jwr50 Posted November 24, 2006 Share #1 Posted November 24, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Here's what appeared this morning on the Leica website: LINK to Leica Camera AG Website Notification 11/24/2006 Since delivery of the LEICA M8 started as of the end of October 2006 we have received the endorsement of many happy users. Nevertheless, in some fairly rare situations, some annoying effects may occasionally occur. Even though these artifacts neither happen often nor to everyone we want to eliminate the effects by providing the following solution. Issues reported as "Banding" and "Mirror/Ghost images" Our engineering teams thoroughly investigated the root causes of these effects. They have developed and tested a robust remedy - an upgrade for the M8 - to eliminate any re-occurrence. We have taken extra precautions to not only make sure that the problem does not surface again, but that this remedy will enable every M8 to meet and exceed Leica performance standards. Cameras shipped from our factory as of November 27th, 2006 will be equipped with the upgrade. Therefore, and because they will be tested thoroughly, we are confident that they will be defect-free. All customers having received their LEICA M8 before this delivery date will be offered an upgrade free of charge in Leica Camera AG's Customer Service in Solms. To upgrade your camera please, register yourself on our website as of December 6th, 2006. After you have registered you will be contacted by Customer Service to make an appointment to send in your LEICA M8. Please note that even without this upgrade all cameras delivered before this date are in working order and can be used normally. Even so, we recommend you to have the upgrade performed. Above-average sensitivity for infrared light (synthetic fabrics are rendered with a slight magenta offset) During the development of the LEICA M8, we made important design choices to insure that the camera delivers the quality in images the Leica M System is known for. Keeping the protective glass cover on the sensor as thin as possible on the one hand has the benefit of allowing the full potential of Leica lenses on the LEICA M8 to be utilized with respect to their sharpness and contrast rendition, but it also absorbs less of the infrared light. In everyday photographical use the resulting above-average sensitivity for infrared light may lead to a faulty color rendition, especially in the case of synthetic fabrics which - depending on the ambient light - cannot be rendered fully black but only with a slight magenta offset. Our solution: We will offer special screw-on type UV/IR filters for all Leica M lenses. With respect to the Leica M's compact build the combination of a thin absorption filter on the sensor and a screw-on interference filter on the lens represents the best technical solution. It completely eliminates the color offset caused by infrared light. When using lenses from 16 to 35mm, we suggest opting for the 6-bit coded ones, in order to prevent a color offset towards the edges. No disadvantages must be expected for the images when the LEICA M8 is equipped with the latest firmware (from 1.10; available as of early December 2006). Leica Camera AG offers every LEICA M8 customer a basic kit of two UV/IR filters with diameters of her/his choice and free of charge. Delivery will commence as of early February 2007. In order to receive the two free IR/UV filters, please register yourself as of December 6th, 2006, including your name and address as well as the camera's serial number. After your registration you can order two filters of choice which will be delivered to your address. Additional filters will be available from your Leica dealer. Continuing improvements through firmware updates As is common with digital products, Leica Camera AG is constantly working on improving firmware details such as in the case of the automatic white balance. All improvements will be made available for our customers as downloadable firmware updates. We are confident these corrective technical measures will fulfil every expectation of even the most demanding customers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 24, 2006 Posted November 24, 2006 Hi jwr50, Take a look here Announcement Published on Leica Website . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted November 24, 2006 Share #2 Posted November 24, 2006 As expected, but: - No deal on additional filters - No 30% discount on a lens to keep us sweet - No announcement re manual lens selection - AWB appears to be causing some head scratching Thoughts? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted November 24, 2006 Share #3 Posted November 24, 2006 We are confident these corrective technical measures will fulfil every expectation of even the most demanding customers. I wonder if this originally read: We are confident these corrective technical measures will fulfil every expectation of even the members of the Leica Camera User Forum." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnastovall Posted November 24, 2006 Share #4 Posted November 24, 2006 Unacceptable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted November 24, 2006 Share #5 Posted November 24, 2006 That statement does not equate to the 'reported' 25 page document another thread refers to. Maybe this web report is a precis. Dealers know something else as mine, today said Leica were offereing $1000 off on a lens - as opposed to 30% reported elswhere. I complained that I had just bought my new lens (4 days ago), to which he replied, come in on Monday. We can do something about that! Alittle more time may be needed for the full story to flow around the globe officially, as opposed to the net. I'm off to bed now. Been at it far too long today. Cheers, Erl P.S. While typing this, my printer spewed out a stunning print from my M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chetccox Posted November 24, 2006 Share #6 Posted November 24, 2006 Here is a copy of the letter sent to the dealers in Europe yesterday morning. I am quite unhappy about the elimination of the 30% discount on a lens and hope it was an oversight in todays release. Otherwise I think they can have the damn thing back. Draft for personal letter to M8 Customers Dear LEICA M8 Customer, On behalf of the men and women at Leica Camera AG who bring you the LEICA M8, we thank you very much for your business and confidence in our products. During the development of the M8, we made important design choices to insure that the M8 delivers the quality in images and precision in feel, fit and finish that we know Leica customers expect of us, and to a great extent, the feedback from our customers who have been using the camera has been extraordinarily positive. Amongst the happy users, we received the endorsement of professional and serious amateur photographers alike, as well as the influential photographic press, either in print or on-line. This brings a great deal of satisfaction to all of us at Leica Camera, as it is this very encouragement that keeps us working hard to bring you even better and more innovative products. I am writing to you directly now because we have discovered, after shipment of the M8 began, that very occasionally, certain aspects of early shipment cameras are not up to the normal Leica standards. These artifacts neither happen often nor to everyone, but they do happen, and we are responsible. These issues, however minor or infrequent, may have caused an inconvenience to you and the enjoyment of your new M8. We sincerely apologize for this oversight. Our engineering teams have thoroughly investigated the root cause of the reported issues and have developed and tested a robust remedy to eliminate any re-occurrence. We have taken extra precautions to not only make sure that the problem does not surface again, but that the remedy will enable every M8 to meet and exceed Leica performance standards. We are confident that cameras shipped from our factory as of November 27, 2006 are tested thoroughly to be defect free. As you purchased a Leica M8 before December 1, 2006, we want to reassure you that your Leica investment is sound and your M8 is in very good hands. Our Customer Service Department will contact you regarding your time preference for returning your camera to the Solms factory for the remedy to be installed, free of charge. The procedure will take approximately 10 days in our workshop plus shipment time, and it will perform flawlessly. Customer Service will provide further details on how to pack and ship it to us. We understand this is a tremendous burden to you, and would like to extend an unprecedented gesture to compensate you for the trouble we caused. If you have purchased and paid for a new Leica M8 in full before December 31, 2006 from an authorized Leica dealer, you can exercise an option to purchase one Leica M-lens of your choice directly from Leica Camera AG at a 30% discount. In addition, all new Leica M8 owners are eligible for 2 Infrared filters of any of 7 available sizes. Please contact Customer Service Department if you did not chose your filters when registering at our website. While we know that no compensation can completely overcome this unfortunate inconvenience, we hope that you will allow us to mitigate the circumstances. Thank you for your understanding and Leica hopes to continue to serve you in the years to come. Very truly yours Steven K. Lee Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
osera Posted November 24, 2006 Share #7 Posted November 24, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) ... register yourself on our website. ... Is this something new? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhleo Posted November 24, 2006 Share #8 Posted November 24, 2006 I read the Leica PR. It says to register on their website, but nowhere is there a link to register. Any thoughts? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted November 24, 2006 Share #9 Posted November 24, 2006 I read the Leica PR. It says to register on their website, but nowhere is there a link to register. Any thoughts? The website registration form is only promised for Dec 6th. scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted November 24, 2006 Share #10 Posted November 24, 2006 As expected, but: - No deal on additional filters - No 30% discount on a lens to keep us sweet - No announcement re manual lens selection - AWB appears to be causing some head scratching Thoughts? the 30% offer appears in Steven K Lee's letter to purchasers, and it applies to those who purchase and pay before Dec 31, 2006. This may mean that some cameras that do not need the upgrade will still qualify for the 30%. Now that's an interesting deal! AWB not mentioned anywhere as far as I can see. I thought it had been acknowledged as a "problem." scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted November 24, 2006 Share #11 Posted November 24, 2006 sounds like white balance isnt sorted yet perhaps their strategy will play for time to get the firmware fix up having to recall cameras must be a ghastly business to endure for Leica and photographers my best wishes to M8 owners Riley Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
osera Posted November 24, 2006 Share #12 Posted November 24, 2006 The website registration form is only promised for Dec 6th. scott Ah, yes, I misread that as "register by Dec 6, or else" which wouldn't really make sense. That would be too soon, and I suppose that there are one or two M8 owners somewhere who don't use the internet... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted November 24, 2006 Share #13 Posted November 24, 2006 I think there's some web-site development work to do... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest umb Posted November 24, 2006 Share #14 Posted November 24, 2006 those believing in the 30% discount are kind a naive, to say the least. in addition to what Scott wrote (purchasing before 12/31): it would be impossible to treat all customers equal. what, for instance, would happen to those, who bought all the glass they need in advance? will they get a kind of cash back? and if yes, on which lens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted November 24, 2006 Share #15 Posted November 24, 2006 Having to recall cameras must be a ghastly business to endure for Leica and photographers Steven Lee is the new boss, so this is something of a baptism of fire for him. It's interesting that the streaking and blobs are a much bigger deal for them than providing a couple of filters... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnastovall Posted November 24, 2006 Share #16 Posted November 24, 2006 I noted nothing about the issues with the current C1 profiles. I'm also at a lost as to their fixation on "synthetic fabrics." As we have seen from examples here the IR contamination can even affect the color of folage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted November 24, 2006 Share #17 Posted November 24, 2006 It stands to reason that any source of infra-red light is going to upset the colour balance and the experience here is that it messes up WB as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blovitch Posted November 24, 2006 Share #18 Posted November 24, 2006 This is dissapointing... M8 going back into box and onto Ebay........... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammam Posted November 24, 2006 Share #19 Posted November 24, 2006 I guess in a few months all this will be a distant nightmare and people will enjoy their M8, filter and all, without even giving it a second thought, because they will get the Leica glass quality plus the definition and sharpness of the lightly filtered M8 sensor. As for the 30% off on a lens, why do people have to buy directly from Leica AG? Why can't they go through their dealer? I still remain curious as to why the coding can't be menu-driven, ie included in the firmware. After all, Leica don't build that many lenses, and programing the existing ones can't be that difficult.The coding offers only 64 combinations. Then, it would only be a matter of firmware upgrade to add the future lenses. I wouldn't mind having to select the lens in the menu every time I change. I do it with my Nikon DSLRs when I use older AI MF lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest umb Posted November 24, 2006 Share #20 Posted November 24, 2006 The coding offers only 64 combinations. In combination with the "old coding" that tells the camera which frame pair to display, it is three times 64. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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