Leica M8 in 2024? A forgotten GEM of a camera?
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- The Leica M8 has gathered an almost cult following over the years, but is it really a good camera to use in 2024? In this video I look at the pro's and con's of using a nearly 20 year old CCD sensor camera.
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Chapters:
0:00 - 0:30 - Intro
0:31 - 053 - Disclaimer
0:54 - 1:16 - Brief History
1:17 - 3:01 - Build Quality and Accessories
3:02 - 4:09 - Standout Features
4:10 - 4:40 - A few Sample Images
4:41 - 6:03 - CCS Sensor
6:04 - 7:17 - Sensor Usability
7:18 - 8:19 - Sensor Limitations
8:20 - 9:14 - My feelings about the camera
9:15 - 11.07 - Is it any good in 2024?
11:08 - 11:48 - Outro
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Unfortunately, you cannot rely on the Leica M8 camera. I'm not even talking about the faulty shutter, which broke after only 15,000 photos taken. I'm talking about the fact that currently almost every Leica M8 has sensor defects, in the form of lines of dead pixels. I wanted to buy a Leica M8 and I checked over a dozen of them, even those that had only a few thousand photos taken (they looked like new). They all had lines of dead pixels on the sensor. Someone will say, but these are very old cameras. I have a lot of old digital cameras, older than the Leica M8, cheap and amateurish and they all work mechanically and electronically perfectly.
Check out your Leica M8, you may be very surprised :). Just take a photo with these parameters: ISO 2500, 1/125, lens covered with a cap, take a photo and then brighten the photo in LR by 2 EV. Good luck.
Wow, thank you for the info. I have checked following your instruction and you are absolutely right, there is a weird line/artifacting in part of the sensor. I have had one or two images (one shown in my blog post) where I have had some strange results but did, as you say, put it down to the age of the camera. However, I have always been very pleased with the quality of the images in 'normal' conditions and just assumed everything was OK. This is a bit of an eye-opener and I will pin the comment for other people to read. Thanks for the info.
@@RossJukesPhotography The only comforting thing is that these lines of dead pixels are invisible at ISO160.
Got my M9 back in 2015 for a decent price used at Leica store NYC and it is still my favorite all around camera with the best color depth and sharpness of nearly any digital camera I’ve used aside from an old school 6mp digital back I used in photo school which had incredible color.
My M9 is worth more now then when I bought it! Hah Lol
Enjoy the M8, never used one but have only heard great thing about it.
Thanks for the comment, I would love to buy an M9 but a little out of my price range and doesn't look like they are coming down any time soon! Take good care of it :)
If your M8 is still working, then enjoy it for what it is. Shutter problems and sensor problems aside it does produce interesting files. BTW, I recently read a report that was compiled by examining the repair records of the M8s sent to Leica with shutter problems. The average count before failure was about 7000 actuations. Some have survived into their thousands and some gave up the ghost as early as 5000. The M9 is not all that better. There was a reason Leica had a total redesign of the M240 and up.
Thank you, that's great insight on the shutter issues. I think most people would venture into these early digital Leicas with a bit of trepidation and I will certainly be looking into the details of the M240 -though I can't imagine I will be able to afford one any time soon. Thanks again for the info.
@@RossJukesPhotography With regards to M240, this camera was touted as the best value Leica M digital by all the usual armchair officionados not so long ago. Since then the prices have begun to shoot up. I check the availability of the Typ 246 Monochrom for a possible purchase, on weekly basis in all the usual places and online reputable retailers. They have gone up about 25% in the last six months or so for sure, and what is on offer is not of high quality.
Nice one. Amazing still alive and kicking in 2024, from launch in 2006. Can think of no other digital camera with such a track record. Goes to illustrate that pixel count doesn’t really matter. Like your presentation and enthusiasm. Love my M240P but still tempted to get an M8.
Thank you for the comment and the kind words. There is definitely a lot of life still left in the M8 (as long as you find a good one!) and although I do really like the output of the Foveon sensors, this CCD sensor has such an amazing feel to it that it's very difficult to ignore! Thanks again :)
Keep away from it. There is nothing the M8 a properly working could do that the M240 couldn't. M240 is in another league to both the M8 and M9. These cameras were stepping stones for Leica to find her feet in the digital world. They have had their time, so let them rest in peace.
Exaxtly. Having and using two of them since its initiation: It os Timeless!
Well said :)
Very good. I agree: I wish that the LEICA M engeneurs have added or kept the traditional forwarding lever feature as in the LEICA DMR/R8, R9/ and the EPSON RD1. It also keeps and saves the battery energy, not to mention it keeps the classical design.
It would feel so natural to use, such a shame they never went that way but still a lovely camera!
I've had my M8 for a number of years and I would still buy it again today. Despite the few issues, i still think it's an amazing camera. I have over 16k shutter clicks and it's still going strong.
I've shot professional work with know problem and managed to print 16x20 images and the sharpness holds up just fine. I think sometimes the M8 get's a bad rap, but maybe it's not the camera but the person using it (lol) Thank you for sharing, great images. I enjoy seeing other M8 shooter who appreciates this amazing camera. Take care.
Thank you for the comment. That certainly sounds like you get the most from your camera which is great to hear. It's a fantastic camera and as i say in the video, I can't imagine I would ever sell it! Thanks again :)
There is no more issues with the 10 megapixels low resolution cameras with printing anymore with ai upscaling like lightrooms enhance ai mode or Topaz Gigapixel AI program and even more current ai uprezing , its pretty badass !
That's a great point, this is something that I have wanted to explore a bit more as it seems to be breathing new life into old, forgotten cameras! Which can only be a good thing!
Had the M9, and I adored the camera. Eventually moved it on due to shutter failed and I miss it so so much. I’ve been eyeing up the M8 as a replacement. I don’t need full frame etc and I’ve kept back the Voigtlander Nokton 35/14 which would make a perfect match. I had the same grip idea on my M9 and it was fantastic. Not intrusive and very comfortable. Contrary to opinion, the M9 was very good at 1600 iso and I used mine often in gig settings. The key is to get exposure correct. The files are not as robust for heavy editing. I have a few M9 videos uploaded btw.
Thanks for the comment. If I could afford it, I would pick an M9 up and give it a go, I'd love to know how it compares to the M8. However, I'm perfectly happy with the M8 for the time being. I will certainly be checking your videos out, thank you :)
The Leica M8 was my introduction to the Leica digital world after previously using the M2, M3 and M4 film bodies. Loved the camera and it convinced me to "splurge" on the Leica M9 (with replaced sensor) and also am M Monochrom. The 1/8000 shutter always worried me so i seldom shot beyond 1/4000 and mine escaped the dead pixel lines while in my care. Hopefully its new owner is as pleased with it as I was. BTW, the Bellroy 6L and 10L are my most used bags for Leica gear.
Thanks for the comment, love to hear you had a great experience with the M8 and so glad to find someone else with love for that Belroy sling, it ticks all the boxes! :)
Yoooowww! Same setup here! Rockin the M8 x Voigt Ultron 28mm! Superb outputs with the CCD sensor!
It's amazing isn't it, lot to be said about that lens as well, great setup :)
The Kodak KAF10500 was not designed for Voigtlander and Zeiss. Try the M8 with older optics made by Leitz, preferably Summicrons or Elmarits.
Thank you for the info, will try (when I get chance)
I still love my M8.2 despite its limitations. Made my day when getting good b&w images with my vintage 135 mm Tele-Elmar f/4 lens.
Sounds great Wilfred, I'm yet to shoot the M8 with the intention of B&W but heard good things about the images it can produce :)
@@RossJukesPhotography I typically get color on RAW and B&W on JPEG for my shots. Yes, its b&w performance is very good.
Just picked one up this week!
Fantastic, hope you're enjoying it!
Thanks for the great video. Just ordered mine today. I’m trying to find a 43mm IR cut filter - any suggestions where to get one?
That's great news, would love to know what you think of it! I can't remember where i got my filter but I would imagine eBay or MPB would be your best bet, certainly something on the used market :)
I think most folks used to modern digital cameras would be frustrated by the limitations of the M8. There are so many better cameras these days.
You're absolutely right, many, many better cameras but if you can put up with it's quirks, it can be a very rewarding camera to use!
¿Es posible actualizar el sensor de la M8, por un sensor de M11 u otro sensor?
Thanks for the question, the M8 is an APS-H sensor and I assume the M11 is full frame so I can't imagine it would work and to be honest, the M11 body would be a much better and more advance body anyway :)
The crop factor was a bit of a killer for me. Also the rear screen was mottling and it just felt like the camera could fail on me at any point.
Both valid points Chris. I would love to try the full frame M9 but a bit too scared of the issues that particular camera has. I certainly agree that you live in fear of the camera just breaking one day! I've not heard about mottling issues with the screen before (new fear unlocked!) but it's a pretty bad screen to start of with so I don't tend to use it anyway! Thanks for the comment :)
Think they call it coffee stains… and leica has no more replacements
@@Jdmeco Oh, thanks for the info!
A 10MP CCD is exactly what people get excited about these days haha.
Ha, yeah actually that is true, got to love those nostalgic vibes! :)
It’s been a while!
Ha, thank @Nayson it has, I hope you're good :)
Would you buy an M8 in 2024?
I wish had never sold mine. It’s definitely one of the best cameras I’ve ever used, and I’ve never been able to replicate the look it has; even with other CCD cameras.
I’d totally buy one again if the prices ever came back down haha. Several years ago it was pretty reasonably priced for its age. I don’t think it really hit its cult status until a few years ago; at least the prices started climbing across the board.
Got mine originally for $800. Now you’d be lucky to find a busted up one under $2000, and they’re just getting older and more prone to mechanical failure.
@@TheJ_G Yeah it's a real shame that the prices go that way but you've hit the nail on the head, the more scarce they get, they're only gonna go up in price!
Oh yes, man, big time and the GERMAN BRILLIANT ENGENERING, like a solid GROSSE GRANITE Stone.
Ha, love the enthusiasm! It's a great camera :)
I have one. I’ll never sell it
Glad to hear it :)
M8 sensors don't have the corrosion problems that the M9/ME have. The M8 common failures as I understand it is shutter and screen, none of which can be repaired anymore, at least not by Leica. 😂😂😂😂
That's all true of a lot of older cameras as well though :)
@@RossJukesPhotography they are 35mm cameras designed not to fail work in any conditions these cameras go against the manifesto ✌️👍❤️
What do you mean: GEM?
Precious, like a diamond :)
no it was crap.
Each to their own :)
I liked not because I agree but, because the comment was funny as hell
@fredericc9676 🤔🤫🤡