Dmr/r8 Question

[roguewave]

I drew a great sigh of relief in that the lines I got on my images are not related to my sensor or the DMR. I attached the DMR to my second R8 & all is well. With the R8 #2, when I press any shutter release, it doesn't wind the shutter. I need to press any of the buttons again. The images are fine, shutter speeds appear to be accurate. I re-read both manuels, but I'm still at a loss. Can anyone help or inform about this? Thanks in advance. Ben

[robsteve]

Ben:

You need to clean the contacts on the R8 and DMR. If this doesn't help I think Leica will adjust the R8 so it mates properly.

Robert

[rsolomon]

make sure the winder lever is in all the way ..... however most likely it is the contacts as Rob mentions ...

Is this the first time you have had this R8 on the DMR? .... has this pair worked before ?

I ask because some of the R8's need the electrical contacts replaced or modified for a proper fit. My understanding (but i am not positive) is that the "flat smooth" contacts on some R8's need to be replaced with the "dimple" style contacts that exisit on the R9's, this allows for a secure and positive contact between the DMR and the R8....To my knowlege R9's all have "dimple" style contacts and therefore do not have this issue.

While the R8 is fully supported to use with the DMR is was designed with the R9 in mind..... there are a few examples of this ...the contacts being one of them, the power on/off another.



Rich

[rsolomon]

Ben,
on the winder lever item...... look in the manual on page 24....right hand column..notes.... the first one. .....

it says....

Notes:

• A motor integrated into the Digital-Modul-R automatically cocks the shutter after each picture. Alternatively, for example to save battery capacity or avoid noise, you can also do this manually using the camera’squick wind lever. If the quick wind lever is in the ready position, i.e. folded out, the motorized drive is deactivated.

BTW: sounds like we are back to a dirty lens or dirt in the camera somewhere

[roguewave]

Originally Posted by robsteve

Ben:

You need to clean the contacts on the R8 and DMR. If this doesn't help I think Leica will adjust the R8 so it mates properly.

Robert

I have cleaned them 3 times.

Robert, can this (syncing the R8 & DMR) be done without much hassle. Rich mentioned bringing the set to Leica in NJ. Would it be imprudent to think they could adjust this quickly, or am looking at weeks of wait? Thanks both of you for the input.

[rsolomon]

Ben,
i had mine mechanically matched. They will do it while you wait these are minor adjustments to make sure all is lined up correctly. Make sure to bring the DMR, the camera(s) and your lenses.

Are the contacts on your R8 flat and smooth or are they dimpled ? dimpled are preferred for the DMR.

There is another possibilty i just thought of, that is if this camera and DMR never worked together it's possible the OS in the R8 may need to be upgraded.... yes there is a computer chip in the R8. The R8 went to market before the DMR ever hit the design board...

you may also want to read the oginal DMR chat with forum members and leica engineers, some of this is mentioned

[roguewave]

Rich, my 2nd R8 has flat contacts and the led's (viewfinder readout) is green while my 1st R8 is a different config. The 1st R8's led is blue and I believe is sharper. I'll call Leica in the AM. Thanks again, Ben

[andybarton]

My R8 has yellow LEDs in the viewfinder and flat gold contacts. I think it's a '98 version.

It did have a holiday in Solms before I bought the DMR unit though, and any such camera is treated to a firmware upgrade automatically. The firmware is more important than the contacts - no amount of good contact will make the camera work with the DMR if the firmware in the R8 isn't up to the job.

[stuny]

Ben -

My R8 and DMR accompanied me to Leica - NJ soon after I got the DMR. they did whatever it was that was necessary within an hour.

[rsolomon]

Ben,
if i recall the blue LED's are from oldest batch of R8's.... i can;t think of a reason it would be sharper unless there is some type of problem with the newer R8..

bring the whole kit into NJ (both cameras, DMR, lenses), they'll get you straigtened out....service there is quite good and really all the dealers do is ship to NJ anyway so you'll save time.

let is us know

[jlancasterd]

Originally Posted by andybarton

My R8 has yellow LEDs in the viewfinder and flat gold contacts. I think it's a '98 version.

It did have a holiday in Solms before I bought the DMR unit though, and any such camera is treated to a firmware upgrade automatically. The firmware is more important than the contacts - no amount of good contact will make the camera work with the DMR if the firmware in the R8 isn't up to the job.

My '98 R8 also has yellow/green LEDs and, like many others of this vintage, it had to go to Solms for new contacts and a firmware update before it would talk to the DMR. IIRC It was away for about 8 weeks (in 2006).

[roguewave]

Andy, Stu, Rich & John, thanks for the counsel. I'm checking my calender for a trip to NJ with both R8's, the DMR & a lens. Ben

[rsolomon]

i think the blue LED's go back to 1996.....

[roguewave]

Robert, Rich, Andy, Stu & John, thanks for the insights & suggestions. Made the pilgrimage to Leica USA, NJ and met will an extremely courteous, efficient and intelligent man named William. He sorted out my problem with the R8 body I had been using with those unseemly lines. Three black, thin strands of some material that Leica uses to seal any light leaks were standing tall in the shutter. I plucked them out and all is well. William also educated me on how the shutter works and if necessary, to manually open the shutter for cleaning.

The news on my second body is not as bright but has a solution. It appears the second body I bought is from the first run in Germany and to make it work with the DMR, the circuit boards and other mysterious components need to be ordered and then surgically replaced. They can do the work at no further cost to me and my wallet, but I need to leave the R8 & DMR with them in the morning and then pick it up early afternoon the next day. A great experience and I get to sort out a time when I can part with my tools for the suggested period. Let me thank you all again for services rendered in my behalf. Your support came swiftly and with care.

There’s a lot of talk & grumbling amongst the tribe of Leica aficionados, as evidenced by many of the posts on this forum, but let me go on record that this firsthand experience with William, the lovely and caring ladies that let me in early (from out in the rain) and the demeanor of everyone I came in contact with, has re-enforced my commitment to Leica, it’s products and community.

I took the opportunity to speak with some other folks about the future of the R system. I’m grateful for their careful consideration and immediate attention & solutions to my problems, so I don’t want to speak out of turn. Nobody revealed anything that hasn’t cropped up in the near-blogs-posts on the forum. I did come away with a reassurance that our investment in the world’s greatest optics are not in vain and that the new offering in the form of a digital R body includes a compatibility (with adjustments) with our glass. That was the icing on the cake for me. Let me thank you all once again. As a group & individually, you have always been a wonderful resource and if I may, a trustworthy voice of reason. My gratitude & the best to you all. Ben

[andybarton]

I'm filling up...

Great to see that you got your R8 sorted and I look forward to seeing the results from the DMR when it's done.

[rsolomon]

Ben,
Great news....

on the light leak: will they replace that part for you or did you just clip the strands away ?


On the blue led R8, that turned out to be a real clue in the age of your R8, sounds like there are various electronic and probably firmware updates required to bring it current -- You'll basically have a new camera since they are upgrading the portion that historical has deleivered the most problems.

On the DMR, pick one of your R8's and ask them to mechanically match it with the DMR, this means to just make some very fine and quick adjustments so parts mate togehter the best they can.

As far as getting any "futures" information from Leica NJ -- forget about it !!!! if they know they wont say.

Sounds like it was worth the trip out to NJ. for NJ area people its so much faster then bringing it to the dealer

[rsolomon]

Ben,
any updates ?

[roguewave]

Rich, all is well in the world of Leica. Everything is working well. I want to shoot some B&W film with my second R8 before I send to NJ. If you come into town, let me know, we can snap some frames together. Between us there's plenty to choose from as far as gear is concerned. Thanks for all the help. I really needed it.

[sdp448]

Hey Ben,
FYI . When I bought my DMR I was told that you could fit it on the R8 but it was really made for to be used with the R9. I am saying this because I used it on my R8 and had the same problems with it too. Send it to Alendale for upgrade, when I got it back still
Had the same problem with it. But that was a couple of years ago. Please let us know if they have rectified the problem.
Thanks,
Scott.

[topoxforddoc]

Scott,

Ideally you have to send both the body and the DMR to Leica. I had a problem with my R9 and first DMR (before they were stolen). When they came back, it all worked perfectly. My current R9/DMR worked fine straight out of the box.

Charlie