M8 still worth it in 2018?

G

glmm2001

Newbie
Local time
2:16 PM
Joined
Jun 14, 2018
Messages
4
After years of using bulky DSLR cameras (my current camera is a EOS 7D MkII with all bells and whistles and before that several mid range Canon DSLRs) and giving a try to a film Leica, I was thinking of moving into a digital M Leica. After a few weeks checking the online market, I have found several M8s in the 1300/1400€ bracket, including units sold by official European Leica dealers, with the M9 starting from 1900€ but usually in the 2000 plus bracket.

Of course, the camera is old and the newer units will be some 10 years old. M9s could be problematic due to sensor issues and those with certified replaced sensors are even more expensive. As an amateur, I don’t feel confortable shelling lots of money having already a nice, if bulky, camera as I would use the Leica only for the pleasure of it and a little street photography.

So, question is, is a M8/M8.2/M8u still worth a thousand euros in late 2018?

Thanks for your insights!
 
I think it's still worth it. The M8 seems to have levelled off in terms of depreciation. I'm tempted to pick one up as a "ghetto monochrome" as they keep popping up around 1000USD locally
 
glmm2001 said:
So, question is, is a M8/M8.2/M8u still worth a thousand euros in late 2018?
Click to expand...
The M8 is a twelve year old, 10MP, crop-sensor, rangefinder camera. Only you can decide if it is worth €1000 to you, or whether there are better alternatives. Have you used one? That would be a good place to start. And don't forget, you are going to need a lens (and the required UV/IR cut filters). Lenses are often more expensive than the body.
 
Mine still is in pristine condition with approx. 5,000 shutter clicks, I paid $1750 for it 5 years ago, and cropped or not, the files and the user experience with all its faults, are amazing.

However... there is always this feeling that if it fails, is gone. I saw a video of a guy with a faulty M8, he said there was a big orange cast in the middle of all his files, he sent it to Leica and the repair estimate was 2,000 Pounds, obviously, he said no and now he has a dead body in his house.

I would jump in only if the camera comes from a reputable dealer. You never know.
 
glmm2001 said:
M8 still worth it in 2018?
Click to expand...
10+ year old 10mp cropped sensor that needs IR-Cut filters? You're even restricted as to the size and type of SD cards you can use. No thanks!

I watched both videos presented herein above (watched the positive one first) and I'm still not convinced otherwise. If you want to shoot with a rangefinder and can't minimally afford an M9 (w/ replaced sensor), I'd stick with a Leica film camera.
 
Worst case scenario it completely fails on you and you'll sell it for parts. There are third party IR cut filters. B&W made filters especially for the M8. I picked up mine for $10. Or skip those and shoot black & white. Great camera.
 
What sort of camera are you hoping to buy, should you acquire a properly functioning M8?.

Technology has moved on quite a bit since the M8 was a serious contender. IMHO a Fuji xpro1 or (better yet) xpro2 outclasses a Leica M8 in all ways and at a lower price (even new).
 
A fuji XE3 new runs $900 us, the amazing XF18/2 will be less than half the cost of a Leica lens. Modern technology, fantastic low light performance, even lighter. Is the red dot that important?
 
The only thing I didn't like about my M8.2 was that I couldn't manually enter the lens data. And I didn't have coded lenses. With my M9, I can just enter the lens data, no need to send them anywhere for coding. If the firmware could be updated to allow manual coding, I'd want my M8.2 back again! But I've never heard that Leica intended to do that upgrade. I can live with the crop factor, and I still have all the filters.
 
glmm2001 said:
After years of using bulky DSLR cameras (my current camera is a EOS 7D MkII with all bells and whistles and before that several mid range Canon DSLRs) and giving a try to a film Leica, I was thinking of moving into a digital M Leica. After a few weeks checking the online market, I have found several M8s in the 1300/1400€ bracket, including units sold by official European Leica dealers, with the M9 starting from 1900€ but usually in the 2000 plus bracket.

Of course, the camera is old and the newer units will be some 10 years old. M9s could be problematic due to sensor issues and those with certified replaced sensors are even more expensive. As an amateur, I don’t feel confortable shelling lots of money having already a nice, if bulky, camera as I would use the Leica only for the pleasure of it and a little street photography.

So, question is, is a M8/M8.2/M8u still worth a thousand euros in late 2018?

Thanks for your insights!
Click to expand...

For me it would be a non-starter. For that money I'd be looking at a new camera.
 
ptpdprinter said:
He already has a new camera - the Canon EOS 7D MkII.
Click to expand...

Yes, I read that right there in his first sentence. :)

If the OP wants a new camera that is less bulky and as he says "for the pleasure of it and a little street photography" I would personally steer clear of an M8 and spend the money on something like a new Fuji rangefinder, which for about $1K offers the less bulky part, and maybe the pleasure part too. But that's just me.
 
How good are your eyes? With me this is the main constraining factor with the M8. I have one but do not use it as much as I would like as the viewfinder is not up to providing really good quick focusing in my case at least (even with a magnifier / diopter). Obviously if you like wide lenses (with their deeper depth of field) the finder issue is less of an issue.

But as some others point out the camera can produce very nice images if you hit focus. Though here too, image quality, there are limits - the older CCD sensor is less sensitive than CMOS sensors so paradoxically the M8 is less capable in the field that film Leica Ms were originally renowned for - available light photography.

If I hit the lottery I could be tempted to buy an M10 as I love the concept of digital M cameras (which has a much better finder and a more capable sensor) but failing that I for one would have to reject an M8 if I had to consider buying one now. Regretfully! For now my M8 is like the family cat. I nurse it and stroke it as I sit by the fireside. :)
 
I have the opposite experience. With an SLR/DSLR, it can be a bit difficult to nail the exact point of focus (more so with some cameras and lenses than others). But with a rangefinder Leica, whether film or digital, the image is either in coincidence, or it isn't. And I can tell when it is lined up, whether my vision is precisely corrected, or not.
 
I had M8 in 2017. In addition to M-E. It was no significant difference.
The only drawback is as usual, the crop. But the benefit of M8 as low cost digital M is lowest in cost lenses. Industar-69 28 2.8 is $10 lens. And it works perfectly on M8. I liked how Jupiter-12 rendered on it as well. I used cheap 40.5 IR cut filter on J-12 and it worked. They are also selling same IT cut glass and glass for very low price. It is possible to get them on Industar-69.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top