M8-M9 lockup

[eronald]

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After some ISO tests yesterday, I just took my M8 outside for a spin, for the first time in a year. Saw an interesting shop, shot 5-6 shots through traffic.

 

Camera locked up. Taking the battery out doesn't help.

 

I will leave the battery out tonite.

 

It seems the M9 still has the same issue. Guys, a camera that locks up and cannot be reset is not a professional tool.

 

The M8 is a beauty - so is the M9. Pictures are really good, and handling is nice. But I had to finish my evening with my iphone.

 

Leica, are you a luxury brand or a toolmaker?

 

Edmund

[bybrett]

I would describe any camera used once a year as a luxury (brand).

[eronald]

I would describe any camera used once a year as a luxury (brand).

 

Oh, did I say that it was a swap for a camera which let me down on a trip? And that I didn't use the new one since because I like to get images when I walk out f the house? This camera was basically brand new (maybe 100 shots).

 

Edmund

[georg]

I wouldn't use such a camera. My Macbook crashes and "locks up" regulary - but there is no alternative.

 

I have my M8 since 3 years (very first series) and my only advice is: use proper SD-cards (I use Panasonic - no need for chinese slave-labour) and format them after downloading the images. Result: no lock-ups, no crashes - never. I used a different SD-card: two crashes within minutes...

[bybrett]

Oh, did I say that it was a swap for a camera which let me down on a trip? And that I didn't use the new one since because I like to get images when I walk out f the house? This camera was basically brand new (maybe 100 shots).

 

Edmund

 

Sorry if I misunderstood you.

[eronald]

I wouldn't use such a camera. My Macbook crashes and "locks up" regulary - but there is no alternative.

 

I have my M8 since 3 years (very first series) and my only advice is: use proper SD-cards (I use Panasonic - no need for chinese slave-labour) and format them after downloading the images. Result: no lock-ups, no crashes - never. I used a different SD-card: two crashes within minutes...

 

Georg,

 

I can understand the camera would crash because of an SD card (mine was Sandisk), but I don't understand why it cannot be reset when the card is remove, and why there is no reset switch;

 

As regards the Macbook, you should speak with an expert, these machines are usually VERY stable unless there is a specific problem, which might be worth locating.

 

Edmund

[UliWer]

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After some ISO tests yesterday, I just took my M8 outside for a spin, for the first time in a year. Saw an interesting shop, shot 5-6 shots through traffic.

 

Camera locked up. Taking the battery out doesn't help.

 

I will leave the battery out tonite.

 

It seems the M9 still has the same issue. Guys, a camera that locks up and cannot be reset is not a professional tool.

 

The M8 is a beauty - so is the M9. Pictures are really good, and handling is nice. But I had to finish my evening with my iphone.

 

Leica, are you a luxury brand or a toolmaker?

 

Edmund

 

Does "lockup" in your case mean, that it stays on, perhaps blinking or showing an LED in the viewfinder? Or does it mean that it is simply "dead"?

 

In the last case you should recharge the battery - takes several hours - and try again. If the battery is already low, some actions are enough to drain it completely. The M8 doesn't give any explicit warning before the battery is empty.

[eronald]

Does "lockup" in your case mean, that it stays on, perhaps blinking or showing an LED in the viewfinder? Or does it mean that it is simply "dead"?

 

In the last case you should recharge the battery - takes several hours - and try again. If the battery is already low, some actions are enough to drain it completely. The M8 doesn't give any explicit warning before the battery is empty.

 

I recharged the battery and the camera revived.

However, the battery was not empty when I took the pictures.

 

My conjecture is that if you take several shots in a row, then you can drop the battery voltage a bit, and then that battery cannot revive the camera anymore because of some sort of latch-up effect.

 

Having a fully charged new battery in your pocket is probably the best reasonable solution to this problem, as well as being careful not to take several shots in a row.

 

If i were certain this is the issue, and that the camera can still work with the partially discharged battery, then I guess I could sacrifice a battery to make some sort of external power source that would pull the M9 out of its funk immediately.

 

I'll go and buy a new battery next week.

 

Edmund

[jonoslack]

Hi Edmund

I'm confused . . .of course, I've had lockups with my M8's, and even a couple with the M9 (and also with Nikon Canon and Sony) , I've even had to remove the battery (with the M8, not with the M9). But it's never gone further than that, Mind you, I'm not as prolific as some, but I'd guess that my M8's did 30,000 each before the shutter was upgraded.

 

You seem to be saying that both your M8 and your M9 are locked up and unworkable?

[eronald]

Hi Edmund

I'm confused . . .of course, I've had lockups with my M8's, and even a couple with the M9 (and also with Nikon Canon and Sony) , I've even had to remove the battery (with the M8, not with the M9). But it's never gone further than that, Mind you, I'm not as prolific as some, but I'd guess that my M8's did 30,000 each before the shutter was upgraded.

 

You seem to be saying that both your M8 and your M9 are locked up and unworkable?

 

I'm saying the M8 was locked up with no way to revive it on location. It has come back to life when I charged the battery. My previous M8 locked up several times, it was swapped by Leica.

 

I've had many other cameras lock up on me, but all could be revived on location. I would like to know how one can reliably "unjam" the M8; similarly, if the M9 can be "unjammed" effectively then I may get one, otherwise I'll just drag that Nikon around when I want pictures.

 

Edmund

[gravastar]

I'm saying the M8 was locked up with no way to revive it on location. It has come back to life when I charged the battery. My previous M8 locked up several times, it was swapped by Leica...........................

Edmund

 

I always replace the battery in the M8 as soon as the battery indicator changes from two to one bar. My reasoning is in the early days of the M8 there were various threads where the accuracy of the battery indicator was questioned. There were posts describing how the controller in the battery and camera indicator circuits could be reset/synchronized by letting the battery run down in the camera overnight. Later I think Leica made firmware changes to improve the accuracy. To avoid any problems from an exhausted battery I always carry two or more fully charged spares.

 

I guess I'm saying you unjam the camera with a fully charged spare - although hopefully if you change the battery soon enough you shouldn't have to do that.

 

Bob.

[Overgaard]

My Macbook crashes and "locks up" regulary

 

Try installing the system again as "new system folder" which basically means that everything is as it was before, but the full system is renewed and there will be a folder with "old system" you can delete after a while when you're sure you don't want to reverse.

 

Always speed up things and may handle all kinds of odd things which has build up over time.

 

You simply insert the installation-DVD and there's one choice saying new installation folder.

[vikasmg]

....

Always speed up things and may handle all kinds of odd things which has build up over time.

 

You simply insert the installation-DVD and there's one choice saying new installation folder.

 

Do back up your stuff beforehand though ;-)

[35mmSummicron]

I have had an M8 since Feb 2007, and have constantly dealt with the camera randomly locking up as a result of taking shots in rapid succession.

 

However, I have always been able to revive the camera with a simple remove/reinsert of the battery. This holds true with a few colleagues who own M8's and shoot fast as I do.

 

I have tried swapping Leica branded freshly charged batteries, different size, brand SD and SDHC cards, various firmware updates. This is a flaw with the M8/M8.2 and few have reported similar instances with the M9.

 

I find this completely unacceptable, and I am trying to be as vocal as I can about this in hopes Leica will actually resolve the matter.

 

there are numerous threads about this pertaining to the M8, M8.2 and now a new one on the M9 here:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/98708-piece-bad-news-seans-m9-review.html

 

LEICA PLEASE FIX!!!!

[georg]

One weakness is the high power-consumption (due to full-frame CCD and DSP) in combination with the quite small battery. In cold weather the battery power goes down rapidly - that's my only idea regarding the "lock-up" that couldn't be solved with reinserting the battery!?

 

@35mmSummicron

Try a Panasonic Class 6 (2GB) - that's mine, an older Sandisk worked also fine, but I only had it the first 3 months. Format it in the camera everytime after downloading the images to your computer. Do you use JPG-DNG? That's the only function I don't use, so I don't know if that could cause problems.

 

 

@eronald/overgaardcom

Thanks for the tipps, but I'm having these problems since 17 years now... With PCs it was sometimes horrible, sometimes acceptable. I use Macbooks since 2 years, the first one was better than any PC, the new one (I think the Nvidia-chipset, it's drivers and Leopard are the cause) works just like a good PC: Safari crashes 1-10times a day, the rest only a few times a week... I even lost the whole Mac OS and had to reinstall the whole OS two times... Apple says everything is fine... :-(

[danyves]

I'm saying the M8 was locked up with no way to revive it on location. It has come back to life when I charged the battery. My previous M8 locked up several times, it was swapped by Leica.

 

I've had many other cameras lock up on me, but all could be revived on location. I would like to know how one can reliably "unjam" the M8; similarly, if the M9 can be "unjammed" effectively then I may get one, otherwise I'll just drag that Nikon around when I want pictures.

 

Edmund

 

As had been said a backup battery would have save the situation. IMHO you do need at least two backup batteries to rely on.

 

I did had such a lockup with the M8 once, after having in standard mode took some 8 shots in a row. Turned the lever off, swap battery for a new one well charges. Saved the day.

[pascal_meheut]

@eronald/overgaardcom

Thanks for the tipps, but I'm having these problems since 17 years now... With PCs it was sometimes horrible, sometimes acceptable. I use Macbooks since 2 years, the first one was better than any PC, the new one (I think the Nvidia-chipset, it's drivers and Leopard are the cause) works just like a good PC: Safari crashes 1-10times a day, the rest only a few times a week... I even lost the whole Mac OS and had to reinstall the whole OS two times... Apple says everything is fine... :-(

 

Not normal. I've used iBooks/MacBooks/MacBooks Pro for many years now and crashes are quite rare.

Something is wrong either with your hardware or your software installation and has not been diagnosed properly yet.

 

BTW, what happened to me sometimes with the M8 is that a battery seems to be loaded, is recognized as such by the camera and then is empty after a few frames only. Even if it comes out of the charger... The next charge is usually ok.

As I always carry at least 1 extra battery, this is not such big a deal. And it seems to occur when I left the battery a long time without using it and recharging it.

[eronald]

[

@eronald/overgaardcom

Thanks for the tipps, but I'm having these problems since 17 years now... With PCs it was sometimes horrible, sometimes acceptable. I use Macbooks since 2 years, the first one was better than any PC, the new one (I think the Nvidia-chipset, it's drivers and Leopard are the cause) works just like a good PC: Safari crashes 1-10times a day, the rest only a few times a week... I even lost the whole Mac OS and had to reinstall the whole OS two times... Apple says everything is fine... :-(

 

 

Georg

 

The bad news is that you are an exception. The good news is that your problem can probably be solved by someone who can figure out the cause of the crash.

 

Just believe me, Macs have their bugs and faults, but the -straight-from-factory OS is now very, very, stable. So if you experience repeated crashes you either have a hardware failure or software or a plugin that is causing this. I would suspect a hardware failure.

 

Ask a Mac "Genius" to look at that machine, it will improve your life. I've run uptimes of weeks, easily, on my laptops.

 

Edmund

[jruffolo]

My Macbook crashes and "locks up" regulary - but there is no alternative.

 

A ThinkPad and Windows 7

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Hallo,

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[Overgaard]

@eronald/overgaardcom

Thanks for the tipps, but I'm having these problems since 17 years now... With PCs it was sometimes horrible, sometimes acceptable. I use Macbooks since 2 years, the first one was better than any PC, the new one (I think the Nvidia-chipset, it's drivers and Leopard are the cause) works just like a good PC: Safari crashes 1-10times a day, the rest only a few times a week... I even lost the whole Mac OS and had to reinstall the whole OS two times... Apple says everything is fine... :-(

 

Tricky. You could open Help programs > disk tool > and then run "fix rights" (or whatever it's called in the english version). Always speed up things.

 

But more like a hardware thing. The good thing about Mac is they hold great resale value, so I tend to shift MacBooks like underwear. So perhaps sell and start over. I've never been able to get Apple to say "it's a hardware problem" so rule that one out ;-)

 

By the way; always just close your Mac, never shut it down. You can log out/log in occasionally to clean up the system. But shutting down/starting up is a waste of time and can cause errors such as the ones you talk about.