M11 - Serial Number Question

[Lee S]

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Hi all,

Question around serial numbers for the M11 series. 

1) Are they all sequential and increment by one for each camera produced?

2) Im still slightly worried about freeze issues. For the plain M11 (Not M11-P) are earlier models more likely to have freeze issues than later models or are they all the same?

Thanks!

L

 

 

[lct]

50 minutes ago, Lee S said:

2) Im still slightly worried about freeze issues. For the plain M11 (Not M11-P) are earlier models more likely to have freeze issues than later models [...] ?

No, judging by my early M11 copy from May 2022. My freeze issues have been mostly fixed since firmware 1.6.1 in 2023.

[weatherproof]

1 hour ago, Lee S said:

Hi all,

Question around serial numbers for the M11 series. 

1) Are they all sequential and increment by one for each camera produced?

Serials are all over the place. E.g. this M11 Black Paint has a 569xxxx serial from 2024-10 (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1839259/), but I've seen M11-Ps with 588xxxx serials from 2023. Of course this also aligns with the (cynical) theory of the M11 BPs being a lazy attempt of clearing out surplus M11 parts.

 

Al Brown also said something similar:

On 9/29/2022 at 5:25 AM, Al Brown said:

They had a very precise system for serial numbers at Wetzlar up until the 1970s where you would not only be able to tell the year of manufacture but Leica was also able to tell you where the item was shipped and at what date.

Later, from the seventies to the 2000s, they stopped the delivery notes, just providing the year of manufacture.
After that, from the 2000s on, it is just a guessing game.
But I have it confirmed from my several sources at Wetzlar that Leica does not assign whole batches of serial numbers to special editions (i.e. 450 consecutive serial numbers in the case of M10-P Reporter). Someone there hinted it is cheaper that way.

[Lee S]

Thanks both sounds like serial numbers aren’t a reliable indicator of manufacture order and nor does age of camera correspond to reduced number of freeze related issues.

 

[pedaes]

On 2/7/2025 at 11:58 PM, Lee S said:

Im still slightly worried about freeze issues

I have had mine for six months with no issues.

Update to latest FW, use a new genuine Sandisk card and always format in camera.

Edited February 12 by pedaes