Leica M8 : Trouble In Paradise

[POINT OF VIEW]

When you buy a new M8, you receive a offer to send by post for a free copy of, LFI, ( Leica Fotografie International). The magazine is the official publication for the Company. It’s primary purpose is to promote Leica. My copy that was sent to me was the DEC. / JAN. 07 issue. The article that got my attention, was a featured story call Leica M8, infrared and other hitches. Page 26 story title LEICA M8 : TROUBLE IN PARADISE. It is a 14 page in depth detailed description of what’s wrong with the M8. Now keep in mind I just spent $5000 for this same camera. You will learn more about, INFRARED / BANDING / 8 AND 16 COLOR DEPTH, than you ever wanted to know. I have to say they took the subject straight on. There were even some apologies and confessions, but the entire time I was reading this article, I couldn’t help think why did they build this camera at this time, clearly they were not technically ready. There is a lot I can say about this camera and what I am experiencing right now. Unfortunately not good news. My problems are not even related to any problems they talk about in there article. That is for another time, if any one is interested. The best I can tell the article is not available on line. I do know you can buy it at there official LFI store on line. Try Goggling LFI. There you go.

[Nachkebia]

I received all issue of LFI 2004, 2005, 2006 and subscribed for 2007, I love it

[cnguyen]

I have an M8 myself and so far haven't been bothered with original M8 defects. once I see the pics from my M8 that's it I'm sold on it. You never really know how good your M8 is till you own one I guess. I'm enjoying my M8 and hope you'll do the same with yours.

[Sailor Ted]

Point of View- get a demo copy of Lightroom- it solves most issues and allows you to unlock this cameras amazing power (I'm playing with it right now and can't bealive how much more film like my colors are). Also take a look on Flickr- M8 images are starting to roll in and besides- you don't really want an iEye do you?

: )

EDIT: Not so sure about Lightroom- after a few more hours and images it may be more "Canon" plastic like. The jurys still in deliberation- however it's tops for light fall off at the edges on wide angle lenses and will take care of color frindge when you get your IR cut filters on those seame non-coded lenses (it allows you to do what the Leica's firmware does with coded lenses post process)

[Athena]

With this camera it often seems as if your looking at an Edsel being loaded into the hold of the Titanic!

[Topdog1]

Originally Posted by Athena

With this camera it often seems as if your looking at an Edsel being loaded into the hold of the Titanic!

Good one! What's it mean?

/Ira

[Athena]

Originally Posted by Topdog1

Good one! What's it mean?

/Ira

Well to be OBVIOUS.

A failed product loaded onto a sinking ship....

[Topdog1]

Tsk..tsk. So negative. Sometimes its easy to get caught up in ones own little community's thinking, e.g. RFF.com. I bet most potential buyers don't even know about the problems that have been bandied about here and care even less. It will all turn out just fine.

/Ira

[Gabriel M.A.]

Originally Posted by Topdog1

Tsk..tsk. So negative.

I know. There's got to be a board in Vegas having the odds that certain people will beat some horses at a given M8 thread. It's probably 2:1

[Athena]

Originally Posted by Topdog1

Tsk..tsk. So negative. Sometimes its easy to get caught up in ones own little community's thinking, e.g. RFF.com. I bet most potential buyers don't even know about the problems that have been bandied about here and care even less. It will all turn out just fine.

/Ira

Hmmm...I didn't start the thread - someone else did.

The abiding faith above, however, is interesting.

Reliance upon the "greater fool" theory perhaps.

BTW, I hear Jorge has a M8 for sale. Didn't he "petition" Leica about "fixes" just a little while before he sold this site?

[rvaubel]

Originally Posted by Athena

Well to be OBVIOUS.

A failed product loaded onto a sinking ship....

Athena, Athena

So, just what IS your opinion of the M8? I've been trying to pick up your vibes, but you are hard to read.

Rex
....grrrr

[Sailor Ted]

Originally Posted by Athena

Well to be OBVIOUS.

When are you ever anything but?

[Athena]

Originally Posted by rvaubel

Athena, Athena

So, just what IS your opinion of the M8? I've been trying to pick up your vibes, but you are hard to read.

Rex
....grrrr

You cannot drive a car that lies at the bottom of an ocean.

Think not first of the camera model; but of its producer.

Leica is too fragile to overcome a "disappointment" - it has no othe products capable of carrying the company. Certainly, the digiback is not saving the R9.

The M8 is at best an attempt to live off a legacy - but it does not advacne it, relying as it does on already obsolete technology and failing anyway to be "the best of the best" at that. In other words, it is "disappointing".

Leica will make more money off of the Digilux than the M8. The status symbol is in those small sized (debutante purse size) P&S digis made for it by others.

The only remaining question is, what will become of the glass?

[Gabriel M.A.]

Originally Posted by Athena

You cannot drive a car that lies at the bottom of an ocean.

What ever did happen to James Bond's Lotus Esprit? He sure could have driven that car at the bottom of an ocean.

[ray_g]

Originally Posted by Gabriel M.A.

What ever did happen to James Bond's Lotus Esprit? He sure could have driven that car at the bottom of an ocean.

The theft deterrent caused it to blow up when the bad guys tried to break into it.

[kbg32]

I just received my M8. I love it and will surely be using it for years to come. Th M9? Years away. Like anything technological - there is always something better on the horizon. Either you get on board, or keep waiting and waiting and waiting.....This camera is here now and I plan on taking advantage of its image possibilities now. End of story.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Originally Posted by ray_g

The theft deterrent caused it to blow up when the bad guys tried to break into it.

So you're saying...there was a "feature" that didn't prove like a good salespitch to the stockbrokers? I guess those that don't read the instructions would sue, a big uproar on the Internet (well, BBS boards, back then)...I see.

All good things must come to an end

[jlw]

Originally Posted by Sailor Ted

EDIT: Not so sure about Lightroom- after a few more hours and images it may be more "Canon" plastic like. The jurys still in deliberation- however it's tops for light fall off at the edges on wide angle lenses and will take care of color frindge when you get your IR cut filters on those seame non-coded lenses (it allows you to do what the Leica's firmware does with coded lenses post process)

The other thing about Lightroom, in my experience, is that once you start getting several hundred "shoots" and several thousand images in it, it slows 'WAY down. Even simple operations such as collapsing and uncollapsing the shoot list take a long, long time. I'm hoping Adobe has a fix in its magic hat for the release version.

[Sailor Ted]

jlw,
Too bad because it also solves the issue of- where did I put DNG file number 34567? Any chance of taking images out after a while?

More importantly I'm not sure if I like it's effects- I guess it's the film guy in me thinking I'm being a digital "cheat." Does it kill detail or is it in someway homogenizing its images? I'll figure this out on my own but what is the consciences assuming there is one.

[sunil mehta]

Originally Posted by Athena

With this camera it often seems as if your looking at an Edsel being loaded into the hold of the Titanic!

Yeah, but if you had an Edsel today you could sell it for a million bucks as opposed to that Chevy that worked real well.

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by Sailor Ted

jlw,
Too bad because it also solves the issue of- where did I put DNG file number 34567? Any chance of taking images out after a while?

About the same level of question as " which the **** shoe-box did I put that negative in?".....

[Rich Silfver]

Originally Posted by POINT OF VIEW

When you buy a new M8, you receive a offer to send by post for a free copy of, LFI, ( Leica Fotografie International). The magazine is the official publication for the Company. It’s primary purpose is to promote Leica.

LFI is not an official publication of the company.

LFI/IDC is an independent company and even though Leica many times have supported them as a publication the magazine has also from time to time published some not so flattering pieces about Leica.

[POINT OF VIEW]

I’ m sorry, so Leica does not publish the magazine. Have you ever seen any ads in LFI that were for some other camera? Every article and add is about Leica, but it’s not official Leica. Do you think the company publishes the Leica magazine with all of the Leica adds and Leica stories with NO COST to Leica. Finely, the M8 article if you would have read it, was the most unflattering stories I ever read about the camera. As a matter of fact if I had have read the article first, I would not own this camera today. Bill

[Sailor Ted]

Thank you for the BIG TYPE- I misplaced my reading glasses but have no trouble with your post- KUDOS! The color helps too no?

HIYALL (point of view) How does the Leica impede your photographic style as expressed in your Flickr account? On what level?

[Sailor Ted]

Originally Posted by POINT OF VIEW

I just open my M8 yesterday. It is definitely a engineering marvel. It ain't for every body. If you are a range finder person, you wont be able to put it down. It is a bargain considering the achievement in camera designs. Enjoy. PS - most all of the naysayers out there, can't possibly understand what Leica has achieved here, it's truly remarkable.

Is it the review or what? I've looked over your photographs (I assume you are Hiyall on Flickr) and I'm having trouble understanding your point of view on this- please explain. As you said it's not an iEye its a DRF.