The dream of many Leica photographers has come true: the Leica M system is now open for professional digital photography. 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 can 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.
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 including 6-bit coding. The low-noise CCD sensor which is specifically matched to the extreme requirements of the high-resolution M lenses. The 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.
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.
