Q2 Problem: TWO images taken for single press of shutter release

[Tinbird]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I've noticed my Q2 often (25%-35% of the time) will capture TWO identical images in rapid succession with a SINGLE squeeze of the shutter release. Naturally, I've ensured that the exposure mode is in SINGLE and not in multiple, continuous, or bracketing modes. This is becoming annoying (and wasteful of storage space), not to mention sometimes confusing (especially on those occasions when I AM bracketing exposures, and instead of 3 or 5 nicely bracketed exposures, I end up with 4 or 6 bracketed images, two of which are identical in exposure). Again, I've repeatedly confirmed that I'm in single-shot mode, and most of the time, the camera correctly takes a single exposure, as commanded. However, a significant minority of the time (25%-35%), TWO identical images are produced with a SINGLE click of the shutter release. Is anyone else experiencing this, and if so, are there any solutions short of returning the camera for repairs/replacement? P.S. I also own and have exposed thousands of images with the Q, and never experienced this issue.

[Advertisement]

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

[Leica Guy]

9 hours ago, Tinbird said:

I've noticed my Q2 often (25%-35% of the time) will capture TWO identical images in rapid succession with a SINGLE squeeze of the shutter release. Naturally, I've ensured that the exposure mode is in SINGLE and not in multiple, continuous, or bracketing modes. This is becoming annoying (and wasteful of storage space), not to mention sometimes confusing (especially on those occasions when I AM bracketing exposures, and instead of 3 or 5 nicely bracketed exposures, I end up with 4 or 6 bracketed images, two of which are identical in exposure). Again, I've repeatedly confirmed that I'm in single-shot mode, and most of the time, the camera correctly takes a single exposure, as commanded. However, a significant minority of the time (25%-35%), TWO identical images are produced with a SINGLE click of the shutter release. Is anyone else experiencing this, and if so, are there any solutions short of returning the camera for repairs/replacement? P.S. I also own and have exposed thousands of images with the Q, and never experienced this issue.

That’s certainly puzzling and I can believe frustrating. I guess it could be a faulty shutter switch that is too sensitive. Since as you say you took thousands of Q pics, I assume it’s not the operator. I recently used the interval timer. You might try that mode with say a 5 sec delay. See if you get any extra images. That would isolate it away from the shutter button. My guess is you have a faulty shutter switch. 
 

The Leica repair service in New Jersey does a fantastic job. Very proactive and high quality oriented. Excellent communication. I’d call or email them about sending your camera in. I also have found them to be pretty fast. Good luck. 

Edited November 12, 2019 by Leica Guy

[Tinbird]

5 hours ago, Leica Guy said:

That’s certainly puzzling and I can believe frustrating. I guess it could be a faulty shutter switch that is too sensitive. Since as you say you took thousands of Q pics, I assume it’s not the operator. I recently used the interval timer. You might try that mode with say a 5 sec delay. See if you get any extra images. That would isolate it away from the shutter button. My guess is you have a faulty shutter switch. 
 

The Leica repair service in New Jersey does a fantastic job. Very proactive and high quality oriented. Excellent communication. I’d call or email them about sending your camera in. I also have found them to be pretty fast. Good luck. 

Thanks very much for your input, Leica Guy. I also seriously considered "operator error" (maybe a subconsciously tentative or "stepped" shutter release technique I somehow picked up?), but not only does my considerable experience with the original Q and with MANY other digital cameras minimize this possibility, the whole notion of one's shutter release finger-technique even being ABLE to (inadvertently) capture TWO images with a single click doesn't make sense prima facie. I'll indeed investigate your excellent suggestion to attempt to isolate the issue by experimenting with the interval timer. I'll also consciously attempt to intentionally duplicate the phenomena, to see if, as we surmise, the issue is a release switch that's electro-mechanically overly-sensitive. I'll include portrait format operations in my experimentation to further study the problem (I've so far only noticed the issue while shooting in the traditional landscape orientation,  which probably comprises 80% of my images, although my fault-observations in this area are purely anecdotal and have not, as yet, been carefully controlled or analyzed).

Again, thanks so much for your valuable feedback, Leica Guy. I'll report back in due course with further information and resolution regarding this unusual phenomenon as I learn more. In the meantime, any further comments, suggestions, and experiences of other Leica Q2 users would be most sincerely welcomed and valued.

Kind regards,

D.M. (Tinbird)

[lykaman]

Have you got EV Bracketing On?

[Leica Guy]

1 minute ago, lykaman said:

Have you got EV Bracketing On?

Great add.

For D.M. - I also wondered about just using a 2 sec timer instead of the interval to see if somehow you could get doubles. 
 

Again, I have a lot of confidence in Leica Service in NJ. Your camera is under warranty. I’d pretty quickly send it to them. Possibly others have reported the same symptoms to Leica. 
 

Good luck and let us know. 

[Tinbird]

10 hours ago, lykaman said:

Have you got EV Bracketing On?

As I mentioned in my OP, I've ensured bracketing (and continuous shooting mode) are turned OFF. Although I'm new to this forum, I'm quite experienced with digital cameras, both DSLR's and the Leica M and Q cameras. The fault I'm experiencing is not user-induced. I'm mostly interested in finding other Q2 users who have experienced the same phenomenon, and learning more about it. 

[Tinbird]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

10 hours ago, Leica Guy said:

Great add.

For D.M. - I also wondered about just using a 2 sec timer instead of the interval to see if somehow you could get doubles. 
 

Again, I have a lot of confidence in Leica Service in NJ. Your camera is under warranty. I’d pretty quickly send it to them. Possibly others have reported the same symptoms to Leica. 
 

Good luck and let us know. 

Thanks very much, Leica Guy. Yes, I'll experiment and try to isolate the problem, and, if necessary, send the camera to Leica NJ for repair/replacement. I'll also be happy to report back on the findings if anyone else is experiencing this phenomenon or interested in this topic.

Kind regards,

D.M.

[Tinbird]

On 11/11/2019 at 9:06 PM, Tinbird said:

I've noticed my Q2 often (25%-35% of the time) will capture TWO identical images in rapid succession with a SINGLE squeeze of the shutter release. Naturally, I've ensured that the exposure mode is in SINGLE and not in multiple, continuous, or bracketing modes. This is becoming annoying (and wasteful of storage space), not to mention sometimes confusing (especially on those occasions when I AM bracketing exposures, and instead of 3 or 5 nicely bracketed exposures, I end up with 4 or 6 bracketed images, two of which are identical in exposure). Again, I've repeatedly confirmed that I'm in single-shot mode, and most of the time, the camera correctly takes a single exposure, as commanded. However, a significant minority of the time (25%-35%), TWO identical images are produced with a SINGLE click of the shutter release. Is anyone else experiencing this, and if so, are there any solutions short of returning the camera for repairs/replacement? P.S. I also own and have exposed thousands of images with the Q, and never experienced this issue.

UPDATE: I've just run my Q2 through a few dozen test images, once again ensuring that INTERVAL; SELF-TIMER; BRACKETING; and all of the various CONTINUOUS SHOOTING modes are each turned OFF, and that the Drive Mode selection is SINGLE. I've been able to easily duplicate the fault about once in every 3-4 shutter release actuations, using a very gentle, light squeeze on the shutter release button. I've also noted that a very fim, decisive, jab or squeeze on the release button tends to avoid this 2-images taken with one press of the shutter release button phenomenon. This, however, is not (in my opinion) a sound shooting technique (poking the shutter release button very firmly or with more force than is necessary to achieve shutter release), nor has it been necessary on any camera I've ever used before, including the Q2's predecessor, the Leica Q, with which I have considerable shooting experience. I've further noted that this 2-image-capture-with-a-single-click phenomenon does NOT occur when using the aforementioned modes of INTERVAL; SELF-TIMER; BRACKETING; or any of the various CONTINUOUS SHOOTING modes available. 

As I hypothesized in my OP, I interpret my findings to strongly suggest an overly sensitive electro-mechanical connection within the shutter release mechanism itself (or, perhaps more precisely, an overly broad envelop -- measured in micrometers -- to initiate shutter release actuation in my particular Q2). I have no idea whether or not this parameter is adjustable by the factory or by Leica technicians at the repair facility in NJ, or if it requires a complete R&R of the shutter button and associated release mechanism(s). That'll be for Leica to determine. I intend to send my Q2 to the Leica repair shop in NJ for assessment and adjustment/repair tomorrow. Once again, if anyone else out there has experienced the same fault with their own Q2, or if anyone else is interested in this issue, I'll be glad to report back on the findings and resolution offered by the Leica repair shop in NJ as soon as they become available (presumably in a couple of weeks time). Stay tuned...

~ D.M. (Tinbird)

Edited November 13, 2019 by Tinbird

[jaapv]

This can happen and mostly is due to the shutter mechanism developing a fault. Send the camera in before worse happens.

[Leica Guy]

5 hours ago, jaapv said:

This can happen and mostly is due to the shutter mechanism developing a fault. Send the camera in before worse happens.

Agree. I would doubt there’s an adjustment and expect they’ll replace the shutter switch. Good luck. I hope your experience is as positive as mine with the service center in NJ. 

[Tinbird]

On 11/12/2019 at 12:33 PM, lykaman said:

Have you got EV Bracketing On?

If you read my OP, I explicitly state that all camera modes are appropriately set and that the issue reported is not user error or confusion over shooting modes or settings. I've just received the camera back from Leica service and I report their findings in a separate post, below.

~ D.M.

[Tinbird]

Hello, all...

Regarding the aforementioned issue I was having with my brand-new Q2 capturing TWO identical images in rapid succession with a SINGLE squeeze of the shutter release, I've just received my Q2 back from the Leica Repair facility. As many of you who've had items repaired by Leica may attest, the Leica Repair Invoice can be rather terse in describing the nature of the fault(s) found and corrective actions taken, and speaking directly with the repair technician is, of course, not possible. Having said that, my Repair Invoice indicates (1) three hours of labor to service faulty electronics; and (2) the removal and replacement of two printed circuits. Although I've only just received the camera and hence have not yet had an opportunity to really put it through its paces, initial testing would seem to indicate that the issue has indeed been rectified (promptly and under warranty). Although I've not (yet) heard of this particular issue affecting any other Q2 users, I hope my experience as reported herein will be both instructive and consoling to others who might possibly face the same or similar issue in the future. 

Kind regards, and thanks to those who participated in this thread,

D.M.

[Leica Guy]

9 hours ago, Tinbird said:

Hello, all...

Regarding the aforementioned issue I was having with my brand-new Q2 capturing TWO identical images in rapid succession with a SINGLE squeeze of the shutter release, I've just received my Q2 back from the Leica Repair facility. As many of you who've had items repaired by Leica may attest, the Leica Repair Invoice can be rather terse in describing the nature of the fault(s) found and corrective actions taken, and speaking directly with the repair technician is, of course, not possible. Having said that, my Repair Invoice indicates (1) three hours of labor to service faulty electronics; and (2) the removal and replacement of two printed circuits. Although I've only just received the camera and hence have not yet had an opportunity to really put it through its paces, initial testing would seem to indicate that the issue has indeed been rectified (promptly and under warranty). Although I've not (yet) heard of this particular issue affecting any other Q2 users, I hope my experience as reported herein will be both instructive and consoling to others who might possibly face the same or similar issue in the future. 

Kind regards, and thanks to those who participated in this thread,

D.M.

Fantastic news. Now, just go take great photos and move beyond the problem. Look forward to your posts. 

[MaxSchwoelk]

On 13/12/2019 at 02:35, Tinbird said:

Olá a todos...

Em relação ao problema mencionado acima, eu estava tendo com meu novo Q2 capturando  DUAS imagens idênticas em rápida sucessão com um ÚNICO aperto do botão do obturador,  acabei de receber meu Q2 de volta da instalação de reparo da Leica. Como muitos de vocês que tiveram itens reparados pela Leica podem atestar, a fatura de reparo da Leica pode ser bastante sucinta ao descrever a natureza da(s) falha(s) encontrada(s) e as ações corretivas tomadas, e falar diretamente com o técnico de reparo é, obviamente, , não é possivel. Dito isto, minha fatura de reparo indica (1) três horas de mão de obra para consertar eletrônicos defeituosos; e (2) a remoção e substituição de dois circuitos impressos. Embora eu tenha acabado de receber a câmera e, portanto, ainda não tenha tido a oportunidade de realmente testá-la, os testes iniciais parecem indicar que o problema foi realmente corrigido (prontamente e dentro da garantia). Embora eu (ainda) não tenha ouvido falar desse problema específico afetando outros usuários do segundo trimestre , espero que minha experiência, conforme relatada aqui, seja instrutiva e consoladora para outras pessoas que possam enfrentar o mesmo problema ou semelhante no futuro. 

Atenciosamente, e obrigado a quem participou deste tópico,

Mestre

Hello everybody.  I bought my Leica Q2 in 2019 in Italy (I'm from Brazil), and since then I use it for work as my main camera.  I'm having this problem too.  I don't know how to send it for repair, and here in Brazil I haven't found any authorized one.  Anyway, thanks for the topic and I already know that my problem has a solution.  One thing I'm doing is shooting through the LCD screen.

[Jon Howard]

I have the same issue on my Q-P. It was bugging me, but I’m finding if i firmly press the shutter I never experience the issue. It’s only when you do it lightly that the issue arises. 

Edited June 6 by Jon Howard

[jlnevill]

1 hour ago, Jon Howard said:

I have the same issue on my Q-P. It was bugging me, but I’m finding if i firmly press the shutter I never experience the issue. It’s only when you do it lightly that the issue arises. 

From new, my Q3 has done this occasionally. I initially put it down to user error and getting use to the feel of the shutter release.