M11 freeze issues [Merged]

[Tseg]

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5 hours ago, Malabito said:

High-end Leica? What's a high-end Leica? Or do you mean a luxury gadget? Other brands' high-end models don't have these issues, cause they are tools, not luxury items.. imagine the Nikon Z9 or Sony a1 coming out with these issues...

 

Do a Reddit search under: "UPDATE: "System Error" on my Sony A1. Sony will cover half the cost."

Some quotes from the thread:

• Sony customer service is a joke
• I had one of mine just sending a high-pitched noise into my ear. 2 days out of warranty, they wouldn't do anything.
• My A1 is experiencing freezing on firmware 1.30 while using Wifi aswell

Or Z9:

Technical Service Advisory for Users of Nikon Z9 Cameras

Thank you for choosing Nikon for your photographic needs.

Users of the Z 9 mirrorless camera have informed us that there are cases in which the lens release button on their Z 9 cameras when pressed does not function as it should and does not allow for rotation and removal of a lens or mount adapter from the camera.

Based on our investigation into the matter, we have discovered that parts that do not meet our quality standards were used on some Z 9 cameras. We have identified a range of Z 9 camera serial numbers that may contain those parts and will address the issue as follows.

 

As they say, he without sin...

 

[Guest]

45 minutes ago, Tseg said:

Do a Reddit search under: "UPDATE: "System Error" on my Sony A1. Sony will cover half the cost."

Some quotes from the thread:

• Sony customer service is a joke
• I had one of mine just sending a high-pitched noise into my ear. 2 days out of warranty, they wouldn't do anything.
• My A1 is experiencing freezing on firmware 1.30 while using Wifi aswell

Or Z9:

Technical Service Advisory for Users of Nikon Z9 Cameras

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!

Thank you for choosing Nikon for your photographic needs.

Users of the Z 9 mirrorless camera have informed us that there are cases in which the lens release button on their Z 9 cameras when pressed does not function as it should and does not allow for rotation and removal of a lens or mount adapter from the camera.

Based on our investigation into the matter, we have discovered that parts that do not meet our quality standards were used on some Z 9 cameras. We have identified a range of Z 9 camera serial numbers that may contain those parts and will address the issue as follows.

 

As they say, he without sin...

 

The difference is that Nikon quickly acknowledged the fault with the Z9, identified the cameras that were affected and then remedied the problem.

I don't recollect Leica handling the issues that affected some M11 owners in such a transparent and informative way.

[Henners]

I've not experienced any crashes since the latest updates. Before I would get one occasionally and it would need the battery popped out. I can't say for sure it won't freeze ever again but it's now at the point where I trust the camera and it's not something I think about any more.

[M11 for me]

vor 15 Stunden schrieb Gerardo Puglia:

I'm sorry to say, but many of the digital Leica owners are going through denial after paying over 9K for a camera that has so many freeze issues.

Having to take the battery in and out is not a good solution.

Leica built their reputation on film cameras.. Their digital technology has some catching up to do.

 

May I ask you if you have still problems with your M11-P? You got a replacement M11-P and then you reported in this forum that the replacement is no better. You never answered then the questions about which firmware you have in your camera. This is now about 6 months ago. What is the status of your issues? Can you report.

As you can make out in this thread the freeze problems died down since a good while.  And many users never had problems anyway. Your complaint comes now just out of the blue 🤣

[charlesphoto99]

3 hours ago, Corius said:

The difference is that Nikon quickly acknowledged the fault with the Z9, identified the cameras that were affected and then remedied the problem.

I don't recollect Leica handling the issues that affected some M11 owners in such a transparent and informative way.

What do you mean? Sending your new $9k camera off for three to six months is about as transparent as one can get. In fact, it's so transparent it's almost like it's not there at all...

[maidenfan84]

On 12/5/2024 at 5:36 AM, Corius said:

The difference is that Nikon quickly acknowledged the fault with the Z9, identified the cameras that were affected and then remedied the problem.

I don't recollect Leica handling the issues that affected some M11 owners in such a transparent and informative way.

This is true. I remember even bringing these issues up during live streams from a certain, well known Leica store…and they would completely skip and ignore my honest questions about the M11 issues. It was as if Leica instructed everyone to not talk about it and stay as quiet as possible. This went on for a very long time. Even to this day, Leica hasn’t fully came out clearly and admitted any issues with the M11. That Leica store that streams? They’ve finally, and very gently and quietly, are willing to talk about it because it’s impossible to hide it any longer. Nikon, Fuji, Pentax, etc are all on the ball and transparent about fixing an issue that arises, wish Wetzlar would extend the same courtesy. This thread alone is 113 pages long. Speaks volumes about the subject. 

Edited December 8, 2024 by maidenfan84

[Velo-city]

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15 hours ago, maidenfan84 said:

Even to this day, Leica hasn’t fully came out clearly and admitted any issues with the M11.

They can’t really though can they?

A large part of Leicas marketing machine plays on the desirability of a brand with more heritage than any other - luxury cameras made by skilled craftsmen and women drawing on more expertise than any other brand. A solid, dependable product. More than a camera, it becomes a part of you, intertwined with your soul.  Something for others to see you hold and lust after.  And of course charging accordingly. 
 

To then admit they didn’t really do a brilliant job of designing and building it, well, that would hurt. To then further admit they didn’t have enough skill to resolve the issues within a year or even two years, well…..

For other brands it’s just new cameras that are tools and issues here and the that get fixed.  Not that I follow other brands enough to know if any are plagued with issues for more than two years or not, but you know…..

And I don’t think the current firmware/hardware in my case is perfect in any event.

Having now watched a few videos with Leica senior execs talking about the M, and read more about the brand I kind of get it a bit more although I’m still a bit surprised. 

[3D-Kraft.com]

Am 5.12.2024 um 13:47 schrieb Tseg:

Do a Reddit search under: "UPDATE: "System Error" on my Sony A1. Sony will cover half the cost."

Some quotes from the thread:

• Sony customer service is a joke
• I had one of mine just sending a high-pitched noise into my ear. 2 days out of warranty, they wouldn't do anything.
• My A1 is experiencing freezing on firmware 1.30 while using Wifi aswell

 

Sony customer service may not always behave, like expected. But the real question is, which fraction of cameras is affected. This figure seems to be much lower at these brands, that sell tools instead of luxury gadgets. I am using Sony gear since 14 years (5 different cameras) and when there really was a firmware issue, it usually was solved pretty quick.

[lexffm]

Yesterday I had the first really hard freeze with the M 11-P. Nothing worked anymore, only removing the battery stopped it. I have the 2.1.3 FW on it.
 

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

[kiwidad]

On 12/4/2024 at 6:21 PM, Gerardo Puglia said:

I'm sorry to say, but many of the digital Leica owners are going through denial after paying over 9K for a camera that has so many freeze issues.

Having to take the battery in and out is not a good solution.

Leica built their reputation on film cameras.. Their digital technology has some catching up to do.

 

I am sorry to say but “many” digital Leica owners are NOT going thru denial!

do some m11 cameras have issues? Apparently.. is it a significant number of those sold? No idea and unless you know the sales numbers you don’t either! I am sick and tired of the talking down of a great camera company who appear to have experience some issues with a generation of digital M cameras. Has my m11 ever frozen? Sure, and most of those times user error was a misunderstood “cause”. My Nikons also froze as did my fujis when I owned them and a battery pop was the fix also. Hmm my sofort 2 never has frozen:-)  Sure Leica is an expensive brand but current technology is what it is! Computers freeze or experience issue all the time but no one claims their Dell is flawed every time it bluescreens!

as far as Leica reputation goes I would disagree. What part of the performance of an m11 needs to catch up with anybody. If you want lotsa buttons and bell and whistles then Leica is the wrong brand for you. I like to think for my camera rather than let it think for me! 

[Pelu2010]

Hey, any freezes since firmware 2.2.0? 
cheers Peter 

[setuporg]

On 11/1/2024 at 10:51 AM, Derbyshire Man said:

TBF I’ve had dead Canon’s and Fuji’s too. The difference will be in how long it takes to be photographing again. That’s the true unacceptability to my mind. Stuff happens but it must be made right in a timely way. If they cannot service fast enough they should be providing loaners, or new camera and refurb old and resell yours as factory refurb like many other manufacturers do eg apple. Much less of a hit to reputation than an £8k camera that is missing for 6 months. 

But of course any Leica man should have several more at his disposal.  So this is just a chance to go back to them.  After getting rid of all the M11s, I found M10R/M, M60/246, an M9P/M exceptionally refreshing.  Furthermore, unconstrained by being the "latest", they now have more chances to be picked up against each other.  So the Leica lesson is simply to have several.

Edited December 22, 2024 by setuporg

[Steadimann]

I own M11P and M11M now - no issues whatsoever. I did experience freeze if i truned off camera immediately after taking picture with M11P, but this is long gone now.

 

And I will repeat myself again - they sell tens of thousands of cameras and there is some experiencing issues who post on the internet. I am 99% sure the issue is relatively tiny compared to what people imagine by reading forums. These are the times when one complaints, another one reads and then XYZ brand  becomes bad, ignorant etc. That is just not trur and not correct.

[lct]

1 hour ago, Pelu2010 said:

any freezes since firmware 2.2.0?

Got a couple freezes at startup with uncoded lenses under fw 2.2.0. Half pressing the shutter release fixed each time the issue. No need to pop battery and/or SD card out as i happened to do randomly under fw 2.1.3. Bottom line my M11 and M240 work more or less the same solid way now. I don't use the M240 in LV mode though, while it is my favorite mode with the M11.

[aficionados]

Just now, lct said:

Got a couple freezes at startup with uncoded lenses under fw 2.2.0. Half pressing the shutter release fixed each time the issue. No need to pop battery and/or SD card out as i happened to do randomly under fw 2.1.3. Bottom line my M11 and M240 work more or less the same solid way now. I don't use the M240 in LV mode though, while it is my favorite mode with the M11.

I had this issue too. Sometimes the camera starts but the shutter doesn’t open, neither does the frameline light up. Half pressing the shutter fixed it issue, it’s like waking the camera from sleep. This only happens to non coded lenses, but not always happens.

And it’s not particular to 2.2.0, I had the same issue since 1.6.2, and later 2.1.3

[setuporg]

8 minutes ago, Steadimann said:

I am 99% sure the issue is relatively tiny compared to what people imagine by reading forums.

I felt exactly the same with M11P and M11D, indignant at a Dane posting second-hand YouTube videos of M11D "bricked".  And then the internal memory failed.  Alas this is not normal.  And it signifies software and hardware quality problems with persistence not seen before.

[lct]

4 minutes ago, aficionados said:

[...] I had the same issue since 1.6.2, and later 2.1.3

So had i but i had to pop out battery and/or SD card from time to time under previous firmwares, which did not happen under fw 2.2.0 so far.

[aficionados]

4 hours ago, lct said:

So had i but i had to pop out battery and/or SD card from time to time under previous firmwares, which did not happen under fw 2.2.0 so far.

For me under 2.1.3 I didn’t have to pop out the battery either, just half pressing shutter to  wake it up, same as now to 2.2.0

[jakontil]

My m11 is a JP version, 2.2.0 and my wifi would revert back to 2.4Ghz everytime i turn it on.. won’t stick with 5Ghz band and yeah i have reset the camera few times with no avail… 

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[jpark114]

Well after my nightmarish experience with M11 which I eventually parted away, I recently acquired M11-P with colleagues' assurances of no more freeze.  I'm pretty satisfied.  It came with 2.1.3, and it's now 2.2.0.  Zero freeze since the day one.

Now with additional M11 Mono, which is also freeze free with 2.2.0, I'm loving them both.  Although my M11-P is seeing less/almost no light since my M11 Mono... loving mono.

Just wanted to share my experience, and since my nightmarish rants are somewhere in this threads...