M11 freeze issues [Merged]

[fotografr]

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48 minutes ago, charlesphoto99 said:

I believe that was sarcasm (i.e. Leica will try and minimize that there's any real problem, as they have done in the past). 

🥴 Yes, it was a joke. Sorry to have carried it on prior to April 1. If true, Leica would be inundated with M11s to take advantage of the M12 "upgrade." 

Edited March 26, 2024 by fotografr

[IkarusJohn]

4 hours ago, fotografr said:

🥴 Yes, it was a joke. Sorry to have carried it on prior to April 1. If true, Leica would be inundated with M11s to take advantage of the M12 "upgrade." 

It was tongue in cheek, Brent.

But …

I think we have already had a number of comments here (none from Leica) that it’s a minority, most cameras are fine etc. Leica made such comments about the M9 sensor issue (repeated by a number here).  On the trade in, only the M(240) was available, not the M10, and the trade in price was more than what it would cost simply repairing, selling your M9 and buying the M10 (from memory).  Not very attractive at all.

What’s more problematic here is, for those with defective M11 series cameras (all?), there doesn’t appear to be a fix …

[fotografr]

59 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

It was tongue in cheek, Brent.

But …

I think we have already had a number of comments here (none from Leica) that it’s a minority, most cameras are fine etc. Leica made such comments about the M9 sensor issue (repeated by a number here).  On the trade in, only the M(240) was available, not the M10, and the trade in price was more than what it would cost simply repairing, selling your M9 and buying the M10 (from memory).  Not very attractive at all.

What’s more problematic here is, for those with defective M11 series cameras (all?), there doesn’t appear to be a fix …

I know you were joking, but it's not at all far fetched that this would be the response from Leica. It's very sad because the M11 and M11M have such tremendous potential. Image quality is wonderful and the long battery life, light weight, internal storage, etc , are very appealing. I'm certain, however, that I'm not the only person remaining on the sidelines for fear of buying a $9K camera that is plagued with problems. 

[IkarusJohn]

Well, I do have a camera with good battery life (for me), 1TB of internal storage, IBIS, 100MP medium format sensor, most comfortable camera to hold and Leica like menus - actually, a joy to use.  And $700 cheaper than the M11, with cheaper (AF) lenses.  No freezes or other issues (yet), though the leaf shutter in the only lens I have at the moment has failed.

In the words of Ned Kelly, "Such is life!"

Edited March 26, 2024 by IkarusJohn

[fotografr]

33 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

Well, I do have a camera with good battery life (for me), 1TB of internal storage, IBIS, 100MP medium format sensor, most comfortable camera to hold and Leica like menus - actually, a joy to use.  And $700 cheaper than the M11, with cheaper (AF) lenses.  No freezes or other issues (yet), though the leaf shutter in the only lens I have at the moment has failed.

In the words of Ned Kelly, "Such is life!"

Fuji GFX?  You were knocking on wood as you write that, right? 😉

[IkarusJohn]

1 hour ago, fotografr said:

Fuji GFX?  You were knocking on wood as you write that, right? 😉

Actually, no - Hasselblad X2D 100c.

I used a 503cx for many years, with the 50mm, 80mm & 150mm lenses for personal use and loved it.  Sure, it required thought and some messing about, but the results were very satisfying.  Always had a soft spot for Hasselblad.  Tried the X1D II, and had the 21mm, 45Pmm, 80mm & 135mm (with teleconverter) and sold out of it all after considerable le frustration with the AF and the X1D itself.  Regret settling the lenses now.

I have only one XCD lens at the moment - the 38V.  It's a lovely single lens (roughly 30mm fov), and I used it as my only camera in France and Italy last year.  When I picked it up again in January, I found the leaf shutter had failed.  Not a huge fan of the electronic shutter, so the lens is going back to Hasselblad - boy are they slow.  Glacial!  The lens has been sitting in a box on my desk for over two months waiting for Hasselblad to collect it.  Leica looks fast by comparison.

Back on topic - when the specs for the M11 broke cover, it wasn't for me.  Worse, I don't like the direction this camera takes the M system in.  Happy with my M10-D (which is also back in Germany as the WiFi wasn't connecting).

My M-A is looking safe!

Edited March 26, 2024 by IkarusJohn

[fotografr]

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25 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

Actually, no - Hasselblad X2D 100c.

I used a 503cx for many years, with the 50mm, 80mm & 150mm lenses for personal use and loved it.  Sure, it required thought and some messing about, but the results were very satisfying.  Always had a soft spot for Hasselblad.  

That makes a lot of sense. I was at Camera West recently and had the X2D in my hands and had a very hard time putting it down. I never got into the Hasselblad 2 1/4 system because of size and weight, but I certainly admired the results I saw from friends. The X2D fit my hand like it was made for it. Great ergonomics and fantastic image quality. 

[Smogg]

I, too, now, due to problems with my Leica cameras, practically do not let the X2D out of my hands. I use 38 and 55. The color is much better than the M11, although I do miss the small rangefinder camera

[RMF]

44 minutes ago, Smogg said:

I, too, now, due to problems with my Leica cameras, practically do not let the X2D out of my hands. I use 38 and 55. The color is much better than the M11, although I do miss the small rangefinder camera

Yup, same here. I’m keeping my particular M11 as its been 99.9% problem free, but I’m going with an X2D next (with a 38mm) rather than acquire another M11* as its uncertain and a gamble if a new M11* will be a trouble free one or not 😐. Leica really needs to address these issues or make a statement as even sales from diehard Leica fans might be staring to wain because of the documented issues.

[gtownby]

Though I’d like to someday use the latest Leica M, the “freeze” issue is putting me on the sidelines. So, I’m shooting now with my never-failing M10 Monochrom and the Hasselblad X2D. My advice to Hasselblad X2D users: Get that 45P lens. It makes the camera into a terrific “carry-around” camera and with a 35mm frame equivalent, that combo will provide you with lots of (sharp) photo opportunities.

[Smogg]

24 minutes ago, gtownby said:

Though I’d like to someday use the latest Leica M, the “freeze” issue is putting me on the sidelines. So, I’m shooting now with my never-failing M10 Monochrom and the Hasselblad X2D. My advice to Hasselblad X2D users: Get that 45P lens. It makes the camera into a terrific “carry-around” camera and with a 35mm frame equivalent, that combo will provide you with lots of (sharp) photo opportunities.

I think Leica is very concerned about the existence of the X2D, much more than any camera from Sony, Nikon or Canon. In fact, the X2D is an example of a very successful solution (especially with small new lenses with the possibility of very convenient zone focus) and an unexpected direct competitor to cameras from Leica

[lct]

Leica must be frightened indeed. Will they have to make drones to compete? Just kidding 😉

https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/01/31/who-owns-hasselblad/

 

Edited March 28, 2024 by lct

[hdmesa]

On 3/24/2024 at 6:47 AM, Smogg said:

Today my camera behaved perfectly on a walk, whereas on the previous two walks it was a real nightmare with freezing. Before today's walk, I did Reset and restored all the settings manually, rather than from the profile. Maybe this is a necessary periodic procedure?🤷‍♂️

A complete reset including user profiles cleared up freezing + DNG issue introduced to my M11M by firmware 2.0.2. Any firmware update that's problematic may benefit from a full reset.

[Smogg]

1 hour ago, hdmesa said:

A complete reset including user profiles cleared up freezing + DNG issue introduced to my M11M by firmware 2.0.2. Any firmware update that's problematic may benefit from a full reset.

This did not completely eliminate the problems. Yesterday the camera corrupted the file again and then froze. The damaged file was the first in a series at high speed, the camera clicked the shutter several times after it and froze

[jjesp]

Instead of waiting for firmware releases coming and going for the rest of your M11 life time - why not just send your camera in for an exchange? Leica states that only very few M11 owners have this freezing problem. So then it can be solved by having a new camera send back to you. Simple! Do it before warranty is over. I simply wouldn't accept having a camera in this price range (or even a much cheaper price range), not working. I have learned my lesson since the same problem is on my old Q 116. Has been there from the beginning to this day. And I lost important images in the moment to many times.... I really regret not having my money back or having it replaced by Leica with a camera that works as you are entitled to. 

I am beginning to loose faith in Leica products. I even talked to a guy that now have had freezing and corrupt DNG files on his new SL3. Come on... I know every manufacturer has faulty items once in a while. They fix it or you get a new if they can't. All fine. But here we begin to see a pattern that is not good! Just wait for a new firmware, coming next month - or year.... It is not ok. If it is a bug in a new firmware version - you fix it in weeks. Not months or years - or never.... Think about it. How can we accept it?

[lct]

31 minutes ago, jjesp said:

[...] Just wait for a new firmware, coming next month - or year.... It is not ok. If it is a bug in a new firmware version - you fix it in weeks. Not months or years - or never.... Think about it. How can we accept it?

Because this is what we've been doing since there are digital cameras at Leica. Some of us complain, others don't, most wait for the next fw update more or less quietly.

[jeri]

Unfortunately my camera started to develop freezing symptoms. It's happened to me at least four times in the last three weeks. The phenomenon occurs when viewing photos that have just been taken. Of course removing the camera battery from its place solves the problem. By the way, my default camera setting is screen completely off. Also, the bluetooth and wi-fi are also turned off.

In the meantime, and after I had no complaints during the year and a half that I had the camera in my possession - except for two times when the camera froze, and the information that was stored on the memory card went Kaput (although luckily I was able to recover the lost photos again) - I reformatted the memory card as usual, and in addition I also formatted the camera .

By the way, the memory card is the 'Kingston Canvas React Plus SDXC UHS-II U3 V60 HD/4K' and it resides in the camera, from the first day it was received.

I might add and hope that 17 years from now, my Leica M11 will be as faultless as my legendary mother Leica M8 is today.

 

Edited March 29, 2024 by jeri

[lct]

27 minutes ago, jeri said:

[...]

By the way, the memory card is the 'Kingston Canvas React Plus SDXC UHS-II U3 V60 HD/4K' and it resides in the camera, from the first day it was received.

I might add and hope that 17 years from now, my Leica M11 will be as faultless as my legendary mother Leica M8 is today.

Did you try SD Memory Card Formatter? Works fine to format my Sandisk and Sony cards on Leica, Panasonic, Ricoh, Sigma, and Sony cameras but i have no experience with Kingston cards sorry. SD Card Formatter is free though so there is no harm to try it.

Edited March 29, 2024 by lct

[Big John]

101 pages of comments on a major technical issue - on a high end, expensive product. The freezing issue has completely put me off an M11/P. Not just because of technical fault but also because I don’t want to feel like I am being taken for a ride by a company that should be standing by its customers and replacing all faulty cameras or swiftly addressing the problem. And I am a Leica (SL) owner who loves the brand. 

Edited March 29, 2024 by Big John

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[Malabito]

I really wonder how leica hasn't come with a statement about this issue.... the internet is plagued with unhappy users...