Missing images after first shoot with SL3

[BernardC]

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On 6/29/2024 at 11:09 AM, Simone_DF said:

I also let the battery in the camera go until it’s dead, which is basically the same concept.

The camera should run a clean shutdown when the battery voltage reaches a bottom threshold, which is the same as shutting down with the power button. All phones, laptops, electric cars, flashlights, etc., do that because lithium cells can suffer permanent damage if they are completely run-down.

 

Has anyone lost images with the battery grip? I wonder if that's a workaround for people who go through several batteries per day.

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[Mikko Kankainen]

1 hour ago, BernardC said:

The camera should run a clean shutdown when the battery voltage reaches a bottom threshold, which is the same as shutting down with the power button. All phones, laptops, electric cars, flashlights, etc., do that because lithium cells can suffer permanent damage if they are completely run-down.

 

Has anyone lost images with the battery grip? I wonder if that's a workaround for people who go through several batteries per day.

Battery grip is my workaround. It just makes camera 1000€’s more expensive but I have not lost images since because dont need to take out battery. 

[Adam_iso]

The same thing happened to me! 

I bought an Sl3 

Took it too my first wedding in June 2024. 
The camera lost all the imagines from all the main group shots!

Sl3 didn’t write any imagines for 15 minutes to any cards ! 

[JTLeica]

1 hour ago, Adam_iso said:

The same thing happened to me! 
 

Sl3 didn’t write any imagines for 15 minutes to any cards ! 

Did you change batteries? Were you using the sleep mode / standby mode or turning off the camera?

[bab]

wow this post has just saved me from temptation of purchasing the SL3, not sure why wedding photos have any priority over any photos that moment is lost!

Hot swapping batteries is a priority these days, however I can understand if the SL3 can't accommodate hot swapping then the ON OFF illuminated button should have a safety timer where as the light stays on and a capacitor stores enough power to finish the files even if the battery is removed.

I like the way my SL2s works with MF lenses but don't like the way it works with AF lenses!

 

[nonoketchup]

FYI - there is now a video on YouTube about it: 

 

[Jonathan Levin]

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Posted in another thread but may new worth repeating:

I still wonder if this "bug" is reproducible? If, like the person in the video is say is correct, and the camera is resetting number sequence you should be able to see if that is happening right away.

So with that, can someone with this problem take some pictures and look at the sequential file numbers in Review mode and make a note of the last frame shot i.e. L100000256 (or your last captured file name/number). So now do your battery pull (after a complete shutdown) put new battery in camera. Turn on camera and then take one test shot. In review mode Is that test shot numbered L100000257? Or is it reverting to L100000001 ( or your overwrite number here)? Do the same test leaving the camera powered ON while doing the above if you'd like too.

It's a PITA but if this bug is happening to you , I think there is a way to manually set the camera numbering in the menu. But you would have to do the each battery removable. Not ideal, but may be a work-around until an update for the camera arrives.

Can anyone report back with your results? Thanks.

[JTLeica]

One question to those that have had a failure, are you all using the Old SCL4 battery or the new SCL6? Just a thought. Maybe the old battery is the culprit with a lower power and cant keep a reserve whilst turning off / sleeping. 

[Mikko Kankainen]

I was using new battery. 
 

And once I could reproduce the bug. And I posted a screenshot of my image numbering. It was all over the place. 
 

Great that now there is a warning online so more pros see this!

Edited July 3, 2024 by Mikko Kankainen

[tedwill]

Has anyone with connections to Leica let them know?  I would assume they read these posts and hopefully a firmware update is coming.  I’ve not had the problem.  I took my SL3 to Patagonia for 8 days and never saw the issue.  But I didn’t do the wedding style rapid fire, change battery scenario that others had.

[Photoworks]

When it happened to me i DIDN'T change batteries as my shoot was not that long.

i think there is some other reason images are not recorded.

[JTLeica]

2 hours ago, tedwill said:

Has anyone with connections to Leica let them know?  I would assume they read these posts and hopefully a firmware update is coming.  I’ve not had the problem.  I took my SL3 to Patagonia for 8 days and never saw the issue.  But I didn’t do the wedding style rapid fire, change battery scenario that others had.

They are aware yes, I was emailed by the dealer that sold me the camera early last week to tell me about it and that was from Leica. 

[Werner55]

I just checked with my SL3

Firmware: 1.1.0

CFe Lexar 512GB 1750MB/s

SD Lexar 512GB 1800x

Memory Option: CFe = SD

DNG only (no jpg)

Adjusted the File name when I received the camera from L to S

My quick test:

I took 3 photos took the SCL6 battery out and another SC6 battery in (hot swap) and took 3 photos: no image lost

Did the same and swapped it with a SCL4: no image lost

Did the same with cold swap: no image lost

Please let me know if you you would like me to test differently.

[Jonathan Levin]

With all due respect and sympathy for those with this issue, it takes seconds to power down the camera before switching out battery. In the manual Leica says to power down when changing pretty much anything: lens, card, and battery. I don't see a downside to that. Unless you are photographing a horse race. FWIW

[Mikko Kankainen]

Anybody can do their quick tests and find out that everything is fine as much as they do. I can do the same and see that SL3 works fine. But after few 10k photos we find out that there is a problem. So just read this topic and the accept this issue.

And yes Leica manual says shutdown your camera pla pla pla. Then they also say that they have a problem and they are working on it. Someone just not get the point. Camera should not loose 500 images even if you take out battery when camera is in sleep. And some has lost images even they have shutdown their camera. No smoke no fire etc. If you accept that this is a camera for hobbiest to take like 100 images a day then fine. I and many rely to this camera as their source of living and take like 150k images a year with a camera and need reliability. We know when there is a problem and now there is a problem. No need to deny it.

And every one of you have the same unit with this problem. Most likely most of you just dont see it and great that you dont!

Edited July 4, 2024 by Mikko Kankainen

[Jonathan Levin]

Mikko. Thats quite an impressive image count! I don’t think I’ve shot 150k shots in my life! And I’m old. Been shooting professionally 42 years. Then again I’m not an event shooter.

That being said, I really appreciate people like you that really put this stuff to the test. Sadly, with that comes more of a possibility to find issues, and thankfully make others aware. And Leica too hopefully. Putting the equipment through its paces benefits everyone. Thank you and to all the 10’s of thousand image shooters for your service.😍

[Dr. G]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Levin said:

With all due respect and sympathy for those with this issue, it takes seconds to power down the camera before switching out battery. In the manual Leica says to power down when changing pretty much anything: lens, card, and battery. I don't see a downside to that. Unless you are photographing a horse race. FWIW

It does, and yet I can't tell you how many times I just hit the button and assume the camera is off instead of just in sleep mode. 

[wintersmith]

Global email just received from Leica addressing the problem and what to do. Finally they have openly admitted it to all the SL3 users and not just the ones who have lost images like myself and many others. 

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!

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Hallo,

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[JTLeica]

1 hour ago, wintersmith said:

Global email just received from Leica addressing the problem and what to do. Finally they have openly admitted it to all the SL3 users and not just the ones who have lost images like myself and many others. 

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!

So this is exactly what I was emailed about two weeks ago by the dealer that sold me the camera. So they have definitely owned up to it before now. But nice it’s on their site now too

[Shashinka]

I had a similar issue on Saturday. I shot 20-30 images, and for some reason, the camera froze. All I could do was reset by removing the battery; nothing else would help. I continued shooting and thought nothing of it. Tonight, I know at least ten images I remember taking are not there. All files in the folder are continuous and in sequence, so it must have overwritten them. I am absolutely gutted and fuming in equal measure.  I really hope Leica are on this and come up with an essential fix, this simply is not good enough.