View Full Version : M8 sold out
I went to the Leica importer today to pick my two Leica lenses that has been to Solms for code tagging & bayonet replacement. Behind me comes a Leica customer who wants a M8 'fast'. He was answered that 'the whole city' (Oslo) is 'dry' and has been so for up to a month; there is no M8's available. We are now in the middle of the summer holiday here in Norway and the Leica importer Farnes/Interfoto runs on reduced staff. The guy behind the counter had 'no idea' about when new M8s would be available again.
I interprit this as a good sign; that Leica must have sold more M8 'than they reckoned with'...
Yes, the signs seem to point to the fact that the M8 is selling very well. That said, they seem to be readily(ish) available in England, or at least London. The London Camera Exchange were even selling three 'demo' units for £2500. Demo units that hardn't actually ever been used with a lens on!
I prefer to wait for an upgraded M9 or M10. Then the chances of needing repair so quickly will be down.
Raid
Joop van Heijgen
07-13-2007, 11:09
I prefer to wait for an upgraded M9 or M10. Then the chances of needing repair so quickly will be down.
Raid
I agree; unfortunately the M8 is technically not a very reliable camera!
All the owners of the M8 who I know have to bring the M 8 for repair!:bang:
Mackinaw
07-13-2007, 11:34
All the owners of the M8 who I know have to bring the M 8 for repair!:bang:
How many M8 owners do you know?
Jim B.
I prefer to wait for an upgraded M9 or M10. Then the chances of needing repair so quickly will be down.
Raid
Each new camera is a whole new ballgame with different chip, electronics and software. Canon has been at it longer then anyone and has had spectacular success, yet the new 1d MK III which is by all acounts an incredible camera has some serious issues with autofocus that the MK II didnt have. When you are dealing with software and electronics there is no guarantee the next version will have more or less problems then the previous. The more ambitious and innovative the designers the more likely there will be bugs. The early buyers or should I say beta testers find out how trouble free or not a new digicam is.
Joop van Heijgen
07-13-2007, 15:37
How many M8 owners do you know?
Jim B.
I know 5 owners. A time ago there was a workshop of the Leica dealer (in the Netherlands) with Leica M8 and other Leica cameras and lenses!
I spoke with a few users of the M8. They got the M8 since dec. '06.
All of them had small or big problems with the M8.
A repair in Solms will take about ten weeks!
The R8/9 appeared to have less problems with the digital-module!
The concept of the M8 is fine; but it has still not yet the reliability of the mechanical M- Leicas! A question of time we hope....
GrahamWelland
07-13-2007, 18:25
I think it's important to compare the experience of M8 buyers TODAY vs the first crop of early adopters who got the first generation of M8s that Leica took back and fixed.
I've had mine since January and it has had no problems whatsoever. There were some earlier firmware bugs that got fixed when Leica released new firmware.
Had mine since about May with no problems. No freezes. A few known firmware bugs, but no big deal. Gram cam.
anselwannab
07-13-2007, 20:38
There was just something about Norway having the greatest proportion of millionaires per capita in the world. I wonder if that has anything to do with the lack of M8's?
Mark
Mark: I heard somewhere that Hong Kong has the highest proportion of billionaires per capita. They have quite often Leica sales there.
grduprey
07-15-2007, 14:50
My M8, bought in February has been flaw free from the start. Still performs just as expected. Why wait, there will mostlikely not be a FF version for the forseeable future, and really who cares? image quality is great as is, goout and buy a M8 and start enjoying RF photography now.
Gene
There was just something about Norway having the greatest proportion of millionaires per capita in the world. I wonder if that has anything to do with the lack of M8's?
Mark
That's right, but still Norway hasn't been a good market for Leica. There is far more Leicas 'per capita' in Sweden and Denmark. I can only speculate why.
It is easy to become a dollar millionaire in Norway. You just had to buy a house or a flat in sentral Oslo in the late 70' or early 80' for, say, a million NOK, duly and pay down you loans - and sit and wait, untill the value exeends 5,7 million NOK, a pritty ordinary price for a home in Oslo today. Then you are a dollar millionaire.
I know 5 owners. A time ago there was a workshop of the Leica dealer (in the Netherlands) with Leica M8 and other Leica cameras and lenses!
I spoke with a few users of the M8. They got the M8 since dec. '06.
All of them had small or big problems with the M8.
A repair in Solms will take about ten weeks!
The R8/9 appeared to have less problems with the digital-module!
The concept of the M8 is fine; but it has still not yet the reliability of the mechanical M- Leicas! A question of time we hope....
You didn't speak to me, my cousin and about three other Dutch users I know... I have two bodies. One had a minor electronic problem, the other was a November camera that had to be updated. In both cases turnaround by Solms was twelve days including shipping.Any other problems - not with the seven cameras I know of....Both my M6 and M6TTL which I bought new in the past had to be returned to Solms for RF adjustment. Turnaround was about three weeks back then.
Joop van Heijgen
07-16-2007, 03:41
You didn't speak to me, my cousin and about three other Dutch users I know... I have two bodies. One had a minor electronic problem, the other was a November camera that had to be updated. In both cases turnaround by Solms was twelve days including shipping.Any other problems - not with the seven cameras I know of....Both my M6 and M6TTL which I bought new in the past had to be returned to Solms for RF adjustment. Turnaround was about three weeks back then.
Than you are lucky! Even the M8 had no big problems, you had problems with them! For a camera of more than €4000,-......
The M6 en M6 TTL (new) gives always RF adjustment problems!
In 1977 my M4-2 had the same problems.....
You can't use your camera for 3 weeks. You find that acceptable for a camera of €2500,-?
Leica has big quality and service problems!
Gabriel M.A.
07-16-2007, 04:47
I prefer to wait for an upgraded M9 or M10. Then the chances of needing repair so quickly will be down.
I'm also waiting for an upgraded hydrogen car. Then the chances of needing repair so quickly will be down.
Than you are lucky! Even the M8 had no big problems, you had problems with them! For a camera of more than €4000,-......
The M6 en M6 TTL (new) gives always RF adjustment problems!
In 1977 my M4-2 had the same problems.....
You can't use your camera for 3 weeks. You find that acceptable for a camera of €2500,-?
Leica has big quality and service problems!
I only missed one body for the upgrade for one week and one body for a problem that did not make it unusable -just inconvenient, for one week.As I could pick my timing in both cases that was no big deal and better than my unusable sixes for three weeks...:)
My cousin just bought one and it is flawless, I know three others that bought theirs and never looked back. I think we are running into non-representative statiscal samples here - both of us.
Joop van Heijgen
07-16-2007, 09:20
I only missed one body for the upgrade for one week and one body for a problem that did not make it unusable -just inconvenient, for one week.As I could pick my timing in both cases that was no big deal and better than my unusable sixes for three weeks...:)
My cousin just bought one and it is flawless, I know three others that bought theirs and never looked back. I think we are running into non-representative statiscal samples here - both of us.
Look at your own posting on the Leica forum : http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/29419-so-died.html
Richard Marks
07-16-2007, 11:05
Hi
I think the problems have been massively exagerated. Certainly the first bacth or so had some teathing problems, but I know there were initial probelms with QC for Leica MP (A lot had a space between the eye piece and its surounding mount and needed sending back for cleaning. These things are soon forgotten in the grand scheme of things. Do yourself a favour and give one a try.
best wishes
Richard
(oh and mine works just fine)
I know 5 owners. A time ago there was a workshop of the Leica dealer (in the Netherlands) with Leica M8 and other Leica cameras and lenses!
I spoke with a few users of the M8. They got the M8 since dec. '06.
All of them had small or big problems with the M8.
A repair in Solms will take about ten weeks!
The R8/9 appeared to have less problems with the digital-module!
The concept of the M8 is fine; but it has still not yet the reliability of the mechanical M- Leicas! A question of time we hope....
Without these customers which bought and will buy a M8, there never would be a chance for am M9 or M10 :eek:
Joop van Heijgen
07-16-2007, 11:39
Without these customers which bought and will buy a M8, there never would be a chance for am M9 or M10 :eek:
Zitat:
Zitat von Joop van Heijgen http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/images/leicabuttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/29419-so-died.html#post307897) http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/29419-so-died.html#post307928
And the feeling with the MP......
Hi' Joop,
Exactly - we Emmaters are not alone in our frustration!
I realise Leica is a little, struggling cottage crafts company - but I do hope they're taking note of out pleas for just a bit of an improvement in:
a) quality control and;
b) customer care.
The latter being the more important in the longer term.
Richard Marks
07-16-2007, 12:30
Zitat:
Zitat von Joop van Heijgen http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/images/leicabuttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/29419-so-died.html#post307897) http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/29419-so-died.html#post307928
And the feeling with the MP......
Hi' Joop,
Exactly - we Emmaters are not alone in our frustration!
I realise Leica is a little, struggling cottage crafts company - but I do hope they're taking note of out pleas for just a bit of an improvement in:
a) quality control and;
b) customer care.
The latter being the more important in the longer term.
Just 1 simple question
Have you tried an M8?
Regards
Richard
Joop van Heijgen
07-16-2007, 12:46
Just 1 simple question
Have you tried an M8?
Regards
Richard
A simple answer: Yes
I use M Leicas for more thans 30 years.
I know the M-Leica; inside and outside;
The M8 has still the M feeling, especially the viewfinder is still strong!
I worked with the M8 camera. The photoresults are rather good!
A few of my photofriends are working with the M8.
All of them had technical problems with the camera!
The concept of the M8 is nice, but the technical reliability of the M8 is not very
excellent!
Just 1 simple question
Have you tried an M8?
Regards
Richard
Hi' Richard,
Yes, I have been the owner of an M8 for two months and it has been in for repair for one of those two months with no news of its return (currently 10 weeks and upwards I understand).
My issue is not even with the fact that it is broken - it is with the poor customer service. A Leica is an expensive bit of kit and more often than not, a professional's working tool. At the very least Leica should be routinely providing a replacement body while one's own camera is in for repair.
There is no doubt that Leica M8s are technically problematic and my wife's recently purchased D-Lux 3 has had problems too (intermittent no power on). The forums all reveal the extent of Leica's quality control problems. These issues are truly unacceptable - and it does the brand no service when its afficionados defend this situation - we should be the first to demand better - after all, we've already put our money where our mouths are!
I have owned a Pentax Spotmatic since 1968 - it is as good as the day it was bought - and the image quality (especially with the 50mm Takumar 1.4) compares with anything from Leica. That says a lot.
Look at your own posting on the Leica forum : http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/29419-so-died.html
Excuse me??? There IS a difference between my two M8 bodies and my 3 year old overworked Digilux2....That one after three years of intensive use indeed succumbed to the dead sensor syndrome. Which is no big deal, as Leica will replace the sensor free of charge despite the fact that the camera has been off the market for some time now and my guarantee long expired.Since you mentioned it, I think that is excellent customer care. In the meanwhile I will happily be shooting my M8's and my wife will use the C-lux1 for the time being. Quite apart from the M3 with Kodachrome..... reading posts is advised before talking through your hat:p
Joop van Heijgen
07-16-2007, 13:33
Excuse me??? There IS a difference between my two M8 bodies and my 3 year old overworked Digilux2....That one after three years of intensive use indeed succumbed to the dead sensor syndrome. Which is no big deal, as Leica will replace the sensor free of charge despite the fact that the camera has been off the market for some time now and my guarantee long expired.In the meanwhile I will happily be shooting my M8's and my wife will use the C-lux1 for the time being. Quite apart from the M3 with Kodachrome..... reading posts is advised :p
"Excuse me??? There IS a difference between my two M8 bodies and my 3 year old overworked Digilux2...."
They are both digital Leica cameras! Leica is the name!
'Three years intensive use' for a digital Leica camera is indeed very long...:confused:
I'm starting to get the feeling that you are confusing cameras, brands and forums. I don't buy names, I buy cameras.
Joop van Heijgen
07-16-2007, 13:47
I'm starting to get the feeling that you are confusing cameras, brands and forums. I don't buy names, I buy cameras.
Cameras has a name, and you have to pay for it, specially Leica! :bang:
Personally I do not find Leica especially expensive, compared to other hand-built or semi-handbuilt products, nor to similar level cameras from other brands, even if they can hardly be compared.
Than you are lucky!
I don't particularly think so - it is always the few with problems that are the most vocal. The Internet magnifies everything vastly out of proportion.
Joop van Heijgen
07-16-2007, 14:09
Personally I do not find Leica especially expensive, compared to other hand-built or semi-handbuilt products, nor to similar level cameras from other brands, even if they can hardly be compared.
I don't particularly think so - it is always the few with problems that are the most vocal. The Internet magnifies everything vastly out of proportion.
"it is always the few with problems that are the most vocal'
You belongs to the few on internet who are enthusiastly of the M8!
Most of the M8 users keeps their success with this camera secret...:confused:
They're out taking photographs -not spouting forth on the forums late at night....:(
Richard Marks
07-16-2007, 14:27
A simple answer: Yes
I use M Leicas for more thans 30 years.
I know the M-Leica; inside and outside;
The M8 has still the M feeling, especially the viewfinder is still strong!
I worked with the M8 camera. The photoresults are rather good!
A few of my photofriends are working with the M8.
All of them had technical problems with the camera!
The concept of the M8 is nice, but the technical reliability of the M8 is not very
excellent!
Hi
I think we have come round to this sort of discussion a few months ago and ultimately we have no true measure of the incidence of probelms. For my part the image quality is all that I could wish for and perhaps I have been lucky with my particular camera. At the time I purchased mine I was aware of potential problems but felt then (and still believe) if one is a Leica user, the benefits considerably outweigh the disadvantages.
Best wishes
Richard
Richard Marks
07-16-2007, 14:34
Hi' Richard,
The forums all reveal the extent of Leica's quality control problems. These issues are truly unacceptable - and it does the brand no service when its afficionados defend this situation - we should be the first to demand better - after all, we've already put our money where our mouths are!
.
Hi
Im sorry to hear your M8 is out of action.
I do not agree that the forums reveal the extent of the problems. We have no idea of incidence. Also a good number of probelms appered under the "my M8 died" type of allarmist post and often the fix was simple. I do take very much on board your comments about customer service and this indeed is worrying.
Richard
I have had my M8 for about six weeks now. I am very pleased with the image quality. My only problem to date is that the sensor gets dirty fairly easily. So I make sure I clean the sensor before I go somewhere where I know I will be taking lots of photos.
After a few hundred shots the cleanliness issue diminishes sharply and gets about on the same level as most DSLR's. Anyway, tha M8 is easier to clean than a DSLR sensor and cloning is a lot better than retouche-paint, -scalpel and -pencil;)
I have owned a Pentax Spotmatic since 1968 - it is as good as the day it was bought - and the image quality (especially with the 50mm Takumar 1.4) compares with anything from Leica. That says a lot.
Me too. I also have a Remington-Rand manual typewriter from the late 40's that outlasted three IBM Selectrics and six PC's, but I can't hook it up to the internet ;)
BTW I still use my Takumars on my 20D.
Hi
Im sorry to hear your M8 is out of action.
I do not agree that the forums reveal the extent of the problems. We have no idea of incidence. Also a good number of probelms appered under the "my M8 died" type of allarmist post and often the fix was simple. I do take very much on board your comments about customer service and this indeed is worrying.
Richard
Hi' Richard,
You're right of course. The Internet magnifies everything and people post tales of woe more readily than tales of joy - I'm testimony to that.
That said, over 40 years of serious photography I've rarely experienced significant problems with cameras from Pentax, Canon, Nikon and even Casio. I've owned two Leicas and both have been unreliable to the point of being unusable - as straw polls go that may not be statistically relevant, but its still painful!
When it works, my Leica M8 produces technically stunning images (I'll make no claims for my creative input) .. and there is that intangible Leica magic. That's why I shelled out lots of dosh for one. Now I just want it back please!
When the M8 is back in my mitts I'll let you know if its fixed and whether it stays so - I think I ought to report a positive. But my opinion of Leica's customer care hasn't changed - I haven't heard a peep from them in a month and there's no indication of how much longer I'll have to wait to become a Leica-liker once more.
Why can't we track the progress of repair work on line? Simple really, when every camera and lens has a unique ID. It might go something like;
10 July 06, 09:18: Received at Goods Inward, Solms.
10 July 06, 09:19: Put on shelf to get dusty while backlog is cleared.
10 January, 09:15: Taken off shelf, strictly according to waiting list.
10 January, 09:16: Dusted, using ermine towels and the breath of angels.
10 January 07, 09:30: Handed to Wolfie, the old geezer in the corner who does the sensor adjustments.
15 August 06, 17:30 Fixed to perfection (Wolfie is a bit slow, but very exacting).
17 August 06 09:30 Delivered by aged wheelbarrow to QA manager (Klaus, in the backroom with the pipe).
25 September 07, 17:00: Passed by QA (Klaus is a bit slow, but very exacting).
26 September 07, 09:00: Taken by donkey and cart across the yard in the early frosts and grey drizzle of a fine autumn day somewhere in the middle of Germany.
26 September 07, 09:10: (Its a big yard) - Handed to the postal clerk for despatch.
26 October 07, 15:10 Postal clerk finishes the copperplate entries in his log book, using his great grandfather's quill pen and black ink treasured for its capacity to render true blacks in a vaguely purple hue.
26 October 07, 15:11 precisely - DHL are kindly requested to attend the premises to collect the property of our esteemed customer (we've forgotten his name, it was all so long ago).
26 October 07, 17:00: Delivered to the customer across across three oceans and a stickleback pond - DHL have been experiencing logistics problems on this afternoon and have duly entered into a binding contract with the customer to execute the van driver for the unacceptable delays.
27 October 07, 17:00: The M8 has gone wrong again ......
You can track repair work online..... Maybe if they notice you are tracking it, you get the less-than-two weeks service I have been experiencing ;) Solms is fine... I do notice most of the complaints come from the USA. It seems the US customs contribute somewhat to the problem. The UK seems to be slow as well. Maybe Leica should rethink their dealership system
But a very funny post :)
Hi' Richard,
You're right of course. The Internet magnifies everything and people post tales of woe more readily than tales of joy - I'm testimony to that.
That said, over 40 years of serious photography I've rarely experienced significant problems with cameras from Pentax, Canon, Nikon and even Casio. I've owned two Leicas and both have been unreliable to the point of being unusable - as straw polls go that may not be statistically relevant, but its still painful!
When it works, my Leica M8 produces technically stunning images (I'll make no claims for my creative input) .. and there is that intangible Leica magic. That's why I shelled out lots of dosh for one. Now I just want it back please!
When the M8 is back in my mitts I'll let you know if its fixed and whether it stays so - I think I ought to report a positive. But my opinion of Leica's customer care hasn't changed - I haven't heard a peep from them in a month and there's no indication of how much longer I'll have to wait to become a Leica-liker once more.
Why can't we track the progress of repair work on line? Simple really, when every camera and lens has a unique ID. It might go something like;
10 July 06, 09:18: Received at Goods Inward, Solms.
10 July 06, 09:19: Put on shelf to get dusty while backlog is cleared.
10 January, 09:15: Taken off shelf, strictly according to waiting list.
10 January, 09:16: Dusted, using ermine towels and the breath of angels.
10 January 07, 09:30: Handed to Wolfie, the old geezer in the corner who does the sensor adjustments.
15 August 06, 17:30 Fixed to perfection (Wolfie is a bit slow, but very exacting).
17 August 06 09:30 Delivered by aged wheelbarrow to QA manager (Klaus, in the backroom with the pipe).
25 September 07, 17:00: Passed by QA (Klaus is a bit slow, but very exacting).
26 September 07, 09:00: Taken by donkey and cart across the yard in the early frosts and grey drizzle of a fine autumn day somewhere in the middle of Germany.
26 September 07, 09:10: (Its a big yard) - Handed to the postal clerk for despatch.
26 October 07, 15:10 Postal clerk finishes the copperplate entries in his log book, using his great grandfather's quill pen and black ink treasured for its capacity to render true blacks in a vaguely purple hue.
26 October 07, 15:11 precisely - DHL are kindly requested to attend the premises to collect the property of our esteemed customer (we've forgotten his name, it was all so long ago).
26 October 07, 17:00: Delivered to the customer across across three oceans and a stickleback pond - DHL have been experiencing logistics problems on this afternoon and have duly entered into a binding contract with the customer to execute the van driver for the unacceptable delays.
27 October 07, 17:00: The M8 has gone wrong again ......
Speenth:
I think you forgot the long break for Oktoberfest!!!!!! Great humor posting. I'd be funnier if it wasn't a $5,000 camera.
Bill
Speenth:
I think you forgot the long break for Oktoberfest!!!!!! Great humor posting. I'd be funnier if it wasn't a $5,000 camera.
Bill
Oh my God, Oktoberfest! I live in Austria - here you can also add every blessed Saint's day, auspicious calendar days and the biannual celebration of Confusius's confusion to the long list of excuses to go hiking in the Alps or swimming in the Danube. But still they're so irritatingly efficient they drive me mad.
I secretly rather like my image of a sleepy old bunch of Leica grumpies tucked away in some mid-European forest - if only it were true - then they'd have an excuse for keeping my camera for so long! If it was up to my adopted compatriots my camera would be back in an instant, polished, upstanding and ready for action. This is the cliche being lived out a little south of Solms - maybe the grumpies should come and take a look.
I love 'em really - I'm just frustrated and missing my M8 - I have no pictures to post and nothing else to do but work for a living - boring!
You can track repair work online..... Maybe if they notice you are tracking it, you get the less-than-two weeks service I have been experiencing ;) Solms is fine... I do notice most of the complaints come from the USA. It seems the US customs contribute somewhat to the problem. The UK seems to be slow as well. Maybe Leica should rethink their dealership system
But a very funny post :)
Hi' Jaap,
You've got me excited! HOW do I track my camera's progress on line?
Do tell! I suspect a few other owners similarly pining for their pride and joy might also be keen to know.
Many thanks
Steve'
PS: I've been waiting five weeks now and no word at all. Can you just give us a hint of the magnitude of the bribe you offer to get your camera back in less than two weeks ...
Richard Marks
07-18-2007, 15:40
Steve
I think it is very difficult to defend Leicas customer service. One should not have to rant and rave at them to get things done. The real issue is everything has to go back to Germany. I supose some approved Leica service centres in other countries might help. I think the real issue is the lack of communication. Certainly getting information about my IR filter delivery date generated a coolish response from UK leica. All this really means that professionals could not safely rely on an M8 as a pit stop would be very costly. The real issue is that when this camera works it is simply superb and in its little niche there really is nothing to touch it. Leica glass + 10MP digital. For me its worth it warts and all. I suspect Leica know this too. This is why we have not all told them to get stuffed. Hope yours comes back soon.
Best wishes
Richard
Hi' Jaap,
You've got me excited! HOW do I track my camera's progress on line?
Do tell! I suspect a few other owners similarly pining for their pride and joy might also be keen to know.
Many thanks
Steve'
PS: I've been waiting five weeks now and no word at all. Can you just give us a hint of the magnitude of the bribe you offer to get your camera back in less than two weeks ...
Update:
I found the tracking service on the Leica Owners Site - but, as if to confirm this is a Leica service and not Nikon, it does not work! I tried it in IE6 (as the instructions require) and in Firefox. I tried it on two computers, one at work and the other at home - no luck. Then I noticed this little ditty in the small print; "... you can query the processing status by entering the serial number (within 10 days after sending your Leica product to Leica Camera AG)".
So, because I have been waiting rather more than 10 days it appears I am not permiited to enquire about progress! That's one way to avoid awkward questions.
I give up.
Does anybody out there know of a phone number or email address that galvanises these guys?
My mood on this matter has shifted through acceptance, to mild irritation, to frustration and now its shifting towards so bloody annoyed I'm going to go to factory and lock up my bicycle in the Director's parking bay. I might even trample on their flowerbeds.
http://www.leica-camera.de/service/service_and_repair/repair_tracking/
This is the link.
You can contact Mr. Attila von Gyimes at info[at]leica-camera.com or call the factory at
+496442208189 and ask for Mr. Eberhard Jakob
http://www.leica-camera.de/service/service_and_repair/repair_tracking/
This is the link.
You can contact Mr. Attila von Gyimes at info[at]leica-camera.com or call the factory at
+496442208189 and ask for Mr. Eberhard Jakob
Hi' Jaap,
Thanks for this.
I tried the link, but as I posted earlier, the tracking system doesn't seem to work. After entering the serial number of my camera a whole lot of nothing happens! I've tried it at home and at work - so I don't think its my computer settings.
Thanks to you however, I now have an alternative - I'll email Mr von Gyimes and if no joy, then I'll call Mr Jakob.
If there is news of my long-lost M8 (good or otherwise), I'll let you know.
Fingers-crossed.
Steve'
LightWave
07-19-2007, 18:30
... Canon has been at it longer then anyone and has had spectacular success, yet the new 1d MK III which is by all acounts an incredible camera has some serious issues with autofocus that the MK II didnt have. ...
Just to set the record straight. Canon wasn't the first one to come out with DSLR. Nikon was earlier with the D1 and Kodak came out the first very expensive, bulky monstrous power guzzling DSLR with a modified Nikon body.... if I remember correctly.
Hi' Jaap,
Thanks for this.
I tried the link, but as I posted earlier, the tracking system doesn't seem to work. After entering the serial number of my camera a whole lot of nothing happens! I've tried it at home and at work - so I don't think its my computer settings.
Thanks to you however, I now have an alternative - I'll email Mr von Gyimes and if no joy, then I'll call Mr Jakob.
If there is news of my long-lost M8 (good or otherwise), I'll let you know.
Fingers-crossed.
Steve'
UPDATE:
I emailed Leica and about two hours later I coincidentally received an email from my local dealer to say my M8 had just been despatched from Solms and would be available for collection on Monday (just in time to miss me because I'm in Manila all next week, on business).
I am trying to resist the cynical conclusion, I'm too pleased and relieved for that.
Just to set the record straight. Canon wasn't the first one to come out with DSLR. Nikon was earlier with the D1 and Kodak came out the first very expensive, bulky monstrous power guzzling DSLR with a modified Nikon body.... if I remember correctly.
IIRC Kodak had DSLR's based on both Nikon and Canon bodies before either of them had their own.
grduprey
07-23-2007, 19:58
M8 Zero problems, M6TTL Zero problems, M4-P Zero problems, R8 Zero problems, R4SP 1 failure after 15 years, R3MOT 1failure, cold sensitive, after 12 years, Leicaflex SL Zero problems. Pretty good quality and reliability in my book. The two repairs on the R cameras were handeled in less than 3 weeks. 6 months with the M8 have been flawless, would get another in a flash, if I could afford one.
Gene
Joop van Heijgen
07-24-2007, 16:34
M8 Zero problems, M6TTL Zero problems, M4-P Zero problems, R8 Zero problems, R4SP 1 failure after 15 years, R3MOT 1failure, cold sensitive, after 12 years, Leicaflex SL Zero problems. Pretty good quality and reliability in my book. The two repairs on the R cameras were handeled in less than 3 weeks. 6 months with the M8 have been flawless, would get another in a flash, if I could afford one.
Gene
"6 months with the M8 have been flawless,....
That's news at present...":confused:
"6 months with the M8 have been flawless,....
That's news at present...":confused:
Unfortunately, in this digital age, this is a valid post, in which one can substitute "M8" with any high-end camera, or indeed any quality technical product. :(
I can`t resist, Leica M8, made in da black forest, by da little elves.
Nothing like a bit of friendly sledging to lighten the tone, just ask the pommie cricket team.
I can`t resist, Leica M8, made in da black forest, by da little elves.
The Black Forest is in another part of Germany...... Solms is in Hessen, quite a pretty area as well, but they have "Heinzelmaennchen" (goblins), not elves there, you can tell by the dust on the sensors, it is the dandruff from their beards.....
Joop van Heijgen
07-25-2007, 15:21
I can`t resist, Leica M8, made in da black forest, by da little elves.
The M 8 is 'made in Portugal'. The M7; the MP and R9 too!
Gabriel M.A.
07-26-2007, 04:35
The M 8 is 'made in Portugal'.
Seems you have a new collectible :rolleyes:
Joop van Heijgen
07-26-2007, 10:19
Seems you have a new collectible :rolleyes:
The new collectibele should has to be "made in Germany'' .:bang:
Unfortunately production in Germany is too expensive; since 1977 (Leica R3) the camera production has taken place in Portugal!
Leica can put 'Germany' on the camera; but it has nothing to do with the place of production!
While waiting for my M8 at the end of last year Lars Farnes, the importer, told me simply that Leica ships M8's on a quota system which allows Norway 20 units at a time depending on their total production. Rich as it may be, I doubt that the total Norwegian market is all that big compared to Germany, France, England, the US or Japan. I rather doubt that there are that many Norwegian "millionaires" interested in photography, but June paychecks (which are almost double) would more likely have contributed to the M8-drought.
- Børre
I'm not familiar w/the details of the rules & regulations governing country of origin markings in Germany, but if they're anything like the rules & regulations in most of the industrialized world, Leica must be doing something w/the cameras in Germany, e.g., manufacture parts/components, etc., even if much or most of the work is done in Portugal.
It is true that the words "Made In Germany" don't necessarily mean that the cameras are completely assembled in Germany from parts made in Germany, etc. However, if German law is like that in the U.S., then it would mean exactly that (to be legally marked "Made in USA," products must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S.).
The new collectibele should has to be "made in Germany'' .:bang:
Unfortunately production in Germany is too expensive; since 1977 (Leica R3) the camera production has taken place in Portugal!
Leica can put 'Germany' on the camera; but it has nothing to do with the place of production!
B&H has them in stock....I am very tempted since they have been out awhile, but I need to talk to some pro friends of mine in regards to published image quality and other real world use...
Joop van Heijgen
07-27-2007, 15:30
I'm not familiar w/the details of the rules & regulations governing country of origin markings in Germany, but if they're anything like the rules & regulations in most of the industrialized world, Leica must be doing something w/the cameras in Germany, e.g., manufacture parts/components, etc., even if much or most of the work is done in Portugal.
It is true that the words "Made In Germany" don't necessarily mean that the cameras are completely assembled in Germany from parts made in Germany, etc. However, if German law is like that in the U.S., then it would mean exactly that (to be legally marked "Made in USA," products must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S.).
In practice the whole camera ( the M6, MP and M8)) is made in Portugal.
In Germany, the 'factory' places only the cap on the camera and adjust the distant meter, the shutter and light meter, and gives the camera a control check! At last the camera wil get a box (in Solms) to put in it!
On the box you can read 'made in Germany'!:cool:
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