erl Posted November 17, 2006 Share #1 Posted November 17, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) My local dealer just called and announced he has a Black M8 for me. Firmware Ver 1.05. Q. Do I accept it, or wait till Monday's announcement by Leica? It will be Tuesday here in Oz. If Leica offer something substantial to purchasers, will it be retrospective, or must I buy after the announcement? Any persuasive advice to this hesitant 'prospect'? Thanks, Erl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 17, 2006 Posted November 17, 2006 Hi erl, Take a look here The Big Decision! . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
twom4 Posted November 17, 2006 Share #2 Posted November 17, 2006 Mr. Erl, Better wait and then go for it mate!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted November 17, 2006 Share #3 Posted November 17, 2006 I only have one opinion buy it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samir Jahjah Posted November 17, 2006 Share #4 Posted November 17, 2006 Thought the last firmware was 1.06, no? Suppose the worst scenario is : filters on the lens, coding and camera return to Solms or New Jersey to optimize the M8 ... would you buy it now? If yes, buy it, if not don't! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP3 Posted November 17, 2006 Share #5 Posted November 17, 2006 My local dealer just called and announced he has a Black M8 for me. Firmware Ver 1.05. Q. Do I accept it, or wait till Monday's announcement by Leica? It will be Tuesday here in Oz. If Leica offer something substantial to purchasers, will it be retrospective, or must I buy after the announcement? Any persuasive advice to this hesitant 'prospect'? Thanks, Erl By the firmware version 1.05, it should be one of the demo model distributed between Photokina and late October official shippment. The difficult part is, you won't know when will there be another one available in Melbourne if you pass it. If I were you, I shall wait till Monday (or Tuesday at your side). Best Matthew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted November 17, 2006 Share #6 Posted November 17, 2006 A couple others in Europe and USA have reported firmware 1.05 as well, though most have 1.06. It wouldn't be legal to sell a demonstrator camera as new, by the way. It's unused, but somehow took longer to get to Oz. I agree with Matthew. It's there now. Take it. Whatever Leica does will be applicable to early adopters. If the fix is as close as has been said, all cameras that have already been shipped will need to be returned for upgrade; that upgrade will apparently include a firmware update, so all 1.06 will at that time also be out of date. Yes, while yours is off for upgrade, some will be arriving that already have the fix--but how far down that list would you be if you didn't take this camera and re-ordered? I'm hot to trot, but my dealer hasn't called! --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted November 17, 2006 Share #7 Posted November 17, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm absolute certain any fix will be available to any and all M8 buyers. IF the fix requires return to Solms, shipment from Oz may (or then again, may not) be more problematic than from Europe or the US. Seems like you can probably get a FedEx account number from Leica Germany and ship it yourself at their expense if the local organization is slow (that's the service I got when I broke my Digilux 2). Firmware upgrades will likely be downloadable off the web. Basically the question today is - do you want the camera even if the fix turns out to be "worst case" (external filters and coded lenses). If so, get it - you'll get the same fix as everyone else. If you only want to get the camera if the "fix" is internal (replacement of the internal IR filter or some such) - then waiting to see what Leica will do is reasonable - IF you can stand waiting in line again. Me - I wish I was in your shoes. I THINK I might get mine next week, but have heard nothing definite yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_dykstra Posted November 17, 2006 Share #8 Posted November 17, 2006 Any persuasive advice to this hesitant 'prospect'? Thanks, Erl Erl, I definitely think you should pass on this one and provide that clear advice to the dealer without delay. So, um, which dealer was it? Phone no? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted November 17, 2006 Share #9 Posted November 17, 2006 If I were you, I would go for it, because as Andy says, any fix to the camera will apply to all cameras and any new requirement for lens coding/filters will apply whether you buy the camera now or later. But I offer the following additional comments which are not intended to present a coherent position, just a few thoughts musing over the issue. - Any concession/gesture to provide filters free of charge will only apply for a limited time. Once the announcement and definitive position is out, you are going into the purchase with your eyes open and you are on your own. - If a hardware change is required, Leica's priority will be getting the new camera production up to the new level; we do not know whether they have been producing cameras all along, but if production has been in any way curtailed, forward purchasing contracts will means parts stocks building up with all the attendant financing and cash flow implications. - For the same reason, if the cameras have to be returned to Solms, existing cameras would not necessarily take priority over new camera production. All depends on the nature of any hardware change and whether the cameras have to go back in the clean room to be fixed/realigned. - There's a 3% increase in German VAT coming on 1 January, which will not affect Leica's cost of production directly but may lead to higher wage inflation and an increase in their unit labour costs which might lead to a price increase. Certainly, if a hardware fix is costing Leica extra parts or labour, there may be an increase. - There's no way I personally would ship to the dealer or Leica UK (unless they insisted) for it to sit around. Providing you can handle any paperwork (fortunately, none in Europe), shipping directly to Solms makes sense using DHL/Fedex/UPS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted November 17, 2006 Author Share #10 Posted November 17, 2006 O.K. guys! Some interesting perspectives presented here. I think they support the inevitable. At least I have the W/E to think (psych myself!) over it. Crunch is, they also have a 28/2.8 on offer as well. Hell, I i've just come from a morning with my financial advisor who says I am in better shape than I thought. I wonder, did my camera dealer slip him something? Well this will be my last splurge on camera gear (just like all the rest:D ). Truly, I am semi-retiring, so I owe myself a little reward for years of hard work. ..... and I need to up to date gear to compete in this highly competitive field. Nearly convinced! Oh yes! The RD-1 is insufficient on its own. I need a back up for it (Cough!!). Watch this space for pics. Thank god it looks just like an M. She who must be obeyed will never (well, hardly ever) pick it. After all, my M6, M6TTL and M7 are all the one camera, aren't they? Only if you show then one at a time. LOL Off to bed now. Hope I don't have nightmares. I sure will have dreams. Cheers, Erl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blovitch Posted November 17, 2006 Share #11 Posted November 17, 2006 >> After all, my M6, M6TTL and M7 are all the one camera, aren't they? Sounds like my collection of Breitling Navitimers...."I thought your watch had a brown strap not a black strap" is the closest I have been to being rumbled ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted November 17, 2006 Share #12 Posted November 17, 2006 I would waint until the fix is in. Buying an M8 now is buying into hassles. If you have to send it back to Leica, it may take forever and a day to get it fixed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted November 17, 2006 Share #13 Posted November 17, 2006 [snip] Thank god it looks just like an M. She who must be obeyed will never (well, hardly ever) pick it. After all, my M6, M6TTL and M7 are all the one camera, aren't they? Only if you show then one at a time. LOL Off to bed now. Hope I don't have nightmares. I sure will have dreams. Cheers, Erl Just be careful you don't talk in your sleep! Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhoutman Posted November 17, 2006 Share #14 Posted November 17, 2006 Sure it is very tempting to grab it, even with firmware 1.05, but you also have a XXX% chance that you have to send it back for mods etc. So after playing a few days with the bugger it really would heart to depart from it........ Verdict: I would wait for the final answer from Solms which takes another week. though decision though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 17, 2006 Share #15 Posted November 17, 2006 FWIW I'd want to know first if it has to be sent back to Solms for 'repairs'. If so, I'd just wait until they have fresh stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
suse Posted November 17, 2006 Share #16 Posted November 17, 2006 Gosh, thats a tough one! Do I buy into a camera with known problems for several thousand pounds/dollars etc. Or do I wait and see what the manufacturer proposes. The latter would be far more sensible. I think there must be a kind of Father Christmas-itis (or is it consumerism?) that takes over some people where the concept of waiting and enjoying what you have is just lost. It's just a tool, and at the moment not an optimum one, and the company hasn't made their offical statement. You'll still be taking more or less the same shots as you do now, so why not just wait and enjoy your other cameras? And keep your money in a warm, safe place, until you know what's going on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samir Jahjah Posted November 17, 2006 Share #17 Posted November 17, 2006 So what was your decision !?!? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grober Posted November 17, 2006 Share #18 Posted November 17, 2006 Buy it with the agreement that the dealer will bear any and all expenses of sending it to Solms for the refit. -g Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted November 17, 2006 Share #19 Posted November 17, 2006 Earl, Here's something below I posted on a previous thread. I am sure you can find more meaningful ways to celebrate your semi-retirement than blowing $5000.00 on a camera that is not street ready. The Leica Monday announcement is only a few days away. What is the RUSH????????? ******************************************************************************************************** "Why are people still willing to blow $5000.00 on a camera that is not street ready????? Perhaps what we need is a Leica RECOVERY GROUP. This Leica obsession with the M8 is starting to sound like a cult. A cameras like the M3 earned its reputation, this new kid on the block came broken, and people are still lining up to buy it. Only in the Loco Leica world! I don't mean to rain on any one's parade (actually Leica already did that) but this is insanity! Leica should just start offering refunds to all those who bought their cameras - with reasonable expectations - and now are being told they have to have their lenses coded and to purchase filters . I guess Leica figures that if you are wealthy enough to purchase the camera, you can keep blowing over $150.00 per lens to get the camera to work right. More than a support group, a RECOVERY group is called for! The more I follow this saga, the more disappointed I become with Leica, and I didn't even spend a cent on an M8. Wilfredo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
palaeoboy Posted November 17, 2006 Share #20 Posted November 17, 2006 Wait. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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