I think I prefer the M8 to the M8.2 !!

[wda]

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My M9 is not here yet, and my dealer has kindly sold my M8.2 and has leant me an M8 while I wait for it.

 

Half wondering if I should try to find a new M8 somewhere and put the cash for the M9 towards a Nocti :-))

 

Julian, I sense you already know the answer to your question. Looking at it practically, I think an M8 plus a 50mm Summilux makes a lot more sense than buying an M9 body. Unless of course you have a clear need for full-frame sensitivity. At the moment, I don't.

[Julian Thompson]

The thing is that I sense that Paulus might be right for my kind of shooting - I'm OK at focussing but not a 'whizz' at it - I think F1 might be lost on me! A 50 lux might be perrrrfect.

 

We'll see. I just know that when I get the call to tell me the M9 is in I'll buy it because I'm a gear head plain and simple but I still think that the plain old M8 with no upgrades at all is the unsung and much maligned hero of the M range.

 

It almost makes me laugh some of the nonsense you read on the 'net about it from people whom clearly have not shot a single frame with an M8. It's a wonderful camera and I'm loving every minute of using it at the moment!

[jevidon]

I agree that the M8.2 has little charm over the M8 except for a nicer covering.

 

So far, I have taken the M8 extensively on two trips; one to Antarctica and the second time to Europe on a Rhine/Mosel river cruise. I found myself repeatedly re-shooting some scenes because of the framing problems which I do not have with my M4P film Leica. One may say that if I shot exclusively with the M8 I would get used to it, but I don't see and reason why the two should be so different except by an unfortunate design choice.

 

I realize that the new frame lines are excessively priced to correct; something that Leica never should have done in the first place. But when adding everything up including comparing the trade value of my excellent M8 to purchase a new or a used M8.2, I bit the bullet and sent the body to New Jersey for the upgrade and ordered the new finder screen to replace the schott glass protection cover I have been using and ordered the shutter modification as well. When you order all three the price break is better.I ordered the shutter because I really didn't find that much difference between the original shutter and the firmware delayed shutter return option.

 

Hopefully, in the future, Leica will not mess with their already excellent frame lines that have stood the test of time. I think the cost imposed to correct something they should never have done is unconscionable, but I plan to keep the cameras for a long time given that I do not plan to go over 16x20 in print size and the M8 and it's companion D300 are more than enough to satisfy me. So "full"frame has no special charm for me.

[PeterP]

A simply fantastic shot, Peter.

 

I share the preference views expressed for the M8. I have learned to live with the framing and even like the sound of the shutter, much against my expectations.

 

Thanks David!