Evolution of the digital rangefinder camera: LEICA M8.2
The new LEICA M8.2 is a fully updated version of the professional digital rangefinder camera LEICA M8.

Important core values of the LEICA M8 like discretion, intuitiveness and robustness have been further enhanced. The LEICA M8.2 complements the LEICA M8; both models will exist parallel in the market. Many elements of the LEICA M8.2 can be integrated into the M8. With this service, Leica Camera underlines once again the system compatibility and the high value retention of the M line.

New features of the LEICA M8.2 in detail:
The LEICA M8.2 integrates a new extra-quiet, low-vibration metal blade focal plane shutter which allows the photographer to determine the right moment for cocking. This returns the digital LEICA M8.2 to the ideal of the famous rubber cloth focal plane shutter of its analog sisters. Responding to the request of many professional photographers, the new model has been given an even more inconspicuous design: the Leica dot and the accessory shoe now blend in with the color of the camera. The black version of the camera boasts a new extra durable high-quality deep black finish.

The LEICA M8.2 new bright line frames allow more precise determination of the picture frame for longer distances. Focused closely, the area captured is smaller than the area shown by the bright lines, and as you move toward infinity, the area is slightly larger than the frame lines. It is a compromise between close up and distant performance. It provides a more accurate framing at long distance (street photography, reportage, landscapes). MP/M7 frame lines are in between the M8.2 and M8 frame lines.

The new snapshot mode will appeal to all those who want good results right away without knowing a lot about photography. If the shutter speed dial is turned to the new “S” setting, the camera controls all the key features automatically, such as automatic exposure (aperture priority), automatic ISO speed setting and automatic white balance. For the three most commonly used subject modes, the LEICA M8.2 gives hints on aperture and focus settings, which are displayed when the “INFO” button on the camera monitor is pressed. The photographer can obtain further information from the new brief waterproof instructions which can be folded to the size of a credit card.

The automatic ISO setting can be selected in all operation modes of the LEICA M8.2. Another new feature is a quick exposure compensation setting: When the shutter release button is pushed to the first pressure point, a correction of +/- 3 stops in 1/3 steps can be made with the dial on the back of the camera. The setting is shown in the viewfinder. Further modifications include a more pronounced detent mechanism of the main switch of the camera to prevent inadvertent activation of the self-timer, and redesign of the bright line frames in the viewfinder to allow more precise determination of the picture frame for longer distances.

The new LEICA M8.2 is the very first professional digital camera to use an ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal as cover glass for the camera monitor. It is so hard that it must be exclusively worked with special diamond tools and is permanently resistant to all mechanical or abrasive stress. The camera also sports a new easy-grip and specially robust “vulcanite” finish.

The new LEICA M8.2 has inherited the superlative image quality of the LEICA M8, resulting from the combination of the legendary M lenses with a CCD image sensor specially designed for the requirements of the Leica M system and high-performance image processing. The new Capture One 4 raw data converter of the Danish manufacturer Phase One ensures the best possible picture quality in the camera’s DNG mode.