New M8 FAQ from Leica

[Paul_S]

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I just received an email from Leica announcing a new FAQ re M8 on their web site. A link is in the mail and below.

Interesting reading (filters, batteries, frame lines, firmware updates)

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_system/m8/?mid=255

and go to the Know How link on that page.

[ArtZ]

1.4 With some SD cards, the picture numbers are reset even though the menu item “Picture Numbering” is set to “Continuously”. Also, with these cards, the frame counter displays a false amount of remaining pictures immediately after switching on the camera and before taking the first shot. How can this be avoided?

 

This effect can be avoided by formatting the card in “FAT” standard instead of in “FAT32” standard.

Windows users can proceed as follows:

 

- Insert the card into a card reader

- Click on the respective drive in the Windows Explorer

- Click the right mouse button on the respective drive letter to select the item “Formatting”

- Select “FAT” instead of “FAT32” under “File System”

- Click on “Start”

 

Another way of avoiding the effect is to simply keep the camera switched on when changing cards.

We will correct this fault as soon as possible.

 

Now my IMHO comments:

 

As I said in another thread it's better format your SD card with your computer using FAT (not FAT32). This comforts my opinion about a bug in FAT32 M8 format.

 

This doesn't explain why the M8 manage to create a DCIM folder on the SD card even when it's write protected.

 

Apparently most common problems are identified and Leica is trying to correct them, such as AWB, mad scrolling weel, green stripe... but the "venetian blind store" is not mentioned. 16 bit DNG files and "Lens Selection" menu seem not be comming with the M8

 

Concerning a firmware update, I read between lines that it will be available just before the Summarits come into the market at the end of November...

.

[marknorton]

I think this is a useful update.

[DaveB]

All in all, very interesting.

 

They reiterate the admonition to avoid third-party batteries less you risk voiding the warranty. I've had no problems, but now I've been warned...

 

One senses a certain defensiveness in the responses re: IR sensitivity and color shift. A FAQ that I do not see answered is: "Why not allow menu selection rather than just 6-bit coding for lens identification?" I know it has been asked a zillion times, but apparently the answer didn't pass the test to make it into print.

 

Furthermore, this FAQ update represents the sole instance, in my experience at least, of a camera manufacturer using the word "aubergine" with their customers.

[Guest tummydoc]

Interesting, or perhaps a better choice of words would be "alarming", is their treatise on the viewfinder frame-lines issue. They state that the "analogue" M cameras' frame-lines are exactly correct for a mounted slide @ 2m, with the inside of the lines corresponding to 0.7m and the outside to infinity. That appears to have been written by someone who is completely confused, and flies in the face of Leica's own user manuals over the years, as well as that of respected authorities such as Osterloh, who have always stated that the frame-lines have always been fixed at the coverage of each focal length at its closest focussable distance; that the outside of the frame-lines are roughly corresponding to 2m, and that infinity is the product of imagining three more thicknesses of the lines (all with the slide mount or negative carrier crop taken into consideration). I certainly hope they aren't as misinformed on other issues.

[pascal_meheut]

You should read the other PDF, "questions asked in the forum and answered by Leica".

[fotografr]

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Now my IMHO comments:

 

... but the "venetian blind store" is not mentioned.

 

 

That was also my initial observation. It seemed like a glaring ommision. I've been hoping this would be addressed in the next firmware update.

 

Overall, this new addition by Leica is very welcome.

[wparsonsgisnet]

It's nice to see that AWB is "difficult" and is being addressed and that handling of the new SD cards is in the offing.

 

I was in the camera store today (with my M8 and lenses over my shoulder in an unassuming bag) and had no urge to buy *anything*.

[blakley]

I was interested to see the answer to the very last question:

 

Q: How does Leica recommend cleaning the sensor?

 

A: All commercially available products specially designed for cleaning DSLR camera sensors can be used.

 

I think this means the debates about Eclipse vs. Eclipse 2 can be put behind us, though given that Isopropanol is listed as the preferred cleaner in the next sentence of the answer, I think Vodka is still chancy.

[cocker]

I was interested to see the answer to the very last question:

 

Q: How does Leica recommend cleaning the sensor?

 

A: All commercially available products specially designed for cleaning DSLR camera sensors can be used.

 

I think this means the debates about Eclipse vs. Eclipse 2 can be put behind us, though given that Isopropanol is listed as the preferred cleaner in the next sentence of the answer, I think Vodka is still chancy.

 

I use Brillo Pads. ( it's an English thing )

[Kent10D]

Interesting.

 

Boy, those guys really don't want to give us a lens selection menu, do they. I personally don't think that "manual selection would bring the risk of forgetting to change the setting when changing the lens" is a very good excuse. In fact, I find it a tad patronizing. I can think of several similarly "dangerous" mistakes that us stupid Leica users could make (more to the point ... that this particular stupid Leica user has already made and learned from ). I'm pretty sure we could handle it.

 

End of whine.

[fordfanjpn]

I was hoping to see something about jpeg compression. Oh well, maybe next time.

 

Bill

[pelikan1931]

Interesting.

 

Boy, those guys really don't want to give us a lens selection menu, do they. I personally don't think that "manual selection would bring the risk of forgetting to change the setting when changing the lens" is a very good excuse. In fact, I find it a tad patronizing. I can think of several similarly "dangerous" mistakes that us stupid Leica users could make (more to the point ... that this particular stupid Leica user has already made and learned from ). I'm pretty sure we could handle it.

 

End of whine.

 

 

that is also what i am hoping, but it seems unlikely, leica is not going to make its digital body ready for all those voightlander and zeiss lens out there.

[gmaurizio]

Interesting.

 

Boy, those guys really don't want to give us a lens selection menu, do they. I personally don't think that "manual selection would bring the risk of forgetting to change the setting when changing the lens" is a very good excuse. In fact, I find it a tad patronizing. I can think of several similarly "dangerous" mistakes that us stupid Leica users could make (more to the point ... that this particular stupid Leica user has already made and learned from ). I'm pretty sure we could handle it.

 

End of whine.

 

If the lens-coding thing does affect the way DNG files are stored in the camera, they are right in not providing a user-defined lens selection tool. Specially since there are programs available, like cornerfix, to do what you want to do. It might make sense to add an EXIF comment for Lens and Aperture, since that might help classify pictures, but I would not mess with the DNG.

[Kent10D]

that is also what i am hoping, but it seems unlikely, leica is not going to make its digital body ready for all those voightlander and zeiss lens out there.

 

You're probably right. But if that's really the issue I would be much happier if they'd just say so.

Seriously, if Leica simply said "look, we're just not going to do it because we want you to buy Leica coded lenses," I'd have to say "fair enough!" Business is business, and I can appreciate that. If the "too dangerous" excuse is just a diversionary tactic, I'd have to say that I feel it's a bit dishonest, even though it might be politically correct in the non-confrontational sense.

 

But then maybe I'm expecting too much.

[Kent10D]

If the lens-coding thing does affect the way DNG files are stored in the camera, they are right in not providing a user-defined lens selection tool. Specially since there are programs available, like cornerfix, to do what you want to do. It might make sense to add an EXIF comment for Lens and Aperture, since that might help classify pictures, but I would not mess with the DNG.

 

You could be right about that, too.

Perhaps I just need to do my homework and try to figure out exactly what's going on, so I can at least give up gracefully.

[jquimby]

Does anyone know of any other camera manufacturer that from time to time updates its FAQ in response to customer issues and questions? Or for that matter a camera manufacturer that actually reads and posts on Internet message boards / forums?

 

I can't think of one. Sure there may be quirks / problems with the M8 but I haven't in my entire life seen any electronics manufacturer let alone a single camera company actually embrace there users as anything other than an annoyance! Bravo, Leica.

 

I can't for the life of me see Canon or Nikon coming out and saying sorry we totally FUBAR'ed the auto white balance and it isn't worth trying to salvage, we are going to take another crack at it with a complete re-write. This, to me at least, is the real value of that little red dot. We are not just simply part of a revenue column, added up and then at the end of the quarter forgotten.

 

This willingness to actually keep customers appraised of what is going on is just as good as firmware release in my eyes. At least we know they are trying to fix the few things that are not-optimal and that they are willing to go to any length to to make it right, even including starting over again from scratch.

[Guest GuyMancusoPhoto]

I was hoping to see something about jpeg compression. Oh well, maybe next time.

 

Bill

 

Bill i brought this up to Stefan last month or so in a meeting in Germany , so they do know about it. Hopefully it will just happen in a firmware update but i will send another note on it just in case. It seems most of the FAQ's are stuff we talked about here and in meetings . nice to see they published it and we know the issues out front.

 

Now the venetian blind being not on the FAQ's i would not worry about. They are fully aware of that one. Must have just missed that one on the FAQ's

[Guest GuyMancusoPhoto]

Does anyone know of any other camera manufacturer that from time to time updates its FAQ in response to customer issues and questions? Or for that matter a camera manufacturer that actually reads and posts on Internet message boards / forums?

 

I can't think of one. Sure there may be quirks / problems with the M8 but I haven't in my entire life seen any electronics manufacturer let alone a single camera company actually embrace there users as anything other than an annoyance! Bravo, Leica.

 

I can't for the life of me see Canon or Nikon coming out and saying sorry we totally FUBAR'ed the auto white balance and it isn't worth trying to salvage, we are going to take another crack at it with a complete re-write. This, to me at least, is the real value of that little red dot. We are not just simply part of a revenue column, added up and then at the end of the quarter forgotten.

 

This willingness to actually keep customers appraised of what is going on is just as good as firmware release in my eyes. At least we know they are trying to fix the few things that are not-optimal and that they are willing to go to any length to to make it right, even including starting over again from scratch.

 

Well said Joe and your absolutely right. They work with there customers and listen to what we have to say. As a beta tester for them they really do get a earful from me and others on this forum who also beta test for them.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[carstenw]

I just read through the FAQ and am quite happy about the answers they give. It seems that with time they will sort out almost everything with updates. They even made a note that they are considering the possibility of an improved IR filter on the sensor, if the technology should allow it later on.

 

The two missing points where the lens setting in firmware, as already pointed out, and what to do with the WATE. The workflow on that lens is really rather slow, and I am loosely considering replacing mine with two other lenses with a better workflow, perhaps CV12 and Zeiss 18.