charlesphoto99 Posted May 11, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 11, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just received a replacement M8 from NJ. I actually have grounds to return as they sent me a silver for my black, though am finding I like the chrome. It is a very early serial # though - 31004## but everything seems to be working fine, and even feels better built than my return (lenses don't mount as stiff, shutter release smoother, rangefinder spot on). But there is a very very high pitch whine when I press part way on the shutter release - not even to the auto hold setting but just a very light rest. It goes off about 3 seconds after releasing. Is this normal? I didn't seem to notice it on the other body, but it had a much stiffer release than this one (auto hold was almost unusable). No whine after fully firing shutter - only with setting my finger on it. It's almost inaudible, very regular, a bit like the whining one can get in the ears. But in a quiet room one def. notices it. I guess wouldn't be so much of a problem except I like to rest my finger on the shutter. Anyone else notice this? I sure am getting tired of playing roulette with M8s. The shipping ain't cheap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 11, 2007 Posted May 11, 2007 Hi charlesphoto99, Take a look here M8 shutter release high pitch whine. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted May 11, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 11, 2007 Normal. Both of my cameras (bought 6 months apart) make the noise if you listen carefully in a quiet environment. It is probably inaudible to many (older) users of the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted May 11, 2007 Thanks Wattsy, I must have not heard it on the previous body because the shutter release was so sticky. One really does have to put it up very close to the ear to hear it, but it's there. I'll just have to teach myself to not apply pressure to the release until needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertknappmd Posted May 11, 2007 Share #4 Posted May 11, 2007 I agree. It is normal. Have the same issue with both of my M8s... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradreiman Posted May 11, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 11, 2007 i disagree that it is normal. mine has no high pitch whine. i have incredibly sensitive hearing which i have tested regularly because I work for a loud rock band....b Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted May 11, 2007 Share #6 Posted May 11, 2007 I agree to disagree. It is NOT normal to have a high pitched whine. Those that do have this whine need to have it looked at by Leica. Something is NOT right with those cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted May 11, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm not so sure. I went to my local dealer today and didn't hear anything with their demo. But I also couldn't hear anything with mine in the store either. It was fairly busy with music playing etc. And a couple of people tried. You really have to be in a very quiet room to hear it. And it's less of a whining and more like a very faint ringing in the ear sound. Like the lowest of the low settings in those hearing tests they give. Under normal everyday sound circumstances one really has to shove it in the ear to hear it. I think it's normal. Or at the very least not totally abnormal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted May 11, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 11, 2007 I'm not so sure. I went to my local dealer today and didn't hear anything with their demo. But I also couldn't hear anything with mine in the store either. It was fairly busy with music playing etc. And a couple of people tried. You really have to be in a very quiet room to hear it. And it's less of a whining and more like a very faint ringing in the ear sound. Like the lowest of the low settings in those hearing tests they give. Under normal everyday sound circumstances one really has to shove it in the ear to hear it. I think it's normal. Or at the very least not totally abnormal. So then my M8 and everyone elses that doesn't whine has something wrong with it. Trust me this whine is not normal. It's not normal on the M8 or any other camera, digital/film with light meter, motor drive, shutter re-cocking motor, whatever. I just did a test with mine in my bedroom, no AC running, no TV, nothing in the bedroom making any noise, no noise from the outside. I can hear the springs compress and the shaft move on the switch when depressing it and NO whine or any other noise of any kind, except the actual switch movement noise (which actually sounds a little gritty when you have your ear right next to the camera and even worse when it is next to the switch). I even fired off a shot with my ear resting on the back of the camera (you think the shutter rewind is loud when your taking a picture with your eye on looking through the viewfinder. Try it with your ear on the back of the camera. It's almost deafening). No whine before the shot and no whine after. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted May 11, 2007 So then my M8 and everyone elses that doesn't whine has something wrong with it. Hmm, never said that. Maybe it's just your hearing! Just kidding... Who knows. Problem is I could send it back and get a technician that doesn't hear pitches that high (or faint) and goes "we don't know what you're talking about." Doesn't really bother me that bad; just wanted to see if any others had the same experience. Anyway, I'm finding it best to use these suckers for awhile to see if anything else pops up that's more life and death. Then send it back if need be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted May 11, 2007 Share #10 Posted May 11, 2007 My camera which has no problems produces a very faint high pitched whine for about half a second immediately after it's switched on. After the half second it's silent. It sounds like harmless magnetostriction in the core of a high frequency power supply transformer or inductor. It probably stops as soon as a reservoir capacitor has charged to the correct voltage and the power inverter backs off. In my camera it's clearly nothing to worry about. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted May 11, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 11, 2007 Maybe it is my hearing. I'm older, 55 soon to be 56, and been around loud music, gun shots in my younger years with no hearing protection, power tools and general construction noise (as that is my profession) for most of my adult life. But I don't think so. I still hear all the incredible high notes in music through my Shure E4c ear phones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted May 11, 2007 Share #12 Posted May 11, 2007 My camera which has no problems produces a very faint high pitched whine for about half a second immediately after it's switched on. After the half second it's silent. It sounds like harmless magnetostriction in the core of a high frequency power supply transformer or inductor. It probably stops as soon as a reservoir capacitor has charged to the correct voltage and the power inverter backs off. In my camera it's clearly nothing to worry about. If I press and keep the shutter release slightly depressed I can hear the whine again as others have found. Remember the camera circuits are active and it's switching mode power supplies will be operating in this state so again I don't think it's anything to worry about. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted May 12, 2007 Author Share #13 Posted May 12, 2007 My camera which has no problems produces a very faint high pitched whine for about half a second immediately after it's switched on. After the half second it's silent. It sounds like harmless magnetostriction in the core of a high frequency power supply transformer or inductor. It probably stops as soon as a reservoir capacitor has charged to the correct voltage and the power inverter backs off. In my camera it's clearly nothing to worry about. If I press and keep the shutter release slightly depressed I can hear the whine again as others have found. Remember the camera circuits are active and it's switching mode power supplies will be operating in this state so again I don't think it's anything to worry about. Bob. Thanks Bob. That's exactly what mine, and apparantly some others is doing. Well put. Didn't notice the switch on half second whine till now though. My thought too is it's harmless. I'm just glad everything else is so tight on this replacement - see my Monday morning M8 thread for the piece of junk I got the first time. If I asked for yet another replacement who knows what my luck might be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMF Posted May 12, 2007 Share #14 Posted May 12, 2007 Yes, I can hear the sound exactly as you described (I have been known to have 'crazy' sensitive hearing). My M8 was purchased less than a month ago and it has worked flawlessly out of the box. Charles when we meet in Redmond next week you can listen to my M8. -Rod Thanks Bob. That's exactly what mine, and apparantly some others is doing. Well put. Didn't notice the switch on half second whine till now though. My thought too is it's harmless. I'm just glad everything else is so tight on this replacement - see my Monday morning M8 thread for the piece of junk I got the first time. If I asked for yet another replacement who knows what my luck might be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted May 13, 2007 Share #15 Posted May 13, 2007 Mine also has this, but it is really quiet and I often don't hear it at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMF Posted May 13, 2007 Share #16 Posted May 13, 2007 I'd just like to emphasize that the whine is "barely" perceivable with my M8 #31116XX. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted May 13, 2007 Author Share #17 Posted May 13, 2007 I'd just like to emphasize that the whine is "barely" perceivable with my M8 #31116XX. It is not noticeable under normal conditions. Barely perceivable in a very quiet room. I think I was just being overly cautious due to the previous lemon M8 I was having replaced. Think I got a good one this time (fingers crossed). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsen Posted May 13, 2007 Share #18 Posted May 13, 2007 For the record; mine is not whining. I have a very sensitive hearing. Why does some cameras whine? And; most important; does it matter...? It most probably not. I would speculate that all the M8 do whine, but that some are better insulated than others. This could be a tighter screw between the electronics and the body frame that makes certain parts (is the shutter activated by a condensator?) resonate. That simple. This reminds me of the 'Starfighter Years' in the Royal Norwegian Airforce. Back then pilots would shout 'Mayday' on the radio and alert whole airfields to stand on hold with firetrucks and all. Because the pilot had heard a 'strange noise'. Some of the noises described were quite normal for airplanes doing mach 2,0. Others were undefined 'psychosomatic phenomenas' because inexperienced pilots were afraid of this awesome plane. What will be the next? That the M8 smell strange..? I would worry more about a 3 seconds shutter lag. That is not normal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scho Posted May 13, 2007 Share #19 Posted May 13, 2007 I don't hear a high pitched whine from my M8, but then I'll be 70 next month and my ability to hear high frequency sound is not the best. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
newyorkone Posted May 14, 2007 Share #20 Posted May 14, 2007 Mine has it but then again, those electronic repellent gadgets annoy me even though the manufacturers claim that the sound is inaudible to humans. Maybe I have dog hearing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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