Help...New Demo M8 Problem

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remphoto

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After months of scrimping, selling gear and saving I scraped up enough money to buy a demo M8 from a reputable authorized dealer. Just received it and am having a problem getting it to work. I've tried 3 different SD cards, including a brand new 4G one and get the red light on the back glowing and an "SD" light when pressing the shutter. Any suggestions?
 
I went through several SD cards before I got one my demo M8 likes. Try an older, slower one--I'm using a Kingston 4gb SDHC class 2. The newer class 6 ones I can't get to work reliably.
 
remphoto said:
After months of scrimping, selling gear and saving I scraped up enough money to buy a demo M8 from a reputable authorized dealer. Just received it and am having a problem getting it to work. I've tried 3 different SD cards, including a brand new 4G one and get the red light on the back glowing and an "SD" light when pressing the shutter. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Have you contacted your dealer?
They should be able to help you.

Stephen
 
Thanks for replies. Tried everything. Called dealer this morning and he had leica company tech call me. He determined it is probably sd card port. Needs to go back to leica for 2-3 week repair. I called dealer and he is giving me a full refund. Very frustrated and disappointed. I sold my leica film bodies to fund this so am going to sell lenses and abandon leica after many years.
 
remphoto said:
Thanks for replies. Tried everything. Called dealer this morning and he had leica company tech call me. He determined it is probably sd card port. Needs to go back to leica for 2-3 week repair. I called dealer and he is giving me a full refund. Very frustrated and disappointed. I sold my leica film bodies to fund this so am going to sell lenses and abandon leica after many years.
Click to expand...

yep really pity, I read that even the new M9 has this problem and only works with certain brands of cards. Leica better provide some cards with the camera that anyhow should work.
 
remphoto said:
After months of scrimping, selling gear and saving I scraped up enough money to buy a demo M8 from a reputable authorized dealer. Just received it and am having a problem getting it to work. I've tried 3 different SD cards, including a brand new 4G one and get the red light on the back glowing and an "SD" light when pressing the shutter. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

My M8 had problems with some cards as well. Formatting on a PC (or my EOS digital) helped though.
 
At $10 for a 2GByte card, and the capacity to hold over $125 photo's with Raw+Jpeg, I've bought four of them for the M8. Have not had a problem with Sandisk used out of the Pack.

Once you get past 4GBytes, SD cards had to play some OS games. I'm guessing it's beyond the 32-bit addressing, so tricks are played. Just a guess.
 
Don't know if this is your problem, but if your M8 has older firmware and you try to use a SDHC card, it won't be recognized. The M8 will work on the newer SDHC cards only if the newest firmware is installed (and you have to use a plain SD card to load the new firmware).
HTH GlennB
 
JSU said:
The M8.2 does not write particularly fast, so just about any moderate, but not blazingly fast, SD card should work.

I have never had any card issues with either of my Leica refurb M8.w's. Nor would I judge all of Leica on the basis of one single camera. Why not have the dealer find you another camera?

--Steve
Click to expand...

Steve, from its introduction, I have been fascinated about the blend of M ergonomics with the digital workflow I now prefer. But I was apprehensive about the numerous troubles regarding M8's. There are many commonly reported problems by M8 users on RFF, LUG and other groups. RFF even has a sub-forum loaded with issues regarding SD cards, electronic glitches, etc. However, with the drop in used M8 prices to (barely) within my budget, I decided to take a chance and get an M8 with the best warranty available -- an M8 Demo.

When the camera arrived and would not work, my worst fears were realized and I became frustrated. The dealer does not have anything to comparable to exchange it for, so it requires a 3 week (if I'm lucky) trip back to Leica, missing vacation usage. And what if it happens again?

I know $2500 isn't a lot of money to some, but to me it is a fortune and can also buy an alternative quality item such as an used Canon D1S, Omega Seamaster or Custom-Shop built Kimber 1911A1. So unless I change my mind before Monday's FedEx pickup, I'll concentrate on using my trouble-free Canon DSLR and Canon FD kits and buy a watch, gun or full-frame DSLR. I'll pick up a used G10 for grab shots (never been burned with used Canon equipment).

Thanks for the responses!
 
JSU said:
remphoto--

I appreciate personal economics and personal choices.

My point is the Demo M8 is an item in the Leica catalog from which the dealer stocks their shelves.I should think the dealer would be able to return the defective item in exc hange for another, which hopefully works correctly, and in turn deliver this alternate camera to you.

I understand that Leica doesn't supply their dealers in a regular schedule and often dealer requests get back ordered. I can see how this would be an issue as is also the time needed for a repair of the original camera.

I don't work for Leica and I have never understood how a refurb camera doesn't work right out of the box given that it should have had at least two final inspections and approvals before delivery to dealer and customer.

I do have a deep respect for Murphy and his law as well as plenty of personal experience with the concept "$hit happens." I wish you well and good luck.

--Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, the dealer did not offer up doing a quick in-kind exchange, which he probably would have done if possible to salvage the sale. From viewing his online inventory he only has another standard M8 demo in-stock in black and it was more expensive (and I prefer Chrome). The Leica tech said the only option was to return it to Leica and they would do "expedited" repair which would take 2-3 weeks. Normal repair time is 8 weeks.

The dealer seemed surprised the camera didn't work, stating that the demo's are factory tested with the latest firmware, so he does not bother to check them out before shipping. If 2 inspectors missed the problem, that is inexcusable.

I've always bought quality goods where possible, but lately there seems to be increasing shoddiness. For example, a recently purchased BMW motorcycle has had 4 recalls, including one for the hazardous practice of dying unexpectedly in slow corners (talk about a butt-clenching experience!). I've had no problems with Japanese bikes (or cameras for that matter).

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent and express my frustrations.
 
Commiserations. I know how you feel, as I bought an M7 before Christmas that showed an immediate shutter fault. Leica Solms offers a Fast Repair & Express Repair service at additional cost - perhaps your country's Leica repair centre will do the same. See http://uk.leica-camera.com/service/service_and_repair/express/

I would expect the dealer to pay the extra. If it is sent back to Germany by the dealer, be prepared for Solms to parcel your camera up with others when they ship, as Solms get economies this way. Mine has been noted as still being in the process of being shipped 3 days after the repair was completed. Mind you, this was not an express repair, as I didn't know about it until the camera had been sent! 😡

Don't give up on your dream.
 
remphoto said:
The dealer seemed surprised the camera didn't work, stating that the demo's are factory tested with the latest firmware, so he does not bother to check them out before shipping. If 2 inspectors missed the problem, that is inexcusable.
Click to expand...

FWIW, Both of the Demo M8's I received last year had OLD firmware installed. The 1st one wouldn't upload the Newer firmware so I shipped it back to dealer who sent me the 2nd one which took the firmware update with no problems. I still have it and It still works great. Why Leica sent out both Demo M8s without the newest firmware loaded I don't know. (Maybe they had set on the dealer selves for some time?)

Anyway, You never stated what firmware your M8 was loaded with or if you were using a SD or SDHC card. IIRC SD cards bigger than 2Gigs are all SDHC versions, which would make your 4 Gig card a SDHC card I think.

Either way, Good Luck!
 
GlennB said:
FWIW, Both of the Demo M8's I received last year had OLD firmware installed. The 1st one wouldn't upload the Newer firmware so I shipped it back to dealer who sent me the 2nd one which took the firmware update with no problems. I still have it and It still works great. Why Leica sent out both Demo M8s without the newest firmware loaded I don't know. (Maybe they had set on the dealer selves for some time?)

Anyway, You never stated what firmware your M8 was loaded with or if you were using a SD or SDHC card. IIRC SD cards bigger than 2Gigs are all SDHC versions, which would make your 4 Gig card a SDHC card I think.

Either way, Good Luck!
Click to expand...

I tried a 256, 512, 1 & 2G SD and a 4GHD card and none worked. But apparently the actual card jack (or port as the Tech called it) was not reading any of the cards. Also, he said the battery LCD should have been working and the menu coming up even without a card, which it wasn't. Camera was stone-dead except for the "SD" light appearing in the viewfinder window when the shutter was depressed and the red light on the back of the camera staying on. Obviously some glitch inside the camera.
 
remphoto said:
Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, the dealer did not offer up doing a quick in-kind exchange, which he probably would have done if possible to salvage the sale. From viewing his online inventory he only has another standard M8 demo in-stock in black and it was more expensive (and I prefer Chrome). The Leica tech said the only option was to return it to Leica and they would do "expedited" repair which would take 2-3 weeks. Normal repair time is 8 weeks.

The dealer seemed surprised the camera didn't work, stating that the demo's are factory tested with the latest firmware, so he does not bother to check them out before shipping. If 2 inspectors missed the problem, that is inexcusable.

I've always bought quality goods where possible, but lately there seems to be increasing shoddiness. For example, a recently purchased BMW motorcycle has had 4 recalls, including one for the hazardous practice of dying unexpectedly in slow corners (talk about a butt-clenching experience!). I've had no problems with Japanese bikes (or cameras for that matter).

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent and express my frustrations.
Click to expand...
If you still have the camera it is worth running it until the battery is completely flat then recharging it fully , downloading the most recent firmware upgrade and have a go at uploading it. Absolutely nothing to loose.

Richard
 
I even had the same problem with a Digilux 2. It worked for 300 or so photos, then SD card error. The final bill was $412.00 for the repair & 6 weeks. Good luck, some times the old M2 I just sold was a more reliable camera.
 
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