Review of the Leica M8 Digital Camera

This review is base on the Leica M8 Digital Camera. The Leica Company first introduced the M series in 1954. In 2006, they invented the Leica M8 Digital camera into the global market.

Lens coding of the Leica M8 Digital Camera
It comprises of a 6-bit lens coding system, Reduction of edge shadowing, Identification of lens (recorded in JPEG EXIF / DNG), Summicron 50 mm F2 with close focusing, Elmar 90 mm F4 with collapsible tube, Lenses with retractable tubes can only be used with their tubes extended otherwise you risk damaging the camera , Superimposed focusing system via viewfinder , Light reflected from white strip in center of metal blade slot shutter, Silicon photodiode with collection lens, Range: 0 to 20 EV
Exposure compen. • +/- 3.0 EV.

Viewfinder information of the Leica M8 Digital Camera
The Leica M8 has the following viewfinder information: LED symbol for flash status, Four-digit LED display with dots above and below, Brightness automatically adjusted depending on ambient brightness, Memory capacity warning when the SD card is full, LED light balance with two triangular and one circular LED for manual exp, Display of: underexposure by at least one aperture stop; underexposure by 1/2 aperture stop; correct exposure; overexposure by 1/2 aperture stop; overexposure by at least one aperture stop
LCD monitor • 2.5" TFT LCD , 230,000 pixel TFT , Flash control • Leica M-TTL flash compatible, Short calibration pre-flash immediately before main exposure, Connection: M-TTL guide number control with pre-flash, Flash sync: 1/250 sec, Manual: Bulb to 1/250 sec

Design of the Leica M8 Digital Camera
An image of the M8 leaked a few weeks before it was officially announced and I was amused to read a comment on a Leica forum stating that it was obviously a fake, there was no way Leica could keep the design so simple and clean. Well, that image wasn't a fake and Leica have managed to maintain a clean simple design that looks every bit as exclusive as you would want it to be.

From the front there are no clues that this is a digital camera, it looks almost like the same as the M7 film camera, classic rectangular proportions (approx. 5:3) and the almost-central lens mount. Above this the distance meter viewing window, bright line illumination window and the large viewfinder window. Around the back a straightforward and logical layout, the large 2.5" LCD monitor flanked by five buttons on the left and on the right the menu, control dial and direction buttons. No fuss, no doubling-up of controls, just clean logical design.

On the top of the camera is the main power / drive mode switch, shutter release and shutter speed dial. Because the M8 utilizes an electronically controlled metal blade shutter it doesn't require a wind lever (which on a film M series both winds the film and primes the shutter).

Materials and build quality
It goes without saying that following in the fine tradition of previous M series cameras, and as is expected, the M8 is built like a tank. The main body is made from a two-piece magnesium alloy cast, the top which contains the viewfinder chamber and controls is milled from a single block of brass, likewise the removable base is also made of brass. So to say the M8 is well built and robust is perhaps an understatement, the M series of cameras have built their reputation among professional photographers as being able to cope with pretty much any situation, the M7 has made no compromises in this sense.

I would say the Lecia M8 is the best among the lecia M series.