M8.2 vs. M9, reliability

[twopointeight]

I just purchased a used M8.2. It was recently returned from Solms after a pre-sale check-up, no problems. But I notice that it does some weird and random things like shut down, not often but ocassionally. I just remove battery, reinsert same or different battery and its all good again. So, is this just the way it is? Did the M9 get better in this regard? I can live with it, if that's normal for an M8.2? What's too bad about the unreliability is that I can't use the camera for anything important without carrying a back-up.

 

[LCT]

This is not normal at all. Problems like yours have been discussed in length on LUF. My M8.2 works flawlessly, better so than the Leica's QC i'm afraid.

 

[elmer3.5]

Hi, i remmember my upgraded m8 did something alike when the battery charge was weak.
The m9 does the same but perhaps only when it´s about to shut down completely because of discharged batt.

 

[soelin]

M8 reliability

M8 reliability

I've had (2) M8s. They both shut down occasionally on their own and I would have to remove/reinsert the battery to "fix" it.

I just read an old, but interesting writeup about the experience of using M8s and their issues here:
http://web.mac.com/kamberm/Leica_M8_Field_Test,_Iraq/Page_1.html

 

[Gid]

I agree that this is not normal behaviour. My M8.2 doesn't do this and neither did my M8.

 

[RichC]

Not right... possibly a duff battery. You are using genuine Leica ones? Also, Li batteries only last a few years...

Had my M8 for 4 years and it's been fine.

 

[Jeff S]

Not normal. I have 2 M8.2s, each without problems. While my experience of course means nothing statistically, I've also seen relatively few posts on the Leica forum regarding any significant or consistent complaints.

In fact, the M9 has had more issues than the M8.2...red edge problems, SD card issues, buffer filling, etc. This is not surprising since the M9, like its M8 predecessor is a 'first generation' camera, i.e., it incorporates new technology (for the M8, this was of course the first digital M; and, with the M9, issues arose in part due to its being the first full frame digital M, and perhaps because of its much larger files).

Eventually, all these issues get sorted, both by firmware updates and, in some cases, by new versions. The M8.2 had the benefits of both, and is a very reliable camera (by digital standards).

I chose the M8.2 in part because of its refinement, and in that respect it hasn't let me down...twice.

Jeff

 

[Rob-F]

I've had my M8.2 several months now and have had no issues whatsoever. I'd have to agree, the problem reported above is not normal.

 

[wintoid]

I bought a second hand M8.2 and I had a few problems like this. Went back to the vendor, who swapped out the battery for a brand new one. Since then, no problems.

 

[Tom Niblick]

I had this problem with my M8. Mostly a combination of a low battery charge and shooting too quickly. The camera functioned perfectly 99% of the time but that 1% was always in a fast changing situation and pulling the battery always meant a lost shot.

I sold the M8 and bought a M9. The only shots I've missed so far were due to a bad SD card. Once I trashed the card, I have not had any other issues with my M9.

Was it worth the trade? Oh yeah! It took some getting used to but I now find that I like the look of the M9's files better. To my eye, it has more of a classic Leica look than the super sharp and contasty M8 files. Probably more due to the lenses (crop) than the sensor.