Leica rolls out M8 hardware upgrade program -- for a price

Over a year after Leica rolled out its action plan to address those buggy M8s fresh off the factory floor, the digicam company is announcing yet another upgrade path, but this time it's not on the house. Apparently, M8 owners that fall deeply in love with their shooter can get their name on a "waiting list," and once their number is called, they get the privilege of shipping their device to Germany where a number of tweaks can be made. Reportedly, each M8 is suitable for upgrading, and aside from getting sent back with a fresh two-year warranty, it can also be fitted with a scratch-resistant LCD monitor cover (um, riveting?) and a new "electronically-controlled metal-blade slotted shutter that offers less noise and vibration." Unfortunately, these changes will supposedly set one back €1,200 ($1,775), but alas, Leica suggests that said payment will make the M8 a "lifetime investment." Right, just like that $9,000 desktop you procured in 1996.

[Evan @ Feb 1st 2008 1:31AM]

I'll never understand Leica people.

[mushrooshi @ Feb 1st 2008 1:35AM]

This is Leica really unnecessary upgrade if you ask me.

[Andrew ? @ Feb 1st 2008 1:57AM]

I'd much rather have a vintage digital Leica than a 286 with Win3.1.

[tek @ Feb 1st 2008 2:22AM]

"The digicam company?"

Have you got your heads screwed on right or are you just that bad at proofreading?

[Mark Nawabi @ Feb 1st 2008 2:51AM]

If you guys think apple overprices for their hardware based on brand, you guys should look more into the brand of Leitz Camera--Leica.

Of course Leica overcharges for their cameras, it is a well known fact! But we should all agree that leica produces cameras for a niche market. One, these cameras are rangefinders, not SLRs. They are meant to be subtle quiet and unobtrusive cameras, hence the quieter shutter and decrease in speed. Many shooters would love to have 1/4000th and stop down rather than having 1/8000th (who uses 1/8000th anyway?)

Two, these cameras are amazingly solid. If you have never held a Leica M series camera, you are missing out. These things are not toys, they are tools (Refer to the Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1)

Three, they are not meant to be phased out every 18 months, as your consumer-grade Digital SLR does. Nikon D100 to D200, to D300 in about 8 years. It took Leica what, 80 years to move from M2 to M8?

I could go on, but the point I guess i'm trying to make is that we know we are getting ripped off on what we pay for, sure, but we know the lovely aspects of the M series.

[skulldriveshaft @ Feb 1st 2008 2:56AM]

Man that's so futuristic it's retro.

Nobody would steal that, they'd think it was an old school film camera.

Are there any built in tracking technologies for these? I would love it to send me a GPS co-ordinate, or ip trace if it every wound up connected to the internet.

[aoi tsuki @ Feb 1st 2008 3:11AM]

"Apparently, M8 owners that fall deeply in love with their shooter can get their name on a "waiting list," and once their number is called, they get the privilege of shipping their device to Germany where a number of tweaks can be made."

Is there really a need to put "waiting list" in quotes? What else do you call a list that you put you name on and wait to be called on?

Engadget editors should really tone down the sarcasm, especially on topics they obviously know little or nothing about. i'm not a Leica owner nor have i even used one, but i can see the quality and attention to detail that's put into the their creation as well as the amazingly organic shots they produce. If you're paying $6000 for a camera, this upgrade probably isn't out of the question.

[torqueo @ Feb 1st 2008 7:09AM]

I'll stick with my $500 G9, thanks. It even filters IR properly. Incredible.

[primetime4 @ Feb 1st 2008 10:30AM]

German workers must make like $800 per hour and think that everything they touch turns to gold... yet, I still would love one of these. That is a sickness.