Compact digital viewfinder system camera for professional use with Leica M lenses. Microprocessor-controlled metal blade slot shutter.

Magnesium alloy body. Black synthetic leather coating. Top panel and bottom cover are milled from solid brass and are silver or black chromium plated.

Sensor

• 27 x 18 mm CCD sensor (Kodak KAF-10500)
• 10.3 million effective pixels
• 11.2 million total pixels
• 6.8 x 6.8 µm pixel pitch
• RGB Color Filter Array
• Offset microlenses near frame corners
• No anti-alias filter (low pass filter)
• 1.33x FOV crop

Image sizes • 3936 x 2630
• 2952 x 1972
• 1968 x 1315
• 1312 x 876 File formats • DNG (RAW)
• JPEG (Fine / Basic)
• DNG + JPEG Lens mount • Leica M bayonet
• Identification of 6-bit coded lenses Lens system

• Current 6-bit coded Leica M lenses of 16 - 90 mm focal length
• All Leica M lenses of 21 - 90 mm focal lengths produced since 1954
• 135 mm lens can be used but precise framing will be difficult

Lens coding • 6-bit lens coding system (detection can be disabled)
• Reduction of edge shadowing
• Identification of lens (recorded in JPEG EXIF / DNG)
• Auto slow-sync function in aperture priority mode Incompatible lenses • Hologon 15 mm F8
• 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 Focusing • Manual focus via lens ring
• Superimposed focusing system via viewfinder Exposure modes • Heavily center-biased TTL exposure metering with preset aperture
• 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
• 1/3 EV steps Sensitivity • ISO 160
• ISO 320
• ISO 640
• ISO 1250
• ISO 2500 Shutter Microprocessor-controlled metal blade slot shutter with vertical action Shutter action Shutter activation optimised for minimum noise development. Electric motor drive with friction wheel in the first speed build-up stage and a cam disc for homogeneous torque throughout the activation process. Shutter speed • In aperture priority mode steplessly adjustable from 32 to 1/8000 sec
• Manually selectable from 4 to 1/8000 sec in 1/2 EV steps
• Bulb Shutter dial (for manual selection) • "Wrong way" shutter dial (same as M6 TTL / M7)
• Auto shutter speed position
• Bulb position
• 8 - 1/8000 sec in 1/2 EV steps
• 1/250 sec indicated as flash sync Shutter release button • Three position soft-touch button
1. Initiate metering
2. Lock metered exposure
3. Shutter release Aperture Selected on lens White balance • Auto
• Six presets
o Tungsten
o Fluorescent
o Daylight
o Flash
o Cloudy
o Shadow
• Manual preset
• Kelvin color temperature (2000 - 13100 K)
• Preset white balance (immediate or from photo) Color space • sRGB
• Adobe RGB
• ECI RGB Image parameters • Sharpening (5): Off, Low, Standard, Medium High, High
• Saturation (6): Low, Medium Low, Standard, Medium High, High, B&W
• Contrast (5): Low, Medium Low, Standard, Medium High, High User profiles Three available Viewfinder type • Large bright-line frame viewfinder with automatic parallax compensation
• Viewfinder optics with reduced sensitivity to scattered light and optimum visibility of the bright-line frame in all lighting situations Viewfinder specification • Eyepiece matched to -0.5dpt, correction lenses form -3 to +3dpt available
• Enlargement: 0.68x for all lenses Viewfinder bright-line frames • Automatically matched for the lens used
o 24 and 35 mm
o 28 and 90 mm
o 50 and 75 mm
• Automatic parallax correction Size basis range finder

Combination of split and superimposed image range finder shown as a bright field in the centre of the viewfinder image. Effective measurement basis 47.1 mm (mechanical measurement basis 69.25mm x viewfinder enlargement 0.68 x).

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
• Auto slow sync: 1/focal length in seconds (only 6-bit coded lenses)
• Choice of long flash sync times up to 1/8 sec for balanced flash in aperture priority mode
• Sync: 1st or 2nd shutter point (front / rear sync)
• Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 1/3 EV steps Shooting modes • Single picture (one shutter button depression, one picture)
• Continuous (2 frames per second up to 10 frames)
• Self-timer (2 or 12 second delay) Play functions • Image (simple)
• Image with histogram and information
o Histogram: standard / RGB
o Clipping indication: on / off
o Exposure information
o Can magnify and browse
• Image magnify up to 1:1 (can browse)
• Thumbnail (4 or 9 image index)
• Page by page (9 image index)
• Protect
• Delete Delete function • Single image
• All images Protect / Unprotect function • Single image
• All images Set quick access menu • User profile
• ISO sensitivity
• Exposure compensation
• White Balance
• Image quality ('compression')
• Image size ('resolution') Languages • English
• German
• French
• Spanish
• Italian
• Japanese
• Chinese Storage • Secure Digital / Secure Digital HC
• FAT / FAT32 Connectivity

USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (Mini-B connector)

Provided software • Capture One LE
• Leica Digital Capture Power • Lithium-Ion battery pack (3.7 V, 1900 mAh)
• Charger included (also attaches to car socket) Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37 mm (5.5 x 3.1 x 1.5 in) Weight (no battery) 545 g (1.2 lb) Weight (inc. batt) 591 g (1.3 lb) Box contents

M8 camera (10702 silver or 10701 black), anti-slip carrying strap (14 312), camera cover for M bayonet (14 195), lithium ion rechargeable battery (14 464), battery charger incl. car socket adaptor and 3 mains plug adapters (Euro, UK, USA) (14 463), USB connection cable, user manual, software DVD Capture One LE, software CD with LEICA DIGITAL CAPTURE and user manuals in all languages (PDF); printed user manual for LEICA M8; warranty card for LEICA M8 
 
Download the M8 specs in PDF format

Download the M8 SD Card Compatibly page from Leica