut filter for me in that price. I think I am only paying for the remap as I don't see the other things listed with any price value or whatsoever. The overall turnaround with shipping the camera and getting it back would be just over a month, however I think it's totally worth it!

All the best!