Monochrom Issues

[oliverfox]

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Hi,

 

I don't often post here, but I do value the information that many have shared.

 

My Monochrom was delivered a couple of days ago so I've been out shooting today only to find a couple of issues with the camera. The first is that the shutter release's second pressure point doesn't lock the exposure until I'm almost firing the shutter, so it's very difficult to control. Completely unlike either of the M9s I have owned.

 

The second issue is that the focus is out of whack. Using a 50mm Summilux at nearest distance and f1.4, the image captured is sharp about an inch in front of what I actually focused on. Tested the same lens in the same configuration on my M9, no issues. The problem also seems to occur at greater distances, albeit with a larger difference in what is sharp versus what was focused on.

 

Very annoying and it's a good thing I have an M9 to keep me happy while I sort this out. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I appreciate there aren't many Monochroms out there yet, but maybe other M9 owners have had issues. Either way it's back to the Mayfair branch on Monday.

 

Thanks, Oli.

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[wattsy]

Either way it's back to the Mayfair branch on Monday.

 

Oli, ask if you can have Jimmy Hughes in the service department (opposite the shop) test the camera. He'll test it using one of their reference lenses and you can trust him not to fob you off with any "it's in spec" nonsense. As for the shutter release, are you sure your camera hasn't been set to "soft" release mode (my preferred setting)?

[oliverfox]

Will do on getting it tested out by Jimmy. And no on the soft setting - discreet only. For the life of me I don't get the soft setting. I'm sure someone will explain it to me one day. Thanks for the advice. Oli.

[Jager]

For the life of me I don't get the soft setting. I'm sure someone will explain it to me one day. Oli.

 

Well, it's pretty straightforward... the 'soft' setting triggers the shutter with less movement of the release button. The more pressure and the longer stroke you have to apply to the release button the greater the opportunity to introduce camera movement. Just like with firearms marksmanship. The shorter stroke of the 'soft' setting offers the hope of sharper images.

 

What you give up is the ability to lock exposure.

 

 

Back on topic... best of luck in getting your camera-focus issues quickly resolved, Oli.

[Guest]

Hi Oli,

I am afraid I had this problem with my M8/9, All my lenses focused front or back, even after a number of returns to Solms (both lenses and Body together) Leica could not sort the problem. I gave up and kept my film Leicas, sold the digital bodies.

[Shanghait]

In addition, Im getting weird lockups, which are similar to the SD card issues from M9.

I have the take out the battery and reset.

 

Secondly, when in discreet mode, sometimes the shutter releases, but when I take my finger off to rewind, it gets stuck and freezes.

 

Anyone else getting these kind of errors?

[Jay B]

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The discreet mode freeze is a known problem and Leica has stated they will address it in the upcoming firmware update.

[menos I M6]

In addition, Im getting weird lockups, which are similar to the SD card issues from M9.

I have the take out the battery and reset.

 

Secondly, when in discreet mode, sometimes the shutter releases, but when I take my finger off to rewind, it gets stuck and freezes.

 

Anyone else getting these kind of errors?

 

Same issue with mine as well.

The discreet mode freeze occurs seldom enough though, to not majorly disturb me so far.

 

Interestingly, the MM has not eaten SD cards and corrupted them the way my M9 did recently, so I can use the fast cards the M9 doesn't accept.

[Ted Lemon]

In addition, Im getting weird lockups, which are similar to the SD card issues from M9.

I have the take out the battery and reset.

 

Secondly, when in discreet mode, sometimes the shutter releases, but when I take my finger off to rewind, it gets stuck and freezes.

 

Anyone else getting these kind of errors?

 

Yep I have both of these and gone off discreet mode, the other issue with me was on the Extreme Pro 8gb Sandisk cards I used on my M8 (do not have M9) that locked up as you described on MM - and have changed to another card - after that ok. I have posted about this in the cards forum area.

[oliverfox]

Hi All,

 

I went to the Leica store and spoke to Jimmy. Great guy, no nonsense and I was lucky enough to come away with a new camera which has neither of the issues reported with the first camera (lucky in the sense that they had one available, not in the sense that I feel grateful to Leica for being able to cover their mistake).

 

In terms of the other issues reported on this post I also have the weird lockups on the M9. Kind of gotten used to popping the battery out from time to time, but I've never had the issue with the shutter getting stuck in discreet mode.

 

As ever it's an emotional experience with Leica.

 

Oli.

[Wolfgang Esslinger]

 

As ever it's an emotional experience with Leica.

 

[photomeme]

Same issue with mine as well.

The discreet mode freeze occurs seldom enough though, to not majorly disturb me so far.

 

Interestingly, the MM has not eaten SD cards and corrupted them the way my M9 did recently, so I can use the fast cards the M9 doesn't accept.

 

I wish Leica would hurry up with the firmware update that corrects the discreet mode issue.