pemayeux Posted October 12, 2007 Share #41 Posted October 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Paul, This has happened to me too. It is a battery current problem. Not more of a problem than removing the battery and replace it with a fully charged one will make the camera work again. I guess this is what is called 'a small death'. If at all a 'death'. No big deal. For amateurs, at least. More of a hassle for pro's. I live in Oslo. One of the driest places on the planet if we get a frozen fjord and a cold winter. Then humidity drops to 35%. I go regularly to Helsinki which gets similar humidity levels if the Bay of Finland freezes. We haven't seen hard winters since the 80', though. But inland Scandinavia offers regularly cold winters and low humidity. Places I visit regularly going skiing etc. I bought my M8 last April (serial no. 3109423) and have no idea of how it will take the winter. The first snow hit the north of Norway this week. I'll keep you posted. Thank you Tom. Some of the shooting I did last week was in 25F and about 15% humidity. Other than the few lockups the camera performed fine. I did notice that the battery life was considerably shorter in the colder weather. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 12, 2007 Posted October 12, 2007 Hi pemayeux, Take a look here My M8 has died again. What should I do ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
chris_tribble Posted October 12, 2007 Share #42 Posted October 12, 2007 I wonder if batteries and how we treat them is at the heart of things? I don't know what others do, but with the 2 bodies (one bought in January, the other in April) + 4 batteries, I NEVER charge a half discharged battery - just got into the habit of running it flat in the body (either during a shoot or by turning off auto display and leaving it on display) and then re-charge. As I'm able to maintain a rotation I don't have any problems working this way - and although I've never counted, I'm usually able to get a couple of days of documentary shooting from a full charge (not that I shoot machine gun style - I've never actually used the multi-shot mode....) Interested to hear how other people deal with batteries. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruiespanhol Posted October 12, 2007 Share #43 Posted October 12, 2007 It's not an investment, it's not a piece of jewellery, it's not a personal style statement, it's not a self-indulgent whim for those with grey dollars, it's a camera. It works. This is Leica should be,but unluky it was not:mad: In near future only rich men can buy one Leica camera and I ask this is the rigth way for Leica? I would like to see another way for Leica whit good cameras at resonable price not only for colectors or very rich amateurs. For me Leica is one tool not one piece of jewellery. Best, Rui Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6J Posted October 12, 2007 Share #44 Posted October 12, 2007 ...I NEVER charge a half discharged battery - just got into the habit of running it flat in the body (either during a shoot or by turning off auto display and leaving it on display) and then re-charge. That habit of leaving the display on forever to run the batteries flat... seems like many forum members do it. I wonder if it has any effect on the LCD's life. What do you think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted October 12, 2007 Share #45 Posted October 12, 2007 In near future only rich men can buy one Leica camera and I ask this is the rigth way for Leica? I would like to see another way for Leica whit good cameras at resonable price not only for colectors or very rich amateurs. For me Leica is one tool not one piece of jewellery. Rui - I bought my two bodies for £2900 each or thereabouts. I've had the odd twinge when I've looked at the new D 1III and thought well, may be this would be nice - but my 1D2 does the job still (see the image). As it is, the 1D3 costs £2,649.00 and the 1Ds 3 is going to be £5,998.99!!!! in the UK. Current list for the M8 in the UK is £3389.99. While I'm pleased I got mine at the earlier price, even at the current price it's a competitive as a real world professional tool. This is what they cost. I've got 7 Leica lenses. I use some of them less than others (35 non-ASPH cron, 90 non-ASPH cron) but others I use all the time (21 f2/8 / 28 f2 / 50 lux / 75 lux / 135 APO) but the total investment is vastly more than the cost of the body. This is the issue for me. In this 21st century craft that we engage with we have to invest in: - IT skills - Software (in my case Photoshop / Lightroom / QTRip) - Hardware (currently dual Zeon PC + Lacie 19" monitor + stacks of 250GB drives - not state of the art, but good enough) - Glass (Canon L series 16-35 / 24-70 / 85 / 70-200) + the Leica listed above. - Bodies (Canon 5D + 1D2) + 2x M8 The cost of the body is significant, but isn't the major component... and I'm not having to pay for film or processing, so over the next three to five years the cost of buying the digital body can be discounted in the real world... So - given that my M8's work and will be the only kit that I take on a forthcoming assignment in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, I don't know how I could have expected to pay less for the M8 body and, so far as I'm concerned, I made a really sensible choice (see the 2nd image). I really, truly hurt for members of this list who've had unacceptably bad experiences with the M8. But it isn't the only story, and I don't think that Leica should start stripping back on quality and bringing down the price. Best Chris 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/35426-my-m8-has-died-again-what-should-i-do/?do=findComment&comment=375269'>More sharing options...
eronald Posted October 12, 2007 Author Share #46 Posted October 12, 2007 So - given that my M8's work and will be the only kit that I take on a forthcoming assignment in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, I don't know how I could have expected to pay less for the M8 body and, so far as I'm concerned, I made a really sensible choice (see the 2nd image). I really, truly hurt for members of this list who've had unacceptably bad experiences with the M8. But it isn't the only story, and I don't think that Leica should start stripping back on quality and bringing down the price. Best Chris Given that yours work. Mine doesn't, and that was already a replacement. I think Leica has indeed skimped on quality, already. Edmund Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted October 12, 2007 Share #47 Posted October 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Given that yours work. Mine doesn't, and that was already a replacement. I think Leica has indeed skimped on quality, already. Edmund Oh yeah. If you compare the overall build to the M7 it is pretty obvious that Leica was forced to go a bit backwards (though the 7 has had it share of electronic issues - what is it with Leica and electricity?!!). Perhaps that is why the 7 was offered with a 5 year passport warranty and the 8 a standard 2 year. I think the M8 probably had another 6 months to a year r&d left to go but market forces won out. Now we're putting our faith in firmware updates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 12, 2007 Share #48 Posted October 12, 2007 Maybe they expect a new body in 2 years and reason for the 2 year . Also what warranties does Canon , Nikon and others give on there camera's and there not passport either 1 year tops. Consider ourselves lucky to get 2 years in the electronics world on any product. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted October 12, 2007 Share #49 Posted October 12, 2007 You're right there. I just find it interesting how they went form a 5 year Passport to a 2 year standard on what was supposed to be essentially the same camera except (shooting digital vs film of course). Quite possibly their 5 year on the M7 was a marketing ploy at that time. That and they are cheaper to replace plus a lot less to go wrong and old technology vs new. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted October 12, 2007 Share #50 Posted October 12, 2007 - small death also arriving right after a serie of continuous pictures shot. Aside from not very good frame line accuracy with the 50, this is the only problem I have had with the M8 as well. I shoot a series of images, usually more than 6 and I get a series of blinking hyphens in the VF and a blinking red light on the back of the camera. I give it a few to flush the buffer and after a more than generous amount of time, I have to pull the battery completely out to use it again and I lose the entire sequence I just shot. I live in a pretty dry climate at over 8,000 feet in the Rockies. I take the M8 a lot of places including having it on me as I ride my bike to run an errand. But I do not abuse it, I just use the darn thing. All this aside, my M8 is really, really good. I get tremendously spot on files with little post production right out of camera. So much so that I use the 5D 1/5th of the time now for other than commercial work. But I am concerned about the locking up, it seems to be doing a it more lately.. I understand both sides. On the one hand, it is a really expensive tool to not have work right compared to the other options out there that are really reliable. And on the other hand, when it is working right, it is what you want out a any Leica, film or digital. Should I send mine in then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 12, 2007 Share #51 Posted October 12, 2007 Okay back to reality when Edmund replaced his orginal body the replacement may have come from the same lot that was causing SDS to begin with and this is several months ago. Believe me i had SDS on the same body twice in November and in March and since than it has been working perfectly fine but Leica must have found the solution to it which many believe it is the T2 which Edmunds second body may never had gotten that update just like mine did not after the first time. but any new body in a long time now we have not seen SDS on any kind of regular basis either so seems they fixed the issue. What some of us do get once in awhile is battery intterupt or battery has no clue how much voltage is in it and the worst case seems to just replace the battery. I have heard this one on several occasions and has happened to me too. Not sure of the cause though , my believe is it is the battery and not the camera. So let's not panic either Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted October 12, 2007 Share #52 Posted October 12, 2007 You're right there. I just find it interesting how they went form a 5 year Passport to a 2 year standard on what was supposed to be essentially the same camera except (shooting digital vs film of course). Quite possibly their 5 year on the M7 was a marketing ploy at that time. That and they are cheaper to replace plus a lot less to go wrong and old technology vs new. Charles: The five years was just a promotion. The passport was still only three years, with an additional two years extended regular warranty on the camera. I bought a R9 about a year ago and when I registered the warranty when the passport card came back from New Jersey, it had a three year passport warranty cand and an two year extended warranty card. Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJH Posted October 13, 2007 Share #53 Posted October 13, 2007 Greetings, all... new forum member Chris has joined you. New M8 arrived today from Calumet (via Amazon)... wanted to beat the latest price increase. Serial number is 31117xx, and there is a number on the outer box (which appears to be a date) of 4-18-07-4. The S/N does seem awfully low based on some other numbers I've seen bandied about in threads. Having read the thread about what to do when getting the new baby ("Go out and shoot it!"), I promptly charged the battery fully (took about 2.5 hours), inserted it and a reformatted in computer Extreme III 2GB card and turned it on. Red light came on... nothing else. I've tried a different card, removed and reinserted the battery several times, with no result. By the way, the battery seems hard to get out. Unlike my R-D1 or my D-Lux 3, where it pops out immediately when opening the door, I have to fiddle with this one to get it to release (just sliding the white button doesn't do it). Normal or part of the problem perhaps? But the big question... do I have the dreaded SDS? I have another Leica battery due on Tuesday from B&H that I can try. But any other advice while I wait? Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 13, 2007 Share #54 Posted October 13, 2007 Sounds like you are using SDHC cards which the M8 cannot use. Check your cards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJH Posted October 13, 2007 Share #55 Posted October 13, 2007 Thanks, Guy. Don't think that's it. It's a standard 2GB that I've used in my D-Lux for 6 mos. of so. I also put in a 1 GB Extreme III with same result. Strange thing now is that I can't even get the battery out. Seems completely stuck in the slot. Ah, the frustrations! But I've wanted this camera for a long time and won't let this deter me. P.S. Wish I could have seen/met you at PhotoMark last Friday! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 13, 2007 Share #56 Posted October 13, 2007 Yes that would have been great. if you can't figure it out i am in town until Monday morning. call me Anything look like it fell into the battery slot to jam it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howard_cummer Posted October 13, 2007 Share #57 Posted October 13, 2007 List of compatible SD cards are here: http://www.leica-camera.us/service/downloads/rangefinder_cameras/m8/index.html Cheers Howard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asfeir Posted October 13, 2007 Share #58 Posted October 13, 2007 Okay back to reality when Edmund replaced his orginal body the replacement may have come from the same lot that was causing SDS to begin with and this is several months ago. Believe me i had SDS on the same body twice in November and in March and since than it has been working perfectly fine but Leica must have found the solution to it which many believe it is the T2 which Edmunds second body may never had gotten that update just like mine did not after the first time. but any new body in a long time now we have not seen SDS on any kind of regular basis either so seems they fixed the issue. What some of us do get once in awhile is battery intterupt or battery has no clue how much voltage is in it and the worst case seems to just replace the battery. I have heard this one on several occasions and has happened to me too. Not sure of the cause though , my believe is it is the battery and not the camera. So let's not panic either I fully agree with this. To the best of my knowledge, there were 2 generic problems with the M8: The first had to do with the severe banding and was fixed in November 2006 when the production was stopped and a new series started to be delivered in December. The second problem is the SDS apparently due to a faulty part that was identified (T2 ?); I do not know the exact date after which this generic problem was solved, should be some time in early Spring. Since then, I think that most reported problems are "computer bugs". These occur with all digital equipment. Hopefully new versions of software will have a "Reset" function. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eronald Posted October 13, 2007 Author Share #59 Posted October 13, 2007 Actually, this M8 was getting flaky with back window lines after the image was taken, jumping menus and a couple of minor hangs (reset by battery in-out). The final hang followed the trend. I guess it's a film simulation: On the M8 instead of replacing the film every 36 shots you still need to open the batter and pull out and shove in the battery as if it were a film canister - this keeps the nostalgics amongst us happy. Edmund Okay back to reality when Edmund replaced his orginal body the replacement may have come from the same lot that was causing SDS to begin with and this is several months ago. Believe me i had SDS on the same body twice in November and in March and since than it has been working perfectly fine but Leica must have found the solution to it which many believe it is the T2 which Edmunds second body may never had gotten that update just like mine did not after the first time. but any new body in a long time now we have not seen SDS on any kind of regular basis either so seems they fixed the issue. What some of us do get once in awhile is battery intterupt or battery has no clue how much voltage is in it and the worst case seems to just replace the battery. I have heard this one on several occasions and has happened to me too. Not sure of the cause though , my believe is it is the battery and not the camera. So let's not panic either Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted October 13, 2007 Share #60 Posted October 13, 2007 I guess it's a film simulation: On the M8 instead of replacing the film every 36 shots you still need to open the batter and pull out and shove in the battery as if it were a film canister - this keeps the nostalgics amongst us happy. LOL! How true About what you should do, I guess it depends on several things: can you still return the camera? You never seemed completely happy with it, so maybe it is the best option. If you are not happy, then continuing the saga makes little sense. However, if you have a little patience, you might try getting it repaired one last time, and see if the third time isn't the lucky time. Did Leica ever fix your titanium 35 Lux Asph (am I remembering the lens right?). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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