Leica M8.2

Características

Codigo -
Producción -2008-2009; 3553773-- Sustituida por la Leica M9
Variantes - Cromada (2278), Negra lacada (4822)
Ediciones Especiales - Leica M8 White. (12 ejemplares)
Tipo de Cámara: Cámara telemétrica digital 18x27; DNG 3916x2634, 10.5 megapixel (efectivo 10.3 megapixel)
Objetivos: Bayoneta Leica M
Sensor: Kodak CCD KAF-10300 18 x 27 mm produciendo un factor de recorte 1.33
Resolución máxima: 10.3 megapixel efectivos (3936 x 2630 pixel)

Visor:

• directo (Galileo inverso con ampliación 0,68X)
  
• con indicación de recuadros correspondientes al campo cubierto por las distintas focales, visibles a pares seleccionados manualmente o con objetivos acoplados (28-35 50-75 24-90) con corrección de paralaje.
  
• Indicación de enfoque por telémetro óptico
  
• Indicación electrónica del fotómetro (subexposición/medio/sobreexposición, en modo manual, y la velocidad de obturación en modo automático)
  
• Dispone de indicación de bloqueo de exposición.
  

Base del telémetro: 69.25
Ampliación del visor: 0.68X
Marcos: 24-35; 28-90; 50-75
Indicaciones del visor: lineas de marco, telémetro, exposure diodes, flash indication, in AUTO: shutter speeds in half steps, long exposure counter
Telémetro manual, mecánico, funciona por imagen desplazada y contraste

Pantalla LCD en color: 2.5", 230,000 pixels

Medición de la exposición:

Medición de la Exposición

• Medición a través del objetivo (TTL), con ponderación al centro, a la apertura de trabajo.
  

• Medición TTL ponderada al centro para Flash para unidades dedicadas o con adaptador SCA-3000/2.
  

Método de medición - Se mide la luz reflejada por una franja blanca en el eterior de una de las hojas de la cortina del obturador
Intervalo de Medición (a ISO 160/23°) - A temperatura ambiental y con humedad normal, EV 0 a EV 20 (f:1.0 y 1.2s a f:32 y 1/1000 s. El parpadeo del LED triangular izquierdo en el visor indica niveles lumínicos por debajo de la capacidad de medición.
Célula de medición - para luz disponible (medición de la luz ambiental) Fotodiodo de Silicio con objetivo de condensación, situada en el centro de la parte inferior de la base de la cámara
Modos de Exposición: Manual, Exposición automática con prioridad al diafragma.
Exposure handling; manual selection of speed and aperture with over- and under exposure indication in finder: in AUTO stepless shutter speeds with aperture priority, shutter speeds, long exposure indication, flash indication

Sensibilidad (ISO): Escala ASA/ISO: 160 a 2500
Obturador, control y tipo: mecánico, vertical, de cortinillas de titanio, diseño distinto al de la Leica M8
Velocidades de obturación 8s a 1/4000, 30s a 1/4000 en modo automático
Flash: zapata de Flash
Sincronizacion de Flash: 1/180

Materiales -
Accessorios
Batería: Ion de Litio
Peso: 545 g
Dimensiones: 138.6 x 80.2 x 36.9 mm

Diseñadores -


La M8

Referencias

Manual Leica M8.2
Erwin Puts M8 or M8.2

The M8.2 was introduced two years later and offered a shutter with a lower top speed but with reduced noise level and more pleasant noise profile, a Snapshot mode and a sapphire cover glass. The improved shutter and the sapphire glass could be fitted also on the M8 under the so-called Upgrade Program, originally announced as a method of upgrading existing digital cameras with future innovations as a kind of investment protection. The program died quietly.

The M8 has a special edition, the white one (white Nappa cowhide leather, white paint) is a particularly pleasing version: the set includes a white body (serial number start around 3510165 with special marking xxx/275) and a silver anodized ( a first for Leica) 2.8/28mm ASPH lens. The M8.2 has been offered in a limited-edition Safari Green model (500 pieces).

The M8.2 is a very fine camera, but its initial bad press and the newer M9 with 24x36-sized sensor have made it less popular than the camera deserves.

First professional digital camera to use an ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal as cover glass for the camera LCD monitor.
Durable black finish with vulcanite cladding
New shutter Cocking modes with extra quite, low-vibration metal blade focal plane shutter
Compact lithium ion charger with faster charging rate.
New Snapshot with automatic shutter speed, auto-iso and auto-white balance
New bright line frame set allowing more precise framing at longer distances

M8 or M8.2? (October 4, 2008)

The recently introduced M8.2 is not a new camera, but an upgrade of the existing M8, that was introduced two years ago. Basically the M8 and M8.2 do not differ as they use the same body, same chassis, same sensor and same lenses. The software is also the same in all essential points, but a few differences remain. A true test of the M8.2 is not expedient, as the performance is identical.

I have been using the black paint version of the M8.2 for some time and I like this most recent interpretation of the M-culture very much. Especially the black paint incarnation of the M is a most pleasant instrument. Let us set the record straight: the technical differences between the M8 and M8.2 are minimal. Switching between the M8 and M8.2 does not give you any more potential for better pictures.

Useful changes.

The only really smart change is the adoption of frame lines that are related to the scene representation at a distance of two meters. The M8 has frame lines that relate to the scene framing at a distance of 0.7 meters. The idea behind this choice is to be sure that the photographer gets every part of the scene that he sees on the sensor at every possible distance. But the downside is the fact that at longer distances the sensor captures much more of the scene that the photographer assumes he gets based on the selected frame lines in the finder. That is annoying, because exact framing at closer distances is the hallmark of the CRF. A comparison between the M8 finder and the M8.2 finder proves that the frame lines for the same focal length are indeed different and visibly so.

Useful, but not necessary are the changes in the shutter, that allow an almost silent working of the shutter. In the normal mode the shutter fires and the shutter is readied for the next shot. This operation is not noiseless and even a bit unpleasant as the sound is not mechanical but almost artificial. The new M8.2 shutter mechanism is redesigned for less noise and now has a topspeed of 1/4000. The trick of the so-called discrete mode consists of a time delay between the shutter action and the subsequent tensioning of the shutter. There is no noise at the moment of pressing the shutter and as long as the user keeps his/her finger on the shutter release nothing more happens. After releasing the finger, the shutter is tensioned.

The loss of the top speed of 1/8000 and the drop in flash synchro speed from 1/250 to 1/180 is immaterial in most situations and the gain in user satisfaction is quite big.
Useful too is the option to change the ISO speed when you press the release button and turn the selection wheel. The change in EV value is visible in the finder. Not the best of solutions, but given the limited opportunities for change, this is quite acceptable.After some training you can change the ISO speed on the fly during picture taking, and keeping eye at the camera finder ocular.

The black paint version of the M8.2 in addition with the dark grey accessory shoe and the black/white logo give the camera a very elegant look. In fact this version might be one of the best looking M-cameras in the whole lineage. This black paint is a hardened version of the normal black paint which peels off easily. Leica has assured me that the new black cover is very resistant to abrasion, but to be honest I am not convinced at first sight. History will give the verdict.

Not so useful changes

[COLOR=#1A1818]The adoption of a sapphire glass for the protection of the display is a gimmick in my view. It is nice to have, but it will not add anything to the functionality or operation of the camera. I did not try to damage the surface by using a steel nail to scratch the glass. On the other hand it is reassuring that you do not have to worry about the sensitive surface of the protection glass.

The new vulcanite cover looks good (it is reminiscent of the classical M3 cover and also of the MP 3 special edition), but the claimed advantage of a less slippery grip cannot be substantiated.

The new S-mode (S for Simple or Snapshot) is a remarkable option. It reduces the choices to a minimum and automatically shifts to JPEG. In the menu you can choose between color or monochrome pictures, but that is about all you can select.

The additional feature that you can get a pictogram (after selecting the INFO button) that teaches you to select a wider aperture when photographing a portrait and a small aperture when doing a landscape with accompanying depth of field indications, begs the question who Leica thinks will buy this camera and needs this support.
Leica assumes that there is a market where fabulously rich persons want to own and use a Leica M8.2, but do not bother about the basics of photography and want fuss-free and think-free photography. In my view as soon as you can read a pictogram and know what the depth of field means for the picture, you can look at the lens ring with the DoF scale and read off the same information.

The message from Leica is inconsistent here. On the one hand the company profiles the M8(.2) and indeed the whole M-line as a working photographer's tool for those who know the basics and take pride in getting excellent imagery with the minimum of automatic support. But then you add a Simple mode to the camera that is absolutely superfluous for the general M-user and is intended to seduce newcomers to buy and use the camera as a (very expensive) point and shoot model.