newyorkone Posted April 2, 2007 Share #1 Posted April 2, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm seeing a weird thin line in all of my photos. Top left if it is a vertical shot and lower left if it is landscape. It is more noticeable for higher ISO's but it shows up even at ISO 160. Do I have a bad sensor? Thanks for any info. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 2, 2007 Posted April 2, 2007 Hi newyorkone, Take a look here Weird line in M8 photos. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ibogost Posted April 2, 2007 Share #2 Posted April 2, 2007 Yeah, this is the so-called vertical band. It seems to be relatively common, although not afflicting every camera all the time. I notice it from time to time but not always. Leica USA just told me I can send it back to them if I want, but I'm going to wait for 1.10 and then decide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted April 2, 2007 Share #3 Posted April 2, 2007 Steve-- This is new to me. I don't think anyone else has posted about this one. Is the image full frame? Is the line always in the same location? Is it always the same number of pixels wide? Is it always the same length? Does it appear in both JPG and in RAW? Does it appear in more than one Raw converter? I don't recognize anything in the picture--was this something you were doing just to find the streak? Does it appear in more 'normal' pictures as well? If you have to struggle to get it to show up, it may not be worth worrying about; but obviously it's there and it shouldn't be, so it looks as if repairs may be needed. Firmware 1.10 is due very shortly. Maybe it will correct this, so maybe you'll want to try the update before sending the camera off, as Ian suggested. --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
35mmSummicron Posted April 2, 2007 Share #4 Posted April 2, 2007 this unfortunately is NOT the vertical band that affects all current leica M8's. there have been a few users documented on this forum with the same issue. the only resolution is sending the camera back and getting a replacement. to the best of my knowledge there isnt a definate cause/root of this problem, and leica has not said anything officially. the good news is, as always, leica is standing behind their product and you should have this problem resolved hopefully sooner than later. good luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDR Posted April 2, 2007 Share #5 Posted April 2, 2007 I had this problem, although the line was always green or blue. I think the problem is a defective sensor. Leica and the dealer took care of the problem, swapping the camera for another new one. For anyone about to buy an M8, don't register it immediately. Check it out throughly first. Otherwise the swap is more difficult. The new camera works fine. I'm very pleased with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venkman Posted April 2, 2007 Share #6 Posted April 2, 2007 Looks like dead pixels to me (there are a couple of threads with example pictures covering this). Do a couple of shots at a white wall and see if there is a pattern of when it shows up. If it shows with apertures of 11+ at higher ISO, it's most likely dead pixels and you might want to contact customer service. Check this thread: http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/18123-strange-streak-dead-pixels-else.html Dirk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
newyorkone Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted April 2, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for the responses. It shows up at all apertures but is more noticeable at higher ISO's. I had searched the forum and some people are reporting similar issues but my line wasn't red or blue and didn't run the full height of the sensor. Here are answers to some of the questions... Is the image full frame? No. It is a crop of the top left corner of a vertical shot. Is the line always in the same location? Yes. Is it always the same number of pixels wide? Is it always the same length? Yes. Yes. Does it appear in both JPG and in RAW? Yes. Does it appear in more than one Raw converter? Yes I don't recognize anything in the picture--was this something you were doing just to find the streak? Does it appear in more 'normal' pictures as well? I was going though pictures in Lightroom and noticed the streak very clearly on one of the shots...ISO 640. Then I scrolled through all the pictures from that session and another session the day before and since Lightroom maintains the zoom and position (love this feature) I was able to easily see that all the pictures had the same streak. ***Update*** I have swapped out the camera for another one. I was a little bummed because the camera with the streak was 3108XXX and the replacement that I got is 3104XXX. Then again from what I have read the serial number thing is somewhat arbitrary. Is this true? Thanks again for all the info. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blado Posted April 2, 2007 Share #8 Posted April 2, 2007 I have this line, noticeable especially in high ISO shots. It is basically identical to the sample above in length and location. I posted samples here: http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/11458-m8-pixel-line.html I still plan to draw attention to it when it goes in for the fix. Soon! I keep needing my camera... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibogost Posted April 2, 2007 Share #9 Posted April 2, 2007 this unfortunately is NOT the vertical band that affects all current leica M8's. there have been a few users documented on this forum with the same issue. the only resolution is sending the camera back and getting a replacement. to the best of my knowledge there isnt a definate cause/root of this problem, and leica has not said anything officially. the good news is, as always, leica is standing behind their product and you should have this problem resolved hopefully sooner than later. Ok, so what is the vertical band that affects all current M8s, and how does one determine the difference between a "standard" vertical band and one that requires a sensor repair? Leica USA seems to just say "send it in" to anyone who calls with any questions/problems, so I'm hoping that the community here has more detailed advice? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted April 2, 2007 Share #10 Posted April 2, 2007 Steve-- There is no indication that later serial numbers are actually later cameras in all cases. Leica apparently produces bodies in batches. Very often a "new batch" of cameras will arrive in New Jersey, some with earlier serial numbers than the latest one already received, others with later serial numbers. Since Leica still tracks cameras by serial number and since the serial numbers do not arrive in serial order, this makes picking cameras for shipping (slightly) more a hassle. Ian-- As I recall, the vertical stripe is about 24 pixels wide, about 1/4 of the way from center to right edge, and runs all the way from top to bottom. It is always the same width and always in the same place but depending on the background may be invisible. Check the forum on the topic or wait for someone with a more definitive answer. (I think it might have been Scott Kirkpatrick who specified its width and location exactly.) That is the one generated by current firmware, and should be gone with 1.10. (Or maybe it already disappeared with 1.09.) In addition, there is the stripe generated by grossly overexposed light sources just outside the frame. For that there is no solution at the moment, though Leica hopes to fix it in future firmware. Unless I am mistaken, lines or stripes other than those two are hardware problems. --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
35mmSummicron Posted April 2, 2007 Share #11 Posted April 2, 2007 thanks howard, what you describe is what most here (including myself) is experiencing as the "vertical band". i can get this effect if i underexpose a 2500 ISO image, but i try not to go past 1250 as i find it grainy enough. i am hoping leica fixes/improves these problems soon with fw1.10 .....hopefully it will not just be for the IR filters. /a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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