M11 freeze issues [Merged]

[lohthx1r]

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Hi all,

Just want to share an update of my experience. Ever since I change the storage option to use SD Card exclusively, I have not had a single crash even swapping between Leica and Voigtlander lens. 
 

It maybe because of pure luck, and is just my personal experience anyway.

Thanks.

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[lucy63]

On 5/22/2023 at 8:07 PM, Kwesi said:

I thought this has been resolved with the latest firmware - we even had some examples of it being fixed by someone who was have the same issue prior to the firmware release.

Anyway hope Leica does get to the bottom of this. My biggest issue before the latest firmware was inconsistent white balance when shooting a sequence of images.

Your photography is wonderful.

[Kwesi]

6 hours ago, lucy63 said:

Your photography is wonderful.

Thank you!

[GFW2-SCUSA]

I have shot with Leicas since early 1960s beginning with a IIIg or f (can't remember) I now use an M-10, M-10 Monochrom, a CL and an SL2. I have never had one bit of trouble with a Leica camera. I have shot professionally with Nikon and Leica trouble free. I don't understand what is going on with the Leica M 11. I keep reading of similar problems folk are having. Has Leica quality control gone to the dogs? It is, in my opinion, unacceptable for a $9,000. Leica camera to be so flawed. I wouldn't and will not even think of buying a new M11 or M11 Mono. I'm not sure I'd buy any of the newest Leicas. I find it very sad. Leica was once the best and toughest camera available. That no longer can be said. 

[lucy63]

4 hours ago, GFW2-SCUSA said:

I have shot with Leicas since early 1960s beginning with a IIIg or f (can't remember) I now use an M-10, M-10 Monochrom, a CL and an SL2. I have never had one bit of trouble with a Leica camera. I have shot professionally with Nikon and Leica trouble free. I don't understand what is going on with the Leica M 11. I keep reading of similar problems folk are having. Has Leica quality control gone to the dogs? It is, in my opinion, unacceptable for a $9,000. Leica camera to be so flawed. I wouldn't and will not even think of buying a new M11 or M11 Mono. I'm not sure I'd buy any of the newest Leicas. I find it very sad. Leica was once the best and toughest camera available. That no longer can be said. 

It sure is a bummer..I had a couple, both failed, I LOVED the IQ. Now I have an M10-R but really miss the M11, hence I'm hovering around here again contemplating giving the M11 another go but I'm nervous.

[lct]

Compared to my M3 (tight lens mount), M4-2 (fragile shutter), M6J (no issue), M8.2 (coffee stain) and M240 (no issue), my M11 (no issue since firmware 1.6.1) is one of the most trouble free i must say. This does not excuse sample variation of course but as far as i recall, Leica QC was never reputed as the best, at least since the eighties.

[jakontil]

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19 hours ago, lucy63 said:

It sure is a bummer..I had a couple, both failed, I LOVED the IQ. Now I have an M10-R but really miss the M11, hence I'm hovering around here again contemplating giving the M11 another go but I'm nervous.

It’s almost like a hit n miss with M11, mine bought last year in April, though it freezes very rarely, i have experienced various problem with other bodies, my mate runs a local dealer and i gotta try some units

finger crossed, since updating latest FW, it was froze ealier a couple of times but none was bugging me, and lately have been trouble free.. went on a trip for a couple of weeks, freezes twice and my m10r once.. but yeah i guess it’s a complex computing machine, sometimes it’s oke to freeze once in a while IMHO

[MaticB]

I strongly suggest to all of you to format your SD cards with SD card formatter. It is available on net for free! And, it doesn't matter if you formatted your cards previously in camera! I do have M11Mono and M10R, both with the latest firmware, but only after formatting cards with SD formatter all the troubles vanish!

[Qlan]

Stop thinking there’s a magic solution to the freeze issues, be it SD Formatter, not using the SD card, using slow cards or fast cards, not use certain settings, etc.

Some people on this forum (including me) tried all of these and still get freezes. 

Edited June 7, 2023 by Qlan

[Malvolio]

Nil freeze issues with mine. Just saying

[lct]

I would not discourage the use of SD Card Formatter personally. It has sorted out my SD cards issues since the M8.2 and i go on using it with all my cameras, including the M11, with full satisfaction. Not a magic solution admittedly but perhaps one of the reasons why i don't have freeze issues since firmware 1.6.1 on the M11. 

[LeicaR10]

MaticB and Ict,  You are spot on.  I have written about this SD Card Formatter and process on several occasions here.  All my clients in my workshops that experienced freeze up that tried the process of using SD Card Formatter (free app) to initially format their SD cards, then format in camera had all their freeze ups disappear.  Plus I told them to use the same high quality, non counterfeit SD cards either SD UHS 1 or IIs with 64 to 128 GB (Most used SanDisk or Delkin Black SD cards) and none of those photographers had any more issues.  I know some people report bricking and that is a different issue. I have not had any M camera since the M240 and using the formatter software, same quality SD card, download every day after shooting and both delete files in camera and reformat after each day shoot. After every 10  days of shooting, I do the process again.  Never a freeze up on any M camera since the M240 and this includes the M11 that I owned/used for a short time before going back to the M10-R and M10-M.  (Just couldn't bond with the M11 models) I guess others who still get freezes after using this process simply have a black cloud over the camera.  I do know my clients M camera freezes were resolved and they couldn't be more happy.  r/ Mark

Edited June 7, 2023 by LeicaR10

[lucy63]

4 hours ago, jakontil said:

It’s almost like a hit n miss with M11, mine bought last year in April, though it freezes very rarely, i have experienced various problem with other bodies, my mate runs a local dealer and i gotta try some units

finger crossed, since updating latest FW, it was froze ealier a couple of times but none was bugging me, and lately have been trouble free.. went on a trip for a couple of weeks, freezes twice and my m10r once.. but yeah i guess it’s a complex computing machine, sometimes it’s oke to freeze once in a while IMHO

With my first M11 removing the battery solved the problem but it froze a LOT, it was a pain and I missed many shots. The second was the same until it bricked, nothing could revive it. 

[hdmesa]

On 6/6/2023 at 11:57 PM, lct said:

I would not discourage the use of SD Card Formatter personally. It has sorted out my SD cards issues since the M8.2 and i go on using it with all my cameras, including the M11, with full satisfaction. Not a magic solution admittedly but perhaps one of the reasons why i don't have freeze issues since firmware 1.6.1 on the M11. 

 

On 6/7/2023 at 12:15 AM, LeicaR10 said:

MaticB and Ict,  You are spot on.  I have written about this SD Card Formatter and process on several occasions here.  All my clients in my workshops that experienced freeze up that tried the process of using SD Card Formatter (free app) to initially format their SD cards, then format in camera had all their freeze ups disappear.  Plus I told them to use the same high quality, non counterfeit SD cards either SD UHS 1 or IIs with 64 to 128 GB (Most used SanDisk or Delkin Black SD cards) and none of those photographers had any more issues.  I know some people report bricking and that is a different issue. I have not had any M camera since the M240 and using the formatter software, same quality SD card, download every day after shooting and both delete files in camera and reformat after each day shoot. After every 10  days of shooting, I do the process again.  Never a freeze up on any M camera since the M240 and this includes the M11 that I owned/used for a short time before going back to the M10-R and M10-M.  (Just couldn't bond with the M11 models) I guess others who still get freezes after using this process simply have a black cloud over the camera.  I do know my clients M camera freezes were resolved and they couldn't be more happy.  r/ Mark

Using SD formatter on legit SanDisk and Delkin Black cards did not fix the freezing for many of us. It's still good general advice, but the issue of the M11 freezing on startup is not solved with either of these approaches.

[hmzimelka]

I don't get the fixation on SD Card Formatter as the magic bullet for Leica's shortcomings. Even if some SD cards can cause hang ups, it's not an excuse for Leica, and they should get their act together.  The issue with the M11 is not SD card related. I'm pretty sure this has been made clear several times over in this forum. 

I format my SD cards in camera, but most of the time I actually just delete all images via the computer or in camera. Sacrilege!!!

The only feature of SD Card Formatter I use is the full disk overwrite format, maybe once a year, if that. Also, I use a 128GB Lexar Professional 1667x most of the time which is a brand some Leica users spit at. I've probably had less than three freezes since firmware 1.6.1 was installed, and I don't think more than one of those needed a battery pull. I use my camera almost daily, and while I don't shoot huge amounts of images and I'm fairly selective, I'm still at around 18000 actuations since March 2022.

I no longer own any 6 Bit Leica lenses with exception of my Summicron-M 50mm V. I use Voigtlander lenses which are manually 6-bit coded, some that aren't 6 bit coded, and some vintage Leica lenses that aren't 6 Bit coded either. 

Also, my camera charges via cable when it's both switched on or off. There seems to be varying user reports on how their cameras behave.

I don't hold Leica in high regard. In fact I find how they deal with various issues rather distasteful, and I've personally lost a lot of money on having purchased faulty and defective gear from them over the last 1.5 years. The latest statement or report regarding the M6 pressure plate issue is just a good example how full of **** they are. The company needs to get off its virtuous high horse and start building up the confidence of its customers again. 

I consider myself lucky that my M11 is behaving. Would I buy another or an M11M, or even recommend it? Absolutely no!

[lct]

In complex matters where several causes are at play, let alone unknown ones, nobody can tell that one cause is the culprit by definition. Removing possible causes can only be good then IMHO.

[jakontil]

18 hours ago, hmzimelka said:

I don't get the fixation on SD Card Formatter as the magic bullet for Leica's shortcomings. Even if some SD cards can cause hang ups, it's not an excuse for Leica, and they should get their act together.  The issue with the M11 is not SD card related. I'm pretty sure this has been made clear several times over in this forum. 

I format my SD cards in camera, but most of the time I actually just delete all images via the computer or in camera. Sacrilege!!!

The only feature of SD Card Formatter I use is the full disk overwrite format, maybe once a year, if that. Also, I use a 128GB Lexar Professional 1667x most of the time which is a brand some Leica users spit at. I've probably had less than three freezes since firmware 1.6.1 was installed, and I don't think more than one of those needed a battery pull. I use my camera almost daily, and while I don't shoot huge amounts of images and I'm fairly selective, I'm still at around 18000 actuations since March 2022.

I no longer own any 6 Bit Leica lenses with exception of my Summicron-M 50mm V. I use Voigtlander lenses which are manually 6-bit coded, some that aren't 6 bit coded, and some vintage Leica lenses that aren't 6 Bit coded either. 

Also, my camera charges via cable when it's both switched on or off. There seems to be varying user reports on how their cameras behave.

I don't hold Leica in high regard. In fact I find how they deal with various issues rather distasteful, and I've personally lost a lot of money on having purchased faulty and defective gear from them over the last 1.5 years. The latest statement or report regarding the M6 pressure plate issue is just a good example how full of **** they are. The company needs to get off its virtuous high horse and start building up the confidence of its customers again. 

I consider myself lucky that my M11 is behaving. Would I buy another or an M11M, or even recommend it? Absolutely no!

Im with you in this matter.. i might be few times lucky.. now i see getting a brand new is scarier than a used leica, presumably they work fine and come back after repair if there’s any

[neonvoid]

On 6/7/2023 at 5:11 AM, Qlan said:

Stop thinking there’s a magic solution to the freeze issues, be it SD Formatter, not using the SD card, using slow cards or fast cards, not use certain settings, etc.

Some people on this forum (including me) tried all of these and still get freezes. 

It does seem like we’re starting to get into voodoo territory. It just randomly locks up for me, and then you line up the shot, press the shutter release and nothing happens, moment’s gone.

 

 

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[jakontil]

22 minutes ago, neonvoid said:

It does seem like we’re starting to get into voodoo territory. It just randomly locks up for me, and then you line up the shot, press the shutter release and nothing happens, moment’s gone.

 

 

You sure you r not using hybrid shutter and no preview? 

[neonvoid]

Yeah, let me just disable all the useful camera features and then maybe, just maybe, I could go a day without the thing locking up.