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Leica M8 & SDHC ??

john_f

By john_f
in Digital Forum

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like_no_other

like_no_other

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Perhaps you should expect to use something a bit less expensive, if all you plan to do is shoot thousands of jpgs.:confused:

 

Referring to information provided on Leica's web site the M8 is designated to be a pro camera.

Therefore it should support large cards and of course jpg format is an essential element.

 

By the way

 

'you should expect to use something a bit less expensive"

 

I like this phrasing. :D

 

Before I use it by myself I have to become clear about it's tonality towards the listener.

 

Could someone explain, please? :cool:

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john_f

john_f

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I had a conversation with my Leica dealer yesterday who had a Q/A meeting with Leica USA. I have good news and bad news ...

 

First, to set the record straight, here is the quote from the dpreview article on page4:

"The M8 takes SD cards (the manual specifies up to 4 GB which implies SD-HC but nowhere is this stated explicitly)"

Ref: Leica M8 Hands-on Preview: 4. Body & Design: Digital Photography Review

 

First the good news. I asked my dealer about the SD-HC issue. He told me that he had raised the issue and that Leica had confirmed to him that the M8 CAN USE SD-HC cards as well as SD cards. So it's now official, you can use either cards with the Leica M8 (and Leica should get itself a new copywriter).

 

The bad news is that it now looks like the delivery date for the M8 will be delayed by about one month from the "promised" October date (i.e. mid to end of Nov 2006), or so says Leica. Mind you, I'd rather be told to wait a few more weeks than a few more months, so it's not too bad.

 

While there is no confirmation from Leica, it seems that the delay is linked to the firmware. The design of the M8's firmware is being handled by a (unknown) third-party. My guess is that Leica wants the M8 to be as close to perfect as possible right out of the box.

 

Best,

John F.

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john_f

john_f

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I mentioned the name Jenoptik to him but got no comments. Since my dealer is going to Photokina very soon, I will ask him if he could ask this question (along with a few others..) to Leica in Solms. Wish I too could go to Photokina. Might still be a few more Leica goodies in the bag... ;-)

 

BTW, have you seen those new Zeiss ZF lenses? I got some very interesting comments about them from a Nikon rep. Will post later tonight.

 

Cheers,

 

John F.

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john_f

john_f

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Chip,

 

I asked my dealer about the SD-HC issue. He told me that he had raised the issue and that Leica had confirmed to him that the M8 CAN USE SD-HC cards as well as SD cards. So it's now official, you can use either cards with the Leica M8...

 

The Leica M8 does support SD-HC (meaning 4GB and beyond). See my post above.

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sean_reid

sean_reid

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The bad news is that it now looks like the delivery date for the M8 will be delayed by about one month from the "promised" October date (i.e. mid to end of Nov 2006), or so says Leica. Mind you, I'd rather be told to wait a few more weeks than a few more months, so it's not too bad.

.

 

Hi John,

 

The date Leica gave me this summer for release of the M8 was late November (and that's what I listed in the review). That's also the time frame listed in the media kits Leica distributed in August. I'm not sure where the October date came from but I'm fairly sure it wasn't an announcement from Leica. Perhaps it was optimism on the part of dealers? <G>

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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john_f

john_f

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Sean,

 

I too do not remember when or where the Oct date originated. But I do remember reading about it in several publications - not to mention dealers. In any case, November is good with me.

 

May I ask you if Leica gave you any explanations for the missing X-synchro contact for external flash? It looks like the M8 will be limited to the SF24D and the "cobra-style" Metz 54 flash series and the likes. No more Metz 45, 60 & 70 for the M8.

 

Thanks,

 

John F.

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sean_reid

sean_reid

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Hi John,

 

I didn't ask about that but I'm fairly sure they skipped it so that people didn't inadvertently connect a flash with a high trigger voltage to the M8, thereby frying the camera. I believe that the M8 will work with all kinds of flashes via the PC connector on a Wein safe-synch which will, of course, slide into the hot shoe.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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john_f

john_f

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Sean,

 

Thank you for your excellent suggestion! The Wein Safe Sync HSHS 990-560 ("Hot Shoe to Hot Shoe Safe Sync") is the perfect solution. It is true that the trigger voltage of some flash units can be very dangerous for all-electronic digital cameras. My old Metz 45CT1 has a trigger voltage of around 600 volts! That kind of voltage would fry any D2X, 1Ds, etc.. and even the M8 I'm afraid. This might be the right time for Leica to come out with a new, more modern flash unit.

 

For those interested in the Wein Safe Sync, try these two links:

Safe Syncs (weinproducts.com)

OmegaSatter: (SSHSHS) SAFE-SYNC HOT SHOE TO HOT SHOE

 

Best regards,

 

John F.

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sean_reid

sean_reid

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Hi John,

 

The Wein I've been using for the past couple of years is labelled HSHSB (maybe an older model?) and it does indeed have both a hot shoe and a PC connector. I've used it, with the remote sensor cable for a Vivitar 285, on all kinds of digital cameras. It's the way to go.

 

I haven't gotten into any flash testing with the M8 yet but I suspect that the intended Metz units (for TTL) have low trigger voltages.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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adan

adan

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Sean: I DID hear from - well, someone in the Leica supply chain above the dealer level - in June, that the first shipment of M8s, as of then, was expected in the second half of October.

 

So it wasn't totally out of thin air.....

 

But that was June, and certainly not official. So it's not inconsistent that by August Solms had made a revision - and in fact I was already picking up vibes of Nov. 1 plus/minus via the same pathway about the same time you got your press kit, or so it sounds.

 

Leica's only public, official word has been "end of Nov." - post Sept. 15, on the dpreview preview and on their own web site.

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sean_reid

sean_reid

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Sean: I DID hear from - well, someone in the Leica supply chain above the dealer level - in June, that the first shipment of M8s, as of then, was expected in the second half of October.

 

So it wasn't totally out of thin air.....

 

But that was June, and certainly not official. So it's not inconsistent that by August Solms had made a revision - and in fact I was already picking up vibes of Nov. 1 plus/minus via the same pathway about the same time you got your press kit, or so it sounds.

 

Leica's only public, official word has been "end of Nov." - post Sept. 15, on the dpreview preview and on their own web site.

 

Also reported as "end of November" on my site <G>. I know that for many people the end of November can't come soon enough.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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