R8 and R9 dead after long period being ide

[Mike G.]

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Both my main cameras, R8 and R9 I use with the Digital Modul-R, after being idle for a few years are now apparently dead. Fully charged batts and still will not function. Electronic readouts on the R9 respond but shutter releases don't work. The R8 doesn't show anything in either the rear window or viewfinder and it too does not shutter release.. Both cannot be advanced manually either.

I hope someone can help me figure out what the issues could be. This one has me stumped.

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[Photar]

Did you try to remove the digital backs to see whether the cameras work on their own?

[erl]

Try fitting the film back and FRESH batteries. The problem could be the Digital Modul-R. I hope not! Or maybe just the batteries. Good luck. Fantastic cameras.

[spydrxx]

If the above suggestions don't solve your issues, you might contact Sherrie Krauter. Although quirky she is perhaps the most experienced and knowlegible US repairperson for R cameras.

[Sandokan]

4 hours ago, Photar said:

Did you try to remove the digital backs to see whether the cameras work on their own?

 

3 hours ago, erl said:

Try fitting the film back and FRESH batteries. The problem could be the Digital Modul-R. I hope not! Or maybe just the batteries. Good luck. Fantastic cameras.

+1 - the DMR battery gets unable to sustain a charge. You can buy replacement cells but have to swap them out yourself

[250swb]

The common denominator seems to be the Module, so very good advice to fit the film backs to narrow it down.

[jaapv]

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6 hours ago, Sandokan said:

 

+1 - the DMR battery gets unable to sustain a charge. You can buy replacement cells but have to swap them out yourself

Many services that replace laptop cells will do so for DMR batteries as well. 

However, this can be caused by dirty/oxidized contacts. Clean spray will. help.

[jaapv]

7 hours ago, spydrxx said:

If the above suggestions don't solve your issues, you might contact Sherrie Krauter. Although quirky she is perhaps the most experienced and knowlegible US repairperson for R cameras.

AFAIK she won't touch anything to do with digital.

[Mike G.]

On 7/13/2025 at 8:33 PM, Photar said:

Did you try to remove the digital backs to see whether the cameras work on their own?

Yes...and it functions perfectly.

[Mike G.]

On 7/13/2025 at 9:18 PM, erl said:

Try fitting the film back and FRESH batteries. The problem could be the Digital Modul-R. I hope not! Or maybe just the batteries. Good luck. Fantastic cameras.

Pretty sure it's the DMR. I have four different batts all take a full charge. Both R8 and R9 work perfectly with film backs.

[Mike G.]

On 7/13/2025 at 11:37 PM, spydrxx said:

If the above suggestions don't solve your issues, you might contact Sherrie Krauter. Although quirky she is perhaps the most experienced and knowlegible US repairperson for R cameras.

I've used SK a few times for my film cameras. From what I understand the digital backs require special software to analyse which is not available.

[Mike G.]

On 7/14/2025 at 1:10 AM, Sandokan said:

 

+1 - the DMR battery gets unable to sustain a charge. You can buy replacement cells but have to swap them out yourself

Yes I know....I've done a few. It's not the easiest thing to do BTW. 

[Mike G.]

On 7/14/2025 at 3:18 AM, 250swb said:

The common denominator seems to be the Module, so very good advice to fit the film backs to narrow it down.

Done. Now hoping repairs dont require a second mortgage on my house.

[jaapv]

It is quite often that DMR backs have dirty contacts and malfunction.

[Mike G.]

On 7/13/2025 at 8:33 PM, Photar said:

Did you try to remove the digital backs to see whether the cameras work on their own?

They do. Perfectly.

[Mike G.]

Update...I contacted a company in Germany recommended by Leica. They said few parts remain for the Digital Modul R and they cannot gaurantee a repair. So much for my gear shooting digital.  I guess a 20 plus year service life for this equipment is fairly good, but it's still a hard pill to swallow.  

[msh58]

Am 24.7.2025 um 17:29 schrieb Mike G.:

Update...I contacted a company in Germany recommended by Leica. They said few parts remain for the Digital Modul R and they cannot gaurantee a repair. So much for my gear shooting digital.  I guess a 20 plus year service life for this equipment is fairly good, but it's still a hard pill to swallow.  

Was this company Paepke Fototechnik? The mirror lock switch and diopter adjustment in my R9 were malfunctioning and they were able to fix both and camera works flawlessly. Maybe it is work trying to see whether they can fix the DMR.

[Stuart Richardson]

On 7/24/2025 at 2:29 PM, Mike G. said:

Update...I contacted a company in Germany recommended by Leica. They said few parts remain for the Digital Modul R and they cannot gaurantee a repair. So much for my gear shooting digital.  I guess a 20 plus year service life for this equipment is fairly good, but it's still a hard pill to swallow.  

Have you ever used other digital cameras? I used to use the DMR, and at least to my mind, the current models exceed it by leaps and bounds. If you are interested in a Leica SLR experience, Leica S cameras have never been cheaper, and if you want to use all you existing lenses, SL cameras are now available very inexpensively as well. The S in particular is really an extension and massive improvement of what the DMR offered. The S viewfinder is very similar to the R9 but larger and better, and the cameras have even better ergonomics. The lenses, for the most part, are also similar but improved, though some remain expensive. They are certainly bigger. But if you have a great stock of R lenses, you can use them very effectively on a used SL or SL2. 

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[dkCambridgeshire]

On 7/24/2025 at 3:29 PM, Mike G. said:

Update...I contacted a company in Germany recommended by Leica. They said few parts remain for the Digital Modul R and they cannot gaurantee a repair. So much for my gear shooting digital.  I guess a 20 plus year service life for this equipment is fairly good, but it's still a hard pill to swallow.  

Michael Bass Designs in USA rebuilt my DMR battery http://michaelbass.blogspot.com/2007/09/sync-cords.html#LeicaDMR_SubSectionStart

Scroll down to the DMR section. MB also offers several other DMR power supply options. 

BW, dunk 

Edited July 26 by dkCambridgeshire

[erl]

My R8 of approx 25yrs has just spat the dummy on the spot meter function. Actually, it still works but suddenly gives a significantly low reading. Clearly the specific diode is 'dying'.

I have calculated a work around by dialing in a 200% ISO higher value. That, from a test roll, gives me workable exposures. My local techy says 'no joy' for a repair. I can persist with it 'as is' but nervously. I considered a second hand R9, but really don't want to drop that sort of money on a gamble, at least I don't think so.

I will persist with my current R8, but really am not comfortable with unreliability. I do have some great R lenses and would like to keep them in service. The R8/9 functionality is so good, I don't want to trade for something lesser.

Opinions/sympathies welcome.