Problem with R9 + DMR

[TitaniumM]

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Hello,

 

I tested my R9 body with a DMR which is offered for sale. The shutter release is ok but pictures are not registered on the SD card (and of course no picture displayed on the rear screen after shutter release).

 

The seller and I tried on another R9 body. No problem with this one!

 

So, it seems there is a coupling problem between my body and this DMR.

 

Did some of you encounter this problem?

[dave_d]

Did you try cleaning the electrical contacts on the camera body and the DMR? Dirty contacts can cause strange things to happen.

[stuny]

Dave's suggestion is most probably spot-on. Most of us DMR owners and former owners discovered this the hard way, but it's an easy repair.

[rogera]

I had the exact same problem so I cleaned the contacts, and all was well. The DMR can be tricky at times to say the least but I do love it!

[TitaniumM]

Thanks for your replies.

 

I will try to do that (even though it is not obvious that contacts on my body are dirty).

[dave_d]

My contacts never look corroded or dirty either but cleaning with a swab and isopropyl alcohol has always done the trick for me when the camera has failed.

[stuny]

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Don't forget to clean the contacts on the battery, using a pencil eraser.

[roguewave]

There ia another potential issue. Not all R8/R9 bodies have the correct software to communicate with the DMR. Also, the brand of the SD card is very important. The only reliable card I use & know of is the Transcend 150x SD 4GB card. They don't make these any more & they are as scarce as hen's teeth. Good luck. My DMR is the finest kit I have ever owned.

[masjah]

There ia another potential issue. Not all R8/R9 bodies have the correct software to communicate with the DMR. Also, the brand of the SD card is very important. The only reliable card I use & know of is the Transcend 150x SD 4GB card. They don't make these any more & they are as scarce as hen's teeth. Good luck. My DMR is the finest kit I have ever owned.

 

Ben, I've never used a DMR though at one time I did consider getting one (full frame was important for my particular needs though). I have a pretty clear recollection that it was only some R8's that suffered in this way. (In fact I think I'm right in saying that any R8 which was returned to Leica for any other service work was routinely checked for this and rectified.) I think all R9s (which the OP has) were OK.

[roguewave]

Ben, I've never used a DMR though at one time I did consider getting one (full frame was important for my particular needs though). I have a pretty clear recollection that it was only some R8's that suffered in this way. (In fact I think I'm right in saying that any R8 which was returned to Leica for any other service work was routinely checked for this and rectified.) I think all R9s (which the OP has) were OK.

 

John, I wish that were the case. I own 3 R8 bodies and had an R9, which I sold. Unfortunately, it isn't routine to have the last software update in either the R8 or R9. I have friends that struggled with this issue. The best solution for those in the US is to bring the camera/DMR to New Jersey (or ship it if you are out of town). It took some time, but after a short delay I was able to ensure that the last update was encoded in both the R8 & the DMR. Only Leica can perform that undertaking. Another side issue surrounds the "color", meaning a green vs blue color in the viewfinder. That often signals an issue about the version of the current software. Al the best. Ben

[robsteve]

I can confirm Ben's findings. I had a very early R8 and a very early R9 and both worked with my DMR. When the metering cells went in my R9 three days before a vacation, I bought a new very late production R9 and it did not fully function with the DMR, in that it would not turn the DMR on and off with the camera mode dial. In the end, Kindermann Canada repaired the old R9 in a day and shipped it overnight back to me in time for the vacation.

[robsteve]

Thanks for your replies.

 

I will try to do that (even though it is not obvious that contacts on my body are dirty).

 

It is probably your contacts. Either they need to be cleaned or Leica needs to adjust your R9 so the contacts make good contact. I am not sure what they do, but some bodies do not mate up well with the DMR. I am not referring to software, but perhaps the distance the contacts are from the base plate bottom.

[masjah]

Ben and Rob, I stand corrected! I don't know where I got the story that it was only R8's that possibly needed their firmware upgrading. I wouldn't have made it up, so I'm clearly repeating someone else's mistaken belief that I read. It's a pity; it means no-one can safely buy a DMR without checking it out on their particular camera (quite apart from issues of serviceability. I don't know if Leica would still update an R9 free of charge - somehow I doubt it.

 

As I said earlier, I've got an M240 + adapter + EVF2 on order.

[roguewave]

Ben and Rob, I stand corrected! I don't know where I got the story that it was only R8's that possibly needed their firmware upgrading. I wouldn't have made it up, so I'm clearly repeating someone else's mistaken belief that I read. It's a pity; it means no-one can safely buy a DMR without checking it out on their particular camera (quite apart from issues of serviceability. I don't know if Leica would still update an R9 free of charge - somehow I doubt it.

 

As I said earlier, I've got an M240 + adapter + EVF2 on order.

 

John, it's not very difficult to fix the issue of the software required for the R8/R9. As Rob reported, he got the needed fix.

 

Personally, I like the balance of my R8/DMR kit.

 

I have little interest in the "new" solution. The new M is just to small and will never provide the balance for the lenses I use all the time, my Summilux 80, Summilux 35 and the R19. All those lenses are big & heavy, but worth their weight in gold.

 

I don't want an EVF. I'm very old school!

[robert_parker]

I've had similar experiences to most of those described above.

 

Not all SD cards work well with the DMR back, I've often found cheaper cards write with black lines across the image. I've used Sandisk Extreme 111 2GB cards with no problem.

 

I sent my DMR and R9 combination to Solms for repair and it came back with the back and camera starting up separately, when prevoiously they started together from the R9's on / off switch. Luckily this was reset after a vist to Solms.

 

The fit of the DMR to the camera body can be adjusted by checking the number of brass washers fitted under the screw which engages between the DMR and the camera body. I think from memory there are three and the fit can be made more snug by the removal of one or more washers.

 

As Ben says, balance is key to the use of the DMR / R8 /R9 combination. The camera fits beautifully into the hand when using the leather palm grip and balances natually when using the R series lenses or similar, allowing easy movement from portrait to landscape shooting and makes the combination a very effective street camera.

 

My favourite lenses are the 90AA, 180 2.8 APO and the 50 'Lux, though any of the older longer telephoto lenses are also great fun to use.

[jpattison]

I second Robert's thoughts on the R9/DMR with my favourite lenses being the 90 AA and the 28 PC SA. The images are superb, very film like.

 

If you have never tried one, get a hold of one for a while, you can always resell for what you paid. Remember that the SD cards supported are SD not SDHC so 2GB is the max, unless you can find a rare 4GB SD that works. ( I have a 4GB SD that the camera will not recognise)

 

John