Leica M8 Hands-on

[nichotom]

The M8 will be redundant in a few years because it doesn't have a full frame sensor. Leica made no advance in the 7 years since the Epson RD-1. The M3 (50 years old) is still a better camera than this because it is full frame, it is smaller, and it is cheaper.

[Ishcoa]

A digital Leica just isn't the same...

[optoform]

I agree with you.The M8 should be thinner. The thing is, instead of the film rolls, the digital M8 has additional stack of shutter+CCD chip+back illuminated LCD. They could have easily brought the shutter closer but it might be because of the light meter that reads off of the shutter blade. The M8 is almost 1/4" thicker than M3 body.

[dvamateur]

I think the newer camera should be smaller than the older one. It's suprising to me that the film M6 camera is actually smaller than the M8. Why? The M8 doesn't require space for film rolls....

[chowmonkey2002]

Well it seems there is a M9 being launched soon.. Fullframe??

[zippy045805]

I had a Leica M3. At the time (1977) it was 35 years old, and working perfectly. It is probably still working perfectly for whoever owns it now.

The M8 takes beautiful photos, superbly constructed. The sad part is that digital photography is evolving so rapidly that the M8 will be redundant in a few years.

The M3 was expensive, but a good investment because it has a long life. The M8 is even more expensive, but will be more of less useless in a few years.

Just an observation, not a judgment.

[ElTiBo44]

@zippy045805

I don't mean this as criticism of your statement but f it takes "beautiful photos, superbly constructed" now why will it be "useless" in a few years? Unless the camera itself stops working it will still produce the same files. I used an M4-P and a M4-2 for years and loved them. For practical purposes I went with a Canon 5D when I went digital. That Camera is now 5 years old and sure it would be nice to have the latest & greatest, but it's certainly far from useless

[zippy045805]

@ElTiBo44 why will it be "more or less useless" in a few years? All I meant to say is in my full comment. It will become redundant due to the progress in digital technology. The body that is, not the lenses.

Your comments about your M4 is also consistent with my comments about the M3 that I used to own still working wonderfully after 35 years.

[dstate1]

@zippy045805

What does redundant mean in this context?  It will still take beautiful photos so who cares? The M3 was redundant in the 1960's if you are going by feature sets. It still takes beautiful pictures...just like the M8

[zippy045805]

@dstate1 The M3 wasn't redundant in the 1960s in the sense that I mean, because 35 format film remained as the leading small format film. I might be wrong, but electronics always fail after a few years. Look at prestige watches from the 1970s. Mechanical watches still work, but the then novel LED watches are all useless cases now. Now, Leica may offer a back to factory replacement service which wil overcome this inherent problem. I hope they do!

[TutorialThis]

i heard these are the most expensive cameras in the world

[Draftgon]

About the AC-Adapter - Whats that supposed to mean, "At least it plugs directly into the wall and doesn't need a seperate cable".

Actually I prefer a cabel plugged from the AC-adapter into the power plug. I mean, imagine you have a multiple plug.. THAT AC-Adapter wont allow you to put other plugs next to it..

[chowmonkey2002]

I wonder if Leica is happy now Olympus started with the Pen series cams..

[chmoss]

Not competition for the M8. No optical viewfinder, smaller sensor, slower, but about 1/10 the price :-)

[sharpanator]

the pen series are mainstream cameras, it go for 600 dollar, the Leica is 4000 Dollar.

[chowmonkey2002]

That is without a good lens. Although I like Leica is it worth the price difference??

[sharpanator]

i dont know but the feeling of the case is great, you wanna just touch it all the time, but yes it is way to expensive for me but if i would be a rich doctor i would definately buy one, there are much more useless things on this world with a greater price. The Leica is just mechanical quality like a mechanical watch, with a Honda Civic you will also arrive your destination but it is more fun in a Porsche. But the pen series i like alot and i will sell canon 450 and buy pen series olympus.

[chowmonkey2002]

Agree 100% and there will be a Leica rangefinder some day. I await the rumored M9 which should come with a fullframe sensor.

[zippy045805]

The M8 is a rangefinder camera

[chowmonkey2002]

Pen does a lot better on high iso ;)

[elcaballodebayside]

Leica is just the name ,canon or nikon are just as good or better

[santosh30]

U r right, canon or nikon has lots of function and are very advanced, but they get errors and u have to change them in few years time. The leica lasts for a lifetime, its only for people with passion of true photography as everything in the camera is manual, and it does not have any auto setting. U take a photograph today from a leica and years latter u stand in front of that photograph and hold the leica then u will know wat a leica really is as it will work like the day u bought it.

[oneleggedstanley]

Never once had an error on my DSLR. DSLR is in it's infancy, you'd be crazy to compare it's life term to something thats been around for ever. Not a very good argument. Also Leica cameras will break down or need to be repaired sometime just like every other mechanical device. IMO it's way to much about what gear you have instead of what your shots look like (which is in the eye of the onlooker like any other art).

[solicitrock]

i want this sooooooo bad

but i dont have the money

[lsmith1981]

U can always get the Poor mans Leica. The Panasonic Lumix Series..Its basically the Same thing, just different Button Placements..

[sharpanator]

you are absolutely wrong dude but i guess are not firm with it. The Panasonic Lumix Series series are from Panasonic and the Leica mainstream series you talked about are also panasonic :) THe model in the Video is the M Series Leica, its made by hand in germany and costs 4000-5000 dollar. So the smaller Leicas are actually Panasonics :)

[lsmith1981]

Thats true..lol the M82 is my Dream camera....

[zeo99]

yes u r absolutely rite....

that's y i bought a lumix LX3 : )

i love leica

[sharpanator]

? cause u love Panasonic?

[Q124R]

or the Epson R-D1/R-D1s. It's cheaper than this at least.

[ibimw]

Have you seen the Nikon D3X?

[shane6003PQ]

Compare first the size of a Leica, and a professional SLR with excellent lenses for both. Leicas are used in quiet and low light settings, and fit in small places versus a larger SLR. Photo journalists, are usually in need of one, and plenty of other professions like to use them as well. I don't have the money for one yet (I'll buy used stuff eventually), but friends have been using them for years and they love everything about the M system.

[albaraki]

Do you want to tell me that Leica with it's 8k$ price can take pictures better than Canon with good lens?

I've seen many Leica pictures, they're not more special than Canon's or Nikon's, but i believe it gains it's uniqueness is that not everyone can buy Leica, something like Rolex.

[yfjameslo]

Well what I want to say is that Leica gives more quality if you have the technique.

[albaraki]

To be honest, I liked the Leica M8 ... It looks unique and of course not everyone has one.....

I really wish to buy one ... but when I become ready to spend 16k$ in a camera and lens, I'll be so old and concerned about my health .. :P

[yfjameslo]

Same man, that's why I'm having a rather healthy diet right now to wait for that day :) jks sorry for over-reacting a bit.

[albaraki]

That's good one. Loool

[albaraki]

Y this camera costs around 6000$?? where it's a 10MP camera and you can buy 5 Nikon or Canon DSLR with the same value? any aditional feature? i really need to know.

Thanks.

[yfjameslo]

There is one thing SO important that you do not undersand.Why are we buying a camera? For taking photos. The specifications are bonus. What we want is something that gives the greatest quality. Leica succeeds in doing so.What does 24.5 Megapixels give you? Just a larger file size and nothing more if you DON'T HAVE A GOOD LENS. What does 10 Megapixels with a Leica lens give you? Great dynamics, colours and the rest. It gives you all the quality and the rest is up to your technique.

[dragonz46]

@yfjameslo It also gives you one heck of a credit card bill! hahah

[parrotfishko]

I see legacy in leica camera, that's why im amaze and like this camera.

[PhotoPhoenix]

gross. i think i'll stick with the film versions, thanks.

[sohndi]

lovely!!!

I thought it was impossible making M-System to Digital...

but still my best are analog Leica M3

Do anyone knows were to buy good condition Leica M3 on cheapest price?

[sohndi]

digital technology keeps changing...

few years later all the digital camera we are using now... will be useless!

[hormonbehandlung]

Thanks for the video. Really cool cameara. Most troll posters probably dont even know what a rangefinder camera is.

[Threeload]

Weird! Leica people are one of a kind, seems the objective of taking a good photo comes a poor second to offering much dollars and prayers for their beloved antiquated mechanical machines! Whatever happened to that digital mongrel the R9? Nikon and Canon sales trampled all over it!

[basslinegenerator]

dont close the left eye !!

[deargeorge]

IMO the main problem with M8 is the cropped censor that "distorts" the focal length of lenses,especially the wide angle ones that are mostly used with Leica M series cameras.The new 16/18/21mm lens,obviously introduced to make good this "fault",is

very slow for a Leica M at f/4.Let's hope M9 will have a full frame censor.

[humaner]

This Camera has a lot of problems ans is expensive ...evry Japanese high end digital beats this..Give up your weird old Leica love its over with Last Tango in Paris

[grubriella]

the reason people stick with leica's is because of the lens. And the rangefinder design produces minimal shake. These two factors produce some incredibly sharp images. The summicron is a fantastic lens.

I would use this, since I shoot 90% B&W and the high sensitivity is not an issue. But the loud shutter does bug me. Currently using the M6, which I carry everywhere.

[hmausolf]

It's not only the lenses' quality. If you pick up an M-Leica, it changes your approach to photography. It's different than taking pictures with an SLR or a compact. Neither is superior, but some people, like me, take different and maybe better pictures with a rangefinder camera. Also, most people don't take much notice of you, if they are not into photography and know what you're using. They just don't expect you to take serious pictures with a camera that doesn't look like a professional SLR.

[BBnose]

I hope leica can put more different kind of memory card slot to M8, as lease they have to add a CF card slot. And it looks much bigger than the M6.

[BBnose]

I hope leica can put more different kind of memory card slot to M8, as lease they have to add a CF card slot. And it looks much bigger than the M6.

[lanceand]

Nice camera. Shame about the charger.

[funnyanimals]

Nice review! I've featured you at YouTubeReviews com

[mentalidub]

my father have a Leica M6.. beautiful cameras, 100% pure german engineering