ho_co Posted January 30, 2008 Share #81 Posted January 30, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) ... I want to make sure: There'll be no M9 or whatever in the next 5 years. Simon, I think the M8 *is* the M9. Mark had remarked earlier that there's room for a FF sensor and shutter in the camera, with some readjustments. Who knows when the actual M9 will come? Maybe ten years? Who cares? We'll be upgrading our M8's and grinning at all those 1D's (of various vintages) sitting on dealers' used shelves. ... please, someone with news tell us that there really will be news about the R system as well - because right now, I'm thinking the 'assume' word...you know, silence means that a surprise is in store???? Rex-- PMA starts tomorrow. Andy and a couple others have said there will be hints at the R10 then. Look at it this way: Would the company that under Lee and Kaufmann can do this with the M do less with the R? PMA is the show at which the upgradability of the M8 is announced--absolutely stunning! photokina is the show at which the R10 is announced, and it will doubtless be as big a concept as the M8! --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 30, 2008 Posted January 30, 2008 Hi ho_co, Take a look here M8 Upgrade - It's Official!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
sliversurger Posted January 30, 2008 Share #82 Posted January 30, 2008 You've got to admire leica for doing something like this. All other camera companies will instead roll out a new camera with minimal upgrades. In the span of three years, Nikon introduced the D70, D70x, then the D80 all with minimal performance upgrades from previous versions. I believe that Leica, especially Mr. Lee, knows that Leica users spent good money on the M8 and they will not rush any significant new models just for the sake of public pressure. Leica has done a great job in putting out firmware fixes which addresses the M8's initial shortfalls and I believe that they will be sticking with the M8 for the next few years until they can provide a product that is a significant performance upgrade from the M8. With Leica's new upgrade program, I actually see subsequent upgrades not requiring previous upgrades in place, but providing different packages of upgrades which the customer can choose from. This will definitely give M8 users the ability to customize their M8's to their individual shooting tendencies and gives peace of mind knowing these customizations are covered under Leica warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grduprey Posted January 30, 2008 Share #83 Posted January 30, 2008 Love it, you buy the upgrade voucher in March but nothing happens until August at which point your camera gets upgraded. In effect, you're lending Leica €1200 interest free for 6 months. Who's going put their money down until we know how quiet a "noise optimised shutter" is? I think we need some WAV files or a trusted assessment. Maybe the shutter doesn't exist yet. Not impressed by the loss of 1/8000, I assume they will be replacing the shutter speed dial. All in all, a bit of a damp squib... New firmware looks more promising though. I agree the firmware should be a nice upgrade. The shutter fix? It's the motor not the shutter that is noisy. I have yet to scratch the LCD, so why do I need it? Since I will be starting my 3 month vacation to Europe in August, even if I do see a reason to go with the upgrade, I will not be buying it until August anyway, as I will be taking my M8 with me to take photos. ;-) The idea that the M8 will not become obsolete is a good thing though. Gene Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted January 30, 2008 Share #84 Posted January 30, 2008 {snipped}And think of it from the point of view of the repair technicians: There'll be an M8 crew, an R10 crew, and a legacy crew. That is, Leica will be producing only two models, an M8 and an R10. So the techs will only need to learn one camera. Brilliant concept! Mssrs Lee and Kaufmann are to be congratulated. We've all come out winners! --HC AND they get the seed money up front to staff the turn around and upgrade. It's continuous, and very, very clever. As long as they don't leave the current M8 owners in the firmware lurch, this is an all-round win for us and Leica, and doesn't need to be nearly as complex as people are perhaps making it out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samir Jahjah Posted January 30, 2008 Share #85 Posted January 30, 2008 Great stuff , thanks for posting the official word. Relief now i can talk about the firmware. I have had it for several weeks now and it really does a much much better job on AWB and also the presets for different lighting conditions. Frankly i have shot a lot in the last several weeks with it in bunch of lighting scenes. daylight is very good and so is believe it or not fluorescent is really well done . Tungsten still looks very well balanced, I have thousands of shots from a convention i did with stage lighting and it nailed it very well, strobes look very well also. So overall they really tweaked it very good and i think the jpeg shooters will be a lot happier.Here is just a couple quick staging shots from a model and talent convention I did 2 weeks ago. i have a bunch more and i will post some later also Guy, did you notice any improvement in JPGS file? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 30, 2008 Share #86 Posted January 30, 2008 Well, I think it's great as well,,,,,,,,,,but for we R shooters - please, someone with news tell us that there really will be news about the R system as well - because right now, I'm thinking the 'assume' word...you know, silence means that a surprise is in store???? Read the web page from the dealer that told you all about this M8 upgrade first. Before anyone else outside Leica knew anything about it. There's something about the R10 on there too. Now, you may or may not choose to believe this, but that's entirely up to you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastFashnReloaded Posted January 30, 2008 Share #87 Posted January 30, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Love it, you buy the upgrade voucher in March but nothing happens until August at which point your camera gets upgraded. In effect, you're lending Leica €1200 interest free for 6 months. Who's going put their money down until we know how quiet a "noise optimised shutter" is? I think we need some WAV files or a trusted assessment. Maybe the shutter doesn't exist yet. Not impressed by the loss of 1/8000, I assume they will be replacing the shutter speed dial. All in all, a bit of a damp squib... New firmware looks more promising though. Oh for Pete's sake... People got by with a max shutter speed of 1/1000 for what, three generations? 1/8000 always seems a bit out there unless you are photographing UFOs in Texas and since no one in Texas seems to use anything but Wal-Mart instacams to take pix of anything it doesn't matter, does it? It's like Kolchak trying to take pix of his monsters with a 110 Instamatic and always getting nothing but mud... No, they are of course not replacing the shutter speed dial, as that would make people have fewer things to complain about. What would life be without things to complain about? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlenz Posted January 30, 2008 Share #88 Posted January 30, 2008 Just got notification here in Alaska. Message was sent 10:35:01 Alaska Standard Time (=14:35:01 EST). The Best Before: (infinity symbol) tag is cute. Hopefully specifics on the new shutter will come out at PMA. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenjh Posted January 30, 2008 Share #89 Posted January 30, 2008 Well isn't this marvelous. My M8 has been in the shop for 6 weeks for circuit board and display after failing on a holiday in Cambodia. Now I get it back just to have it upgraded again. Is the warranty upgrade transferable to a new owner as I have no intention of keeping it. The camera should have never been put in the stream of commerce. Leonard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastFashnReloaded Posted January 30, 2008 Share #90 Posted January 30, 2008 You've got to admire leica for doing something like this. All other camera companies will instead roll out a new camera with minimal upgrades. In the span of three years, Nikon introduced the D70, D70x, then the D80 all with minimal performance upgrades from previous versions. I believe that Leica, especially Mr. Lee, knows that Leica users spent good money on the M8 and they will not rush any significant new models just for the sake of public pressure. Leica has done a great job in putting out firmware fixes which addresses the M8's initial shortfalls and I believe that they will be sticking with the M8 for the next few years until they can provide a product that is a significant performance upgrade from the M8. With Leica's new upgrade program, I actually see subsequent upgrades not requiring previous upgrades in place, but providing different packages of upgrades which the customer can choose from. This will definitely give M8 users the ability to customize their M8's to their individual shooting tendencies and gives peace of mind knowing these customizations are covered under Leica warranty. A full-frame sensor perhaps, eventually... I see Sony is going into business making FFS now for digicams. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted January 30, 2008 Share #91 Posted January 30, 2008 Yes jpegs are much better. Here are a couple more from raws fluorescent strobe shade with tungsten all AWB and not much in the way of WB after the fact . This are pretty darn accurate to boot 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/44027-m8-upgrade-its-official/?do=findComment&comment=467055'>More sharing options...
FastFashnReloaded Posted January 30, 2008 Share #92 Posted January 30, 2008 Well isn't this marvelous. My M8 has been in the shop for 6 weeks for circuit board and display after failing on a holiday in Cambodia. Now I get it back just to have it upgraded again. Is the warranty upgrade transferable to a new owner as I have no intention of keeping it. The camera should have never been put in the stream of commerce. Leonard If you don't like it... Tell you what. Next time it dies on you and pisses you off, call me at 317-408-8893 and tell me how much you want for it. Don't bother fixing it, don't smash it into a wall, just call me. Or if you are rich, just donate it to me. I will love it forever. Dana Curtis Kincaid Angry Toy Robot (D.A.N.A.) 317-408-8893 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted January 30, 2008 Share #93 Posted January 30, 2008 Cost won't be an issue for working pros but speaking as an amateur ... the upgrade doesn't make a lot of sense (to me) Ha! Since when are working photographers making the same as doctors and lawyers? If anything this is less affordable to working pros than amateurs (those who have chosen to invest in the red dot). I still haven't been able to afford a second body for backup and in my mind that $1800 would go to that or a D300/D3/5D etc for those times when high iso tele macro is needed. I just spent $800 for an email list service to drum up work. Pro photogs have a lot of things to spend money on than gear (probably more so). This is for those who have to decide what lenses to take on holiday - "the 50 lux asph, the Noctilux, the 50 cron...." ad naseum. My screen is already scratched and it hasn't affected the quality of my photos one bit. Now if they throw in new framelines..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 30, 2008 Share #94 Posted January 30, 2008 Oh for Pete's sake... People got by with a max shutter speed of 1/1000 for what, three generations? 1/8000 always seems a bit out there unless you are photographing UFOs in Texas and since no one in Texas seems to use anything but Wal-Mart instacams to take pix of anything it doesn't matter, does it? It's like Kolchak trying to take pix of his monsters with a 110 Instamatic and always getting nothing but mud... No, they are of course not replacing the shutter speed dial, as that would make people have fewer things to complain about. What would life be without things to complain about? Yes, and they were able to use Kodachrome II with ISO 25, about 3 stops slower than the slowest ISO we have now. Put a fast lens on the camera with it wide open, and you are right up against the limit of the shutter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted January 30, 2008 Share #95 Posted January 30, 2008 I'm after electronic frame lines myself. Sorry folks that is the FIRST question I will ask. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted January 30, 2008 Share #96 Posted January 30, 2008 Mark, Do you think they will upgrade your dismantled M8, you could get back two years warrantee! Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted January 30, 2008 Share #97 Posted January 30, 2008 Yes jpegs are much better. Here are a couple more from raws fluorescent strobe shade with tungsten all AWB and not much in the way of WB after the fact . This are pretty darn accurate to boot Guy, Any better rendering of thumbnails when shooting RAW only? I find them so all over the place but really see no reason to shoot jpeg as well. I know its best to rely on histogram (which I do) but would be nice to see a close rendering. Charles Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted January 30, 2008 Share #98 Posted January 30, 2008 Ha! Since when are working photographers making the same as doctors and lawyers? No ... I really just meant to say that your accountant can help you a lot. As of me, it's just money out of pocket ... gone forever. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimmel Posted January 30, 2008 Share #99 Posted January 30, 2008 I have it on my Panerai Watch and not sure of the qualities of the glass but i can tell you to scratch it would be very very hard to do. I had this watch 5 years and not a scratch and i am not the most gentle person when working with my hands. Thanks Guy. Sounds much better than my Casio (scratched it first day I wore it!). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastFashnReloaded Posted January 30, 2008 Share #100 Posted January 30, 2008 Yes, and they were able to use Kodachrome II with ISO 25, about 3 stops slower than the slowest ISO we have now. Put a fast lens on the camera with it wide open, and you are right up against the limit of the shutter. Filters. ND filters. If you don't want to stop down (and why are we using an F1 or 1.4 lens in a situation where the light is that bright and you don't want to stop down at all ???) as I recall, we used to use that kind of old tech when we had to use faster films with 1/1000 sec and were up against the max shutter speed of the shutter. Or, we could ask Leica to give add lower ISO in a firmware update. There are always ways around things, like not using a road bike on a single track in the mountains, or a Porsche 911 to go off-roading. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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