Missing images after first shoot with SL3

[Shawn30]

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Leica got back to me yesterday and went through what card I was using and settings. They said they are investigating this problem, but it was related specifically to Sandisk CFexpress cards. They didn’t rule out that the camera could be at fault but sounds like they need more data. Anyone having the issue should report it.

For my situation they think my SD card wasn’t up to the task which is accurate. I tested yesterday with a higher speed SD and couldn’t recreate the camera locking up. I’ll also look at the group setting mentioned above.

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[Mikko Kankainen]

At least in my case this has nothing to do with card speed or maker of it. 
 

I used fastest SD I could buy and CF was not Sandisk. And we were shooting quite slowly and camera did not freeze. 

But yours and mine were different cases. 

[Shawn30]

On 4/23/2024 at 11:40 AM, BernardC said:

I think that the files are saved to the card, but the directory structure isn't updated, which means that the blocks appear to be free. That's why the camera thinks it can overwrite them. There's probably a routine that updates the folder contents when you do a clean shut-down, but in this case the battery was pulled so this routine was never called.

The other way to explain this is that it's a caching issue. The camera keeps the folder structure in-memory, for performance reasons. That usually isn't a problem, except if the power fails (when the battery is pulled). High-end disk controllers also do this, except that they have a small on-board battery that writes any cached data to disk during a power failure.

I'm sure that Leica and Panasonic have figured this out already, but fixing this type of bug still takes time. You don't want to introduce new bugs while fixing old ones. Plus, the bug could be in a third-party memory card controller, or in an application library, or in the main firmware, or at some other layer in the code, or in the interaction between different layers. Each of these layers might have a caching mechanism, and you might not even be aware of them until they fail (especially if it's hardware or third-party libraries).

Long story short: wait for the next firmware update. Until then, make sure the camera is fully shut-down (not just sleeping) before you pull the battery.

I did some testing inside and I think I agree now. When the buffer fills up and takes a surprisingly long time to catch up. I couldn’t see the little red status light outdoors, but indoors you can see what’s going on. I’m certain I popped the battery while it was writing. 

 

[FrankX]

A "surprisingly long time to catch up" cannot explain why in some case photos for a period > 30 mins are missing...

I was really waiting for this camera to upgrade from my SL2, but currently I would have absolutely no trust in the reliability to use it as a professional wedding photography tool. 😢

Edited May 2, 2024 by FrankX

[nonoketchup]

I going to reluctantly to post my story

Unfortunately I'm a victim of this issue as well. I have lost over 600 images (319 from one and about 281 from another) from two separate weddings due to the camera overwriting files. The camera was set to dual write. 1 wedding I lost an hour time block and the other was a 2 hour time frame. This issue is completely unacceptable and I've never run into an issue like this before. I've already contacted Leica about this as well.

Just an example to know if you are missing files - it will say "created 5:23pm" and if the modified time is different (and you haven't actually modified it), the created and modified time will be different.

For the record, I was using a Sandisk CFe and a Prograde SD. Group Display was ON (now it's OFF).

I'm beyond livid that this has happened. I don't think I can use this camera anymore and I hope this happens to no one else. Huge red flag.

 

[Mikko Kankainen]

So sad to hear. 

I asked about the progress and told that I was not using Sandisk. No answer. 
 

I warned them about coming wedding season, pictures that you cannot be taken later again. I took photos agaib that got missing earlier, about 30 children, it was not nice. ”Did your memory card broke” ”Did you drop your camera”….
Me: ”No its a 7000€ professional camera that overwrites images, something that no other camera do in this planet and never has done”.

This bug can be recreated, fix should be easy. And meanwhile warning to customers. Indeed a huge red flag, dont rely on this camera for now at least!

[Olaf_ZG]

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I feel sorry for those which have those problems…

and meanwhile Leica keeps silent. With the SL3, some issues with the Q3 and lots of issues with the m11.

I guess one shouldn’t buy a new Leica anymore. Stick to the latest and that’s it.

Leica glass might be best in the world, if you loose images, it’s the worst glass in the world. 

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, Olaf_ZG said:

I feel sorry for those which have those problems…

and meanwhile Leica keeps silent. With the SL3, some issues with the Q3 and lots of issues with the m11.

I guess one shouldn’t buy a new Leica anymore. Stick to the latest and that’s it.

Leica glass might be best in the world, if you loose images, it’s the worst glass in the world. 

I am really glad that I bought SL3, Q3, and M11. 

[Photoworks]

Ok @mikko !!! MISSING PHOTOS !!!

I just came from the shoot and downloaded the card to the computer and 1/2 of the shoot is missing.

I didn't change cards, I didn't change the battery, just a few hour shoot on a CF Express card.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM! 

[Mikko Kankainen]

Very scary! Makes mad.

I feel now that the way it happened to me (suspend->battery out) might not even be the trigger but something else. Or there is some weakness and some use cases triggers it.

Of course email to Leica and it's good that we keep noise here, hopefully it will get their attension. I have not heard anything more from them

[Photoworks]

1 minute ago, Mikko Kankainen said:

Very scary! Makes mad.

I feel now that the way it happened to me (suspend->battery out) might not even be the trigger but something else. Or there is some weakness and some use cases triggers it.

Of course email to Leica and it's good that we keep noise here, hopefully it will get their attension. I have not heard anything more from them

I feel that the SL3 can not be used until they say they have a solution. I will start using the SL2 cameras again.

[Mikko Kankainen]

Yes not at least for work / moments you cannot live again. I use now SL2-s and M11 for events, SL3 only for some generic pictures in events. For real estate it's fine It's absurd.

[jaapv]

I think that the time has come for Leica to publicly address the problem. These are professional users who

a. know how to use a camera

b. cannot afford to lose images in their paid work.

[dasjak]

I am also missing 2hours from my shoot yesterday. What a bummer, as a professional this really hurts and makes one look very unprofessional unfortunately 😕

 

I did change the battery without turning off. That seems to be the problem, right?

although I switched batteries a couple of times and it seems it only deleted images once as far as I have seen…

besides me looking like a noob, I will return the money I earned yesterday. Sucks big time…

[PeterBoyadjian]

I’m extremely disappointed in Leicas service in all this. If the X2D is suitable for events then I would ditch this system. Not one follow up from my sales rep after emailing everything, NJ service basically said just let us know if it happens again. Maybe my name and work isn’t prestigious enough but I shouldn’t have a little bit of anxiety every-time I use my $50,000 kit. 
 

l still love the camera and files, they’re magical. But focus on fixing the firmware and not making iPhone apps. 

[Olaf_ZG]

4 minutes ago, PeterBoyadjian said:

 

But focus on fixing the firmware and not making iPhone apps. 

I fully agree. Was surprised too to see this app, while so many cameras are still having severe problems. Leica’s focus is totally off.

 I am rather new to Leica (just three years), but as I see it for now, I will use my SL2’s and the m10m till they die. Then, hopefully in far future I will upgrade to any brand offering the best.

Good thing is, my GAS disappeared. Having a great set of lenses (some small changes might appear though), the ongoing failures with FW and Leica not being open about it, really stopped my wanting any newer Leica.

 

[Mikko Kankainen]

How I feel. This is a joke but not funny. Why does Leica keep selling this product that is faulty? Where is proud, where is quality that they are known. Phone app indeed. And still no warning to users. Even film is more reliable!
 

I use SL2-s mainly or M11. SL3 is the worst camera I have ever owned since my 15 year of professional career. Good sensor and flippy screen, everything else just ….

 

And if someone say well you should turn off the camera. How can you tell if its turned off? Yes you see red Leica logo. I now watch to evf that I see this logo then I can take a memory card off. With on/off switch no problem. But its great progress that we now have this button with green led so we know when its charged 🙄And it shoud not loose images even if its in standby. 
 

About card maker. Dont use that and that. You should be able to use whatever if Leica says not to use. Does like Canon or Sony say dont use Sandisk or Sony. No just use whatever. Same with all the rest. 
 

Worst part is that they dont know how to fix it. Why they even make cameras if they dont know how to fix this? Its like I make cars but I cannot fix a leaking fuel tank. 

Edited June 8, 2024 by Mikko Kankainen

[Photoworks]

2 hours ago, dasjak said:

I am also missing 2hours from my shoot yesterday. What a bummer, as a professional this really hurts and makes one look very unprofessional unfortunately 😕

 

I did change the battery without turning off. That seems to be the problem, right?

although I switched batteries a couple of times and it seems it only deleted images once as far as I have seen…

besides me looking like a noob, I will return the money I earned yesterday. Sucks big time…

Did you use record to both cards?

 

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[jaapv]

2 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

I fully agree. Was surprised too to see this app, while so many cameras are still having severe problems. Leica’s focus is totally off.

 I am rather new to Leica (just three years), but as I see it for now, I will use my SL2’s and the m10m till they die. Then, hopefully in far future I will upgrade to any brand offering the best.

Good thing is, my GAS disappeared. Having a great set of lenses (some small changes might appear though), the ongoing failures with FW and Leica not being open about it, really stopped my wanting any newer Leica.

 

Well, Leica acquired an app making company. I doubt that an app designer is much use at revising firmware. 

[Olaf_ZG]

2 hours ago, jaapv said:

Well, Leica acquired an app making company. I doubt that an app designer is much use at revising firmware. 

Instead of such acquisitions they could spend their money on customer service or technicians/programmers for fw. Matter of priorities, and Leica shows where it doesn’t is at this moment.