Leica M8

The Leica M8 is the first digital camera in the rangefinder M series introduced by Leica Camera AG on 14 September 2006.[2] It uses an APS-H 10.3-megapixel CCD image sensor designed and manufactured by Kodak.

Leica M8[1]
Overview
TypeDigital rangefinder camera
Lens
LensLeica M-mount
Sensor/medium
Sensor18 x 27 mm inducing a 1.33 crop factor
Maximum resolution10.3 effective megapixels (3936 x 2630 pixels)
Film speed160 to 2500
Focusing
Focus modesManual
Exposure/metering
Exposure modesManual, aperture priority auto exposure
Exposure meteringTTL, center weighted averaging
Flash
FlashFixed hot shoe
Shutter
ShutterFocal plane, metal curtains, vertical travel
Shutter speed range8s to 1/8000
Viewfinder
ViewfinderReverse Galilean (x0.68) with automatic or manual selection of parallax corrected framelines, additional color LCD display: 2.5", 230,000 pixels
General
BatteryLithium Ion
Dimensions139 x 80 x 39 mm
Weight545 g without battery 591 with
Made inGermany
Chronology
SuccessorLeica M9

As of 15 November 2014, the most recent firmware version is 2.024.

Features

The M8 body is slightly thicker than the classic MP and M7 (approximately ~14% thicker). It is an all-metal body made of a high-strength magnesium alloy. The top and base plates are cut from brass billets, before receiving a black or silver chrome finish.

The M8 supports all existing Leica M-mount lenses, however some older models might not offer all the functions due to mismatching cams. All lenses are multiplied by a 1.33x crop factor, hence a 28mm lens will act approximately like a 35mm when mounted to the M8.[3] Because the infrared filter over the sensor is relatively weak, adding an IR-cut filter in front of the lens is recommended. In addition, Leica chooses to omit the Anti-Alias filter, citing the reason for higher resolution power of the lens. However, the moiré artifacts can occur in scenes with closely spaced geometric patterns, such as fabric or mesh, distant buildings, balcony railings, corrugated roofing etc.[4]

The M8 uses modern metal-blade focal-plane shutter. It can fire flash synchronization at 1/250 second X-sync and has a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. The flash system used in the M8 is M-TTL.

The camera uses a 6-bit coding system that identifies the lens in use to the electronics built into M8 body. The code is included on all current Leica lenses. To prevent excessive vignetting due to closer lens mount than in a DSLR and thus higher light rays angle on the sensor periphery, offset micro-lenses are used on the CCD. The 6-bit code on lenses gives information about optic vignetting characteristics, permitting software adjustment.[5] The M8 uses Adobe DNG as its raw data format and the raw converter Capture One LE (included with the camera).

KAF-10500 Sensor

The KAF-10500 is a CCD imaging sensor designed by US photographic company Eastman Kodak. In September 2006 it was announced that the sensor was to be used in the M8 camera,[6] having been specifically designed for this application. Its size is 18x27 mm (APS-H) and it has 10.3 million pixels of size 6.8 μm. Compared to 35mm film, it has a 1.33 crop factor. It is calibrated for an ISO sensitivity range of 160–2500.

The sensor includes indium tin oxide as a constituent material, which Kodak claims leads to low noise, high sensitivity, and wide dynamic range. It is designed for use with lenses with short back focal lengths – such as those common to rangefinder cameras – by including a microlens array to reduce fall off in intensity from the center to corners of the image. Further details and aspects of the sensor were unveiled during the course of photokina 2006.[7]

Reception

The Leica M8 suffered from some controversy on its release due to image quality problems reported by some users, especially an extremely high sensitivity to infrared light, which made black colors appear purple. Leica has since released a statement saying that it will send two free special UV/IR screw-on photographic filters to all future M8 purchasers, and upon request for all current M8 users. Users experiencing other image quality problems can apply to return their M8 for repair.[8]

However, this sensitivity to Infrared light has inspired a niche of photographers who use photographic filters that block the visible spectrum of light to do infrared photography.[9]

Upgrade program

Leica announced a perpetual upgrade program on 31 January 2008.[10] To keep a user's M8 up to date with newer releases, owners can send their M8 to Leica for upgrades. The first upgrade offered under this program is an improved shutter designed for quieter operation, at the cost of a slower maximum shutter speed of 1/4000sec. Leica subsequently announced additional upgrades:[11]

  • Sapphire glass LCD cover
  • More accurate bright line frames

Leica M8.2

Leica announced the Leica M8.2 on 15 September 2008.[12] The Leica M8.2 includes all the upgrades offered in the upgrade program, however the black version is coated with black paint (as opposed to the black chrome finish of the standard Leica M8) and black Leica branding dot. An auto S setting producing only JPEGs was added to the shutter speed dial.

Leica also introduced the M8.2 Safari edition package,[13] limited to a production run of 500. The package includes an olive green painted Leica M8.2, a silver-finished Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH lens and a matching Billingham camera case.

  • M8 front view
    M8 front view
  • M8 rear view
    M8 rear view
  • Leica M8 with Noctilux and IR filter
    Leica M8 with Noctilux and IR filter
  • Leica M8 with a 90mm telelens
    Leica M8 with a 90mm telelens
  • White limited edition
    White limited edition

See also

References
  1. M8 & M8.2 Technical Data Archived 2012-08-18 at the Wayback Machine, Leica Camera AG
  2. "A camera legend goes digital" (Press release). Leica Camera AG. 2006-09-14.
  3. "The original gone digital: Leica M8".
  4. "Leica's FAQ".
  5. "M8 - the digital M". Leica.
  6. "Kodak Sensor in Leica M8". Dpreview.com. 2006-09-15.
  7. Kodak Sensor for Leica M8 Archived 2017-04-14 at the Wayback Machine, LetsGoDigital Photokina coverage
  8. "Leica announce fixes for M8". Digital Photography Review.
  9. "Inspired by a "Faulty" Sensor. IR Photography and the Leica M8 by Konstantinos Besios | Steve Huff Photo". 15 December 2010.
  10. "FAQ Leica M8 Upgrade Concept" (PDF). Leica Camera AG.
  11. "M8 Upgrade Service". Leica Camera AG.
  12. "Leica announces M8.2 rangefinder update". Digital Photography Review.
  13. "M8.2 Safari edition". Leica Camera AG.
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