Disturbing temporary M8 shutter thing. Known?

[squirrel$$$bandit]

A weird thing happened to me in the past day or so. I turn on the M8 in "A" mode, shoot a few pics, then suddenly the LED display is gone from the finder and pressing the shutter button has no effect (though I still hear the faint high-pitched eletronic whine you hear when you half-press). Turn it off, turn it back on again, works fine; a few minutes later, nothing. The frame counter/battery LCD is still working, so it isn't the battery losing contact. And it isn't the well-documented "shutter fault"...there is no message on the screen. The camera behaves totally normally, except that it temporarily won't take a picture.

Take out the battery, charge it fully, out for another session, same thing happens.

Then, suddenly, it isn't happening anymore. Today I can't get the problem to reappear. Good news, I guess, but I'm freaked out.

I did a search for references to this, but I just get the "shutter fault" issue. The only reference I found was about the R-D1 doing the same thing--ironically it never happened to me with the R-D1.

Any ideas? This is a demo model that JUST had an overhaul from Leica NJ, literally a couple months ago, complete with new sensor and CLA.

 

[hkrz]

Does this happen with several SD cards or just one?

I had very similair issues with my dslr. Sometimes it just froze up and after a restart it would function perfectly. The issue was caused by a corupt CF card, which died on me when transfering photos to PC sometime later. I changed the card and the problem went away.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Hmm, no, I have ever only used one SD card for this camera--perhaps I should try a new one.

 

[jvan01]

is the camera on the latest firmware? If yes, were you in discreet advance mode?

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

is the camera on the latest firmware? If yes, were you in discreet advance mode?

Yes in both cases. The shutter DID recharge after the previous photo.

Also, I was using a soft release, but the same thing happened when I removed it. And now, the shutter release works perfectly with or without the softie.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

A bit surprised nobody else has responded...has this happened to anyone? Or have I experienced a genuine Leica anomaly?

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Never experienced it myself. I saw something like this happen to Ed Schwartzreich's Leica; I think it was related to a battery/power management issue. He sent it to Leica NJ for a once-over. So, that's one data point; but it was very early days after the M8's release. Have you searched the Leica User's Forum? They have a whole M8/M9 section.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/index.php?langid=2

Ben Marks

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I had something freaky happen when accidentally shooting "continuous" when I have the shutter set to discrete. I've read that is a bad combination. I like single-shot and discrete mode, and only do not use continuous unless by accident.

 

[MCTuomey]

i have no insight into the "anomaly." but i do try to stay away from "C" mode. i can't explain why, it's just that somehow i don't trust the M8's shutter/buffer interface. call it intuition.

 

[jvan01]

I never use discreet mode or C mode, and I don't think it's ever happened to me.

 

[ampguy]

Never had or heard about this specific issue, but are you by chance using either "C" mode, or deep retracting lenses? If either of those cases, there are some others who've had those issues on thle l-camera forum, usually combined with a twitchy finger depressing the shutter during or after cocking.

I'd definitely get a new shutter assembly with a demo camera, demo folks like to use that "C" mode, and often check out cameras after eating greasy foods 😉

 

[babydoc]

Have also had this happening to my M8. Usually in cold weather (-15 or colder). It has also happened if I take a lot of pictures in a row with low battery. The battery indication on the top-plate is not very accurate. I always have a spare battery with me, and if this problem happens I put in the new battery and the camera works again.

 

[pachuco]

Nope, this has never happened to me. I've had issues in "C" mode but not like you described.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Hmm, I was not in C mode--in fact, I had Leica NJ tighten my switch so I would never go there by accident. And the battery was almost fully charged...and I was not using a lens that protrudes very deeply (an adapted 50mm Sonnar and the 90mm T-E).

I suspect it has something to do with the switch--that a bit of grit got in there and was briefly cutting off contact. I'll keep an eye on the camera and make sure this doesn't recur...

...Ted, I must say, I like the old shutter...I'd hate to lose 1/8000...I actually do use it!

 

[semordnilap]

I've had nothing but problems with discreet mode on my original M8, and I have heard of others having the same problems, but I can't remember where. I don't use discreet anymore and have had no problems since... Have you tried working without discreet mode?

 

[ampguy]

Me too

Me too

I also need the 1/8000, saves a lot on ND filters and hassles, especially with summer coming up.

It does sound like there is something with the switch contacts of the shutter release, but also check that your battery contacts are clean.

Here's another thought, if you put your ear to the camera when all is quiet, do you hear a capacitor charging up as you turn on? I've never heard of those failing, but it seems that even with your fully charged batteries, full power isn't getting all the way, or being maintained to the readout.

It might be something that Leica Germany knows about, but that NJ isn't aware of, so you might want to post a msg. to the support @ the factory, or on that l-camera forum to see if a broader user base might have had the issue, and how they resolved it.

Hmm, I was not in C mode--in fact, I had Leica NJ tighten my switch so I would never go there by accident. And the battery was almost fully charged...and I was not using a lens that protrudes very deeply (an adapted 50mm Sonnar and the 90mm T-E).

I suspect it has something to do with the switch--that a bit of grit got in there and was briefly cutting off contact. I'll keep an eye on the camera and make sure this doesn't recur...

...Ted, I must say, I like the old shutter...I'd hate to lose 1/8000...I actually do use it!

 

[ampguy]

Hi

Hi

I've read about issues when the user was pressing the shutter before the discreet mode finished or tapping on the shutter, also read that the M8 firmware 2.04 (latest released) has an issue with C mode and discreet.

But, never heard of any issues when just using discreet mode, and using the shutter release like on a film camera, e.g. press, release, wait a while for the next photo opp., repeat.

Do you have any links or references to the discreet mode, being used in the above single slow firing method being a problem?

Thanks for any links or addl. info.

I've had nothing but problems with discreet mode on my original M8, and I have heard of others having the same problems, but I can't remember where. I don't use discreet anymore and have had no problems since... Have you tried working without discreet mode?

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I've had nothing but problems with discreet mode on my original M8, and I have heard of others having the same problems, but I can't remember where. I don't use discreet anymore and have had no problems since... Have you tried working without discreet mode?

I have never even turned off discreet mode, not since I got the camera. But it's not hugely important to me. If the problem ever recurs, I'll turn it off and see what happens.

 

[semordnilap]

I remember having problems when it first became available, and maybe there were threads in the l-camera-forum, but looking at them now all the issues seem to be with 'c' mode and discreet: I don't find any with standard mode and discreet. So perhaps I'm misremembering. I just tried discreet now and it works fine in single shot mode for a few exposures in a row.

I just recall having a few freezes when discreet first became available via firmware, and I haven't even switched it on since, so it's been a while and I don't remember the exact settings.

I've read about issues when the user was pressing the shutter before the discreet mode finished or tapping on the shutter, also read that the M8 firmware 2.04 (latest released) has an issue with C mode and discreet.

But, never heard of any issues when just using discreet mode, and using the shutter release like on a film camera, e.g. press, release, wait a while for the next photo opp., repeat.

Do you have any links or references to the discreet mode, being used in the above single slow firing method being a problem?

Thanks for any links or addl. info.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks

Thanks

Somewhere I read a post from an original M8 user who had over 50K images on their original M8. If I can find him/her again, I am going to ask what their setting is on.

I remember having problems when it first became available, and maybe there were threads in the l-camera-forum, but looking at them now all the issues seem to be with 'c' mode and discreet: I don't find any with standard mode and discreet. So perhaps I'm misremembering. I just tried discreet now and it works fine in single shot mode for a few exposures in a row.

I just recall having a few freezes when discreet first became available via firmware, and I haven't even switched it on since, so it's been a while and I don't remember the exact settings.