News -- banding problem and deliveries

[wparsonsgisnet]

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I was just in touch with my dealer (because I have been jerking his chain about not getting a camera that I ordered 2 years ago -- in fact, I don't think Boston has gotten any cameras) and he sent me the following:

 

"Funny you should mention the banding problem. That is what is

holding the M8's up. I just got off the phone with their tech and he told me that

the problem lies in the firmware which Leica is taking care of now. That is the

reason we do not have them yet. The original batch shipped to NY has that

problem Yours will not. I have been told about another 1- 1/2 weeks"

 

So, I guess I need to be patient because (1) IR will be addressed by filters, and I'm in the process of acquiring them, and (2) the banding problem is in the chip and needs a HW fix. So in this case, I won't have to send back the camera I am so impatiently waiting for, because it will be fixed already.

 

I think, if the second item is the case, that Sean et al need to get new prototype cameras for evaluation. Whaddaya think Sean, Michael, and everybody else?

 

Regards,

[Guest guy_mancuso]

None of this solves the problem with C1 and new profiles and the issue with wide angles and cyan corners that i proved several times over along with others so in essence we are screwed after 28 mm. leica NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS. Also they should swap camera's for us , BS on sending it in for reapir . I NEED TO SHOOT TO EAT.

 

Okay i feel better but I will NOT let them off the hook that freaking easy , trust me I will be down there throat

[albertwang]

I agree. We mustn't let off Leica too easily. After all, you're burning $5000 so you had better expect near perfect from the box.

[j. borger]

NOw i am confused .... why should we need to send the camera in if the remedy of the banding is a firmware fix and the IR isues are handled with filters:confused:

[wparsonsgisnet]

As I understand it Leica doesn't want off the hook -- they want to fix the problem. I feel assured that they will do so.

 

I don't mind buying IR-blocking filters -- because this way we get a camera than can do IR photog when we want it. Let's ignore the problem of attaching filters for the moment.

 

More to the point, it may be that they now have a solution to the banding problem. If my info is correct, then this is a hardware fix. It seems that those of us who do not yet (!) have the M8 will wait a while before shipments start again, and that our cameras will have the banding problem fixed.

 

AGAIN, Leica should give prototypes to buys like Sean and Michael for testing.

 

The IR color shift problem is easily addressable. Do not blame Leica because they gave us 2 cameras in one. One does IR photog; one does not (with the application of a filter). Think about it -- this is really neat.

 

Banding is a different problem and the solution may have been found.

 

Regards,

[scott kirkpatrick]

The streaking is supposed to require a hardware fix -- a setting or component that can't be touched from the firmware. We've heard this from several sources. And I believe some dealers make it their standard procedure to offer a swap rather than service facility time when there is a problem in the first year or two of the product. You have to check with them directly. I have no idea what happens to the unit that is turned in in that case.

 

scott