dant Posted November 25, 2014 Share #1 Posted November 25, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I was shooting the MM in about 19 to 20 degree F weather. It kept showing a shutter failure sign. After 2 to 15 sec the shutter would reset and I could shoot again. Are cold temps a problem with the MM? It worked fine again when warmed back up. I didn't try MM #2, so can't say it happened to both of the cams. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 25, 2014 Posted November 25, 2014 Hi dant, Take a look here Does you MM freeze up in cold weather?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jdlaing Posted November 25, 2014 Share #2 Posted November 25, 2014 Did you not read the instructions? The Operating Temperature is 32 to 104 degrees. Page 166 of the Manual. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 25, 2014 Share #3 Posted November 25, 2014 Keep a spare battery in your pocket and keep the camera under your coat. Operation of digital gear is normally not guaranteed under 0 centrigrade or so, and with a smallish full metal body the battery temperature drops rapidly. Big rubber and plastic is somewhat less sensitive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick in CO Posted November 25, 2014 Share #4 Posted November 25, 2014 Keep a spare battery in your pocket and keep the camera under your coat. Operation of digital gear is normally not guaranteed under 0 centrigrade or so, and with a smallish full metal body the battery temperature drops rapidly. Big rubber and plastic is somewhat less sensitive. My M8 froze during an outside shoot of a wedding couple under Christmas lights at 0-degress F. Took overnite to return to function (was worried). Our 5DMkII worked flawlessly throughout the shoot, even back inside the venue. During another winter snowstorm, I took care to only have my M9 outside just long enough to get a couple shots, then quickly returned inside without any problem (this pix). Interestingly, my iPhone froze recently while I was shoveling snow - it was in an outside pocket. Same battery technology? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/237610-does-you-mm-freeze-up-in-cold-weather/?do=findComment&comment=2714155'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 25, 2014 Share #5 Posted November 25, 2014 As I said - it is not so much a matter of battery technology as of temperature transmission insde the gear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted November 25, 2014 Share #6 Posted November 25, 2014 And the lubricants seizing up and stiffening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick parker Posted November 25, 2014 Share #7 Posted November 25, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) you don't need bad weather for the MM to freeze. just put it on discreet mode and it will freeze on you every now and then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 25, 2014 Share #8 Posted November 25, 2014 you don't need bad weather for the MM to freeze. just put it on discreet mode and it will freeze on you every now and then. Now that's cold. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted November 27, 2014 Share #9 Posted November 27, 2014 Two years ago I was having major problems with cold-weather lockups in my M9. Not only lockups, but the last pictures taken before failure would have heavy banding. I found out there was a firmware update about that time specifically addressing battery stability sensing - the new fw is more rigorous in checking battery output, and doing a normal, safe, "Battery-Low" shutdown if it detects voltage problems with the battery. On Leica's download page for the firmware, there was also the comment that the firmware was created because some users were using their batteries beyond their intended life - i.e. 7-year-old M8-era batteries in M9s/MMs. Leica noted that their Li-ion batteries really only are designed for a useful life of 3 years or so. The firmware upgrade has totally eliminated those cold-weather lockups and the associated banding. I'm also still using a left-over M8 battery as "back-up back-up" - the one in the bag in case the other two get used up on a long shoot. With no problems. So I'd definitely recommend making sure one's firmware is as up-to-date as possible, and dispose of (or relegate only to emergency use) any batteries older than 3-4 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted November 27, 2014 Share #10 Posted November 27, 2014 I had to discard an M9 battery after 4.5 years of use that only held a charge for 5 or 6 shots. However, even before Leica improved their firmware, a Panasonic Gold card had the smarts builtin to protect against such power/voltage issues touched on by adan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jvansmit Posted November 27, 2014 Share #11 Posted November 27, 2014 I've used my M9 for extended periods down to -10C (in north China) without any issues except that the batteries don't last as long. I usually keep the camera tucked inside my duvet jacket unless I'm actually taking a shot but the camera has also been fine when slung over my shoulders for an hour or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 28, 2014 Share #12 Posted November 28, 2014 Two years ago I was having major problems with cold-weather lockups in my M9. Not only lockups, but the last pictures taken before failure would have heavy banding. I found out there was a firmware update about that time specifically addressing battery stability sensing - the new fw is more rigorous in checking battery output, and doing a normal, safe, "Battery-Low" shutdown if it detects voltage problems with the battery. On Leica's download page for the firmware, there was also the comment that the firmware was created because some users were using their batteries beyond their intended life - i.e. 7-year-old M8-era batteries in M9s/MMs. Leica noted that their Li-ion batteries really only are designed for a useful life of 3 years or so. The firmware upgrade has totally eliminated those cold-weather lockups and the associated banding. I'm also still using a left-over M8 battery as "back-up back-up" - the one in the bag in case the other two get used up on a long shoot. With no problems. So I'd definitely recommend making sure one's firmware is as up-to-date as possible, and dispose of (or relegate only to emergency use) any batteries older than 3-4 years. Actually I still have two 2006 and two 2007 batteries. I still get about 300 shots out of them, so they are 75 %. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
designed Posted December 2, 2014 Share #13 Posted December 2, 2014 My M8 started to suffer from cold around 10°C and colder. The tactic was to have two (or three) batteries: spare batteries in the warm and change it after the battery in the camera dies. The dead battery will work again for a bit once it gets warm. Another issue altogether was shooting during winter at around -20°C. In those temperatures the M8 shutter started to freeze and because the camera couldn't re-cock the shutter in time, the camera claimed "shutter error". Ultimately the camera said "shutter failure" and stopped working in the cold, but was a happy thing once warmed up. (Meanwhile the Nikon D60 kept working fine) You really do notice the Ms having a metal body: during the winter it's so cold against my hand I used to get wrist pain from it, which didn't happen with my D700. Not complaining, just a sidenote (And before someone suggests "gloves": yes, I was wearing gloves) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
esquire53 Posted December 3, 2014 Share #14 Posted December 3, 2014 I was shooting the MM in about 19 to 20 degree F weather. It kept showing a shutter failure sign. After 2 to 15 sec the shutter would reset and I could shoot again. Are cold temps a problem with the MM? It worked fine again when warmed back up. I didn't try MM #2, so can't say it happened to both of the cams. I shot in Canada in February, -15C (5 F) and below, had no real issues, but not sure about the "real camera temp". I had my spare bat in my pocket, but they run down pretty fast Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick parker Posted December 3, 2014 Share #15 Posted December 3, 2014 Now that's cold. Jeff[/quote Good one Jeff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted December 11, 2014 Share #16 Posted December 11, 2014 I shot in Canada in February, -15C (5 F) and below, had no real issues, but not sure about the "real camera temp". I had my spare bat in my pocket, but they run down pretty fast When it's that cold, my MM will last longer outdoors than I will. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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