buy an M8 in 2012?

[overtoom]

I have asked this question on flickr, but didnt get any response. Maybe I am more lucky over here...

I shoot mainly with my Canon 5d II's digital (work) and with my Leica M7 film (personal stuff). I'd love to have next to my analog Leica a digital one. Just because I really like the handling and size of my M7 and wish sometimes, I dont have to go through the whole film processing. But for now, I can't afford an M9, nor the M8.2.

I have read lots of stuff about the M8. Not all of them convinced me to buy one to be honest. I know that most of the time, I am better off with my Canons. Especially because I own most of their prime lenses and no Leica lens, but a Zeiss (50mm) and a Voigtländer (28mm).

I wont use ithe M8 for my weddings though. It will be my everyday camera (or backup) next to my M7. And my Canon gear is just to cumbersome to carry around while not on a Job.

My question is: Did some of the issues got better with firmware updates? And would you still consider to buy a used M8 nowadays?

thanks!
Richard

[Jobin33]

I sold my 5dmkii and 35L for an M8 and zeiss 35mm f2. Both amazing image quality but the m8 was 5x more fun.

[jippiejee]

I bought one recently and am very happy with it. Of course the camera is older and won't come with iso12800 performance. But as film shooter that's not something you'd expect from a rangefinder anyway. I too read too many forum posts and thought the camera would be no longer relevant. But if you don't want to spend on an M9, here's still a camera with a great bright viewfinder and beautiful rich files. Just do it.

[jsrockit]

If you are keeping your Canon and M7, I see no harm in trying the M8. Your 50mm lens becomes a 67.5mm or something like that. You'll either love that or hate it. Your 28mm becomes a 37mm and that is cool. The other thing you could do is check out the Fuji X-Pro1 which might be a good in-between (the canon and the M7) solution.

[hteasley]

The M8 is a great camera; I took some of my favorite shots with mine. IR cut filters are a must, and those can cause some reflections for strong light sources within the frame, but the folks that complain about that seem to be in a tiny minority. It's an awesome camera, and a relative bargain these days.

[filmtwit]

I had the M8.2, hated it. Sold it 3 months later and never looked back.
Picked up Fuji x100 and have loved it.

[KarlG]

I bought an M8 in 2011 and am still loving it in 2012. My other camera is a 5D2 as well, which I use with the 24L & 85L.

I find that my go-to camera is always the M8, with the only exceptions being if I am shooting in extreme low light, or shooting events, where I will generally have the M8 on one shoulder and the 5D2 on the other shoulder.

FWIW I generally prefer the IQ of the M8 at ISOs of 640 and below over the 5D2 as well.

[f16sunshine]

Yes in 2012.... I would replace mine if stolen or lost. No question. For me the M9 was not enough of an improvement as I mostly shoot "normals". The m8/8.2 is just as good as ever.... If you get a good one.

[MCTuomey]

if you like the handling of your M7 and you like working with digital files, you should try the M8. crop factor, IR cut filters, high iso performance, shutter noise - minor trade-offs for the wonderful files the M8 produces and its sweet form factor.

if we listened to the 'net nay-sayers, we'd miss a lot of opportunities.

[Dante_Stella]

The M8 is so sharp it will burn your eyes. It can also reveal things that are just wrong.

The real question might be why you would buy an M9 (sharing all basic electronics) for three times the money, five years into the M8/M9 product cycle.

The ACR 2010 profile improves the low-light performance a bit (as does the new color noise filter on Lightroom).

Dante

[Doug]

The M8 has received its share of criticism, or more. Firmware has improved things. Once you settle down with the UV/IR filters (yes you need) and lens coding (yes you should), it's a great system to use, with beautiful results.

We do tend to validate our choices by convincing others of our wisdom, so suffice it to say I liked my chrome M8 so much I bought a black one too.

[chrispiper]

Interesting to see this as I've been mulling over selling my M6 and M3 for an M8. I like shooting film, but it's the developing and scanning I could do without. If I could keep my M lenses and shoot a digital body with the same form factor and style, it seems a natural. Is there much to M8 vs. M8.2? Worth much in the real world? I don't expect the M8 to be a modern DSLR equivalent (high ISO, etc), I just want a digital M. I know I'll carry it more, shoot it more and that's worth it to me. Does it seem a sensible swap?

[back alley]

would anyone buy a bnib m8 today?

or is getting a used one that has likely been back to leica once or twice a better idea?

[chrispiper]

Is it reasonable to expect to find an M8 around $2K. An M8.2?

[Jeff S]

Originally Posted by Doug

Once you settle down with the UV/IR filters (yes you need) and lens coding (yes you should)...

Not needed for lenses beyond 50 mm unless EXIF data is important.

Jeff

[Reddot9]

Buy the M9 you'll never look back. I've read in another thread in this forum that the new point and shoots or the 4/3 cameras are comparable. I have a GF 2 as well as an M9. The GF2 is a toy and the Fuji X100 is a clumsy 1 lens piece of kit with lots of software issues. NO WAY are these units comparable. Stick with a Leica M7 you have and when you can get the M9.

[Dante_Stella]

M8 --> M8.2

- Lose utilitarian and tough oxide finish for paint (-)
- Lose 1/8000 sec. (-)
- Gain slightly quieter shutter. (+)
- Gain S mode. (0)
- Gain harder LCD window (0)
- Gain larger framelines (+)

It's a mixed bag. No objective capability is added. My personal feeling was that the M8.2 was designed to throw people off the scent of the M9.

Dante

Originally Posted by chrispiper

Interesting to see this as I've been mulling over selling my M6 and M3 for an M8. I like shooting film, but it's the developing and scanning I could do without. If I could keep my M lenses and shoot a digital body with the same form factor and style, it seems a natural. Is there much to M8 vs. M8.2? Worth much in the real world? I don't expect the M8 to be a modern DSLR equivalent (high ISO, etc), I just want a digital M. I know I'll carry it more, shoot it more and that's worth it to me. Does it seem a sensible swap?

[Jeff S]

Originally Posted by chrispiper

Is it reasonable to expect to find an M8 around $2K. An M8.2?

Basic M8 around that range; a bit higher for mint. Upgraded M8.2 in mint condition can be found around $3400, give or take. And upgraded M8s, depending on whether it has one, two or three upgrades (shutter, screen and frame lines) somewhere between these amounts. Note, however, that prices can vary up to $1000 from these amounts for seemingly identical cameras...I know based on calls made last year to ultimately find a second M8.2, mint for $3400; other dealers were asking up to $4400 at the time. I only buy from reputable dealers with warranty.

FWIW, I think the frame line upgrade is the best improvement from the base M8. The 2m lines are the best I've used on any M (for my style shooting) after decades with film Ms. Leica erred IMO by not incorporating these in the M9.

Jeff

[Jubb Jubb]

I bought an M8 last year. I am waiting to see what Leica brings out this year. Rumour has it an interchangeable lens system set between the Leica X1 and M9.

I think it could be a better idea to get some Leica glass, and see what comes in terms of bodies this year...

[chrispiper]

Dante - thanks for the objective listings of pros and cons. I would suspect the .2 to be better, but I've never even seen either one so my judgement is strictly based on internet chatter. Not the soundest platform : )

Jeff - why the large disparity in cost between the two? Is it simply "newer is better"? Would an "average" M8 be expected to last say 5 years with little maintenance?

[dreilly]

I recently bought, sold and now am getting back an M8. I wrote a long description of my comparison between both cameras in the R-D1 forum, might be worth a read as the comparison is just a few weeks old. I liked the M8 very much. I probably will sell mine again as it's likely too much money for me to have locked up in one body, but if that wasn't issue, I'd sure as heck keep it. It's really a lovely camera to shoot with and I had no IQ issues with it. I liked the R-D1 for reasons not germaine to this thread, but there was and is a lot to like about the M8. Buy one used and try it, you're not likely to lose much money if you decide to pass it on afterwards.

[dreilly]

I would hope an M8 would last 5 years with little/no maintenance. I have an original Canon Rebel, Olympus E-1 and a pair of Nikon D70s at the office that have been lent out to students for years, taken to all kinds of places, treated to all kinds of indignities, and still work well.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Jeff S

Not needed for lenses beyond 50 mm unless EXIF data is important.

Jeff

Hi Jeff -- Yes, I do want EXIF info for all pics, so the lenses I use on the M8 are coded. And 50mm is as long as I shoot on the M8, a surprisingly useful combination.

[Jeff S]

Originally Posted by chrispiper

Jeff - why the large disparity in cost between the two? Is it simply "newer is better"? Would an "average" M8 be expected to last say 5 years with little maintenance?

Not just newer, but incorporates all the upgrades to the basic M8, which I enumerated...shutter, sapphire screen and frame lines (plus some other minor changes...paint, cover, etc.) Second generation products (not just cameras) tend to be more refined, with bugs worked out. The M8.2 is no exception. Note that the upgraded shutter (via upgraded M8 or M8.2) removes the 1/8000 speed; important to some, not to others, including me.

With the help of Leica service and parts, as needed, an M8 can last many years. Cameras now are essentially computers, so things can happen. But they can also be fixed. My first M8.2 is 3 years old and has been problem-free after much use.

Jeff

Edit....Note, too, that if you send a basic M8 to Leica for all 3 upgrades, it will end up costing quite a bit more than you'll likely spend on an M8.2 to start.

[Jeff S]

Originally Posted by Doug

Hi Jeff -- Yes, I do want EXIF info for all pics, so the lenses I use on the M8 are coded. And 50mm is as long as I shoot on the M8, a surprisingly useful combination.

That works for you. I was referring to your comment that the OP 'should' get lenses coded...maybe, maybe not...I was providing the basis for the decision.

Jeff