M8 Firmware Suggestion

[brucek]

I haven't seen this mentioned before which is a bit of a surprise. If I've missed it and am rehashing an old topic I apologize in advance.

One thing I would like to see Leica add to the M8 firmware is a selection to prevent picture taking if there isn't an SD card in the camera. At one point I managed to powerup the camera without a card in it and missed the warning that appears on the LCD screen to that effect. I happily took several shots and reviewed them on the LCD, but when I went to review them later after turning the camera off I was surprised to not find them. I got an immediate flashback to a couple of times I had similar problems but that was with film cameras.

Canon allows the user to choose whether or not the camera will take pictures without a memory card in it. That mode makes a lot of sense to me.

Bruce

[Shootist]

Simple solution. Never put the bottom plate on without having both a battery and SD card inserted. If you're going to store it, I have no idea why any one would do that, and you take out the battery and card, when you go to use it again insert both, card/battery.
I see no reason for this in any firmware. If the bottom plate is off it won't take any picture. If you remove the bottom plate to remove the card to copy images then leave it off until you re-insert the card.
Sounds simple to me.
Now with a Nikon that has a separate door for both battery and card I can see having that in the firmware. I have closed the door to the card area without even thinking about it after taking the card out to copy images off it.
But with the M8 removing and replacing the bottom kind of stops you from doing that.

[DaveEP]

I agree it would be nice to prevent shooting if no card is present, but I got in to the habbit of never putting the bottom on without a card in there. Habbits can be good sometimes

[tjv]

Also, I think a more earthshattering allert for low batteries is in order. It's east to get caught up and not realise your battery is on the verge of demise. I've missed a few shots because of that. The battery life in the M8 is dismal anyway, to say the least. I'm only getting about 250 shots per charge with minimal chimping and not auto review.

Tim

[rvaubel]

Originally Posted by tjv

Also, I think a more earthshattering allert for low batteries is in order. It's east to get caught up and not realise your battery is on the verge of demise. I've missed a few shots because of that. The battery life in the M8 is dismal anyway, to say the least. I'm only getting about 250 shots per charge with minimal chimping and not auto review.

Tim

Why is 250 shots per charge "dismal". I rarely shoot more than that in a day and with a backup battery (a must anyway) I am good for 500. I must be weird because many seem to complain about not being able to go 500-1000 shots on a charge. I don't seem to mind charging my battery(s) at the end of the day. What's the big deal?

Rex

[sean_reid]

Originally Posted by tjv

Also, I think a more earthshattering allert for low batteries is in order. It's east to get caught up and not realise your battery is on the verge of demise. I've missed a few shots because of that. The battery life in the M8 is dismal anyway, to say the least. I'm only getting about 250 shots per charge with minimal chimping and not auto review.

Tim

It shouldn't be dismal. Did you cycle it through several full discharges (as suggested in the manual) when you first started using it?

Cheers,

[wparsonsgisnet]

Ditto, I am getting many more shots than 250 on an M8 battery -- including LOTS of review.

[barjohn]

Sean,

Any workd on when 1.10 will be released? Have you had an opportunity to beta test it? Any thoughts about the issues it will address?

[sean_reid]

Hi John,

No official announcement on the release date yet.

Cheers,

Sean

[magyarman]

Is now big trable relation between to Leica and Jenoptik who was responsive make it firmware for M8. Mabe becaus this is Leica cant to do 1.10 before find it another partner?

[barjohn]

Boy I sure hope not. It is very difficult and time consuming to take someone elses software and fix it. It can take months to just figure out what they were doing and why, then additional time to figure out a fix. Has anyone else heard that Leica and jenoptik are having serious problems in their relationship?

[magyarman]

here is quote from 13 december

Jena, 13. December 2006

The Jenoptik Group rescinds the sale of its 51 percent of the shares in Sinar AG to Leica Camera AG.

The sale of the Sinar shares to Leica Camera AG had been agreed and published at short notice at Photokina in Cologne at the end of September 2006. The transfer of the shares to Leica Camera AG was subject to contractual conditions which have not been fully completed to date. By rescinding from the contract, Jenoptik intends to avert damage from Sinar AG due to unclear ownership structures. Jenoptik reserves the right to assert against Leica Camera AG claims for damage resulting from the failed sale. At present, other business relations between Jenoptik and Leica Camera AG are not effected by today's decisions.

Is tell other busness is ok, oba I thing is sound like <<freundily>> divorcement. This mean side of face to each other keep happy smile while side which face to away shows angry teeth

[colorflow]

Has anyone talked to Leica about adding lens selection in the menu instead of lens coding? I guess they did not do it since lens coding is a revenue source for them. Nevertheless would be interesting to hear what they say.

Alan

[magyarman]

Originally Posted by colorflow

I guess they did not do it since lens coding is a revenue source for them. Nevertheless would be interesting to hear what they say.

Alan

Why someone should be interesting what story Leica tell instead truth reason? Only reason can be, is exactly which you tell.

[colorflow]

Originally Posted by magyarman

Why someone should be interesting what story Leica tell instead truth reason? Only reason can be, is exactly which you tell.

Would be interesting to see if their position/excuses change in time depending on what actual revenue they are realizing from lens coding. This revenus stream will die out as older lenses get coded and 'do-it-yourslef' coding gets more permanent and proficient. Perhaps a future firmware upgrade as that revenue dies.

[j. borger]

Originally Posted by colorflow

Has anyone talked to Leica about adding lens selection in the menu instead of lens coding? I guess they did not do it since lens coding is a revenue source for them. .....
Alan

The revenues are far more from forcing people to buy Leica lenses, cause other brands can not be coded ...