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

by Leica

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: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,707 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 15, 2006

Product Description

Color: Silver Chrome

Manufacturer Description

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Ronald Breeze "F8NBThere" (Rohnert Park, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leica M8 10.3MP Digital Rangefinder Camera with .68x Viewfinder (Black Body Only) (Electronics)

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 (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leica M8 10.3MP Digital Rangefinder Camera with .68x Viewfinder (Black Body Only) (Electronics)

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.

37 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No such thing as perfection in the digital age?, July 25, 2007

By 

Gordon Yonehara ""new to digital"" (OC, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leica M8 10.3MP Digital Rangefinder Camera with .68x Viewfinder (Black Body Only) (Electronics)

I commend Leica for developing the M8 for the enjoyment of the small but loyal rangefinder community. The only thing I will say about SLR vs rangefinder is that what the rangefinder can do what it does exceptionally well. But the photographic community has recognized SLR's are far more flexible and I suspect every M8 owner has an SLR for what the rangefinder doesn't do.

Why only 3 stars? In general, the design has not addressed M issues of the past. Battery and memory card access from a non-hinged baseplate is silly. Multiple frameline display is a poor compromise. I would have liked to have seen a "zoom" finder buit into the body. Ths would allow projection of a dedicated frame line of consistant size regardless of the lens focal length. I would keep the frame line preview option though. A light booster or LED for the frame line for low light situations is also not present.

New issues. The shutter, motor advance noise, and trigger release are crude when compared to the quiet silky feel of the M2. Not providing a cover for the LCD is a great oversight. The option to use AA or other standard size battery is frustrating. While I have not come across a need for the IR-UV cut filters, promised but not yet rec'd, I'm frustrated sizes for out of production lenses are not offerred. The same comment applies to bit coding (although I'm not sure how important this is). On the one hand the marketing pitch is to the loyal Leica user, but on the service and support side we are only interested in customers that buy the current products.

Having said all of that, the feel and size are great. As with all of the Leica rangefinders it is an unsurpassed street shooter.

The build quality is of course superb, at obvious cost. I fear that in the rapidly developing digital age (non standard memory formats, detector formats, batteries) investment in the M8 may not yield the long term payback enjoyed by the prewar and M Leicas of the past. Hopefully the M8 has been designed for the ease of future upgrades and modifications. If not, perhaps a lower cost (lower quality) digital body M would have been a better option for the consumer.

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