My M8 Died Today.

[kbg32]

I was out photographing this afternoon, took a few exposures, went to take another, nothing. Just a beep, and an "Err" message in the finder, as well as "ATTENTION SHUTTER FAULT" on the rear screen. Pulled the battery and card out, reinserted them, and still the same message. Tried a new battery, still the same. I guess I will call Leica tomorrow and see what they will do. It seems a shame to have to send in the camera for repair, and then do it again in August for the shutter upgrade.

15 months and over 3500 exposures without a problem.

 

[kbg32]

Hey, thanks Blake!

 

[nico]

That's a real pity Keith, hope it will be easily fixable.

 

[gb hill]

That is a shame. You do post some nice work. Hopely it will be a simple fix. I consider the M8 a great camera.

 

[Vickko]

Fifteen months.... ouch.
I bought an M8 finally, but was almost ready to buy a demo with 12 month warranty.

Fortunately, Rich Pinto saved the day by selling me a new unit with 3 years warranty, at last-year's price. I'm so glad I have the 3 year warranty.

Good luck with your repair.

Vick

 

[kbg32]

Well, I'll hear what Leica has to say tomorrow. I'm pretty bummed, as I carry it everyday.

 

[raid]

Not to repeat the obvious, I wish you an acceptable solution to this unpleasant and expensive digital mishap.

 

[kbg32]

Thanks Raid. I hope there is an amicable solution to this. I've already dusted off a M body and loaded it with film. Maybe it is a good time for a break from digital.

 

[xayraa33]

it is a good thing that Sitemistic is not around.😀

sorry to hear about the bit of bad luck you been having with the M8.
maybe you will get closer to film till the M8 is sorted out.
there is a silver lining in every dark cloud.

 

[yclinn]

What a bad luck!
Hope it could be fixed soon...I shall pray for my M8

 

[Doug]

Sympathies on the sick M8, Keith... But I've been reading that it can take 24 hours or more for the internals to "reset", probably the time to make sure some capacitor has bled off its charge or something. Anyway, you might try leaving the battery out for at least 24 hours and see if it will then start up properly.

 

[bennyng]

Wow. Sorry to hear about that keith. Do keep us updated as I'm sure some of us would be interested to hear more about what caused the malfunction.

Cheers,

 

[kbg32]

Thanks everyone. Hopefully Leitz will have an answer for me by this afternoon.

 

[kbg32]

Well it looks like I have to send it in as Leitz said it is an electronic problem. This really sucks as it is only 5 months away until the shutter upgrade. Either I send it now, repair it, use it, and then send it again in August, or I have an expensive paper weight for the next 5 months.

 

[Doug]

Either I send it now, repair it, use it, and then send it again in August, or I have an expensive paper weight for the next 5 months.

Keith, MUST you send it in again in August? I know this is veering away from your original subject, but is it imperative to have one or more "upgrade" done, and be among the first to do so?

It occurs to me that Leica might have supplied a quieter 1/4000 shutter in the first place, and then offered a 1/8000 sec "upgrade" (with faster flash synch too) for $1200 now whose only drawback is a slight increase in noise. Would we be grumbling about having to pay for the faster shutter that should have been there from the beginning? 🙂

 

[kbg32]

Doug, according to Leica, I can sit with the broken camera until August, or repair it now, use it, and then send it in again in August for the shutter upgrade. I carry it with me everyday. Leica in New Jersey said it sounds like an electronic problem. A week before the camera died, I pulled the camera out of the bag, and it was hot to the touch. Like it was sitting next to a heater all day. I turned it on, but the battery was drained. I put in another and it worked fine. Strange. I mentioned this to Leica in my repair letter.

Camera goes out to them today.

 

[Doug]

Good luck on the repair, Keith, and it will be interesting if Leica indicates what the problem was and/or what repairs they made. As to sending it in again in August for the so-called upgrade, I'm just raising the question whether this should be assumed as necessary, and whether it might equally well be considered a down-grade. 🙂

 

[Avotius]

Wow, well 15 months is a good run I guess. Hope they get it back to you in less then that much time 🙂

 

[kbg32]

Geezus, $107 to ship to Leica. Overnighted it with full insurance. All I would need is for UPS to have lost it, and not have it insured. Better safe then sorry. This will be a tax right-off, that's for sure.

 

[kbg32]

Well, I received my M8 back from Leitz today. It seems to be in perfect working order, and they gave the sensor a good cleaning. I have to commend Leitz for getting it back to me so quickly and in just two weeks time. They originally said 4-6 weeks.

It felt strange not having it with me, though it has been a pleasure shooting with a film M.

I feel complete once again!