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Used Leica M8 0.68 Digital Rangefinder Camera Body, 10.3mp with 0.68 Viewfinder Magnification, Black
SKU: US1915921
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Review Summary
2011-10-06T21:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
Leica M8
This is my first rangefinder and its something to get used to. Not that it is a bad thing, its a good thing sort of back to basics, which allows me to concentrate on composition. The body is a work of art. In handling it for the first time left me with feeling of a solidly built camera and one that will last a lifetime. The fact that it is not a full frame sensor doesn't bother me in the least. Image quality is excellent. Lenses, well they're Leica, the best glass made. In time I'll probably get a M9. But for now the M8 is just fine. For what it was designed to do with a sub-frame sensor, it is superb.
Darryl K.
2011-09-03T21:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
Classic Looks for a Digital Camera
I wanted the classic look and feel of the Leica rangefinder cameras, and this Leica M8 fills that requirement. For me the added bonus was the use of timeless and classic Leica Lenses. The camera does take some time to get used to, and I would highly recommend the 1.25X magnifier if you wear glasses like I do. It makes focusing much easier.
WOLFGANG W.
2007-09-14T21:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
A engineering marvel.
Leica engineers have developed a ranger finder digital camera that is in a class all by it’s self. You can use most M lens, Leica and other manufactures. The results are amazing. This is truly a digital camera that keeps the picture taker in control of the camera and not the camera in control of the picture taker. If you enjoy using a very simple professional digital camera, this is the camera for you. The feel of the camera in your hands, the artistic possibilities and the fun factor of the M8 makes it a world class camera.
VIEWMASTER
2007-06-13T21:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
Incredible camera
There is too much to say about this! This camera produces the best images I have ever seen from a digital camera, even with my Voigtlander lenses. Wonderful camera, once you know its rangefinder limitations- it is not a P&S nor a DSLR. The flash system leaves a lot to be desired however, and I use a Metz to compensate for the weak Leica 24D flash. It lives for wide angle photography, as do all rangefinders. I really enjoy photography with this camera, unlike any of my other ones. If you can afford it, go for it.
cme4brain
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Leica M8 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Black) 10.3MP w/ 0.68 Viewfinder 10701 Specifications
Camera Type
Compact digital viewfinder/rangefinder system camera for professional usage with Leica M lenses. Micro-processor controlled metal-blade slotted shutter.
Image sensor
Low-noise CCD sensor specially tailored to the requirements of the M lens system. Pixels: 10.3 million. Dimensions: 18 mm x 27 mm. Extension factor: 1.33 x. Aspect ratio 3:2. Moire-Filter no, full utilization of lens performance. Moire detection and elimination in digital signal processing.
Sensor sensitivity range
From ISO 160/23½ to ISO 2500/35½
Viewfinder
Viewfinder principle Large light bright line frame viewfinder/rangefinder with automatic parallax compensation. Viewfinder lens optimal visibility of all bright line frames whatever the lighting situation. Eyepiece Coordinated to -0.5 dpt. Correction lenses available from -3 to +3 dpt. Image field limiter By activating two bright lines each: for 24 and 35 mm/28 and 90 mm/50 and 75 mm. Automatic Automatic activation when lens is screwed in.
Lenses
Lens connection Leica M bayonet with additional optical scanning device for the identification of all 6 bit-coded lenses. Lens system Current 6 bit-coded Leica M lenses with a focal length of 16-90 mm. Almost all Leica M lenses with a focal length of 21-90 mm manufactured from 1954 can also be used without 6 bit-coding. 6 bit-retrofitting possible for virtually all lenses. 6 bit-functions Lens-dependent reduction of system-specific vignetting.
Exposure control
Automatic mode (Auto) Automatic determination of correct shutter speed with manual aperture preselection with relevant viewfinder display. Manual exposure Independent selection of shutter speed and aperture - camera exposure check visible via LED light balance shown in the viewfinder.
Picture-taking modes
S Single frame picture-taking, for one shutter release whenever shutter is pressed C Continuous shooting with 2 pictures per second and 10 picture in series. Automatic release mode Selectable with either 2 s and 12 s visualization of delay time via one of the LEDs visible from front of camera in viewfinder window.
Controls / display elements
Front of housing Lens release ; image field selector Top of housing Main switch and shutter release ; shutter speed setting dial, status LCD display : indication of number of frames remaining and residual battery capacity. Rear of housing 2.5" color monitor, setting ring for navigation in menu and magnifier function in 4 levels ; 4 x direction buttons for navigation in menu and in image details, Menu button, Play button, Delete button, Protect button, Info button
Color monitor
2.5" bright LC display with a resolution of approx. 230,000 pixels for image reproduction and menu selection. Brightness control in 5 levels. Control options after picture-taking : General quality evaluation of exposure control via RGB tone value histogram with identification of light image details without detailing (can also be used with zoom-in), control of sharpness of focus, display of quality parameters selected and display of lens focal length used (with current 6 bit-coded lenses).
Picture parameters menu / Main menu
Pressing the Set button allows the following parameters relevant to the picture to be changed and selected : User profile, Sensor sensitivity, Manual exposure compensation, White balance, data format, picture resolution. Main menu Pressing the Menu button allows settings such as color monitor contrast or selection of color space to be made in the Main menu. Menu languages German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese.
Picture resolution
DNG : 3916 x 2634 pixels (10.31 MP), JPG : 3936 x 2630 pixels (10.35 MP), 2952 x 1972 pixels (5.8 MP), 1968 x 1315 Pixel (2.6 MP), 1312 x 876 Pixel (1.15 MP).
Data formats
DNG (Digital Negative Format not specific to any camera manufacturer), 2 different highly compressed JPEG levels. DNG file information 16 bit-color resolution, 10.2 Mbyte file size per picture
Storage medium
SD cards up to 4 GB,
White balance
Automatic, 6 presettings, manual white balance, color temperature input from 2,000 K to 13,100 K.
Color spaces
Adobe½RGB, sRGB, ECI RGB.
Viewfinder display
LED symbol for flash status, four-digit seven-segment LED display with dots above and below (display brightness always adjusted to ambient brightness) for : display of automatically determined exposure time with automatic mode, indication of use of metered value storage, warning of exposure compensation, warning that metering range is overshot or undershot with automatic mode and display for counting down exposure times longer than 2 s, warning about capacity when SD card is full.
Metering
TTL metering heavily center-weighted with preset working aperture. Measurement principle Measured by light reflected by a white blade in the middle of the metal-blade slotted shutter. Metering range EV 0 to EV 20 at room temperature 20½ C, aperture 1.0 and ISO 160/23½. Measurement cell Silicon photo diode with collection lens, positioned at center lower edge, on bottom of camera.
Flash exposure metering and control
Principle of M-TTL Flash technology
An extremely short metering preflash activated immediately before the picture is taken is used to measure the output light required for the exposure.
Connection
M-TTL Guide Number Control with metering preflash via accessory shoe SCA 3502 (from version M4) or with flash LEICA SF24 DShutter and shutter release
Shutter
Micro-processor controlled metal-blade slotted shutter with vertical movement.
Shutter speeds
In automatic mode (A) steplessly from 32 s to 1/8000 s. Using manual setting 4 s to 1/8000 s in half steps. B for long exposures of any duration.Activation of shutter
Shutter action optimized for minimum noise. Driven by an electric motor with friction gear in first speed-increasing gear stage and a cam for homogeneous torque during entire activation process.
Release
Three-stage activation depending on pressure level : 1. Switch-on of camera electronics and activation of metering, 2. Metered value storage (with automatic mode), 3. Shutter release (standard thread for cable release included).
Power supply
Lithium-ion rechargeable battery with 3.7 V and 1900 mAh.
Computer interface
5-pin standardized mini USB port for fast USB 2.0 data transfer to computer on left side of housing. With LEICA DIGITAL CAPTURE camera can be software-controlled via USB 2.0 connection.
Camera housing
Material Closed solid metal housing made of a highly stable magnesium alloy for long-lasting professional usage. Black synthetic leather covering. Cover plate and base cover milled from solid brass and silver or black chrome-plated. Tripod bushing DIN4503 - A1/4 (1/4") at center of base cover.
Dimensions (W x H x D)
approx.139 x 80 x 37 mm
Weight without battery
approx. 545 g
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About Leica M8 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Black) 10.3MP w/ 0.68 Viewfinder 10701
FEATURED REVIEWS
A engineering marvel.
By VIEWMASTER
Leica engineers have developed a ranger finder digital camera that is in a class all by it’s self. You can use most M lens, Leica and other manufactures. The results are amazing. This is truly a digital camera that keeps the picture taker in control of the camera and not the camera in control of the picture taker. If you enjoy using a very simple professional digital camera, this is the camera for you. The feel of the camera in your hands, the artistic possibilities and the fun factor of the ...
View full Review
Incredible camera
By cme4brain
There is too much to say about this! This camera produces the best images I have ever seen from a digital camera, even with my Voigtlander lenses. Wonderful camera, once you know its rangefinder limitations- it is not a P&S nor a DSLR. The flash system leaves a lot to be desired however, and I use a Metz to compensate for the weak Leica 24D flash. It lives for wide angle photography, as do all rangefinders. I really enjoy photography with this camera, unlike any of my other ones. If you...
View full Review
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.
Leica M8 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Black) 10.3MP w/ 0.68 Viewfinder 10701 Features
- The Compatibility Principle: The lenses recognized as the best in the world demonstrate their full capabilities on the LEICA M8.
- Maximum Resolution: The low-noise CCD image sensor has been consistently optimized as special feature of the M lens system and provides a high resolution of 10.3 million pixels.
- Full Light Efficiency: M8 has the highest film speed settings of up to ISO 2500 now allow much more detailed pictures to be taken than was ever possible with analog films.
- Digital and Durable: The M8 is designed to deliver professional results over many years. The enclosed all-metal body is made of a high-strength magnesium alloy. The top and base plates are cut from solid brass blocks and then given a black or silver chrome finish.
- Precisely Focused and Intuitive: The M8 features only the most relevant photographical digital possibilities.
- Creative Photography: The electronically controlled metal blade focal-plane shutter enables shutter speeds of up to 1/8000 second to be achieved. Even in very bright surroundings, the photographer still has total creative freedom.
- Quiet and Discreet: In order to achieve a silent advance of the shutter, a rubberized silencing friction wheel was placed in the first gear step. The power is transmitted over a cam the entire length of the tension arm.
What's in the box:
- Leica M8 Rangefinder Digital Camera Body (Black)
- Battery
- Charger
- Body Cap
- Strap- Manual
- Box