How to Check how many actuations on Leica SL2-S

[AZN]

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17 hours ago, kchae said:

Anybody know if this is still possible? the link doesn't work..

See:

 

 

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[jaapv]

Are there any SL2S around that has reached 300000 actuations, which I am told is the rating of the shutter?  It is a singularly irrelevant number. I have yet to hear of a camera with a worn-out shutter. Broken shutters yes, although not (yet?) on any SL camera, but a shutter failure can happen at any actuation count. 
In general, the rest of the camera will be worn to the bone before the shutter is. 
There is no reason for the manufacturers to publish this information given its lack of relevancy outside Internet forums. One might as well demand the number of times the on-off switch has been actuated. 

[kobra]

7 hours ago, jaapv said:

Are there any SL2S around that has reached 300000 actuations, which I am told is the rating of the shutter?  It is a singularly irrelevant number. I have yet to hear of a camera with a worn-out shutter. Broken shutters yes, although not (yet?) on any SL camera, but a shutter failure can happen at any actuation count. 
In general, the rest of the camera will be worn to the bone before the shutter is. 
There is no reason for the manufacturers to publish this information given its lack of relevancy outside Internet forums. One might as well demand the number of times the on-off switch has been actuated. 

Oh, yes - I think professional cameras need to be able to have the on off switch actuated over a million times before failure. You should start a new thread demanding that Leica reveal this number for all cameras in a firmware update! 

Brad

[davidmknoble]

On 3/31/2023 at 8:16 AM, evikne said:

Just a general question: Why do manufacturers always want to keep this very useful information hidden from us customers? I don't really see any good reason for this.

I think it is also a way to devalue a camera that still has great value to it.  It's kind of like quibbling over two used cars, one with 95,000 miles and one with 96,000 miles.  Miles are the only measurement for quality, it's how the car is taken care of etc.  So, we don't need to know the number, we just need to be willing to repair whatever we buy used or whatever we buy new, when it needs it.  

Just my opinion...

[evikne]

41 minutes ago, davidmknoble said:

I think it is also a way to devalue a camera that still has great value to it.  It's kind of like quibbling over two used cars, one with 95,000 miles and one with 96,000 miles.  Miles are the only measurement for quality, it's how the car is taken care of etc.  So, we don't need to know the number, we just need to be willing to repair whatever we buy used or whatever we buy new, when it needs it.  

Just my opinion...

I would also love the ability to use this information for a unique renaming of the image files, not just to have a number to show off when selling the camera.

[davidmknoble]

50 minutes ago, evikne said:

I would also love the ability to use this information for a unique renaming of the image files, not just to have a number to show off when selling the camera.

That would be a good idea, if the filename could include that, like a serial number.  

As an aside, I did read on another thread here that someone believed there was a way to tell the shutter actuations, but the solution was not posted, instead it was a link to a page that does not exist anymore. Not sure if the solution was valid or not...

[kobra]

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I guess if you and the prior owners never reset the file numbers, then that would give you the number of actuations. But, if you buy used, then you couldn't know for sure if/when the numbering may have been reset. 

I have tried a few sites that ask you to upload an image to their site; some even say they support specific cameras, like a separate page for SL2 vs SL2-S vs Q2, etc... in all cases it returns an error. Which I think I expected because it seems that the actuations are not written into the EXIF information. 

I was surprised to find that this was not included by Leica, and while it would be nice to have it I agree with others that it is not "need to know" information. I did buy my SL2 used and if the numbering was accurate it had only a few hundred actuations; now a few months later it has over 10,000. To me, the camera works great and I know where to get it repaired if I have an issue. I suspect by the time I may need to worry that I have worn it out, there will be new generations with features that might tempt me  

Brad

[jaapv]

IMO the cosmetic condition of the camera is a far better indicator for previous usage. And even if one could read out the number of images taken how many were using the electronic shutter? 

[kobra]

24 minutes ago, jaapv said:

IMO the cosmetic condition of the camera is a far better indicator for previous usage. And even if one could read out the number of images taken how many were using the electronic shutter? 

Agree mostly on the cosmetic condition; however in my case I am not a studio shooter, and I don't baby my camera when in the field - meaning I actually use it in dusty environments, and from moving vehicles. @jaapv - I suspect you can relate and I think you've taken your cameras into harsher conditions than I may have. So a minor ding here or there means nothing to me, nor do I believe it matters to the longevity of the camera. However, I am very fussy on cleaning, including removing any dust after events, and keeping the sensor clean. Likely my gear will not sell for as high a price as some, but I'm not convinced it is significantly reducing the useful life. 

I didn't think about the electronic shutter... on the one hand, if just looking at image numbering it would show up. But, if there was a built in "actuation counter", then i suppose that's true, the mechanical shutter didn't "actuate", so I guess it would not increase a counter. Interesting!

Brad

[Al Brown]

Hasn't this topic been done to death back in M forum? The gist: Very hard if not impossible to do a shutter count app for Leicas. I can attest that the M10 had a hidden shutter count menu that only those in the know/that are authorized can recall (as opposed to M8 which had a user clickable one). Most likely a SL has one such menu (see pic from M10-P) as well.
PS. There is also a ON/OFF counter 😁

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Edited April 2, 2023 by Al Brown

[kobra]

11 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Hasn't this topic been done to death back in M forum? The gist: Very hard if not impossible to do a shutter count app for Leicas. I can attest that the M10 had a hidden shutter count menu that only those in the know/that are authorized can recall (as opposed to M8 which had a user clickable one). Most likely a SL has one such menu (see pic from M10-P) as well.
PS. There is also a ON/OFF counter 😁

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Interesting! It would seem likely that the SL models have a "service menu" that Leica repair centers can access. Makes sense as what you've shown here is the type of information that would be very helpful for them. 

Now, we just need a Leica tech to sneak on here icognito, and share how to get to the service menu. No one here will tell anyone, we'll pinky swear and everything  

Brad

[Al Brown]

16 minutes ago, kobra said:

Interesting! It would seem likely that the SL models have a "service menu" that Leica repair centers can access. Makes sense as what you've shown here is the type of information that would be very helpful for them. 

Now, we just need a Leica tech to sneak on here icognito, and share how to get to the service menu. No one here will tell anyone, we'll pinky swear and everything  

Brad

I have tried hard, but those few I know that are in the know have sworn secrecy to the Temple of Red Dot and won't tell. Have applied many non-violent persuading metods, but alas, no cigar.

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, kobra said:

Agree mostly on the cosmetic condition; however in my case I am not a studio shooter, and I don't baby my camera when in the field - meaning I actually use it in dusty environments, and from moving vehicles. @jaapv - I suspect you can relate and I think you've taken your cameras into harsher conditions than I may have. So a minor ding here or there means nothing to me, nor do I believe it matters to the longevity of the camera. However, I am very fussy on cleaning, including removing any dust after events, and keeping the sensor clean. Likely my gear will not sell for as high a price as some, but I'm not convinced it is significantly reducing the useful life. 

I didn't think about the electronic shutter... on the one hand, if just looking at image numbering it would show up. But, if there was a built in "actuation counter", then i suppose that's true, the mechanical shutter didn't "actuate", so I guess it would not increase a counter. Interesting!

Brad

Precisely why I bought a silver-edged 601 recently for a very decent price.  I felt that I was being paid for somebody else bringing it into my normal state.