Bergen County Camera

Leica M8.2 Digital Rangefinder Camera Body

Price Break $5,995 - Saturday is Leica Day
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Leica M8 - $3,995 after $1,500 Mail in Rebate
Call Saturday for Special In-Store Savings

Leica has updated the venerable M8 digital rangefinder body. The new M8.2 brings a few evolutionary steps to the rangefinder shooter's arsenal. The first feature upgrades the M8 shutter to a new lower vibration and lower noise model. This frees the M8 user to shoot in a more discreet fashion, nearly as quiet as the legendary M film models. To further enhance the quietness Leica offers a discreet advance mode. This mode will advance the shutter blades to the ready position only after the user's finger is released from the shutter button. The user needs only to fire and hold down the shutter button and release the shutter in a less audible place. The gorgeous new black paint M8.2 bodies stick to a discrete single color palette. That even extends to the longstanding "red dot" which is now black, as is the usual silver flash hot shoe. This camera is the perfect combination of pure functionality, beauty and stealth.

Our friends at Leica have also considered the longevity and resale value of these cameras. A highlight is the sapphire crystal glass LCD cover. This is the same material used for high end watch and timepiece faces and it marks the first time it has been utilized by a camera manufacturer. The glass is considerably more impact and scratch resistant than the materials used in other cameras. Leica M8.2 owners can expect many years of use with and LCD monitor that always remains as pristine as new . M8.2 bodies also sport an newly improved version of the very durable and slip-resistant "vulkanit" covering found on the original M3 film cameras.

Due to the popularity of the M8 with newer users, Leica has also added some novice oriented features to the M8.2. For the first time there is a "snapshot" mode on an M camera. This feature brings the simplicity of a smaller snapshot camera and the quality of M series optics together. New users need not worry about ISO speed selection with the new Auto ISO feature found in the M8.2 menu, as well. Exposure compensation has been simplified with a new, easier short-cut and high capacity SDHC cards [currently as high as 32gb] can now be used.

With the announcement of the M8.2 nearly 2 years after the M8 camera's groundbreaking introduction, many M8 owners may wish to upgrade. In an unprecedented move Leica has offered two ways to make this leap. There is the traditional trade-in and buy new option, but breaking new ground, Leica is offering an upgrade to existing M8 bodies in the field. An M8 can be fitted with the quieter shutter and the sapphire LCD cover, independently or simultaneously, for a fee that will cost less than trading your M8 for an M8.2. Feel free to call us to discuss the best option for you. If you opt to upgrade your M8, we need to schedule your upgrade with the Leica Service Department.

Appropriate for a company who always puts customers first, Leica has given us the ability to upgrade previously sold M8 cameras with the Auto ISO feature and higher capacity SDHC card usage, at no extra charge.

The first small quantities of M8.2 bodies are arriving now and, as always, will be in short supply. The body is $5995 which includes a comprehensive 2 year warranty

The "M" feast continues with four brand new high performance lens formulations, classic individual 21mm and 24mm bright line finders in matching black and chrome finish, and a new improved 1.4x Viewfinder Magnifier.

Many of the new M lenses continue the Leica tradition of supplying unprecedented optics found nowhere else. This is certainly true in the case of the 50mm Noctilux 0.95 ASPH, the world's fastest aspherical 35mm lens that even improves upon the legendary performance of its predecessor. Full aperture shooting quality is retained, F1.4 aperture is now comparable to the 50 f1.4 Summilux-M and the lens maintains superb quality even at close focus. Vignetting and distortion are all but banished. This lens is anxiously anticipated and we expect a great demand for this lens in spite of its $9999 price.

The 21mm f1.4 Aspherical is also a world's first. It is being introduced alongside the first rangefinder 24mm f1.4 Aspherical lens [almost unprecedented, Canon has an EOS 24 f1.4 SLR lens] and a very compact 24mm f3.8 Ashperical lens. The f1.4 lenses offer extremely shallow depth of field and spectacular results at full open aperture. The 24mm f3.8 also has superb full aperture performance and makes an ideal lens for use with the M8.2's snap-shot mode. The 21mm 1.4 and 24mm f 1.4 cost $5999 and the 24mm f3.8 is $2399. All the lenses are supplied leather case, lens hood and with the unique and comprehensive 3 year passport warranty that even covers accidental damage.


New features of the LEICA M8.2 at a glance:
More discreet:

• Low noise & vibration shutter with 1/4000s max. speed, 1/180s sync speed.
• New Shutter cocking modes ("discreet" or "standard")
• Black hot shoe (on black camera)
• Leica dot in color matching to top cover (on black camera)
• Model name "LEICA M8.2" on hot shoe
• New, compact charger with rapid 80% full function

More intuitive

• Snap shot mode for good results by non-experts
• Auto ISO function
• New bright line frame set allowing more precise framing at longer distances
• Short cut for exposure compensation
• Main switch with firm click stop from "C" to self timer
• New "short instructions" explaining easy operation.

More rugged:

• Sapphire glass for rear LCD
• New black paint finish
• Vulcanite cladding