Official Leica Statement: Leica SL3 Issues

[LUF Admin]

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Update: Here is the fix.

Leica has asked me to publish this statement regarding the Leica SL3 issues:

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Unfortunately, with the current firmware of the Leica SL3, there have been isolated cases of camera malfunctions that can lead to previously saved images being overwritten unnoticed.

As the error can occur if the camera has not been switched off properly (e.g. when changing the battery in standby mode or after a crash of the camera software), we strongly recommend careful handling of the camera in accordance with the user manual. In such case we recommend that you save the images immediately to an external device and change the memory card before you start the camera again. Please ensure that you always switch off the Leica SL 3 completely before changing the battery in order to minimize the risk of data loss.

We are concentrating with the highest priority on restoring the perfect functionality and usual reliability of your Leica SL3 as quickly as possible. To this end, we are working at full speed with our development team to provide you with a firmware update.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

[jacksbenjamin]

Many thanks for posting this update @LUF Admin -- just saw a very alarming video on YouTube about this exact issue and was curious if there was an official response from Leica. Hopefully they will get a revised firmware update out soon, pretty insane to have this problem from such a beloved company and camera level. Hope everyone is managing this problem ok and it has not been too devastating for the Leica community. // BEN JACKS 

[hmarkweidman]

I recently returned from a six week camping/photo trip and now have well over 3,000 images on my SL3.  Have not had a single problem or lost images and have not been turning the camera Off when changing the batteries, which I now will start doing.  Mark W.

[Einst_Stein]

52 minutes ago, jacksbenjamin said:

Many thanks for posting this update @LUF Admin -- just saw a very alarming video on YouTube about this exact issue and was curious if there was an official response from Leica. Hopefully they will get a revised firmware update out soon, pretty insane to have this problem from such a beloved company and camera level. Hope everyone is managing this problem ok and it has not been too devastating for the Leica community. // BEN JACKS 

Does Leica out sourcing software or firmware? Sound like another Boeing problem.

[Olaf_ZG]

Finally a reaction of Leica. Though there site still shows only greatness about the SL3, so any new user should drop by here first to read about potential issues. Leica is  too late though, as the YT video is nicely cruising around, and it will stick around for a long time.

Having the last three years rather bought into Leica, current issues will prevent me from any more upgrades or investments. And, any one asking me about what to buy, I will advise against a latest version of Leica.

[Markey]

19 minutes ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Finally a reaction of Leica. Though there site still shows only greatness about the SL3, so any new user should drop by here first to read about potential issues. Leica is  too late though, as the YT video is nicely cruising around, and it will stick around for a long time.

Having the last three years rather bought into Leica, current issues will prevent me from any more upgrades or investments. And, any one asking me about what to buy, I will advise against a latest version of Leica.

Welcome announcement but way behind the curve and no nearer a solution .... just suggesting a work around.

[jaapv]

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A slightly unpractical workaround. Saving images while in the middle of a bush hike?? Changing cards in the back of a bouncing Landrover off-road? 

[darylgo]

No new cameras for me with issues of the M11 continuing and now the SL3. My SL has been the most reliable of all my Leica bodies.  The S series has been trouble with every body, S2, S-E and S007.   The S-E has sensor corrosion, it is a Kodak sensor similar to the M9 and Leica will not address it without a $6000 payment.   I won't go so far as to say that pressure needs to be exerted on Leica from the community before they fix issues but it appears to be so.  

[Markey]

23 minutes ago, darylgo said:

No new cameras for me with issues of the M11 continuing and now the SL3. My SL has been the most reliable of all my Leica bodies.  The S series has been trouble with every body, S2, S-E and S007.   The S-E has sensor corrosion, it is a Kodak sensor similar to the M9 and Leica will not address it without a $6000 payment.   I won't go so far as to say that pressure needs to be exerted on Leica from the community before they fix issues but it appears to be so.  

I suspect that they are not structured to fix issues or if they are the resources aren`t adequate.

It doesn`t seem to be a priority like chasing the celeb and influencer crowd is.

Maybe its me just not understanding the strategy.

[ALScott]

2 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Finally a reaction of Leica. Though there site still shows only greatness about the SL3, so any new user should drop by here first to read about potential issues. Leica is  too late though, as the YT video is nicely cruising around, and it will stick around for a long time.

Having the last three years rather bought into Leica, current issues will prevent me from any more upgrades or investments. And, any one asking me about what to buy, I will advise against a latest version of Leica.

I am new to Leica and acknowledge this is not great news but I have not had this happen and many others, maybe the majority, seem to not have the issue either.  I have had an issue with corrupted files but now believe it was the reader after unsuccessfully trying to reproduce it when not using the reader.  Even the now vaunted YouTube video acknowledges this happens with many of today's super technical devices.  We all just accept updates for operating systems as a way of life, why is this different?  What are Leica supposed to put on their website?  "This is a terrible camera according to some who have had issues so don't buy it."  I had an F150 "the greatest pickup ever" and it was plagued with electrical gremlins day one.  The dealer basically bought it back from me.  I had a KitchenAid top of the line oven that cooked hotter on one side than the other that could not be fixed with all of the boards replaced and heating elements.  I had a Land Rover that I loved but when I bought it I knew there would be electrical eccentricities and there were.  I love my Q3 and SL3 and will continue to use them and be very happy.  I hope people do come here first but not just read the negative posts.  There is way more good about Leica than bad IMO.  Plus, I have never gotten an email from any company acknowledging an issue of any kind where it wasn't required by law.

Edited July 5, 2024 by ALScott

[BillCB]

58 minutes ago, ALScott said:

I am new to Leica and acknowledge this is not great news but I have not had this happen and many others, maybe the majority, seem to not have the issue either.  I have had an issue with corrupted files but now believe it was the reader after unsuccessfully trying to reproduce it when not using the reader.  Even the now vaunted YouTube video acknowledges this happens with many of today's super technical devices.  We all just accept updates for operating systems as a way of life, why is this different?  What are Leica supposed to put on their website?  "This is a terrible camera according to some who have had issues so don't buy it."  I had an F150 "the greatest pickup ever" and it was plagued with electrical gremlins day one.  The dealer basically bought it back from me.  I had a KitchenAid top of the line oven that cooked hotter on one side than the other that could not be fixed with all of the boards replaced and heating elements.  I had a Land Rover that I loved but when I bought it I knew there would be electrical eccentricities and there were.  I love my Q3 and SL3 and will continue to use them and be very happy.  I hope people do come here first but not just read the negative posts.  There is way more good about Leica than bad IMO.  Plus, I have never gotten an email from any company acknowledging an issue of any kind where it wasn't required by law.

I've only had my SL3 (second, after the first one just became unresponsive) for a few weeks and a 1,000 or so shots but it is performing just as it should. My M11 and M11-P have been working perfectly since I bought them last year. S**T happens but only for a small minority of the time!

[Anbaric]

I think camera manuals from other manufacturers warn you not to change the battery unless the camera switched off, but in practice it's often the sort of thing you can get away with. A robust design would take into account that this is something users are likely to do by mistake - for example, a camera might store sufficient power internally to allow a safe automatic shutdown if it is powered up when the main battery is removed. That may be a feature that can't be added with a firmware update. The reference to 'a crash of the camera software' isn't reassuring. How often does a Nikon or Canon crash?

[deekay]

Also, switching the SL3 (completely) off with the new switch design is a less binary process than with a simple on/off switch.

[ALScott]

It's generally not advisable to take a battery out of anything battery powered while it's on is it?  A flashlight maybe, but some of mine are so technically advanced now I wouldn't do it with them.  After I wrote my post above I really thought about all the Canon's I had over the years.  I was making a living with them and if they quit I bought a new one.  I didn't have time for a fix and repair shops weren't around the corner for me.  I definitely didn't have the money working at newspapers to just run out and buy new bodies but I had to.  Those bodies were comparatively cheap and I didn't, nor anyone I worked with, expect them to last 10, 20 or 30 years with hard use.  I sure didn't expect to sell them for thousands 20, 30 or 40 years after I bought them because they were still highly sought after.  

Edited July 5, 2024 by ALScott

[Simone_DF]

14 hours ago, ALScott said:

I am new to Leica and acknowledge this is not great news but I have not had this happen and many others, maybe the majority, seem to not have the issue either.  I have had an issue with corrupted files but now believe it was the reader after unsuccessfully trying to reproduce it when not using the reader.  Even the now vaunted YouTube video acknowledges this happens with many of today's super technical devices.  We all just accept updates for operating systems as a way of life, why is this different?  What are Leica supposed to put on their website?  "This is a terrible camera according to some who have had issues so don't buy it."  I had an F150 "the greatest pickup ever" and it was plagued with electrical gremlins day one.  The dealer basically bought it back from me.  I had a KitchenAid top of the line oven that cooked hotter on one side than the other that could not be fixed with all of the boards replaced and heating elements.  I had a Land Rover that I loved but when I bought it I knew there would be electrical eccentricities and there were.  I love my Q3 and SL3 and will continue to use them and be very happy.  I hope people do come here first but not just read the negative posts.  There is way more good about Leica than bad IMO.  Plus, I have never gotten an email from any company acknowledging an issue of any kind where it wasn't required by law.

Terrific mix of whataboutism and red herrings. Well played. /s

[Simone_DF]

It’s good that Leica is acknowledging the issue, but the real problem is the lack of quality control. Their team should catch these issues before the camera is out in the wild, not after the fact. 

[Stuart Richardson]

13 hours ago, deekay said:

Also, switching the SL3 (completely) off with the new switch design is a less binary process than with a simple on/off switch.

Yes. This was one of my criticisms of the new switch design. Obviously I never expected it to be losing images, but the lack of a simple, verifiable and ergonomic confirmation of the power state is a problem. If I am using a camera, I don't want to be worried about booting it up and shutting it down...if there is a standby function at all, it should be totally seamless. The S2, S006, S007, S3, SL, SL2 and SL2S all did brilliantly with the same, simple and functional switch design until someone had to reinvent the wheel, and now we are living the unintended consequences.

Edited July 6, 2024 by Stuart Richardson

[RBB]

After a few months and a 1000 photo's I starting to get used to it but don't like the design. Prefer the hard switch of the SL2. 

[Olaf_ZG]

51 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

The S2, S006, S007, S3, SL, SL2 and SL2S all did brilliantly with the same, simple and functional switch design until someone had to reinvent the wheel, and now we are living the unintended consequences.

Overdesign…

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[frame-it]

58 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Yes. This was one of my criticisms of the new switch design. Obviously I never expected it to be losing images, but the lack of a simple, verifiable and ergonomic confirmation of the power state is a problem. If I am using a camera, I don't want to be worried about booting it up and shutting it down...if there is a standby function at all, it should be totally seamless. The S2, S006, S007, S3, SL, SL2 and SL2S all did brilliantly with the same, simple and functional switch design until someone had to reinvent the wheel, and now we are living the unintended consequences.

if they're reading this thread, they should put back the old on-off switch for the SL3S and SL4xx