Leica M8 10.3MP Digital Rangefinder Camera with .68x Viewfinder (Silver Chrome Body Only)

by Leica

• Low-noise 10.3-megapixel CCD image sensor specifically matched to the compact lens design
• Full compatibility with nearly all M lenses means unique imaging performance
• Incorporates rangefinder system with its advantages of discreet and quiet operation, speed, and precision
• Future-guaranteed raw data format (DNG) and the raw data converter Capture One LE
• Main settings clearly structured in menus on the bright 2.5-inch display

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.5 x 3.2 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000J6FTVU
• Item model number: 10702
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 15, 2006

Product Description

Color: Silver Chrome

From the Manufacturer

The dream of many Leica photographers has come true: the Leica M system is now open for professional digital photography. Breaking completely new ground, the LEICA M8 doesn't only look like an M--it utilizes all the benefits of the analog Leica M system for sophisticated and creative digital photography. It is the only digital camera for professionals to incorporate the rangefinder system with its advantages of discreet and quiet operation, speed and precision. And the no-compromise quality criteria of the M system continue to apply to the M8. Full compatibility with nearly all M lenses means that their unique imaging performance is now available for digital photography, too. The low-noise CCD image sensor with a resolution of 10.3-megapixels has been specifically matched to the compact lens design to guarantee superlative photographic quality. The controls and functions of the digital M still concentrate on the essentials. The proven M concept is complemented by the intelligent extra functions that digital technology has to offer. The LEICA M8 is the first timeless digital camera "Made in Germany". Fascinatingly new and yet still a real Leica M.

Exceptional performance in every detail
For Leica, image quality is not only a catchword, but a value attainable by optimizing all the links in the performance chain: Leica's M high performance lenses, now performing even better in the digital system with the new 6-bit coding. The low-noise CCD sensor which is specifically matched to the extreme requirements of the high-resolution M lenses. The future-guaranteed raw data format (DNG) and the raw data converter Capture One LE, acknowledged as the best. This combination of high-quality individual components ensures maximum image quality.

Concentration on the exposure. Not on the controls
A lot of care, many years of experience and extensive knowledge about how professional photographers work have gone into the operation concept of the M8. Due to the concentration on the essentials, operation is simple and intuitive. The LEICA M8 deliberately dispenses with multifunction keys and nested menus. All the main settings are made in clearly structured menus on the bright 2.5" display. For detailed quality control "on location", RGB histogram and clipping warning can be used on even the finest details of the subject.

New creativity: Flash photography with the M8
The modern metal-blade slotted shutter enables extremely fast flash synchronization times down to 1/250 second. The new M-TTL flash technology ensures natural flash illumination through the activation of a metering pre-flash. The auto slow sync. function now allows available light exposures without camera shake in aperture priority mode combined with a natural fill-in flash.

What's in the Box:
Camera, carrying strap with anti-slip guard, camera cover for M bayonet, lithium ion battery, charger with car and three mains plug adapters (Euro, UK, USA), USB connecting lead, operating manual, software CD Capture One LE, software CD with Leica Digital Capture and operating manual; warranty card.

Product Description

The Leica M8 utilizes all the benefits of the analog Leica M system for sophisticated and creative digital photography. It incorporates the rangefinder system with its advantages of discreet and quiet operation, speed and precision into a digital camera for professionals. And the no-compromise quality criteria of the M system continue to apply to the M8. Full compatibility with nearly all M lenses means that their unique imaging performance is now available for digital photography, too. The low-noise CCD image sensor with a resolution of 10.3 megapixels has been specifically matched to the compact lens design to guarantee superior photographic quality. The controls and functions of the digital M still concentrate on the essentials while being complemented by the intelligent extra functions that digital technology has to offer.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You Get What You Pay For November 22, 2007

By Ronald Breeze

Color Name:Black

After 16 years of retail photography equipment sales I've demoed hundreds, if not thousands of cameras to purchasers. When I decided to invest in my own digital camera my criteria was to purchase a camera that was built solid, had an easy to use menu, excellent picture quality, the best optical lineup available, compact, unobtrusive and a bright simple viewfinder. Price was not going to be THE issue because I wanted to purchase a camera I would keep and not fall into the throw away world that has been created by the electronics industry.
I had read the initial reviews of the camera and the howling by Leica film traditionalist and non-users about the IR issue. For those of you not familiar with the camera Leica opted to omit the infrared blocking filter on the sensor to maintain optimal sharpness when using the superb Leitz lenses. The omission of this filter causes some black synthetic fabrics to appear maroon in color. Leica opted to give purchasers of this camera two IR cut ultraviolet filters to put on the front of the lens to solve the problem. Leicas solution also caused Leica tradionalist to complain about putting a filter on the front of the lenses and although many of them had a standard uv on their lenses already this was made an issue that went way beyond its applications.
I have been involved with film infrared photography for years and saw the potential IR capabilities of this camera as a benefit. No more loading, unloading and handling IR film in total darkness was a definite added bonus in a camera that already produced superb color and black and white images. That has proven to be true over the 8 months I've owned this camera.
A major plus for the M8 is its simple and easy to use menus. I've witnessed so many potential purchasers of digital cameras roll their eyes when I start to demonstrate the convoluted menus and seen so many photographers miss a shot because they were trying to access a feature they needed. My only suggestion for improvement would be to include the choice of image type and saturation with the working "set" menu that way you would have everything regarding exposure under one roof.
I've used Leica rangefinder cameras for years and am used to using a rangefinder in all types of photography situations, but rangefinders are not for everyone and I would highly suggest that anyone considering this camera, who has no experience with rangefinders and is presently using an SLR, to find a dealer where you can either rent the camera or return it within a time period if you are not happy with it. It is not for everyone.
I'm more than happy about my investment in this camera, have not experienced any of the complaints I've read about it, appreciate the added bonus of the IR potential and if I have any complaints it is about the shutter sound that one user likened to a nail driver gun. Leica please try to make the M8 shutter as quiet as your film cameras.
I highly recommend this camera to anyone who can afford an investment into a superb digital camera that will not be a throw away, who have a collection of Leica lenses and want to go digital and anyone interested in the simplicity and photographic involvement in using a Leica rangefinder.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Digital For Film Lovers February 28, 2007

By Fiddler415

Color Name:Black

This digital Leica is more like a traditional film camera than a digital camera. You must be totally in control of focus and exposure, change lenses rather than zoom, and THINK when you shoot. The images that result can be stunning. After 40 years of shooting with Leicas and loving every moment of it, this was an exciting break through. It is a real Leica camera that just doesn't use film. It is expensive, but some things are worth the money. This camera is worth it if you are a Leica shooter and wish to use your wonderful lenses on a ditigital camera. My lenses were purchased in 1969 as a college graduation gift and work just fine.

39 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Interchangeable Lens Digital Rangefinder Camera Carries On the Great Leica M Tradition..... October 15, 2006

By John Kwok HALL OF FAMEVINE™ VOICE

Color Name:Black

Earlier today I had the opportunity to handle and use a chrome Leica M8, using the camera to take some outdoor color digital pictures in both ambient, and less than ambient, lighting conditions. I'm not usually one to succumb to hype about a new camera, but this time it was unquestionably almost love at first sight. Leica's new M8 digital rangefinder camera carries on the great tradition of Leica M rangefinders which started back in 1954 with the venerable Leica M3, but also offers many features that will be useful to the discerning digital photographer. For those familiar with Leica M rangefinder cameras (or either the Zeiss Ikon and the late Konica Hexar rangefinder cameras), the controls remain almost exactly the same as those for recently produced Leica M film rangefinder cameras such as the M6, M6 TTL, M7 and MP. Ergonomically it most closely resembles the Leica M7, having a similar shutter speed dial, but with speeds up to 1/8000 second and flash synchronization at 1/250 second; the highest speeds I have seen for any M-mount rangefinder camera. The M8 contains a low noise Kodak-designed CCD digital imaging sensor with a maximum resolution of 10.3 MP; the 1.33 X crop factor of the digital imaging sensor means that a 50mm lens will more closely resemble a 70mm lens, or a 28mm lens will resemble a 32mm lens; in either instance, this will not be a serious issue for those familiar with digital SLRs like those from Nikon that have a 1.5 X crop factor. The camera has a somewhat generous range of ISO speeds from 160 to 2500, with ISO 160 as the default setting.

The Leica M8's technical specifications will surely please both traditional users of Leica M rangefinder cameras as well as those new to them. It offers both aperture priority automation and manual exposure modes reminiscent of the Leica M7's. In aperture priority mode, shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/8000 second; in manual mode, shutter speeds range from 4 seconds to 1/8000 second plus B for exposures of any duration longer than 4 seconds. In flash mode, flash synchronization speeds range from B to 1/250 second, and there is the option of first or second shutter curtain synchronization for creative flash photography effects. Digital images are storeable in SD cards up to 4 GB; these images can be stored under ADOBE's DNG (Camera manufacturer-independent digital negative format, which is better known as RAW format) or two different versions of JPEG compressed files. The camera back has a 2.5 inch large bright LC-Display with a resolution of 230 pixels (In actual usage, I was quite impressed with the quality of the images I had taken after viewing them on this display panel.).

I used a current 50 Summicron-M lens with the chrome Leica M8; both borrowed from Leica Camera USA's marketing director, Christian Erhardt; I was especially impressed with the excellent contrast and resolution of the digital images I had obtained (Traditional Leica M users may find amusing that the memory card is loaded, like 35mm film, by opening the base plate and inserting the card into a slot directly beneath the rangefinder window.). Speaking of the rangefinder window itself, it now has a magnification of .68 to accomodate frame lines for 24mm to 90mm lenses; I had no problem seeing through it, or reading the displayed shutter speed information, even though I wear glasses.). The only potentially major problem I see with the M8 is its relatively loud, though muted, metal shutter (It is based on the shutter currently used in the Leica R9 SLR camera); which makes a muted "thud" sound every time the shutter is pressed (Incidentally, I believe that it is noisier than the built-in motor winder which in continuous mode, offers 2 frames per second.); in stark contrast, the Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera is noticeably quieter, though not nearly as quiet as the Leica MP, and especially, the Leica M7 rangefinder cameras.

Will the Leica M8 prove to be a resounding success? I believe it should sell well to those who can afford buying an expensive, interchangeable lens digital rangefinder camera, and want the best image quality possible from a digital camera. Professional photographers, especially those working under low-light conditions in which camera shutter noise should be kept at a minimum (e. g. a theatrical performance or chamber music recital), may not find the Leica M8 a suitable professional-grade digital camera. However, I strongly suspect that the Leica M8 will have a loyal following amongst both long-time Leica aficionados and those interested in using an interchangeable M-mount lens digital rangefinder camera.