Has anyone received a fully corrected M8 back from being "upgraded"?

[fotografz]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered. I'm not talking about the recent firmware upgrade, but the Hardware fix to eliminate the initial banding, blobbing, etc. sensor problems.

Any back from Leica and being used?

[georg]

Got it yesterday and they forgot my battery :-(
But everything else is just perfect: cleaned, rf-alignment (as it was before), no banding, no blobs, no stripes - nothing.

[robsteve]

Marc:

I think there was a US member that got his M8 back around December 19th, perhaps Bill Hollinger (BillH).

[ericc]

I am in the UK and received mine back on the 7th December 2006, I am using it, and am absolutely over the moon with the M8.

Cheers
Eric

[marknorton]

Mine was not picked up when it was meant to be, on Thursday, or Friday. They seem incapable of organising even that.

[jonoslack]

Originally Posted by marknorton

Mine was not picked up when it was meant to be, on Thursday, or Friday. They seem incapable of organising even that.

HI Mark
I've done some research on this one, and it's probably Parcel Force's fault - Mine was also due to be collected on the 4th - they tried on the 23rd December (but I was out shooting). I finally found someone to ring yesterday, and they were helpful and apologetic, and promised to pick it up on Monday.

I found the number by going to:
http://www.parcelforce.com/portal/pw...?catId=7500082
If this doesn't work, then it's their 'depot locator' I found it under site map (metaphorically speaking it was located in the basement, in an unused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'beware of the cheetah').

If you put in your post code, it should give you an 08700 number for the depot, when you ring them I think it's option 5 (at least it was with the Ipswich depot). I then got to talk to a real live person who was friendly and helpful.

good Luck (and watch out for the cheetah)

[pascal_meheut]

Yesterday was Christmas. My M8 came back and my dealer had the 2 extra batteries and the grip I ordered 2 months ago.

Still waiting for the 24mm and 28mm to come back with 6 bits coding and for the IR filters to arrive from Foto-Huppert but the M8 seems fine and does not exhibit any banding yet.

[marknorton]

Jono, did ParcelForce know they were meant to be collecting from you or was it news to them? Do you know if it's going to Oskar-Barnack-Strasse (the factory) or Solmser GewerbePark (service). I'm minded to get DHL to come and pick it up on Monday. At least it will then be there on Tuesday.

What interests me is that Leica UK don't seem to be participating in this at all for UK buyers. You'd think Germany would enlist their help but then they probably asked the question, looked at each other, banged their heads on the desk and groaned.

[marknorton]

Originally Posted by pascal_meheut

Yesterday was Christmas. My M8 came back and my dealer had the 2 extra batteries and the grip I ordered 2 months ago.

Still waiting for the 24mm and 28mm to come back with 6 bits coding and for the IR filters to arrive from Foto-Huppert but the M8 seems fine and does not exhibit any banding yet.

Pascal, as someone who will catch problems if anyone can, have you seen this new banding with a light source at the edge of the frame?

[jonoslack]

Originally Posted by marknorton

Jono, did ParcelForce know they were meant to be collecting from you or was it news to them? Do you know if it's going to Oskar-Barnack-Strasse (the factory) or Solmser GewerbePark (service). I'm minded to get DHL to come and pick it up on Monday. At least it will then be there on Tuesday.

What interests me is that Leica UK don't seem to be participating in this at all for UK buyers. You'd think Germany would enlist their help but then they probably asked the question, looked at each other, banged their heads on the desk and groaned.

HI Mark
Parcel Force did know - but they didn't seem to know when, and as they had tried before and failed, they kind of stopped.

Gewerbepark 8 Solms 35606 is where it's going. You're right Leica UK have nothing to do with this at all - the deal is with the German carrier (ParcelForce is their UK 'partner').

The guy I talked to said that the cameras were actually going back on to the productionline at the point at which the board was dealt with, so that all the QA stuff was being done again.

I can see why you want to send DHL, but it'll cost a bob or two, and if it isn't in the right box when it gets there . . . . . . .

I hope this helps.

[pascal_meheut]

Originally Posted by marknorton

Pascal, as someone who will catch problems if anyone can, have you seen this new banding with a light source at the edge of the frame?

I did not had a lot of opportunities to try it but I'll let you know.

[rvaubel]

Originally Posted by marknorton

Pascal, as someone who will catch problems if anyone can, have you seen this new banding with a light source at the edge of the frame?

Pascal

To clarify, the light source needs to be just outside the edge of the frame. The "sweet spot" is only about 24 pixels wide( I think) and is very sensitive. It would be best to mount the camera on a tripod and take a series of shots moving the camera only a little at a time.

Rex

[carstenw]

Mine is also back. I haven't seen any issues yet, except that the magenta cast is as strong as ever. The firmware update for this is meant to be 1.10, to be released in February or March. I have ordered an IR filter meanwhile.

[pascal_meheut]

BTW, I have the vertical band issue but not very strong and the IR filter seems to create some light reflections sometimes.
I'll try to make other tests later but so far; the camera is quite good when used with a 486.

[jaapv]

I'm wondering, would this edge-pixel banding have anything to do wilth the microlens offset?

[pascal_meheut]

Originally Posted by rvaubel

Pascal

To clarify, the light source needs to be just outside the edge of the frame. The "sweet spot" is only about 24 pixels wide( I think) and is very sensitive. It would be best to mount the camera on a tripod and take a series of shots moving the camera only a little at a time.

Rex

It has been quite easy to reproduce (2 shots) and it is ugly. Here is an example :

[wattsy]

Originally Posted by jonoslack

HI Mark
I've done some research on this one, and it's probably Parcel Force's fault

Funny, ParcelForce didn't have anything to do with my pick-up. Mine was picked up the day after Boxing Day by a scruffy looking bloke in a generic looking white van. He did, however, have the correct GLS shipping labels and the camera was received by Leica the next day. The online repair tracking states that the repair has been completed and (as of Friday) is being shipped back. Fingers crossed, Leica have been true to their word that they would get it back to me before this Friday coming (when I need it for a job).

[marknorton]

Originally Posted by pascal_meheut

It has been quite easy to reproduce (2 shots) and it is ugly. Here is an example :

Thanks Pascal, that's a fine example. I don't think we're out of the woods yet...

Ian, you've done well to get your camera fixed so quickly. Mine hasn't gone off yet and I'm in two minds whether to pursue it in the light of Pascal's example until we know what the cause/solution is.

[blovitch]

I received a 1.09 camera that had more flaws than my first M8.

They are now both back at Solms. They were collected on different days and in the case of the first one two days earlier than they said it would be....

I am not expecting to see either of them again any time soon.

Meanwhile I keep working and when feeling the need to shoot "M" I am using my old M7.

The weird thing is that for a few days with the M8 my thumb kept "looking" for the lever to wind on. Back with the M7 I have had to use the motor winder because I got so used to the automatic wind on )

[pascal_meheut]

Originally Posted by blovitch

The weird thing is that for a few days with the M8 my thumb kept "looking" for the lever to wind on. Back with the M7 I have had to use the motor winder because I got so used to the automatic wind on )

The exact same thing occured to me when I had the M8.

But you have been unlucky with your return to Solms. I just had a look at the "real" pictures I shot this morning with the M8 and they are splendid. The IR filter works fine.
I was shooting with the M7 too and I had flare in the viewfinder (it's one of the early one) when the M8 was ok. Not to mention the pleasure to shoot digital with a motordrive...