The 1000 euro I paid for my old M8 is the best investment of my life. 3 years later it continues working and it give me photos that gonna last forever. . Is not eternal, neither us. Sorry for the lost.
Your M8 would easily sell as a parts camera as-is on eBay for around $900. You can find a good used working M8 for less than $1500. If you got a solid 8 years trouble free from a digital camera, you got more than your investment back. The M8 is pretty long in the tooth right now for a 10mp digital camera. If you really liked the M8 and want to continue using it, sell your bad one and get a used one and you'll be in it for only $500-600. I have an M8 that I bought used for $1200 and I really enjoy using it. When it dies I'll just buy another used one.
Oh man, that's too bad. Sorry to hear this. I mostly shoot film - M3 and M6, but I do have an M262. I wonder how long it will last. Anyway, sorry for your loss Eduardo, and thanks for the video. Always good stuff, man.
I guess you can look at it another way.. You had the camera 8 years and lets say you paid $2000 for it, probably less.. That is $250 per year. Film on the other hand would be $5-10 per roll and $10-15 for developing and scanning. That is about $20 give or take for each roll, or 13 rolls of film for an average person per year.. So even a M8 that you used for 8 years was cheeper to use than a film equivalent. You just got hit with the real photo cost all at once.. and 6 months ago it would have been free. Remember all those weddings you were shooting an average of 22 rolls of film each time you did it, so you actually saved big bucks over 8 years using the M8..... more than enough to repair the M8 and still be on the profit side....
The M8 got me into Leica. It showed me that there was a different path from SLR`s and I loved the size. It really changed my perspective. I am glad its part of the gear journey for me.
There used to be a guy in Massachusetts that repaired and did CLA on film Leicas named Youxin Ye. If he’s still in the game, he was very reasonable on price and did great work. I dunked an M4-P in a river in Ethiopia some years ago and lost all my slow shutter speeds. He sorted it out and the camera worked like new.
It was your channel and early videos that got me really interested in leica and film photography in general... way back then im glad i invested in an old m2 and didnt end up with a digital leica... all that said i love my olympus trip 35 that i found for £5. Still enjoying your videos a few years later man.
It is understandable why it isn't recommended as it is an old camera. I recently wrote an article about the 5D on 35mmc and I touched upon this as well as it is also an ageing camera. But I would say that if it is good camera in the long run and it does die, it might be good enough just to buy another one as it'll be cheaper to do that compared to fixing it. But you run the risk of that camera's ultimate longevity. Also 4:52 Shots fired.
"The leica M3 It will outlive me" - very interesting quote...i use my great grandfather's leica III today and this sort of heritage is just a magical joy ...
Hey, I just found your video this morning. So many things to say, but I mourn your loss. I love your style, I subscribed. New topic: I am a professor at Carnegie Mellon and I noticed you are getting a Phd in theater? I really want to know more. All my best.
Ok, so the sensor is really old - would it be the same sensor if they replaced it, that makes the weird purple hue without the filter? It may be just the supply of such an old sensor if so?
For the price of the repair you could buy 2 used m8s on ebay which would make it worth it to me still IMO heh. Anyways, speaking of M3, do you know a good place to CLA one in the US? Thanks!
Sorry about the leica failing on you. But here is another perspective, you paid £500 for just a CLA. And that is what leica will do to the current camera, they will replace the sensor and send you a basically new camera. It will also have a warranty, I think for two years again. So you are, In a way, buying a new leica with warranty for $2000. In my view, is not a bad deal, with the thought that this repaired one will last you another decade or more. Cheers!
One thing i was wondering is whether the M8/M9 is the last digital camera that uses a optical range finder? since i really enjoy using optical view finders as looking at the digital screens on the back of non-slr/dslr is a pain. I was looking into the M8 since it has a optical view finder but is there a newer non-dslr that has that - which would be a better option to get? great video btw
Thank you for the update about your experience with the Leica M8, I really appreciate your honesty and sry for your camera failure. It is definetely a lot of money, but actually I find it really cool that it is still possible to repair it, especially in a time of always buying new and throwing away "not repairable" stuff too easily. I dont know about any other camera brand offering such a service for their older models and by the way, I strongly doubt that the electronics of an Xpan can be repaired when failing and if, I assume the costs might be much higher :)! Best regards, wish you good light and merry xmas
Appreciate the info. As a happy M2 owner I've considered adding the M8/M9/M10 over the years as a digital counterpart but have also been wary of sensor repairs so this is some good cautionary advice to consider going forward. The thing that alway kills me with buying anything digital is the rapid depreciation and disposable nature that digital gear brings(maybe the exception to this is Leica?). For me, if I need to own digital gear I stick to buying previous model gear. Many times even after a couple years a gently used camera can be found for half the retail price. Peace!
Just curious, what's the shutter count? Just bought one for 1300 USD with a 2k shutter count... I hesitated for soooo long exactly for this reason, the film ones are worth the price, but as soon as electronics come, I don't think they're worth the price anymore Saludos Eduardo!!
If you like shooting on film, why don't you like Fuji colors? Aren't them film color profiles? With a Fuji x-pro 2 you can have a near Leica experience for a quarter of the price (I have used both). I'd like to know your opinion about this questions! :) Anyway I like your photos and your videos!
Here's my honest opinion: I don't like the Fuji colors because they don't look like film... they look like a digital Sony with fake film profiles on top. I specially don't like how they render skin tones. I have had two Fujis and was never able to like the colors, even after editing. Fujis are focused by split image or digital zone zoom. Leicas are rangefinders. I have used both and they have used both the Fuji X-Pro2 and several Leicas and they have nothing in common in the way the focus or operate.
Out of interest, how much would you have spent on film and associated developing costs (I know you do this at home) after 8 years? Not trolling...just interested. My Leica M240 had a shutter issue and was replaced for free by Leica even though it was bought used so they're not all bad.
Do you have any advice of where to search for and buy film cameras in the U.S. besides keh, Craigslist or eBay? I’m looking for a Bessa R2M, X-Pan or TX-1 and have no luck finding any inside of the country.
I’m pretty impressed by your honesty. I have to agree with you 100%. Digital has it’s own benefits but the electronic elements are difficult to replace at a lower cost. I rather invest in more durable equipment. Thanks for sharing.
Comparing digital to analog photography is like comparing apples and oranges. So it does not make a point. Sure, M8 will not last forever, but which other digital camera will? The fact that the sensor on this camera died does not mean that this will happen to each M8. The same thing can happen to M9 or M10. M8 is the cheapest digital leica and still a pretty good camera. And I dont think that the sensor failure in your case should be extrapolated to all of them.
Also: as you stated, it was your first video, and I imagine your Leica video’s in part make the strongest earners on your channel. In a way it paid its self back no doubt :)
I wish you would have told me!! I just sold my M8 with 10248 shutter count! I really wish you would have posted this earlier. My camera sold last week.
3 years ago when i can only dream about having leica, i’ve always watching your videos about M8 including this. Last month i finally can afford to buy M240. A week later, i got some straight line on the photo result. I contacted the store that sell the camera, and they were so kind to let me send em back and they change with another unit. Couple days later, my another M240 has arrived. So happy that i finally can shot without an issue. Buttttttttt 5 days after that, its appear in my second unit! Dangggg i couldnt believe that. Two cameras, have the same issue and no one on youtube that talked about it. I contacted Leica via email and they still suggesting me to send my camera to Singapore (nearest Leica HQ in SE Asia) and it costs about $500 exclude shipping of course. Anddd i dig to some forums on the internet, found that another cases like mine, have send camera to service but the straight line still appear couple days later. So i contacted again the store to get my money back. You know, after all these things, i started to considering NOT to buy a digital Leica. There’s no secure point that we can have as a customer with price that high. Thx Ed
I bought a secondhand M8.2 last year and have really enjoyed it. I wanted a digital rangefinder and it was available at a great price. I bought a well-used brassed-up specimen partly with the suspicion that if it was going to die from overuse then it probably would've died already. But when my M8.2 dies I won't be buying a new Leica, and if I buy a used one it'll be an M9 with a previously replaced sensor. Leica's out-of-warranty repair costs are definitely a point against them. The shame of it is that some sensor failures probably are fixable with factory recalibration routines and firmware tweaks to compensate. If Leica would simply release the routines and the firmware for their older, unsupported cameras then their users could turn this into a point in their favor. The usual arguments of lost profits don't seem to apply in this case - their current models really do offer substantial improvements to attract new buyers, and the "long tail" of used Leica ownership has been a huge marketing advantage for the company for many decades now.
Hi where did you purchase your Leica M8? I am currently looking to purchase a M8 right now, but it is difficult to find a good one, I mean of course it is a risk purchase, but would be good to pick upu a nice one, Thank you @bcostin
I like how you reason, man. I also went to your website...love how you shoot. It is obvious you care about humanity. Subscribed. But...the word "amortization" may apply in this case. One must expect repairs after 8 years use. In your case...this works out to $250 per year or $21 a month. I think you would repair your dog or family member for this cost;-)
This year My M8 also had a problem with the sensor and the shutter. In Leica Japan it cost 200,000 yen for repairing both sensor and shutter. And I decided to send for repair, because it was 3 months since I bought it! From this experience also I don't recommend to buy old Digital Leica in second hand.
i found this on an M8 forum : f your M8 has a red line, before sending for repair or doing anything else, try this. My M8 had the red line problem and searching online I found this: (1) Set the camera to B and remove the lens. (2) Point the camera to a bright light source and carry out three 30 second exposures with the exposed sensor pointing towards the light. This sorted my camera out and there are no red lines or stuck pixels. I don't know how it works but to me at least it was successful in curing my red line problem. If it works then it's an easy fix if not well nothing lost in trying it.
So much for leica build quality. The M9 has ccd too no? Wouldnt recommend an M9 either.. Also, I thought it was just me, I dont like fuji colors straight out of camera either!
Hmmm, recently I spend more than 1k on repairing one of my Zeiss lenses (after dropping it). Similar situation, old lens, only Zeiss HQ is still repairing it. I truly feel that this decision was right. Money is just money... I can work harder to make it more if needed, but keeping "old friend" in perfect condition again have more value for me. So personally I would repair this M8 for 2k in a heartbeat, 8 years is a lot of time.
Really makes you think: If a company were to take the guts of an A7, add a rangefinder up top and give it an M mount, wouldn't that be a repairable, reliable and entirely adequate replacement for those photogs that want both a digital sensor and the rangefinder experience?
Not really. Any camera with a sensor will eventually die, and any sensor will eventually be obsolete and no longer manufactured. I'd bet that around 6 years from now original A7's will be more expensive to repair than to buy a new one. Of course if it didn't have a Leica price tag it might not hurt as much.
I think you under estimated the price to make a reliable rangefinder from scratch, there are 4 levers to adjust the alignment alone, including infinity alignemnt, minimum focus alignement, mid range and ratio alignment. It's a HUGGE pain in the ass to say the least, especially you're expecting users to use a Noctilux on it, even 0.2 mm of drift will cause significant focus shift. Don't ask me how I know lol, 5 noctilux through my hands including two new ones, none of them fits perfect on any of my rangefinders (m3, mp, m10), there will always be a little drift in different ranges.
Some two years ago my son’s GoPro Hero 4 Silver broke and I send it for repair believing it was going to be $65 and it ended up being $130! I committed to the repair but I had a long issue with cognitive dissonance for not having bought the Hero 5 Black model. The camera returned fine. It’s a pleasure to use. I went in and bought a used Hero 4 Black to complement my Hero 3 White. Then the prices of both the Hero 5 and 6 Black cameras dropped sharply to the point that the used 4 Black came close to 50% of the value of a Hero 5 Black. So that’s it! Grass seems greener on the other side of the fence, I am glad Leica made it hard for you to repair the digital M8. And I’m also glad that you have overhauled your M3! Perhaps you can revisit your overhauled M3 with another video like this one! Cheers from Costa Rica!
Hey love the channel! Funny thing I actually just got an M8 the day before this vid came up. Oh well, knock on wood.😂 we’ll see how it goes, being it’s my first Leica ever I’m excited to see what I can create with it. Thanks for all the advice ✌🏼
Hola una pregunta eh visto muchos videos tuyos y me encantan sobre todo por que tienen subtítulos y todo eso estudié fotografía publicitaria y tengo un canon 7D y ahora estoy en análogo con una Canon at1 la pregunta es que os es necesario tener una cámara digital para trabajar en bodas o lo que sea ya no disparo en digital y estoy enamorado de disparar análogo y amo el blanco y negro
I remember maybe a year ago I thought I wanted an M8. I'm really glad I own an M2 now. I love Leica but I think I would get a digital camera from another company.
Digital cameras are disposable, sadly. I would love to own a M10 but in 8 years that camera will be too old and not worth repairing. My M2 is 60 years old, works amazing and can be repaired for a few hundred dollars.
So it worked for 8 years. Sounds like a good camera. I buy cameras and expect 2 years of working. Every day more is good, but I don't calc with it. So I'm not that much disappointed if a camera broke.
This is my thought on digital cameras.Sensors are always going to get better and better. The only time I would spend 3-4 grand on a Leica is if its mechanical and will never be truly obsolete.
If you still can buy film in 20 Years :-). But you are right in case of durability, i own several cameras and lenses which were more than 30 Years old. Some need sometimes services, but thanks to YT i could repair at least some of them by myself. For me the sensor isn't a problem at all. I was happy with my Olympus OMD M10 till the last day - a friend of mine broke it :-). And i am absolutely happy with my Leica M-E. I don't need higher resolution every 12 months or so. I just need a camera that lasts and - in case of a problem - a company which could repair it for a reasonable price.
@@ragegage1221 what do you mean sensors are getting better and better? In the last few years or so I can't recall any major updates that make a huge difference when it comes to image quality
I think it depends on when and how much you bought the camera for. If you bought it brand new, used it for 8 years and it broke, $2400 is a lot but it is still a affordable price to fix the camera. But if you bought it for $2000 nowadays, of course no one would spend that much to fix it.
This is one of the reasons it is SO difficult to justify Leica in the digital age. It is a universal truth that all solid state electronics will eventually die and not be repairable in a cost effective manner.
@EduardoPavezGoye Please clarify - When it comes to film shooting, how does it matter whether it is Leica or Canon or Nikon. End of the day, its the stock and quality of it, which matters. (ofcourse, differences are in features like ease of use, silent shutter, small body) How does the Leica body or Canon or Nikon body matter, when it comes to film?? It thought these brands only matter, when it comes to digital - with so called "Color Science". Please clarify this to me. Thank you!
@@SriramNatarajan25 the body does not affect the pictures. the only two factors that have an effect over the final image are the quality of the lens and the film you are using.
Thanks for the input man! I was going to buy M8 until I saw this vid! But really you probably used the good part of it for owning it for 8 yrs! I’ll stick with my trusty M6 and M2
its good that Leica is able to repair, but as far as digital bodies go, there are som many options out there at $2K like you said, this just proves that digital does not last forever and we all have to wrap our heads around that when we buy into digital bodies. That said, sensors now would be more reliable than what was in the M8, right? The one leica body I love is the LEICA M-D, its discontinued now, but if I owned and it had a like a $2k problem with it after yrs of using it, I would be grateful that Leica still would repair it! I get to use it again, and choose to use it because its a unique body.
Don't give up hope! My Hasselblad H3DII-50 had a similar fate. Sent to to Hasselblad USA for repair, and received zero'd quote. Uneconomical to repair, they said. Made me pay shipping both ways. Even payed their gouged shipping quote for overnight return shipping, it sat in the warehouse for over a week! After I receiving it back, I was able to take the back apart, gave it a good cla and reassemble, and it's been working flawless ever since. I have a suspicion the problem with the m8 could be something similar, or at worse a surface mount capacitor has expired. A simple fix for someone with the know-how or willingness to learn.
Is there a way to search for your Spanish language videos? I always really enjoy the surprise of the videos when I stumble across them. Thanks for all the videos though, they're so relaxing.
EduardoPavezGoye Thanks for this answer. I'll search for "Letters to Fran". I watch (and appreciate having) the Spanish subtitles. Two birds with one stone: Spanish practice and photography inspiration!
En Ebay se consiguen M8 por $1500 dolares y por $1000 también , me paso con mi Pentax K30 y dije" nomas digital" es solo Film , mi Nikon F 1967 , sigue funcionando como nueva , un abrazo Eduardo y ahora q estas en NY , espero poder conocerte , dime si vas a Photoville en Dumbo Brooklyn ? esta hasta fin de mes saludos Guillermo.
Hi, thanks for this video feedback. I follow you since a while on this channel and I like very much all the videos you've posted here. I personally own and old Leica III from my grandfather that's still working, despite its 80 years (or more). What has happened to your Leica M8 can happen to any digital camera. I had an issue with one of my digital cameras whose sensor started to have a back focus problem, following to a firmware update (following to which, it was impossible to roll back to the previous firmware version) ! That's one of the reasons why, I'm rolling back again to film (and keep using my old stuff). I managed to fix the back-focus issue thanks to the Russian hacks, but it took me a long way to find a solution and to fix it. Now that it works I'm happy, but always keeping this bitter taste any single shoot I take with it (Will the pic be in focus?). The question is, How much trustful can we feel with expensive fragile material that can fail at any moment ? I don't pay my notes with photography (for me it's just a hobby), but I wouldn't have liked been in your shoes if that was your workhorse. I personally understand your conclusion and I support it. Cheers JF
Why the long face? You should celebrate. 8 years is a long time for an M8. And considering it was also used for weddings, you got a return in investment as well... My macbook pro just kicked the bucket after 10 years of heavy use. It was good run. I should get a typewriter because it will outlive me... No. That's one flaw of electronics: they die at some point. Just like us. Does that make use less worthy? PS: I get it, M8 is not a safe in 2018 bet because many parts are in smaller quantities or (like the lcd) are completely out of of stock...
Sorry to hear this man. I really am. A year ago I was watching your video of the M8 and I had some money saved and decided to have a look on it. I then read many many blog opinions etc. Some were so into this that you say now. The sensor fail and the lcd. And Leica offering to some a 2000 discount replacement for another digital M body instead of fixing. I said f* this! And got an M4-P for a really really good price. Being a film guy too, I say it suits me better. And now it is my main camera on the streets. But if anyone is afraid of film, I would still say to try it and I believe will make you a better photographer.
Seeing this 5 years later: I think, meanwhile it's still worth bying it, if you find one in a good condition. I bought a M8.2 two weeks ago, because the prefection of my Sony A1 and modern lenses got more and more boring. The colors of the CCD sensor blew me away and challenging all its limitations makes fun. Of course, it is not a camera, you should rely on, when you have to earn your income with photography. It is close to shooting analog film rolls without the PIA of processing, scanning etc. The M9 would have been my preference due to its full frame sensor, if there were not the sensor corrosion issue. I think the M8(.2) will even survive the M9...
Buy a digital camera on the basis that when it dies, it dies. They aren't really worth repairing, compared to replacement. Leica appears to be because of the original price, but the repair is the cost of a new camera so no, not really. So long as something shoots stills and video any digital camera will do, and use film for the rest.
I used to own an M6. I sold it to Magnum photographer Mark Power (hi Mark!), but then regretted it. Then I got a digital Canon, an early one when Canon had just jumped ship to digital. I hated that. It only took pictures when it felt like it, which while standing in front of politicians who only had a second to pose for a picture, I wanted to smash the Canon on the floor. Next to come was a digital Minolta which for all purposes was very good, except it still had that ever-so-slight shutter lag that irritated the hell out of me. So I gave that away and purchased a Lumix G1. Now things were beginning to get better. The Lumix wasn't the enormous brick that the Canon was, and the shutter release was fast. Finally I settled down with the Olympus E-M1 mk 1 & 2 which I still use today. I'd love another Leica though with the hyperfocal focussing and simple but very fast use. But at, well what sort of money? It's completely crazy! It's that age-old saying, it's not the camera who takes the photos, but the photographer. So true. Great video btw. I won't now buy an M8 after all.
i’m hoping to squeeze a few years at least out of my leica m8. and i’d probably get it repaired. like yeah i could buy an m9 or i could just get the camera i love and use repaired. i don’t feel the need to upgrade and have the newest camera. the m8 is fine for me and will be for a while.
they have a kodak sensor, which are hard to come by, if it had a sony sensor, the fix would be much cheaper since sony are still in business and going strong
I love your video and your shots and the review from the last time but.... ;-; as a glasses owner... it bleeds my eyes seeing dirty glasses. I am still thinking of buying a M8.2 :( even if the sensor might fail at some point.
Perhaps play with different SD cards. My original M8 was finicky, and there was a project where M8 owners were invited to send in information on what cards worked well and which ones did not. I found eFilm Class 6 was most reliable. Also be sure you have the latest firmware. Good luck.
The 1000 euro I paid for my old M8 is the best investment of my life. 3 years later it continues working and it give me photos that gonna last forever. . Is not eternal, neither us. Sorry for the lost.
"Is not eternal, neither us. Sorry for the lost." lol
Your M8 would easily sell as a parts camera as-is on eBay for around $900. You can find a good used working M8 for less than $1500. If you got a solid 8 years trouble free from a digital camera, you got more than your investment back. The M8 is pretty long in the tooth right now for a 10mp digital camera. If you really liked the M8 and want to continue using it, sell your bad one and get a used one and you'll be in it for only $500-600. I have an M8 that I bought used for $1200 and I really enjoy using it. When it dies I'll just buy another used one.
Is it ok in Black and White? If so, now you have Leica Monochrome. ;-)
Oh man, that's too bad. Sorry to hear this. I mostly shoot film - M3 and M6, but I do have an M262. I wonder how long it will last. Anyway, sorry for your loss Eduardo, and thanks for the video. Always good stuff, man.
Ted!
I miss your videos man.
Hope you are ok and still taking picture!
Hey Ted, how are you man?
Did not expect to see you here, Ted! :) Nice to know!
I read this comment in that deep sexual voice of yours Ted.
Ted... I just read your post in your voice.... Weird
I guess you can look at it another way.. You had the camera 8 years and lets say you paid $2000 for it, probably less.. That is $250 per year. Film on the other hand would be $5-10 per roll and $10-15 for developing and scanning. That is about $20 give or take for each roll, or 13 rolls of film for an average person per year.. So even a M8 that you used for 8 years was cheeper to use than a film equivalent. You just got hit with the real photo cost all at once.. and 6 months ago it would have been free.
Remember all those weddings you were shooting an average of 22 rolls of film each time you did it, so you actually saved big bucks over 8 years using the M8..... more than enough to repair the M8 and still be on the profit side....
The M8 got me into Leica. It showed me that there was a different path from SLR`s and I loved the size. It really changed my perspective. I am glad its part of the gear journey for me.
Me too
It may seem expensive but Leicas are built to la..
There used to be a guy in Massachusetts that repaired and did CLA on film Leicas named Youxin Ye. If he’s still in the game, he was very reasonable on price and did great work. I dunked an M4-P in a river in Ethiopia some years ago and lost all my slow shutter speeds. He sorted it out and the camera worked like new.
It was your channel and early videos that got me really interested in leica and film photography in general... way back then im glad i invested in an old m2 and didnt end up with a digital leica... all that said i love my olympus trip 35 that i found for £5.
Still enjoying your videos a few years later man.
It is understandable why it isn't recommended as it is an old camera. I recently wrote an article about the 5D on 35mmc and I touched upon this as well as it is also an ageing camera. But I would say that if it is good camera in the long run and it does die, it might be good enough just to buy another one as it'll be cheaper to do that compared to fixing it. But you run the risk of that camera's ultimate longevity.
Also 4:52 Shots fired.
"The leica M3 It will outlive me" - very interesting quote...i use my great grandfather's leica III today and this sort of heritage is just a magical joy ...
Digital cameras age more in 2 years than a 50 year old film camera
What a great piece of advice .
I have some cle lenses and was looking for an M8, but not any longer, so thanks !
you could buy 2 M8's for the repair cost. I got a refurbished one - in almost new condition for 1200USD, from leica store Paris.
ir filter is required for ccd sensor, because infrared can damage it, ever heard of it ?
I asked the same question to a M8 Leica expert, he said that IR filter is really necessary for the M8.
Did they tell you how many shots were taken with that sensor? I bet you had a great ROI with that camera.
Hey, I just found your video this morning. So many things to say, but I mourn your loss. I love your style, I subscribed. New topic: I am a professor at Carnegie Mellon and I noticed you are getting a Phd in theater? I really want to know more. All my best.
Welcome, Chris! Yep, I’m getting my PhD in Theatre at Columbia. I’m just starting: this is my second semester. What do you teach at Carnegie Mellon?
The M6 TTL is now on my short list. I really appreciate your honesty in regard to the digital Leica's. Subscribed!!
get a M4 instead, the m6 is fiddly with inlay of film. The M4 is far more enjoyable.
Eight years of pleasure and amazing pictures doesn't sound bad value for money to me!
How do the B&W images look? You ay wish to re-purpose it as a Monochrom Type 0.
Ok, so the sensor is really old - would it be the same sensor if they replaced it, that makes the weird purple hue without the filter? It may be just the supply of such an old sensor if so?
For the price of the repair you could buy 2 used m8s on ebay which would make it worth it to me still IMO heh. Anyways, speaking of M3, do you know a good place to CLA one in the US? Thanks!
Sorry about the leica failing on you. But here is another perspective, you paid £500 for just a CLA. And that is what leica will do to the current camera, they will replace the sensor and send you a basically new camera. It will also have a warranty, I think for two years again. So you are, In a way, buying a new leica with warranty for $2000. In my view, is not a bad deal, with the thought that this repaired one will last you another decade or more. Cheers!
Hey Eduardo, have you ever used the Minolta XE-5? If you have what are your thoughts about this camera? Or have you made a video on Minolta?
One thing i was wondering is whether the M8/M9 is the last digital camera that uses a optical range finder? since i really enjoy using optical view finders as looking at the digital screens on the back of non-slr/dslr is a pain. I was looking into the M8 since it has a optical view finder but is there a newer non-dslr that has that - which would be a better option to get? great video btw
All digital M leicas use optical rangefinders.
8 years is good enough for a digital camera! btw, what happens when you turn the pictures in b&w , is it usable ?
Thank you for the update about your experience with the Leica M8, I really appreciate your honesty and sry for your camera failure. It is definetely a lot of money, but actually I find it really cool that it is still possible to repair it, especially in a time of always buying new and throwing away "not repairable" stuff too easily. I dont know about any other camera brand offering such a service for their older models and by the way, I strongly doubt that the electronics of an Xpan can be repaired when failing and if, I assume the costs might be much higher :)! Best regards, wish you good light and merry xmas
Hola Eduardo, ¿cuál fue la falla declarada por el SSTT de Leica?.
sooo , what did you replace it with ?
Nothing. I’ve been shooting film only for years. :)
This shows how digital cameras are expenses and film cameras are investments.
Appreciate the info. As a happy M2 owner I've considered adding the M8/M9/M10 over the years as a digital counterpart but have also been wary of sensor repairs so this is some good cautionary advice to consider going forward. The thing that alway kills me with buying anything digital is the rapid depreciation and disposable nature that digital gear brings(maybe the exception to this is Leica?). For me, if I need to own digital gear I stick to buying previous model gear. Many times even after a couple years a gently used camera can be found for half the retail price. Peace!
Digital Leicas seem to have way too many issues which is absurd for the amount of money they cost
Yes, because no other 12 year old digital camera can fail...
Yes it worth it!
It is the very best and unique experience on photography you can get.
I sold my m9 couple of months ago, had the same fear. thanks for doing the video.
Just curious, what's the shutter count? Just bought one for 1300 USD with a 2k shutter count... I hesitated for soooo long exactly for this reason, the film ones are worth the price, but as soon as electronics come, I don't think they're worth the price anymore
Saludos Eduardo!!
Hey, any updates?
seems to be a lot of sensor issues with these?
30k shots ok on one?
Which camera would give you similar results (iq, colors, "Leica look") if you don't want to risk it with the M8? Any Nikon, Canon, Sony, fuji?
If you like shooting on film, why don't you like Fuji colors? Aren't them film color profiles?
With a Fuji x-pro 2 you can have a near Leica experience for a quarter of the price (I have used both).
I'd like to know your opinion about this questions! :)
Anyway I like your photos and your videos!
Here's my honest opinion:
I don't like the Fuji colors because they don't look like film... they look like a digital Sony with fake film profiles on top. I specially don't like how they render skin tones. I have had two Fujis and was never able to like the colors, even after editing.
Fujis are focused by split image or digital zone zoom. Leicas are rangefinders. I have used both and they have used both the Fuji X-Pro2 and several Leicas and they have nothing in common in the way the focus or operate.
Out of interest, how much would you have spent on film and associated developing costs (I know you do this at home) after 8 years? Not trolling...just interested.
My Leica M240 had a shutter issue and was replaced for free by Leica even though it was bought used so they're not all bad.
Do you have any advice of where to search for and buy film cameras in the U.S. besides keh, Craigslist or eBay? I’m looking for a Bessa R2M, X-Pan or TX-1 and have no luck finding any inside of the country.
I’m pretty impressed by your honesty. I have to agree with you 100%. Digital has it’s own benefits but the electronic elements are difficult to replace at a lower cost. I rather invest in more durable equipment. Thanks for sharing.
Comparing digital to analog photography is like comparing apples and oranges. So it does not make a point.
Sure, M8 will not last forever, but which other digital camera will?
The fact that the sensor on this camera died does not mean that this will happen to each M8. The same thing can happen to M9 or M10.
M8 is the cheapest digital leica and still a pretty good camera. And I dont think that the sensor failure in your case should be extrapolated to all of them.
How do the photos look in black and white? I’d buy an M8 that functions perfectly in black and white but not colour ...
Also: as you stated, it was your first video, and I imagine your Leica video’s in part make the strongest earners on your channel. In a way it paid its self back no doubt :)
I wish you would have told me!! I just sold my M8 with 10248 shutter count! I really wish you would have posted this earlier. My camera sold last week.
3 years ago when i can only dream about having leica, i’ve always watching your videos about M8 including this.
Last month i finally can afford to buy M240. A week later, i got some straight line on the photo result. I contacted the store that sell the camera, and they were so kind to let me send em back and they change with another unit.
Couple days later, my another M240 has arrived. So happy that i finally can shot without an issue. Buttttttttt 5 days after that, its appear in my second unit! Dangggg i couldnt believe that. Two cameras, have the same issue and no one on youtube that talked about it.
I contacted Leica via email and they still suggesting me to send my camera to Singapore (nearest Leica HQ in SE Asia) and it costs about $500 exclude shipping of course.
Anddd i dig to some forums on the internet, found that another cases like mine, have send camera to service but the straight line still appear couple days later.
So i contacted again the store to get my money back.
You know, after all these things, i started to considering NOT to buy a digital Leica. There’s no secure point that we can have as a customer with price that high.
Thx Ed
I bought a secondhand M8.2 last year and have really enjoyed it. I wanted a digital rangefinder and it was available at a great price. I bought a well-used brassed-up specimen partly with the suspicion that if it was going to die from overuse then it probably would've died already. But when my M8.2 dies I won't be buying a new Leica, and if I buy a used one it'll be an M9 with a previously replaced sensor. Leica's out-of-warranty repair costs are definitely a point against them. The shame of it is that some sensor failures probably are fixable with factory recalibration routines and firmware tweaks to compensate.
If Leica would simply release the routines and the firmware for their older, unsupported cameras then their users could turn this into a point in their favor. The usual arguments of lost profits don't seem to apply in this case - their current models really do offer substantial improvements to attract new buyers, and the "long tail" of used Leica ownership has been a huge marketing advantage for the company for many decades now.
Hi where did you purchase your Leica M8? I am currently looking to purchase a M8 right now, but it is difficult to find a good one, I mean of course it is a risk purchase, but would be good to pick upu a nice one, Thank you @bcostin
I like how you reason, man. I also went to your website...love how you shoot. It is obvious you care about humanity.
Subscribed.
But...the word "amortization" may apply in this case.
One must expect repairs after 8 years use.
In your case...this works out to $250 per year or $21 a month.
I think you would repair your dog or family member for this cost;-)
Yes, I get what you mean, but I barely ever use digital cameras, so spending money on a repair made no sense to me. :)
Man I really want you to try using the 4x5 speed graphic on the street. Would be so entertaining to see you do that
I stupidly sold my mint condition M8 a while ago... Man! That's the only camera I really miss.
fund for GXR+M module.. USD 2k u can get few bodies for spare if 1 turn out to be kaput
Seems you have a sweet CCD monochrome jewel 😂 how many shutter clicks your camera has? Not because yours failed that means all others will too.
tausends ))))
Thanks so much for sharing! I’ve never thought the cost of a Leica digital was worth it!
This year My M8 also had a problem with the sensor and the shutter. In Leica Japan it cost 200,000 yen for repairing both sensor and shutter. And I decided to send for repair, because it was 3 months since I bought it! From this experience also I don't recommend to buy old Digital Leica in second hand.
Would you sell the m8
i found this on an M8 forum :
f your M8 has a red line, before sending for repair or doing anything else, try this.
My M8 had the red line problem and searching online I found this:
(1) Set the camera to B and remove the lens. (2) Point the camera to a bright light source and carry out three 30 second exposures with the exposed sensor pointing towards the light.
This sorted my camera out and there are no red lines or stuck pixels. I don't know how it works but to me at least it was successful in curing my red line problem.
If it works then it's an easy fix if not well nothing lost in trying it.
Bummer, so sorry to hear about the M8 troubles :(
So much for leica build quality. The M9 has ccd too no? Wouldnt recommend an M9 either.. Also, I thought it was just me, I dont like fuji colors straight out of camera either!
m9 ccd to...(
yo where you finding an xpan for 2K????
Hmmm, recently I spend more than 1k on repairing one of my Zeiss lenses (after dropping it). Similar situation, old lens, only Zeiss HQ is still repairing it. I truly feel that this decision was right. Money is just money... I can work harder to make it more if needed, but keeping "old friend" in perfect condition again have more value for me. So personally I would repair this M8 for 2k in a heartbeat, 8 years is a lot of time.
Really makes you think: If a company were to take the guts of an A7, add a rangefinder up top and give it an M mount, wouldn't that be a repairable, reliable and entirely adequate replacement for those photogs that want both a digital sensor and the rangefinder experience?
Humza Ahmad still have to consider how long will they make parts etc.
Not really. Any camera with a sensor will eventually die, and any sensor will eventually be obsolete and no longer manufactured. I'd bet that around 6 years from now original A7's will be more expensive to repair than to buy a new one. Of course if it didn't have a Leica price tag it might not hurt as much.
The A7 is basically a Rangefinder and you can easily adapt Leica M lenses :)
@@ausgeknipst no it's not.
I think you under estimated the price to make a reliable rangefinder from scratch, there are 4 levers to adjust the alignment alone, including infinity alignemnt, minimum focus alignement, mid range and ratio alignment. It's a HUGGE pain in the ass to say the least, especially you're expecting users to use a Noctilux on it, even 0.2 mm of drift will cause significant focus shift. Don't ask me how I know lol, 5 noctilux through my hands including two new ones, none of them fits perfect on any of my rangefinders (m3, mp, m10), there will always be a little drift in different ranges.
Thank you for sharing your thought and info :)
Some two years ago my son’s GoPro Hero 4 Silver broke and I send it for repair believing it was going to be $65 and it ended up being $130! I committed to the repair but I had a long issue with cognitive dissonance for not having bought the Hero 5 Black model.
The camera returned fine. It’s a pleasure to use. I went in and bought a used Hero 4 Black to complement my Hero 3 White. Then the prices of both the Hero 5 and 6 Black cameras dropped sharply to the point that the used 4 Black came close to 50% of the value of a Hero 5 Black.
So that’s it! Grass seems greener on the other side of the fence, I am glad Leica made it hard for you to repair the digital M8. And I’m also glad that you have overhauled your M3! Perhaps you can revisit your overhauled M3 with another video like this one! Cheers from Costa Rica!
Have the M6, M8, M9, MP240 and previously Q among other brands as well, M8 not going anywhere!
I bought a m8 in 2020. Works like a charm…. Nice story though; I hope I have more luck then you had with your m8…..! THANKS for this video!
Hey love the channel! Funny thing I actually just got an M8 the day before this vid came up. Oh well, knock on wood.😂 we’ll see how it goes, being it’s my first Leica ever I’m excited to see what I can create with it. Thanks for all the advice ✌🏼
Hola una pregunta eh visto muchos videos tuyos y me encantan sobre todo por que tienen subtítulos y todo eso estudié fotografía publicitaria y tengo un canon 7D y ahora estoy en análogo con una Canon at1 la pregunta es que os es necesario tener una cámara digital para trabajar en bodas o lo que sea ya no disparo en digital y estoy enamorado de disparar análogo y amo el blanco y negro
I remember maybe a year ago I thought I wanted an M8. I'm really glad I own an M2 now. I love Leica but I think I would get a digital camera from another company.
Digital cameras are disposable, sadly. I would love to own a M10 but in 8 years that camera will be too old and not worth repairing. My M2 is 60 years old, works amazing and can be repaired for a few hundred dollars.
I bought M8 this week
So it worked for 8 years. Sounds like a good camera. I buy cameras and expect 2 years of working. Every day more is good, but I don't calc with it. So I'm not that much disappointed if a camera broke.
This is my thought on digital cameras.Sensors are always going to get better and better. The only time I would spend 3-4 grand on a Leica is if its mechanical and will never be truly obsolete.
If you still can buy film in 20 Years :-). But you are right in case of durability, i own several cameras and lenses which were more than 30 Years old. Some need sometimes services, but thanks to YT i could repair at least some of them by myself.
For me the sensor isn't a problem at all. I was happy with my Olympus OMD M10 till the last day - a friend of mine broke it :-). And i am absolutely happy with my Leica M-E. I don't need higher resolution every 12 months or so. I just need a camera that lasts and - in case of a problem - a company which could repair it for a reasonable price.
@@ragegage1221 what do you mean sensors are getting better and better? In the last few years or so I can't recall any major updates that make a huge difference when it comes to image quality
I think it depends on when and how much you bought the camera for. If you bought it brand new, used it for 8 years and it broke, $2400 is a lot but it is still a affordable price to fix the camera. But if you bought it for $2000 nowadays, of course no one would spend that much to fix it.
Thank you for another great video! Thumb-up! Leica, listen up, do not piss off this gentleman, fix the M8 for free!
This is one of the reasons it is SO difficult to justify Leica in the digital age. It is a universal truth that all solid state electronics will eventually die and not be repairable in a cost effective manner.
@EduardoPavezGoye Please clarify - When it comes to film shooting, how does it matter whether it is Leica or Canon or Nikon. End of the day, its the stock and quality of it, which matters. (ofcourse, differences are in features like ease of use, silent shutter, small body) How does the Leica body or Canon or Nikon body matter, when it comes to film?? It thought these brands only matter, when it comes to digital - with so called "Color Science". Please clarify this to me. Thank you!
The M8 is digital... it doesn't shoot film.
@@edpavez I get that... But in general I wanted your comment on significance of camera body, when it comes to film shooting. Thanks
@@SriramNatarajan25 the body does not affect the pictures. the only two factors that have an effect over the final image are the quality of the lens and the film you are using.
@@edpavez thank you!
Appreciate your honesty!
Very sorry to hear that, do you know what someone can expect to pay (roughly) if a analog Leica has to go to repair?
Thanks for the input man! I was going to buy M8 until I saw this vid! But really you probably used the good part of it for owning it for 8 yrs! I’ll stick with my trusty M6 and M2
Another way to look at this though is that if you did fix it, you would basically have a brand new m8.... surely it would last a long time.
If I were using the camera, it would make sense.... but I don't. I never shoot digital. :(
its good that Leica is able to repair, but as far as digital bodies go, there are som many options out there at $2K like you said, this just proves that digital does not last forever and we all have to wrap our heads around that when we buy into digital bodies. That said, sensors now would be more reliable than what was in the M8, right? The one leica body I love is the LEICA M-D, its discontinued now, but if I owned and it had a like a $2k problem with it after yrs of using it, I would be grateful that Leica still would repair it! I get to use it again, and choose to use it because its a unique body.
Don't give up hope!
My Hasselblad H3DII-50 had a similar fate. Sent to to Hasselblad USA for repair, and received zero'd quote. Uneconomical to repair, they said. Made me pay shipping both ways. Even payed their gouged shipping quote for overnight return shipping, it sat in the warehouse for over a week!
After I receiving it back, I was able to take the back apart, gave it a good cla and reassemble, and it's been working flawless ever since. I have a suspicion the problem with the m8 could be something similar, or at worse a surface mount capacitor has expired. A simple fix for someone with the know-how or willingness to learn.
Just purchased one. :)
love your last speech..
Wow, at least they were fast to answer (to see the bright side of things). If you go Sony, you would still be waiting for the answer... :D
Ah, but its such a beautiful camera. Sorry for your loss.
Good job
Is there a way to search for your Spanish language videos? I always really enjoy the surprise of the videos when I stumble across them. Thanks for all the videos though, they're so relaxing.
The only ones in Spanish are the vlogs and “letters to Fran”. But (almost) all my videos have Spanish subtitles that I do myself.
EduardoPavezGoye Thanks for this answer. I'll search for "Letters to Fran". I watch (and appreciate having) the Spanish subtitles. Two birds with one stone: Spanish practice and photography inspiration!
En Ebay se consiguen M8 por $1500 dolares y por $1000 también , me paso con mi Pentax K30 y dije" nomas digital" es solo Film , mi Nikon F 1967 , sigue funcionando como nueva , un abrazo Eduardo y ahora q estas en NY , espero poder conocerte , dime si vas a Photoville en Dumbo Brooklyn ? esta hasta fin de mes saludos Guillermo.
Hi, thanks for this video feedback. I follow you since a while on this channel and I like very much all the videos you've posted here. I personally own and old Leica III from my grandfather that's still working, despite its 80 years (or more). What has happened to your Leica M8 can happen to any digital camera. I had an issue with one of my digital cameras whose sensor started to have a back focus problem, following to a firmware update (following to which, it was impossible to roll back to the previous firmware version) ! That's one of the reasons why, I'm rolling back again to film (and keep using my old stuff). I managed to fix the back-focus issue thanks to the Russian hacks, but it took me a long way to find a solution and to fix it. Now that it works I'm happy, but always keeping this bitter taste any single shoot I take with it (Will the pic be in focus?). The question is, How much trustful can we feel with expensive fragile material that can fail at any moment ? I don't pay my notes with photography (for me it's just a hobby), but I wouldn't have liked been in your shoes if that was your workhorse. I personally understand your conclusion and I support it. Cheers JF
Why the long face? You should celebrate. 8 years is a long time for an M8. And considering it was also used for weddings, you got a return in investment as well... My macbook pro just kicked the bucket after 10 years of heavy use. It was good run. I should get a typewriter because it will outlive me... No. That's one flaw of electronics: they die at some point. Just like us. Does that make use less worthy? PS: I get it, M8 is not a safe in 2018 bet because many parts are in smaller quantities or (like the lcd) are completely out of of stock...
Dude, gracias. De verdad estaba pensando comprarme una recientemente.
Sorry to hear this man. I really am. A year ago I was watching your video of the M8 and I had some money saved and decided to have a look on it. I then read many many blog opinions etc. Some were so into this that you say now. The sensor fail and the lcd. And Leica offering to some a 2000 discount replacement for another digital M body instead of fixing. I said f* this! And got an M4-P for a really really good price. Being a film guy too, I say it suits me better. And now it is my main camera on the streets. But if anyone is afraid of film, I would still say to try it and I believe will make you a better photographer.
Could you just shoot it in Monochrome?
Seeing this 5 years later:
I think, meanwhile it's still worth bying it, if you find one in a good condition. I bought a M8.2 two weeks ago, because the prefection of my Sony A1 and modern lenses got more and more boring.
The colors of the CCD sensor blew me away and challenging all its limitations makes fun. Of course, it is not a camera, you should rely on, when you have to earn your income with photography. It is close to shooting analog film rolls without the PIA of processing, scanning etc.
The M9 would have been my preference due to its full frame sensor, if there were not the sensor corrosion issue. I think the M8(.2) will even survive the M9...
Buy a digital camera on the basis that when it dies, it dies. They aren't really worth repairing, compared to replacement. Leica appears to be because of the original price, but the repair is the cost of a new camera so no, not really. So long as something shoots stills and video any digital camera will do, and use film for the rest.
I used to own an M6. I sold it to Magnum photographer Mark Power (hi Mark!), but then regretted it. Then I got a digital Canon, an early one when Canon had just jumped ship to digital. I hated that. It only took pictures when it felt like it, which while standing in front of politicians who only had a second to pose for a picture, I wanted to smash the Canon on the floor. Next to come was a digital Minolta which for all purposes was very good, except it still had that ever-so-slight shutter lag that irritated the hell out of me. So I gave that away and purchased a Lumix G1. Now things were beginning to get better. The Lumix wasn't the enormous brick that the Canon was, and the shutter release was fast. Finally I settled down with the Olympus E-M1 mk 1 & 2 which I still use today. I'd love another Leica though with the hyperfocal focussing and simple but very fast use. But at, well what sort of money? It's completely crazy! It's that age-old saying, it's not the camera who takes the photos, but the photographer. So true. Great video btw. I won't now buy an M8 after all.
i’m hoping to squeeze a few years at least out of my leica m8. and i’d probably get it repaired. like yeah i could buy an m9 or i could just get the camera i love and use repaired. i don’t feel the need to upgrade and have the newest camera. the m8 is fine for me and will be for a while.
they have a kodak sensor, which are hard to come by, if it had a sony sensor, the fix would be much cheaper since sony are still in business and going strong
Yes , Kodak. MOS sensor In modern Leica cameras come from Panasonic or Sony maybe?
Xpan for 2000? Where?
I love your video and your shots and the review from the last time but.... ;-; as a glasses owner... it bleeds my eyes seeing dirty glasses.
I am still thinking of buying a M8.2 :( even if the sensor might fail at some point.
Perhaps play with different SD cards. My original M8 was finicky, and there was a project where M8 owners were invited to send in information on what cards worked well and which ones did not. I found eFilm Class 6 was most reliable. Also be sure you have the latest firmware. Good luck.