Shutter release misfire: what's wrong with my MP?

[tpf1952]

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I have two Leica MP 240s that I use when covering events; but one of them appears to have developed a problem: sometimes when I depress the shutter release, the camera won't actuate the shutter.

 

I've noticed today that if I have the camera powered on, but don't trip the shutter frequently, the next time I depress the release I have to press it a second time. If I keep shooting more frequently, the "misfire" problem goes away. But when you're grabbing quick shots, this false start can mean missed photos.

 

Power is not an issue; battery charge is good.

 

The cards in both MPs are 3/Class 10 cards. The card in the misfiring camera is a San Disk Extreme Pro 90 MB/s SDHC 1; the card in the "good MP" is a Transcend SDXC 1. (I must confess I don't know much about cards. "Just give me something fast and between 32 and 64 GB" is what I ask my dealer.

 

Several times powered off the misfiring MP and removed and reinserted the battery in an attempt to "re-boot" the camera.

 

Firmware on both cameras up to date.

 

Any suggestions?

 

One desperate photographer.

 

Tom

[Go Figure]

try putting it in continuous  "C" mode - does it do the same ?

Edited May 18, 2017 by Mark Ebert

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[Lord Lucan]

To add to what Mark suggested, try swapping the cards,whatever cure the problem.Any dirt gathered around shutter release?

[tpf1952]

I just performed a reset on the wayward camera. Will leave it powered on for a while and see if the behavior continues. Will try both suggestions, i.e. fire in continuous mode and swap SD cards.

 

Many thanks for your responses.

 

Tom

[pico]

Are you using a soft release button?

.

[tpf1952]

Performing a rest on the camera did not solve the problem. Shutter release area appears clean. I don't use a soft release button. Will swap cards and report back.

 

Tom

[tpf1952]

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Problem persists when firing camera in continuous mode. Swapping cards does not resolve the issue either. Any other suggestions?

 

Tom

[Lord Lucan]

Performing a rest on the camera did not solve the problem. Shutter release area appears clean. I don't use a soft release button. Will swap cards and report back.

 

Tom

I hope its not major.

If all fails,then send Andrea an email for advice. She is very helpful.   Andrea.Frankl@leica-camera.com

[tpf1952]

I share your hope that this is nothing major. Will most likely take your recommendation and send that e-mail.

 

Many thanks,

 

Tom

[Exodies]

In what way is the behaviour you describe different from the camera going into sleep mode? Check both cameras have the same sleep time settings.

[250swb]

Sleep mode settings would have also been my first thought, is this a 'can't see the wood for the trees' type of problem?

[lct]

Yes i would try to disable the sleep mode (set up menu / power management / auto power off: off) and see what happens.

[tpf1952]

LCT, you are correct and many thanks. Disabling sleep mode did the trick.

 

What's odd is that my other MP 240 is set up exactly the same but without enabling sleep mode and fires without hesitation.

 

It's a small matter, now that I know what's happening.

 

Again, my thanks to you and all other respondents for your feedback.

 

Tom

[JeTexas]

My M-P was suffering the same problem since updating to the newest firmware. Then it stopped turning on at all. I have to send it to Leica for diagnosis next week when we get back from South Dakota.

[bozu_shutterbugger]

I might be suggesting something stupid here, so please laugh and ignore if you feel so. I am new to this system but have been shooting non-professionally for a while may i suggest you take a look at 

 

1. Auto Power off - Is it set to 2 minutes or less than that? May be you want to change it. may you are timing out. 

2. Metering - I have my metering set to Classic and if its set to advanced i think it slows me a little because each time i have to shoot the shutter goes up first and then takes the reading for metering purpose and then it allowed me to shoot. Once i switched to classic this stopped. So may be this has to do with metering. 

 

Again - i assume you are a pro and know all of this and excuse me if i am saying something brings a 'duh' expression. 

[Exodies]

I wouldn't worry about stating the obvious; it's sometimes the solution