sean_reid Posted January 23, 2007 Share #1 Posted January 23, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Important: Please, please limit replies on this thread to poll responses. We can certainly start another thread if we want to discuss this topic generally. What I want to do in this thread, however, is to gather data. Leica will be examining my camera and I've discussed the failure and my thoughts with them. For the benefit of both Leica and M8 owners/prospective owners, I'd like to gather data about how common this kind of failure has been. I'm hoping that it is *not* common but would like the best data we, as a group, can come up with. I would ask that all M8 owners on this list, if they're willing, take a moment to respond to these questions either with a post here or a PM to me (if he or she prefers). It would be important to hear from people who have never experienced this problem as well as those who have. The scenario is this: After being turned on (or perhaps while the camera is already on), the top exposure/battery display remains blank and the camera does not respond at all to the shutter release. The rear LCD screen may or may not continue to function and respond to the cameras rear-mounted buttons. The rear LCD may remain on even when the camera is in the off position. The following may then be true. A) If the camera is turned off and the battery is removed briefly and reinstalled, the M8 responds normally. If the camera is turned off, the battery is removed briefly and a fresh battery is installed, the M8 responds normally. C) If the camera is turned off and the battery is removed for a longer period of time before being reinstalled, the M8 responds normally. D) The camera does not return to normal operation no matter what steps are taken by the owner. I think many people on this forum understand that I really like the M8 and am not interested in being an alarmist. I want the best data that I can gather report and pass on to Leica. Here are the poll questions, please simply number your replies to match the questions. 1. How many M8s have you either owned or used regularly for more than a week? 2. Have any of these cameras shown the behavior described above? Please answer for each camera and note if the camera is "first' or "second" generation. 3. If yes to #2, did the camera return to normal operation after it was turned off and its battery removed briefly and reinstalled? 4. If yes to #2, did the camera return to normal operation after it was turned off and a fresh battery was installed? 5. If yes to #2, did the camera return to normal operation after it was turned off, left without a battery installed for a longer period of time and then had the battery reinstalled? If so, how long was the interval where it sat with no battery? 6. If yes to #2, did the camera fail to return to normal operation after various steps had been taken? Did the camera need to be returned to Leica? 7. If yes to #6, did Leica indicate what needed to be repaired on your camera. 8. If yes to #2, did you note the battery level on the camera just before it showed this behavior? What was the level? Did you note static electricity in the area or any other factors that might be relevant? Please add any comments that might help to clarify your answers to these six questions. Again, please only post poll replies on this thread. We can use another thread to discuss this further if needed. If you have never seen this sort of problem with your M8(s) that's important data to share. Thanks! Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 23, 2007 Posted January 23, 2007 Hi sean_reid, Take a look here Poll: M8 Freezing/Failures. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
khanosu Posted January 23, 2007 Share #2 Posted January 23, 2007 1. Owned and used regularly one M8 for more than a month. 2. My M8 showed the behavior described above once. 3. The camera returned to normal operation after it was turned off and its battery removed briefly and reinstalled. Thanks for collecting this data, Sean. Furrukh Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted January 23, 2007 1. 3 M8s 2. body A: no problem, first gen body B: showed problem, first gen body C: showed problem, second gen, same shoot as C 3. body B: no body C: no 4. body B: no body C: no 5. body B: yes, left for perhaps one hour body C: no 6. body B: returned to normal operation body C: did not return to normal operation (in-transit to Leica now) 7. NA 8. Didn't notice, likely at 2/3 bars. Both cameras developed the problem during the same indoor shoot, both tripod mounted with tripod on carpet, noticeable static electricity in room Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_h Posted January 23, 2007 Share #4 Posted January 23, 2007 1. 1 2. 0 3. - 4. - 5. - 6. - 7. - 8. - purchase date : Jan 07 ver 1.09 Only had the camera 2 weeks so it's early days Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioriw Posted January 23, 2007 Share #5 Posted January 23, 2007 1. 1 M8 2. No Here's hoping it will stay that way for many years to come.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tashley Posted January 23, 2007 Share #6 Posted January 23, 2007 1) 1 M8 2) No Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted January 23, 2007 Share #7 Posted January 23, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) 1. 1 M8 2. 0 3. - 4. - 5. - 6. - 7. - 8. - purchase date : 03 Jan 07 Firmware ver 1.09 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 23, 2007 Share #8 Posted January 23, 2007 First generation M8 - now updated by Leica. In two and a half months of regular use I have had one instance of a lock-up (not sure what the symptoms were regarding LCD, etc. but it was essentially non-functioning). Turned it off, removed battery for a few seconds, replaced battery, turned on and M8 was fine. I cannot be sure when this occurred but I think it was before the camera went back to Solms for updating. Camera has been fine since. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielt Posted January 23, 2007 Share #9 Posted January 23, 2007 1. How many M8s have you either owned or used regularly for more than a week? ONE 2. Have any of these cameras shown the behavior described above? Please answer for each camera and note if the camera is "first' or "second" generation. SECOND 3. If yes to #2, did the camera return to normal operation after it was turned off and its battery removed briefly and reinstalled? YES Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddylarsen Posted January 23, 2007 Share #10 Posted January 23, 2007 The scenario is this: After being turned on (or perhaps while the camera is already on), the top exposure/battery display remains blank and the camera does not respond at all to the shutter release. The rear LCD screen may or may not continue to function and respond to the cameras rear-mounted buttons. The rear LCD may remain on even when the camera is in the off position. I have had the exactly same problem with my M8. I have sent back the camera to my dealer in Oslo and they will send me a new M8 when they get a new shipment of cameras from Leica. Freddy Larsen Norway Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C. Posted January 23, 2007 Share #11 Posted January 23, 2007 1. One M8 2. No; second generation Tony Cobitz Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 23, 2007 Share #12 Posted January 23, 2007 1. 1 M8 2. No Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 23, 2007 Share #13 Posted January 23, 2007 #1: Yes- two, one since November 16th 1rst generation, one since January 3rd 2nd generation # 2: Yes, the first camera. The second not. #3: No #4. No #5: Yes, four days, but the operation was not quite normal; it would interject the occasional totally overexposed frame and a few days later it died completely. In the meantime the battery indicated not more than 1/4th to low charge, despite being charged fully. #6. As it happened Leica collected the camera shortly after total failure for refurb. They did request that I include the battery and charger as well. #7: No, it is due to be returned tomorrow. #8 The battery was half full before it showed this behaviour, I inadvertently left it on in the camerabag which was subjected to strong movement. It came out of the bag with the LCD on regardless of switch position and otherwise dead. After that it never showed more that 1/4 full. I could not check another battery, as I did not have one, but I strongly suspect the battery as the cause. There was no special static electricity around, but there may have been some cosmic radiation, as I was skiing up to 3500 m. I hope Leica will be able to work out the cause from polls like this. Good thinking Sean! But it smells of a hardware thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted January 23, 2007 Share #14 Posted January 23, 2007 1. One M8 (second gen) 2. No Sean, thanks for initiating this poll. Larry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share #15 Posted January 23, 2007 The scenario is this: After being turned on (or perhaps while the camera is already on), the top exposure/battery display remains blank and the camera does not respond at all to the shutter release. The rear LCD screen may or may not continue to function and respond to the cameras rear-mounted buttons. The rear LCD may remain on even when the camera is in the off position. I have had the exactly same problem with my M8. I have sent back the camera to my dealer in Oslo and they will send me a new M8 when they get a new shipment of cameras from Leica. Freddy Larsen Norway Thanks for all the replies so far and please keep them coming. Freddy, thanks for the post. Could you take a second to answer the poll questions so that I can include your data? Thanks. Thanks to all for taking a moment to respond to the poll even if your camera has not shown this behavior. Cheers, Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asfeir Posted January 23, 2007 Share #16 Posted January 23, 2007 1. 1 second generation 28 December 2. NO Crossing my fingers Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenb Posted January 23, 2007 Share #17 Posted January 23, 2007 1: 1 2: 1, second generation 3: no, 4: no, 5: no 6: yes; it has been to Germany and back 7: no 8: I didn´t notice batt.level - the M8 died when I inserted a cable release. I think no static. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smsmd Posted January 23, 2007 Share #18 Posted January 23, 2007 Hi Sean 1 M8, second gen, no issues yet. steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
msr Posted January 23, 2007 Share #19 Posted January 23, 2007 1. 1 M8 since Dec. 18, 06 2. Yes, second generation 3. Yes it did 8. Battery was near full. I believe my camera locked up as it was still writing a raw file while I was trying to program a menu change (tried to do two things at once). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bernd Banken Posted January 23, 2007 Share #20 Posted January 23, 2007 would it be clever to mention the serial-number? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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