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Leica M8 PDF User Manual

Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Leica M8? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Leica makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the M8 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.

That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.

Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Leica M8 below.

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In any case, the M8 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This rangefinder-focusing mirrorless camera was officially introduced on September 14th, 2006, which means that, as of today, the camera is 6405 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Leica M9 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.

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Leica's instruction manual for the M8

The camera's instruction manual is 72 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the M8 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.

Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!

Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Leica M8 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.

Download the Manual

If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Leica's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.

Printed, hardcopy versions of the Leica M8 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.

amazon.com ebay.com

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Video tutorial for the Leica M8

Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your M8 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.

Once again, the Leica M8 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.

Find M8 guide book at
amazon.com

Leica M8 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the M8.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Leica M8?

The camera has a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) sensor at its core.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Leica M8?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 2500.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Leica M8?

Leica does not publish a shutter rating for the M8. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Leica M8 for flash photography?

The M8's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.

Which battery does the Leica M8 use?

The camera gets its power from the Leica BLI-312 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

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Further reading

How does the M8 stack up against available alternatives? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Core camera specifications

    Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Leica M8.

    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Leica M8
    Camera Type Rangefinder camera
    Camera Lens Leica M mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2006
    Launch Price USD 5 499
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CCD
    Sensor Format APS-H Sensor
    Sensor Size 27.0 x 18.0 mm
    Sensor Area 486 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 32.4 mm
    Crop Factor 1.3x
    Sensor Resolution 10.4 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3 936 x 2 630 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 6.84 μm
    Pixel Density 2.13 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability no Video
    ISO Setting 160 - 2 500 ISO
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 59
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 663
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Size 2.5 inch
    LCD Resolution 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Manual Focus
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 2 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse Photographyno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support no
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi
    Body Specs
    Battery Type Leica BLI-312 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)550 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37 mm
    (5.5 x 3.1 x 1.5 in)
    Camera Weight 591 g (20.8 oz)

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

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