My new Leica Q puts a yellowish cast on everything except the DNG files; is my Leica Q defective?

[DavidReishi]

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I must say... the DNG's don't look too bad to me.

 

Maybe it's the small size... but I don't see much of a problem.

 

Any further updates??

 

The DNGs don't look too bad to me either. It's the JPEGs. And not even so much the JPEG files that bother me, as I've already given up on using them, but rather the EVF and LCD displays.

 

But I've gotten to look at two more Q units, and both have the same yellow/green cast. So I think it may be characteristic of all Q units.

 

Interestingly, this morning I started taking some shots indoors with strong sunlight coming in through the window, and it was as if the strong contrasts caused the Q to have a seizure. First, in playback mode I suddenly got a LCD screen full of white snowy waves. Then, when it returned to normal and I tried to take a shot looking through the EVF, the camera froze mid-focus. Even turning the unit off, the EVF remained on with my soon-to-be shot displayed, along with the focusing brackets.

 

I used my iPhone to immediately capture a video of the malfunction. Here's a link to the video:

 

 

While the unit was off but the EVF still on and frozen, I called the Camera West store where I purchased the camera. The nice man who sold me the camera told me to write down in an email a chronological summary of everything that'd happened with the camera since purchasing it 11 days ago. This, he said, he needed in order to present the case to the owner to see if I can be issued a refund. (The store has an "all sales final" policy.) 

 

So I wrote the email, and then after a little while, the man at the store replied that the camera would have be sent to Leica to evaluate whether it's defective. This I desperately want to avoid, as throughout all this I've come across quite the horror stories about sending items to Leica for evaluation/repair. No thanks, not on an 11-day old camera!

 

I replied that I'd like to avoid that route and go straight for a refund. Soon after, I received a long email from the owner of the store. In the email, he made vague reference to a "restocking fee" which I did not like at all. When it comes to a defective item, I don't even think that's legal. 

 

I responded asking whether the video of the malfunction was not enough, and he replied that the video was unclear to him and that I'd have to bring the camera in for evaluation. Which I plan to do.

 

That's how it stands now.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[earleygallery]

I think you should check what your consumer rights are before visiting and if you're entitled to a refund demand it.

 

If the camera is faulty let them deal with having it repaired and they can then sell it to someone else. No reason for them to be difficult about it.

[Chris O]

I ran into a similar problem with the JPGs from the Leica Q. The color was so strange that I gave up using them all together.

 

After a few days of usage I had also become concerned about my camera. I went to return it and was basically told I couldn’t without paying a restocking fee.

 

I am satisfied with the camera, but will probably not buy another one because they won’t let you return it.

[erudolph]

Having taken delivery of a CL, my first impression is that the LCD is on the warm side.  I don't plan on doing anything about it.

[jmschuh]

 

Interestingly, this morning I started taking some shots indoors with strong sunlight coming in through the window, and it was as if the strong contrasts caused the Q to have a seizure. First, in playback mode I suddenly got a LCD screen full of white snowy waves. Then, when it returned to normal and I tried to take a shot looking through the EVF, the camera froze mid-focus. Even turning the unit off, the EVF remained on with my soon-to-be shot displayed, along with the focusing brackets.

 

I used my iPhone to immediately capture a video of the malfunction. Here's a link to the video:

 

 

While the unit was off but the EVF still on and frozen, I called the Camera West store where I purchased the camera. The nice man who sold me the camera told me to write down in an email a chronological summary of everything that'd happened with the camera since purchasing it 11 days ago. This, he said, he needed in order to present the case to the owner to see if I can be issued a refund. (The store has an "all sales final" policy.) 

 

So I wrote the email, and then after a little while, the man at the store replied that the camera would have be sent to Leica to evaluate whether it's defective. This I desperately want to avoid, as throughout all this I've come across quite the horror stories about sending items to Leica for evaluation/repair. No thanks, not on an 11-day old camera!

 

I replied that I'd like to avoid that route and go straight for a refund. Soon after, I received a long email from the owner of the store. In the email, he made vague reference to a "restocking fee" which I did not like at all. When it comes to a defective item, I don't even think that's legal. 

 

I responded asking whether the video of the malfunction was not enough, and he replied that the video was unclear to him and that I'd have to bring the camera in for evaluation. Which I plan to do.

 

That's how it stands now.

 

 

Every electronic device with a processor can freeze.

 

How about removing the battery for a while? That will probably fix the malfunction.

[robgo2]

Some users, myself included, have had a different experience with the Q's EVF. It shows an image that is quite bluish. On the rear LCD and on the computer, the color balance is fine. The only solution that I have found is to manually switch the WB to cloudy, which is a real bother, so I rarely do it.

 

Rob

[SonomaBear]

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Since white balance affects JPEG, and since the displays use a JPEG rendered from the DNG, I am suspicious of JPEG settings.

I leave mine at 24m with neutral saturation, contrast and sharpness.  I rarely shoot JPEGs.

[rombanana]

Agree. I have same feeling

[bullmoon]

I had the same EVF freeze a few days ago and I don't remember what I was doing to cause it - if it was mid-shot or during playback.  The power switch was inoperative too.  I just pulled the battery and put it back in and all has been fine since.  While I do see many electronic devices do similar things that require complete power removal, I have never, that I can recall in thousands of shots with 5D, 5DII, 5DIII, 5DIV over many years, experienced this.  I suppose if it becomes a regular nuisance, off to Leica it will go. 

 

The DNGs don't look too bad to me either. It's the JPEGs. And not even so much the JPEG files that bother me, as I've already given up on using them, but rather the EVF and LCD displays.

 

But I've gotten to look at two more Q units, and both have the same yellow/green cast. So I think it may be characteristic of all Q units.

 

Interestingly, this morning I started taking some shots indoors with strong sunlight coming in through the window, and it was as if the strong contrasts caused the Q to have a seizure. First, in playback mode I suddenly got a LCD screen full of white snowy waves. Then, when it returned to normal and I tried to take a shot looking through the EVF, the camera froze mid-focus. Even turning the unit off, the EVF remained on with my soon-to-be shot displayed, along with the focusing brackets.

 

I used my iPhone to immediately capture a video of the malfunction. Here's a link to the video:

 

 

While the unit was off but the EVF still on and frozen, I called the Camera West store where I purchased the camera. The nice man who sold me the camera told me to write down in an email a chronological summary of everything that'd happened with the camera since purchasing it 11 days ago. This, he said, he needed in order to present the case to the owner to see if I can be issued a refund. (The store has an "all sales final" policy.) 

 

So I wrote the email, and then after a little while, the man at the store replied that the camera would have be sent to Leica to evaluate whether it's defective. This I desperately want to avoid, as throughout all this I've come across quite the horror stories about sending items to Leica for evaluation/repair. No thanks, not on an 11-day old camera!

 

I replied that I'd like to avoid that route and go straight for a refund. Soon after, I received a long email from the owner of the store. In the email, he made vague reference to a "restocking fee" which I did not like at all. When it comes to a defective item, I don't even think that's legal. 

 

I responded asking whether the video of the malfunction was not enough, and he replied that the video was unclear to him and that I'd have to bring the camera in for evaluation. Which I plan to do.

 

That's how it stands now.

Edited March 21, 2018 by bullmoon

[bullmoon]

Another freeze / lock-up today while zooming during play I think - battery out / in and all was good except it lost all settings I had made just before.  I'm beginning to get concerned about my particular Q if this is not something that others have experienced.

Edited March 27, 2018 by bullmoon