M240 Turns on but non-functioning

[pechelman]

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I posted this topic over on rangefinder forum here, but someone suggested i post here too.

 

Gist of the situation;

 

m240 camera, battery was around ~70% last night and ~95% a few days ago when checked it prior to my trip. (have taken ~200 shots on this battery so far)

 

This particular battery recently started to display the "Check Battery Age" message about a month ago, but I believe I had just recently charged it. Maybe 2 weeks prior to this trip.

 

I'm on a biz trip at the moment, so I didnt bring any spare batteries or a charger, so my test & diagnosis options are limited. I may have the chance to goto the LA Leica Store to try a couple of things.

 

When I turn on the camera, the LED on the back blinks like normal, but then stay illuminated for an extra long time (~3-5s?). Normally it turns off after a few fast blinks.  All of the buttons are unresponsive (Menu, Set, Info, LV, etc). 

The framelines are not being projected. Neither is the ISO, EV Comp, or Shutter info.

 

Pressing the shutter button makes the LED blink like when taking a picture, but nothing happens, and then the LED stays lit again for a few seconds.

 

I have tried pulling the battery while on and off. Leaving the battery out for a few minutes. Tried a friends SD card that was just formatted in my computer.

 

Tried it with and without the one lens I brought on my trip. Tried it on S, C, and Self Timer. 

 

Basically, just about everything I can do without having access to my spare batteries at home or a charger.

 

Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

Thanks in advance,

Phil

Edited March 23, 2016 by pechelman

[Peter Kilmister]

Welcome to this amazing forum. If it is fairly new and under warranty then take it straight to a dealer and ask for help.

 

If it is old enough that the 'check battery age' message come up then ignore that message because it will be fixed soon, however, it probably means the M240 is no longer under warranty

.

Wait and see what else gets suggested. If it were me I'd a factory reset an reload the latest firmware.

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[pechelman]

Thanks, Peter. 

I was surprised that was my first post here, because I've been reading many of the posts over here for quite some time now.

 

Unfortunately it is past the warranty date. Hopefully I can make it to the LA Leica Dealer to see if they have any ideas, but I may not have the time on this trip.

 

I had read here about the battery age message and to essentially ignore it since it will be fixed by firmware soon. Otherwise, I know I'm at a big disadvantage here being away from home and my spare batteries and charger.  I feel relatively confident that this might be a battery problem, since the camera was working perfectly last night, but wont know for certain until I can try a new battery.

 

Appreciate the input.

[CheshireCat]

Unfortunately it is past the warranty date. Hopefully I can make it to the LA Leica Dealer to see if they have any ideas, but I may not have the time on this trip.

 

I had read here about the battery age message and to essentially ignore it since it will be fixed by firmware soon. Otherwise, I know I'm at a big disadvantage here being away from home and my spare batteries and charger.  I feel relatively confident that this might be a battery problem, since the camera was working perfectly last night, but wont know for certain until I can try a new battery.

 

Appreciate the input.

 

Ignore the "battery age" message (a bug), but don't rule out possible battery issues.

If you know a person with a known-working battery, try with that one. If it works, then you just need a new battery. If it doesn't work, then send it in for repair.

In any case, I recommend having at least two batteries.

 

By the way, to rule out SD issues, just remove it. Camera will power on and even shoot without it, although you won't be able to review the pictures.

[pechelman]

Thanks.

This would be much easier if I had my other batteries at home.

 

Did also try without an SD card, forgot to mention. Same thing.

[CheshireCat]

Thanks.

This would be much easier if I had my other batteries at home.

Did also try without an SD card, forgot to mention. Same thing.

 

 

Then it's LA Leica store time.

[brill64]

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hello. in the menu, try performing a factory reset a few times. see if that works?

[pechelman]

going to try to make it to the store, but may not be able to with work and trying to get back home. got semi-stranded due to a blizzard in Denver.

 

brill64, I cant do the reset because I cant see the screen. Nothing comes up on the LCD.

[pechelman]

So i got a phone call this morning at 850am that i was cleared on the standby list on an 1120am flight out of LAX. And I was in downtown long beach. Barely made the flight, some running was involved, but finally got home.

 

Popped in the spare battery at home and whala, works perfect.

 

I wonder if the camera was accidentially left on or something, possibly with the shutter button half depressed.

 

 

Lesson for those reading this thread in the future;

If you see you LED blink normally and then stay illuminated for ~5 seconds, without LCD working or framelines displaying, it probably just means you have a very weak battery.  As it turned out, the battery had barely enough power to trigger the sensor to take a picture without opening the shutter. I had a bunch of completely black photos on my card when I got home and could see them.

 

Thanks everyone for the ideas. Glad it wasnt anything other than the battery.

Edited March 25, 2016 by pechelman

[enboe]

Pechelman,

 

If work brings you to Long Beach and you find yourself in a jam again, send me a private message and I will try to assist in the evening when I return home to Long Beach from a day at work.

 

Eric

[FeralCoton]

It's good it was just the battery. It is a shame you didn't get to the LA Leica store. It's very cool.

[pechelman]

Thanks, Eric!

 

And I'll be back in the LA area again at least a few more times.

While I was very glad to get home yesterday instead of tomorrow, I was looking forward to checking out the Getty again and going to the Leica gallery\store. Also wanted to see the space shuttle.

Next trips for sure.