file numbering ?

[jackal]

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just a quick question about fil numbering

 

should the number of your first shot automatcially be L000001 ?

[Shootist]

To answer your question. IF it is a true NEW M9, and set correctly at the factory, the first image you take with it should be numbered L1000001. That is true for all M9 cameras.

Should you leave it like that? That is up to you.

 

If I had a M9 I wouldn't use the default file numbering scheme as I already have a M8 that uses the L100xxxx numbering, now up to L101xxxx. When I had a second M8 I set that to L200xxxx meaning I would need to shoot 1 million shots with the first M8 to get to the L200 number.

If I had a M9 I would set it to the L200xxxx scheme and make the numbering start just after the last image I took with the other M8 I had.

 

Here is the way to set the numbering scheme on the M8 and it should still work on the M9.

 

Here is a procedure that will allow you change to anything you want:

 

1. Set the Picture Number in the menu to "Standard".

2. Format the SD card in camera.

3. Reset the File Number in the menu. It actually says “Reset fold. No”, that is the one you want. (This may of changed on the M9 so try different settings until you get it right)

4. Set Picture Number back to "Continuous"

5. Take one image

6. Shut off camera, remove SD card and place in card reader attached to a computer.

7. Access the image in your Finder or Explorer (Mac or PC); rename the image number to whatever file number/image number you want. I would suggest Lyyyxxxx, with "y" being your preferred folder number (See Note Below) and "x" being the frame number you want to start with. (You are making these changes to the file name on the card in the card reader.)

 

NOTE

 

If you want to change the first or second digit of the L100 (Lyyy above) in the file name, like to L200 or 120 or 220, then you have to change the folder name also.

The directory/folder structure on the card when in a card reader is [Drive Letter]:\DCIM\100LEICA\. You need to change the 100LEICA to whatever you want the file number to start with. Like if you want it to be L200xxxx then you need to rename that folder to 200LEICA. If you want L120 then you need to change that folder name to 120LEICA. It would look like this [Drive Letter]:\DCIM\120 or 200LEICA.

 

8. Properly remove card from card reader and return to camera.

9. Turn the camera on and press "Play". The file will now display with newly renamed folder and file number. (Use "Info" to see this data.)

10. Expose another image to confirm and check file numbers.

11. Format SD card, and you are good to go from that point on.

 

Please post any results using the above procedure and or changes you needed to make so I can update the steps for the M9. Thank you.

[jackal]

thanks for that

 

strange bceuase my first file was L1002243 ???

[Shootist]

thanks for that

 

strange bceuase my first file was L1002243 ???

 

Did you use a card that was used in a M8 and did you first format it in the M9.

If you did use a card previously used in a M8 and did not format it first in the M9 then it could of picked up on the numbering left on the card from the M8.

 

Or the M9 you got was not fully reset at the factory and could of, and I mean could of, been one of the test cameras handed out to recent visitors to the Leica factory.

 

Check the actual shutter activation count. Look for the Unique Image ID, you can see that in Adobe PS Bridge, which is in HEX and load it into a scientific calculator then switch it to DEC. This will give you the true count of shutter activations.

 

It should be around 100 +/- which is the number of shots taken at the factory for final adjustments. At least it was on the M8's.

 

Let me just add that if the shutter activation count is close to or above the image file number count you are seeing I'd ask for a NEW, and I do mean NEW, camera. Because if the shutter activation count is that high your camera is NOT NEW.

[jackal]

you are dead right

 

it follows on my from my last number on my last M8 image from that card (i didnt format the car when i inserted it first into the M9)

 

first number is 3A in hex which is 58 in decimal which seems good

 

ok, i will follow your instructions now and try and reset the numbering

 

only thing is I cant find 'picture numbering' in the M9 menu ?

[jackal]

To answer your question. IF it is a true NEW M9, and set correctly at the factory, the first image you take with it should be numbered L1000001. That is true for all M9 cameras.

Should you leave it like that? That is up to you.

 

If I had a M9 I wouldn't use the default file numbering scheme as I already have a M8 that uses the L100xxxx numbering, now up to L101xxxx. When I had a second M8 I set that to L200xxxx meaning I would need to shoot 1 million shots with the first M8 to get to the L200 number.

If I had a M9 I would set it to the L200xxxx scheme and make the numbering start just after the last image I took with the other M8 I had.

 

Here is the way to set the numbering scheme on the M8 and it should still work on the M9.

 

Here is a procedure that will allow you change to anything you want:

 

1. Set the Picture Number in the menu to "Standard".

2. Format the SD card in camera.

3. Reset the File Number in the menu. It actually says “Reset fold. No”, that is the one you want. (This may of changed on the M9 so try different settings until you get it right)

4. Set Picture Number back to "Continuous"

5. Take one image

6. Shut off camera, remove SD card and place in card reader attached to a computer.

7. Access the image in your Finder or Explorer (Mac or PC); rename the image number to whatever file number/image number you want. I would suggest Lyyyxxxx, with "y" being your preferred folder number (See Note Below) and "x" being the frame number you want to start with. (You are making these changes to the file name on the card in the card reader.)

 

NOTE

 

If you want to change the first or second digit of the L100 (Lyyy above) in the file name, like to L200 or 120 or 220, then you have to change the folder name also.

The directory/folder structure on the card when in a card reader is [Drive Letter]:\DCIM\100LEICA\. You need to change the 100LEICA to whatever you want the file number to start with. Like if you want it to be L200xxxx then you need to rename that folder to 200LEICA. If you want L120 then you need to change that folder name to 120LEICA. It would look like this [Drive Letter]:\DCIM\120 or 200LEICA.

 

8. Properly remove card from card reader and return to camera.

9. Turn the camera on and press "Play". The file will now display with newly renamed folder and file number. (Use "Info" to see this data.)

10. Expose another image to confirm and check file numbers.

11. Format SD card, and you are good to go from that point on.

 

Please post any results using the above procedure and or changes you needed to make so I can update the steps for the M9. Thank you.

 

excellent

 

worked fine on the M9

 

i just didn't do steps 1 and 4 because there is no menu entry for Picture Number

[Shootist]

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you are dead right

 

it follows on my from my last number on my last M8 image from that card (i didnt format the car when i inserted it first into the M9)

 

first number is 3A in hex which is 58 in decimal which seems good

 

ok, i will follow your instructions now and try and reset the numbering

 

only thing is I cant find 'picture numbering' in the M9 menu ?

 

 

Looking at the manual there is a entry for folder management (Folder manag.) and Reset.

Folder Manag gives you Change name/create new folder and the Reset set everything back to factory settings.

You could try formatting the card in a computer. Reinsert the card in the camera and go directly to the menu and Reset the camera. Then format the card in the camera and take one shot. Review that shot and hit the info button. This will tell you the numbering, hopefully L1000001 (If that is what you want).

 

Or with the card in the camera Reset the camer then format the card.

But when I've tried that on the one M8 I sold the last number got set back to 0001 but the folder number went to L101. I had to follow the instructions I posted to the letter to get the camera back to L1000001.

 

But since they give you the option to change the folder name maybe all you have to do is rename the image on the card, using a computer and card reader, View that renamed image once the card is back in the camera, and hit the info button, then take another shot to reset the numbering to what you want.

[Shootist]

excellent

 

worked fine on the M9

 

i just didn't do steps 1 and 4 because there is no menu entry for Picture Number

 

Thank for the update. I will make a new list of steps for the M9.

[dwmaroski]

I looked at all my M8 files numbers and they always remained in sequence. At first I did not like that coming from Nikon D3 school where for each job I would start over with number 001. Sometimes that is good and sometimes that is an issue especially with multiple cameras say on a wedding assignment or multiple proms on any given evening.

 

I have followed the directions above and the renumbering worked. However when overwrite is utilized the card goes back to zero (001). That can be changed and as I write this I am coming to the conclusion this is a meaningless conversation mostly with myself since the true number of actuations is located elsewhere that I have yet to find. Thanks.

[ho_co]

Shutter activation count is in the string "Image Unique ID."

 

It's in hex. Use a hex > decimal converter to convert the number to base 10.

[250swb]

I looked at all my M8 files numbers and they always remained in sequence. At first I did not like that coming from Nikon D3 school where for each job I would start over with number 001. Sometimes that is good and sometimes that is an issue especially with multiple cameras say on a wedding assignment or multiple proms on any given evening.

 

I have never bothered with the file numbering settings in my M9, I don't know what they are set to (must be factory default), they just produce a file number that I add my own folder prefix number to when I download them. Each image is identified primarily by the folder number prefix, and the folder is then given a date and description.

 

Steve

[jaapv]

Thank for the update. I will make a new list of steps for the M9.

 

Would you be so kind as to put it in the M9 FAQ?

[Dougg]

I too prefer each first file written to a newly formatted card start with a number having the last three digits "001", as the rest will get changed later to my date-related number system anyway. So I have to remember on the M9 to reset the folder number when formatting the card.