help!!

[Shootist]

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Why doesn't the camera automatically create a new folder and use that when it reaches the maximum for the folder its currently using? That's what my Canon G9 does.

 

Karl.

 

It does but once you reach L999, that is the folder designator, there aren't enough character left. And once you reach 9999, that is the real file designator, the camera automatically goes to the next folder number.

So if you are at the start of file numbering the folder is L100 and images are numbered 0001 to 9999, L100-0001 to L100-9999. Once you take the ten thousandth image the folder number goes to L101 and so on for each 10,000 images until you hit the 7 digit ( 8 characters and they will always have a L in the front) limit you can't go any higher, L999-9999. You can't go to L1000-0001. That's 8 digits (A total of 9 characters with the leading L) and the camera isn't set up to use another character.

It's like counting on your fingers and only being able to use your fingers once, and no toes, the highest you can count is 10.

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[jaapv]

Simplest thing to do, without needing a computer, is to go into the menu system and Reset Folder (or file) numbering. But first take it off continuos numbering, reset folder/file numbering then put it back on continuos numbering.

 

This happens if at some point your file and folder numbering was set to something like L9999XXX, or something like that with the 999 as the first 3 characters. At this point you will only have 1,000 to 10,000 image numbers left.

This has happened many time after a camera is sent back to Leica for some type of repair. It seems Leica doesn't bother resetting the cards they use and the numbering just keep growning and then when they send the camera back the numbering continues until you run out of numbering spaces. The M8, M9 and most digital cameras can only record 9 million 999 thousand 9 hundred 99 images before it runs out of numbers as there is only 7 numbering spaces.

Hey! Thanks. I was wondering where the 999 folder on one of my cameras came from.

[k-hawinkler]

It does but once you reach L999, that is the folder designator, there aren't enough character left. And once you reach 9999, that is the real file designator, the camera automatically goes to the next folder number.

So if you are at the start of file numbering the folder is L100 and images are numbered 0001 to 9999, L100-0001 to L100-9999. Once you take the ten thousandth image the folder number goes to L101 and so on for each 10,000 images until you hit the 7 digit ( 8 characters and they will always have a L in the front) limit you can't go any higher, L999-9999. You can't go to L1000-0001. That's 8 digits (A total of 9 characters with the leading L) and the camera isn't set up to use another character.

It's like counting on your fingers and only being able to use your fingers once, and no toes, the highest you can count is 10.

 

Wouldn't it make more sense to have it switch back to the beginning, like L000-0000 or L001-0001 or whatever Leica typically has at the beginning?

 

Thanks, k-hawinkler.

[Shootist]

Hey! Thanks. I was wondering where the 999 folder on one of my cameras came from.

 

You're Welcome Jaapv.

[brill64]

My guess would be that this camera has been back to Solms (Or NJ.) at some point, and the folder number was never reset from 999 afterwards.

 

thanks to all who've responded and made comments. i had picked up the camera from servicing only the day before. a quick look back showed that the last file number before servicing was L1550115.dng. the camera went in for it's lcd monitor to be replaced because of the "coffee ring" stain and whilst there i also dropped in my noctilux which was back focusing by about a foot at f1. incidentally, the lens assembly inside the lens was 0.01mm out of adjustment and a ring was fitted to shim it slightly out and now it's spot on. the technician left his images of the focusing chart and from around the workshop on my card where he had obviously created a new folder and was testing the lens post adjustment. the new numbering when the camera came back was at L9999877, which i had not noticed. you do the math but the camera was only out of my hands for two days. i've been using it for 13 months and i doubt that i could knock out that kind of total:rolleyes:

 

below is the the rather unspectacular image, sorry for posting or for offending anyone's artistic sensibilities, no critique necessary but it's the offending image after which the camera locked up. yes, i was warming up and had had a few beers. look at that number! the workaround posted by nicoleica (thanks again nicole!) and originally from shootist (thanks shootist!) within ten minutes of logging in was simple and worked a treat. this is gold and worth to keep somewhere safe..

 

one last notable point. look at the metadata for the very last image showing sky, buildings and water also taken by the technician using my m8.2. that's an m8.2, not an m8 classic. look at the shutter speed, it says 1/6000 sec. any ideas how this may have come about, anyone? i'm curious:rolleyes:

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[jaapv]

He popped your card into somebody else's M8, realised his mistake, and switched cards. Iirc the camera serial number is also recorded, you could check my suspicion.

[ericperlberg]

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This issue just happened to me after I travelled an hour to get to a spot to do some shooting. To complicate the situation I hadn't updated the firmware in the M8 I took out with me, it was still at 2.0. I took a photo and got the change folder number warning and sat and tried to find a menu item in 2.0 that would let me reset the folder number. NADA. Apparently Leica hadn't thought this issue through at firmware 2.0. After 1/2 hour of going through every menu and pressing all kinds of button combinations I gave up and travelled home. Was I a happy camper. No. Took out my manual. Is it in the manual index or TOC? No. Go to computer. Google. This thread came up. Problem sorted.

 

LIke others, the camera had been to Solms for repair last year. In the greater scheme of things this is just a tiny annoyance and not worth losing sleep over and I still can't think of a camera I'd rather own (well, ok, an M9) but it was so unnecessary and dare I say it, typisch Leica.

 

Thanks to all in this thread who have clarified, esp. Shootist.