Leica M8 - Would you buy it now?

[stunsworth]

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Completely agree. You have to weigh up the chance of occasional flare against, in my case, the near-certainty of scratching your front element through carelessness.

 

In almost 40 years of photography I've only ever scratched one lens. Maybe I've been lucky, but personally I'd prefer not to have to use them. The only time I used filters on my film Ms was when shooting b&w.

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[Hacker]

The M8 will only go when the M9 arrives and does not use UVIR filters. Also, very possibly, your crystal ball gazing is correct, if the camera actually lasts that long. I had SDS happenned twice on my M8 yesterday. Even turning the camera off left the M8 hung.

 

Watch out for my eBay listing in 4-5 years' time where only SDHC cards are sold. Good luck! BTW, if you have nagtaive or zero feedback, don't bother.

 

Hm.

 

Let's try another assumption.

 

*gazes into crystal ball*

 

The mists are clearing, I see an eBay listing...

 

M8 for sale, together with a load of now surplus to requirements UV/IR filters. Buy it now for £....

 

Ah, the mists have returned...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Hacker]

That implies that Leica were unaware of the characteristics of the sensor they were using, something I find difficult to believe. My personal opinion is that the launch of the camera was rushed in order to get revenue and that the marketing people at Leica hoped that the IR issues wouldn't be troublesome for many users. I'm sure there were some very unhappy engineers in Solms when the camera was released.

 

Leica took a 2 million Euro hit on placating irate customers and doing tons of customer recovery after that, time no doubt better spent selling the camera. It would have been a very bad decision too if your theory is correct as something like that would have had heads rolled given that the amount is very, very large in relation to a company in dire straits financially smack at that point in time.

 

I guess your theory can be said for the upgrade program and all the service issues that folks are having. Rushed production of lenses, etc at the expenses of what the engineers are saying.

 

Why not the possibility of an engineerng screw up and the marketing guys still managing to pull this off? If you look at the implementation even of the 6-bit coding on lenses, it is so void of innovation and absolutely so backward that I can hardly see the engineering team as anything but [fill in th blank]. Have you not received a lens that had a signature about it being QC'ed only to have it returned to Solms? And what was the engineering innovation at PMA? PR messages about 50 and 75 ASPH lenses from yesteryear????!!! Unbelievable.

[jaapv]

Watch out for my eBay listing in 4-5 years' time where only SDHC cards are sold. Good luck! BTW, if you have nagtaive or zero feedback, don't bother.

I see. As soon as only SDHC cards are sold, all other cards out there die instantly.

I notice the original blue Sandisks are still on the market.

[johnalex141r]

I see. As soon as only SDHC cards are sold, all other cards out there die instantly.

I notice the original blue Sandisks are still on the market.

 

Dag Jaap;

 

Awww, come on. I think you know what he meant.

 

Every time I go to one of these bulk superstores that sells electronics, I check out the selection on camera memory. They now only stock 1 type of SD card; a 2g sandisk. A few months ago, they had quite a few more types. They don't stock anything under 2g capacity anymore.

 

6 months from now, who knows? It depends on what sells and what they can still get, I guess. I've got 7 2g cards, so I should be ok for a while, assuming the odd loss of SD card for whatever reason.

 

I think we all know that SD cards will eventually be very difficult to find; whether that comes before the M8 changes to accept SDHC or not only Leica knows.

 

Tot Ziens; JohnS.

[ttliem]

I only bought it in November, and I own an impressive list of DSLR's. I would buy it again, and I would buy it now - despite all the moaning going on here.

 

I am keeping only 2 cameras. The first is the M8, and the second is my Nikon D3. The M8 would be my most used camera, while the D3 is my wildlife camera.

 

Best decision I ever made.

 

DBK

 

Same here with two cameras, the Leica M8 and the FF Nikon D3. My D3 for when I want fast auto focus for party candids and in low light. My M8 for stills and for convenient/light travel. However, I must admit that when I'm in a hurry and cannot decide, I'll grab the FF D3 with its 24-70 f/2.8 zoom.

[marknorton]

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Pics from Simon Wheatley, shot with M8 show cool youngsters in street scenes in London I guess. Nearly all pics show this ugly magenta. I really can't believe that no professional from shooter, art director, Leica authorities and printers had no question mark about this color shift. The photographer as a person "in" the location should have recognized this colorshift, but did he see the proofs?

 

What amazes me is that these pictures of "cool" London youth persist on the web-site in all their magenta glory. You'd think they would have fixed it.

 

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As for buying an M8, I'd still buy one but I'm done with buying Leica stuff for now. Truth is, I'm enjoying the D3 more, I don't get the focussing issues. The upgrade program leaves me cold and I think the M9 must wait until real progress has been made with the sensor.

[Hacker]

Truth is, I'm enjoying the D3 more, I don't get the focussing issues. The upgrade program leaves me cold and I think the M9 must wait until real progress has been made with the sensor.

 

I will be joining you soon using a D3 . However, I will go for the upgrade program though.

[jaapv]

Dag Jaap;

 

Awww, come on. I think you know what he meant.

 

Every time I go to one of these bulk superstores that sells electronics, I check out the selection on camera memory. They now only stock 1 type of SD card; a 2g sandisk. A few months ago, they had quite a few more types. They don't stock anything under 2g capacity anymore.

 

6 months from now, who knows? It depends on what sells and what they can still get, I guess. I've got 7 2g cards, so I should be ok for a while, assuming the odd loss of SD card for whatever reason.

 

I think we all know that SD cards will eventually be very difficult to find; whether that comes before the M8 changes to accept SDHC or not only Leica knows.

 

Tot Ziens; JohnS.

 

Try Dixons, they have the full selection.

The prophets of doom... There are people doing Daguerrotypes, one can still get (with some search admittedly) floppy disks, betamax cassettes, eight-track casettes, wicks for kerosene lamps, 135 slide film... There are zillions of SD cards in the world, and plenty of non-camera applications too, so it will be a long time before the current supply runs out.

[Stevez4]

A caveat for my fellow poor pros. Guy's tax position allows him to flip cameras, cars, computers etc. at almost no actual out of pocket cost. Most of the pro world does enjoy the luxury of the happy no cost gearhead.

[stunsworth]

Steve is that really the case? I thought that business purchases could only be offset against taxable income - so in effect you got a discount of whatever the current tax rate is. I didn't realise that you could claim back nearly the full cost of a camera.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Section 179 . You can right off up to I think 50k in one full swoop. Not that you get a full credit for your purchase but it does help a lot. I will let a tax person answer this better because i don't know it well enough but yes I can take my purchase say of my Mac Pro at say 7k and put it into the section 179 section on my taxes. You can do this with a business car also but it must be a 5 K lb vehicle like a SUV or truck. My Lexus GX 470 qualified a few years ago for a section 179. But reality is you have to have enough income overall to even make the outlay of the money too. You simply can't spend what you don't have like anything else but there is a good tax break for business owners. I just put in Leica system or Nikon system and add all the parts to it than take the deduction. Honestly it has helped my family a lot to reduce my tax burden.

[Guest Ridder Cornelius]

I don't know if it's easier in Europe (tax-wise) but at 45 I pensioned of my regular day-time job as a correspondent of a large German media group, I had spent 15 years abroad which count as double years so I have my income from my pension which is pretty good.

 

Being to young to not do anything at all I started my own communication company and am know contracted 50% of my time by my previous employer at a higher rate than I ever made before. This not being the most important thing though, I can actually deduct the world and a half through my company. Direct tax-relief, not having to pay VAT and indirect tax relief through principles of depreciation, additional income through writing stuff of over a period of 2 years, selling it to myself for the minimal amount and putting it up for sale on ebay or other channels, this goes for all the nice stuff; Cars, Photo equipement, Computers and all the unnecessary gadgets one can ever think of. And all this whislt the only thing I need in order to conduct my business competitatively and succesfully is a pencil and a piece of paper. (absolute minimal requirement). I don't overdo things to much, and can only purchase if the money is made but it has quite a large advantage. This is how I can buy the D3 + lenses and not even worry about the price because basically the normal tax-payer will pay for it in the end ..... fair? ... no, practical? .... very

[stunsworth]

Ah yes, but presumably _you_ don't actually own any of this equipment, the company does <grin>.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Exactly , just don't tell anyone. LOL

[Daniel Ortego]

In a word – NO! I came into the M8 as strictly a hobby and soon learned that it was indeed a mistake. Sure, I was allured into the retro look and minimalist concept although I had no idea of the technical and service issues. For a brief moment, I was tempted to go for the D3 or D300 but the whole “German” thing’ took me in. Talk about buyer’s remorse – damn! The sheer number of keepers to shots taken is depressing to say the least. This latest update change and the firing of the CEO and so on, has left me feeling as though I may be left in the cold before years end. It’s not comforting to admit that I’ve already considered posting my new gear on-line and switch to the alternative before September. I’d rather cut my losses, take the hit and move quickly although psychologically, that’s easier said than done.

Regards,

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Daniel you can't look at what Leica does in firing CEO's and any updates that has any bearing on the camera you own. You don't have to do a upgrade and leica is much better off without him, trust me. Leica folks are happy he is gone. Like pulling a cactus out of your foot , it hurts when there but feels good when gone. Honestly all that means nothing when you are out shooting. Now if the camera is not working to your benefit than that is what counts. RF is not for everyone and a tough system to learn. If you can't get it down than you can't , nothing wrong with that. I think too many people are looking at all this outside stuff besides the camera at hand and getting frustrated for what they camera has not changed with all of that .It is what it is, actually better than when first released. All the movement going on outside of the camera is frankly worthless to worry about. You have options to upgrades if you want to take advantage of them but image wise right now nothing is there to upgrade for. I'm not bothered by any of that. Either you get used to the system and use it to your benefit or sell the thing and try something else. If it is not working for you there is no shame in that and why have a paper weight. Just get something that gets you out there shooting and enjoying your retirement and have fun with your photography. Bottom line that is what truly counts is your having fun with photography, gear is meaningless in many ways.

 

Losing sleep over camera gear is not what a hobbyist should be doing IMHO. Leave that for guys that have to earn money with it and worry about it. Been there done that . ROTFLMAO

 

This is for everyone if you not enjoying it than find something that does. Live is way to short to worry about this stuff too much. Maybe i say this because i went to a 52 old funeral yesterday and he is only 9 months older than me. Makes you think a little harder , go out and have fun folks.

[stunsworth]

Daniel, I don't know how you define 'keepers', but all through my film days I used to be happy with 2 or 3 keepers per roll - and the percentage is about the same with digital. By keeper I mean more than something that's in focus and correctly exposed, I mean something that's of interest compositionally.

 

If an RF isn't for you then sell up and move on, you'll save a lot of heart ache in the long run. RFs aren't for everyone. Tthere's no shame in preferring an SLR, it isn't some sort of club where 'real men' use RFs.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[elviskennedy]

Before any US readers get too excited about free camera gear understand that the tax code may (MAY) allow for such purchases to offset income. No income, no offset. Additionally, since it only offsets income you only realize any "savings" as a reduction in your tax burden. For most states in the US and depending upon your income bracket this is likely to be in the range of 20-35%. Pay $5000 for an M8 and take $1000-$1750 off of your tax burden. A nice discount to be sure, but it hardly qualifies as free gear. And don't forget, it's still $5000 that you can no longer use for any other purpose. No free lunch.

 

The nice thing about Leica is that the stuff does not fall in value much. In rare cases you theoretically could buy Leica gear, get your 20-35% tax burden deduction and sell for the difference or better. Of course, the proceeds from the sale should be noted as "income" on your next tax return. Really, it should be .

[andybarton]

I couldn't agree more Steve.

 

If I get 4 per 36, I am more than happy.

 

I am also happy to have a boot in both RF and SLR camps and enjoy the left brain/right brain kind of challenge that the alternate systems give me. But, as you say, RFs don't suit everyone (I'm one of those who forget to focus my Ms when I have had an extended R-session... ) and now would be a good time to bale out of the M8 if you think that an M9 is coming over the horizon.