brain dead M-D

[AusDLK]

no auto shutoff? two unexpected dead batteries in less than 5 days (maybe 25 exposures?) -- brain dead Leica strikes again, completely ruined my joy of ownership, almost as unforgivable as the broken toy sound of the M8's shutter, my M-D is going back and i'm not likely to give it a second chance

 

[Addy101]

Hardly - if they implemented an auto shut off, they needed a way to set the duration and you can't do that without a screen. An auto shut off would really be stupid.

There is a on-off switch, use it.

 

[Vince Lupo]

I read Mike Evans' post about this (and saw your response there too): http://macfilos.com/photo/2016/5/6/leica-m-d-battery-life-power-saving-disable

L-Camera-Forum also has a discussion about this issue.

So let me ask you, are you leaving the camera sit idle in your camera bag for a few days switched on? I am about to take delivery of an M-D myself, so this would be good information to know.

Does this seem like something that - if a photographer wanted the option of auto-shutoff - could be corrected with a simple firmware update? The response from Leica (according to Mike Evans' article) was that the auto-shutoff function was purposely disabled based upon M60 customer feedback. Could a firmware update allow for 're-enabling' of the auto-shutoff? Guess that would be a Leica factory decision, if it's at all possible.

 

[Mute-on]

So the dealer will have a now second hand Leica body (I presume you purchased it new from a dealer) and will take a loss on any future sale, all because you can't be bothered to use an on/off switch?

You can't return an expensive electronic item in every country just because you discover a feature you don't like. You are lucky to have the option where you live. Still, you might have asked the question at the dealer or read the manual online before purchase.

 

[sevo]

Hardly - if they implemented an auto shut off, they needed a way to set the duration and you can't do that without a screen. An auto shut off would really be stupid.

Most of my classic electronic SLRs starting with the Nikon FE had an auto shut off for the meter. And no screen, nor any other way to alter the fixed duration.

 

[Highway 61]

Most of my classic electronic SLRs starting with the Nikon FE had an auto shut off for the meter. And no screen, nor any other way to alter the fixed duration.

Exactly. That was the case on the Rollei 35SE too... You know, that crappy thing made in Singapore.

That was long ago, a time when people knew without any doubt that the auto shut-off time for all electronic devices having that feature would be about 12 seconds.

 

[maitani]

I suspect it's a 'feature' easy corrected in a fw update, but I like the approach that the have removed the feature on purpose for faster response time, although a 4 minute or so 'auto-off-timer' should be standard. how did you like the M-D other than 'that'?

 

[Highway 61]

(...) but I like the approach that the have removed the feature on purpose for faster response time (...)

With a camera that has no screen and no built-in AF, the response time by half-depressing the shutter release should be instant even if the camera has gone to auto shut-off to save the battery.

 

[nobbylon]

Seriously? As someone else asks before me, did yo not read the manual or ask the question first before buying? Sounds like a 1st world problem to me. I can't believe you would actually admit this here and I think it's hilarious.
I left my M9p on in my backpack and it had intermitently switched itself on and off while pressing against other stuff resulting in a flat battery. I changed the battery and now always switch it off when I'm not using. Is that too difficult to remember?

 

[Highway 61]

What is hilarious is to see an $7,000 digital camera coming on the market in 2016 not having an auto shut-off.

When I had my D700 the auto shut-off worked perfectly and the battery was lasting forever even if the camera was in the bag for long whiles during the day.

Seriously.

 

[jojoman2]

wouldn't the auto shut off of a camera without a screen trigger whenever the camera wasn't in use?

Lets say I made a photo and walked for 20-30 minutes with the camera around my neck before I stumbled across another scene worth photographing. I would rather have the camera be ready to shoot than have to turn it on, whatever else you have to do when you turn on an M-D.

 

[Addy101]

Seriously - not everybody wants auto shut off. That is why you can choose the setting in most cameras to off if you want to. I think Leica was right when they excluded it from a camera like this. Just turn it off when you stow it away - it is that easy!

Someone stated that with a camera that has no screen and no built-in AF, the response time by half-depressing the shutter release should be instant. That means it is just the screen that takes time to turn on and you're forgetting all the other electronics inside.

And the light meter in all those old cameras were on the moment you power them, completely different from the electronics of modern cameras.

But it seems opinions are mixed, giving Leica a big problem - some people want auto shut off, others don't. They need to find a way to switch it on or off by the user.

 

[ernstk]

Seems a very extreme response to a minor issue. So now that you know that it has no auto shut off, why not just discipline yourself into switching it off?

Rather than indulging you in a refund, hopefully your dealer will show you how to operate the camera.

 

[Archlich]

Who don't want auto shut off anyway?

 

[Vince Lupo]

Seriously - not everybody wants auto shut off. That is why you can choose the setting in most cameras to off if you want to. I think Leica was right when they excluded it from a camera like this. Just turn it off when you stow it away - it is that easy!

Someone stated that with a camera that has no screen and no built-in AF, the response time by half-depressing the shutter release should be instant. That means it is just the screen that takes time to turn on and you're forgetting all the other electronics inside.

And the light meter in all those old cameras were on the moment you power them, completely different from the electronics of modern cameras.

But it seems opinions are mixed, giving Leica a big problem - some people want auto shut off, others don't. They need to find a way to switch it on or off by the user.

Sensible thinking. I can't personally see this issue as a complete deal-killer for me (though I don't yet have the camera in hand), but having said that, it would be nice if you could choose to have auto shutoff activated or not. As mentioned, perhaps a subsequent firmware update might offer this feature (assuming that a simple firmware tweak has the ability to do this - I'm not really up on this stuff).

I don't think it's going to really affect the way I will use the camera -- normally I turn my Monochrom 246 off when I'm not using it, so hopefully it won't be a problem.

 

[marcr1230]

Have the on/off switch be in auto on/off when off
I.e. When on - you're in charge
When off - 1/2 press shutter turns it on for 12 secs

Great idea?

 

[zuiko85]

My M4-2 has auto shut off when I've forgot to advance after the last frame. Nothing worse than seeing a fleeting shot, you are already at hyperfocal, quickly framing and......oh drat!

 

[jsrockit]

I find most cameras react better to turning on than coming out of sleep mode. This wouldn't bother me.

 

[willie_901]

I assume modern film Ms have meters and batteries and no auto shut off mechanism? Could you kill a M6's meter battery by neglecting to turn the camera off?

Perhaps your experience, while disappointing to you, is simply consistent with Leica wanting to create the virtual experience of using a film M camera.

 

[Ken Ford]

According to a thread over on the L forum the option to enable auto shutoff is coming in a firmware release. I personally prefer not having auto-shutoff and either disable it or set the timeout as long as possible on my cameras.