New M8 firmware

[robsteve]

Just noticed this on the LUF. Downloaded it and installed on my M8 without any problems. The Auto-ISO is cool and the camera seems to boot quicker.

http://de.leica-camera.com/assets/file/download.php?filename=file_3795.zip

Robert

 

[ecliffordsmith]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the information. I see that there is know way back to earlier versions of the firmware once you upgrade. Lets hope there are no glitches.

Guy,

Have you been using this for some time? Are there any other non documented features?

 

[robsteve]

Ed:

I think Jack and Guy are at their lighting workshop this week.

Robert

 

[stephengilbert]

Does Guy own an M8?

 

[gero]

thanks Robert. I have just updated my apple software and the highlight problem in Aperture for the DMR was fixed.

 

[ecliffordsmith]

Thanks Rob.

Looking at LUF it seems like this is a very nice release. I will try it out when I get home.

Stephen,

Guy certainly did have an M8. He used to get beta releases of the firmware, hence my question.

I have no idea if he still owns one though ...

 

[johnastovall]

Just upgraded and it looks fine. The auto-iso look like it will take some figuring out but over to New Egg for some 8 or 16 gig Extreme III SD cards.

 

[bradhusick]

I loaded it on both my M8s and I like it. The auto ISO allows you to set the maximum ISO and / or the minimum shutter speed, or set the speed as lens-specific (1/focal length). Nice.

 

[Woody Campbell]

Great update. Supports SDHC cards - so much for the hardware issue. Using a Sandisk 8meg ultra II, startup times and write times are dramatically faster. Very, very nice.

Auto ISO as noted.

What else - there isn't any documentation up in English? Any difference in high ISO performance?

 

[carstenw]

Someone at the LUF mentioned that the high ISO results look a bit better. Having gone through this line of wishful thinking for previous firmware updates, I was ready for it this time, and did shots at ISO 1600 and ISO 2500, before and after. There is a noticeable difference, with much better smoothing going on now. They are still quite noisy, but better. I wonder what the difference will look like after a round of Noise Ninja or a similar piece of software?

 

[John Black]

Carsten - did you notice the difference in the DNGs or the JPEGs?

 

[ecliffordsmith]

Hi All,

After playing around with ISO 2500 and 1250 I agree with Carsten that there appears to be an improvment in the noise. The chroma noise seems to be thinner and less blotchy. I have not tried the JPEGs yet.

I bought myself a SanDisk Extreme III SDHC card though and cant say the write times appear to have changed much. Are people noticing a dramatic difference here? I am shooting DNG only which I never considered bad in the first instance.

 

[fotografz]

Loaded with no issue.:clap:

Faster start up. Definitely faster reformatting.:thumbup:

High ISO is marginally better ... ISO 1250 is almost usable now for me, and I'll take it in a pinch ... especially converted to B&W.

Had hoped for 1250 to be much better ... oh well.

Everyone can thank me for the SDHC support ... I sold all my SDHCs last week ... so of course this week they provide HC support :banghead:

 

[Jack]

Everyone can thank me for the SDHC support ... I sold all my SDHCs last week ... so of course this week they provide HC support :banghead:

Thanks Marc! D) But the truth is I am glad to know I am not the only person to get screwed on those types of timing errors :ROTFL: Plus, if I was a luckier person than you, I'd be one of the folks who got some of your large cards!

Cheers,

 

[carstenw]

Carsten - did you notice the difference in the DNGs or the JPEGs?

DNG. I have yet to put them up on my big screen though, so hold that thought...

 

[John Black]

Hi Carsten - Thank you for the follow up. I'll give 1250 a try again this weekend (firmware update went fine). Maybe I'll change my opinion on ISO 1250. I hope so.

 

[carstenw]

...or maybe I will? Try it in darker situations. High ISO often looks much better in daylight tests than in actual dark situations. I will see if I can get my first result online sometime this weekend.

 

[roberth]

and I just bought 4 new cards specifically not SDHC.

Auto ISO looks like it may be useful.

 

[Jan Brittenson]

Works great with the Sandisk Ultra II 16GB SDHC cards I use for my camcorder (Canon HF10). And an old LG SDHC 4GB I use for the GX100 works great. The LG is quite fast, so it may become my standard for the M8.

 

[j. white]

I loaded the new firmware yesterday and thus far it's performed flawlessly.

Auto ISO is a welcome feature. In fact, it's the only feature I missed after trying and selling the D200, so for me personally the M8 now behaves as a digital camera ought to. Nothing more, and now, nothing less.

I shot a few pre and post update 2500 ISO shots last night and will have a chance to evaluate them later today.