larry Posted October 14, 2006 Share #1 Â Posted October 14, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I went to my local dealer's Leica demo this morning and got my hands on the M8. I won't bother repeating much of what has already been said by other forum members, but I can confirm that the camera is everything it's cracked up to be. There were a number of other Leicaphiles waiting and thankfully they were all good-natured. (I did place an order.) Â The camera's feel is very much like other Ms and the release is instantaneous. However, I found the additional motor noise to be a little distracting at first. I shot some photos on my own SD card (and no, I won't share) and found them to be noise-free, silky smooth and have the trademark Leica "3D" look. The responsiveness of controls and the write times are excellent, but a large high-speed card is a must because the RAW files are huge. I think even the JPEGs look terrific and are quite usable. Â I don't want to clutter up the bandwidth any more than necessary, so I'll leave it at that. Â Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 14, 2006 Posted October 14, 2006 Hi larry, Take a look here Today's M8 experience. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted October 14, 2006 Share #2 Â Posted October 14, 2006 Thanks for the post Larry, I think everyone who gets tho handle the camera comes away impressed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gurtch Posted October 14, 2006 Share #3  Posted October 14, 2006 I went to my local dealer's Leica demo this morning and got my hands on the M8. I won't bother repeating much of what has already been said by other forum members, but I can confirm that the camera is everything it's cracked up to be. There were a number of other Leicaphiles waiting and thankfully they were all good-natured. (I did place an order.) The camera's feel is very much like other Ms and the release is instantaneous. However, I found the additional motor noise to be a little distracting at first. I shot some photos on my own SD card (and no, I won't share) and found them to be noise-free, silky smooth and have the trademark Leica "3D" look. The responsiveness of controls and the write times are excellent, but a large high-speed card is a must because the RAW files are huge. I think even the JPEGs look terrific and are quite usable.  I don't want to clutter up the bandwidth any more than necessary, so I'll leave it at that.  Larry  Larry: were the lenses 6 bit coded that you used? I'm a little concerned about using my uncoded lenses (CMs and CVs). Thanks Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted October 14, 2006 Author Share #4 Â Posted October 14, 2006 David, Â I used the coded lenses provided by the dealer. Unfortunately, I spaced out taking my own lenses, but plan on having my 35 and 50 upgraded. Lenses without the six-bit coding are totally usable, however. Leica is offering two free upgrades if you purchase an M8 before December 31. Â Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grober Posted October 14, 2006 Share #5 Â Posted October 14, 2006 Larry, Â Any hint of the details about the USA warranty? Twleve months? Â Will USA buyers be able to download updated firmware throughout the warranty period? After the warranty expires, will Leica Camera USA offer a subscription service for ongoing M8 updates? Â (I have no idea if any update service is offered by any manufacturer in this rapidly evolving field. Like many M shooters, I am completely new to this level of digital camera.) Â Thanks for your report. Â -g Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pascal_meheut Posted October 14, 2006 Share #6 Â Posted October 14, 2006 Firmware update are free and for ever. At least, this has been the common policy till now for most of manufacturers. Including Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted October 14, 2006 Author Share #7 Â Posted October 14, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dave, Â That's a good question, I didn't think to ask. I assume (and hope) it's the usual three-year passport warranty. Someone here must have the answer. Â Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wbesz Posted October 14, 2006 Share #8  Posted October 14, 2006 Larry: were the lenses 6 bit coded that you used? I'm a little concerned about using my uncoded lenses (CMs and CVs).Thanks Dave  Dave, the coded lenses are not critical to use, ..enables camera to record the lens you used and do some vignetting compensation (which you can do later yourself).  BTW, applicable more so to wide angle lenses, anyway.  Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted October 14, 2006 Share #9  Posted October 14, 2006 Dave, That's a good question, I didn't think to ask. I assume (and hope) it's the usual three-year passport warranty. Someone here must have the answer.  Larry If the camera is covered by a passport it'll be interesting to see how the question of sensor cleaning is addressed.  Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchell Posted October 14, 2006 Share #10 Â Posted October 14, 2006 Leica USA told me that they'll code two old lenses for free if you buy a NEW LENS, not an M8. You buy the lens, send in the warranty card and they'll send you a coupon for coding two lenses. Â They had just recieved the memo so perhaps there is a mix up. Â Best, Â Mitchell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 14, 2006 Share #11 Â Posted October 14, 2006 I got from the leica rep the M8 and a voucher for two codings. i will just code the lenses i would mostly use for flash work or if I got a 21mm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchell Posted October 14, 2006 Share #12 Â Posted October 14, 2006 Guy, Â Are you saying you have an M 8 now?! Â Post images! Â Best, Â Mitchell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 14, 2006 Share #13 Â Posted October 14, 2006 Sorry I was told from a Leica rep that you get 2 vouchers for 2 codings of lenses with the purchase of a M8 Us and Canada. I have this in a e-mail Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted October 15, 2006 Author Share #14 Â Posted October 15, 2006 The matter of whether you get two vouchers for buying an M8 or buying a lens could use some clarification. The rep at my demo said it applied to an M8 purchase, but the new Leica World News indicates you'll get the vouchers if you buy a new lens. Maybe someone from Leica could weigh in here and let us know if it's for one or the other, or both. Â Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enboe Posted October 15, 2006 Share #15 Â Posted October 15, 2006 I was told at the Torrance, CA demo yesterday that there were only 2 M8's in the representatives' hands for the US. Our rep. would not allow for photos on our own cards, perhaps tied to the firmware being v0.24. Â Otherwise, on the winding noise, im my opinion it's not that much different than if you were using a motor-M on your M7. Would you agree? Â Handling similar, only a little thicker. Heft nice, build nice, back screen unscratched after all the handling by countless representatives and potential owners. Â Chrome and black supposed to release on the same date. Both are in production. Â Literature claims additional lens optimization for effects such as vignetting with the coding. Love to see a side-by-side before I invest in mass-recoding of my glass. Â Not being a rock star (Seal thread on RFF), holding out for chrome, and waiting to see the final product, maybe I'll have one this year, maybe not. Still, it's exciting to see which mere mortal gets theirs first. Â Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 15, 2006 Share #16 Â Posted October 15, 2006 I agree some clarity is needed here. If you think about it though makes much more sense for the purchase of te M8 . If you buy a new lens it is already coded Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grober Posted October 15, 2006 Share #17  Posted October 15, 2006 Sorry I was told from a Leica rep that you get 2 vouchers for 2 codings of lenses with the purchase of a M8 Us and Canada. I have this in a e-mail  The "Leica rep" can say anything they want. Remember, in the USA, all Leica reps are no longer employees of Leica-Camera USA.  I'm not suggested any USA Leica reps are flakes. They are saying what they believe to be true. In fact, Leica-Camera USA can always distance itself from their statements if it choses to do so sometime down the road.  I know that's a dark thought on this beautiful Sunday morning but it just reflects the cold reality of American business these days.  -g Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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