Need help in changing ISO for M9

[ornate_wrasse]

I'm here in New York City right now visiting my daughter. I brought my M9 with me. Although it was working just fine before, now when I press the ISO button to change the ISO, nothing happens and the screen is completely blank.

Obviously, this has created huge problems when I am in a low light situation. Does anyone know how I can fix this problem?

The other minor problem I'm dealing with is that the glass (Schott glass) has cracked pretty badly on the back of the camera. it doesn't interfere with shooting, but I'd like to have it fixed. Since I am in New York right now, I was thinking of visiting the Leica store. Can the Leica store fix it? How much am I looking at to replace the Schott glass?

Many thanks!

Ellen

 

[raid]

Hi Ellen,
If an impact to the back of the M9 caused the Schott glass to break, the camera may need a Leica repair person to inspect it for internal damage due to the impact.

 

[Calzone]

Ellen,

I utilize a schott glass screen protector on my Monochrom. Is this the Schott glass you are refering to? If so it is easily and inexpensively replaced. I work in a physics lac in Madhattan, and I have acess to a heat gun that is needed to remove the old Schott glass protector. I kinda remember the Protector I bought cost abou $15.00 or $20.00 at B&H.

As far as electronics problems decades of experience tell me that 80% of electronic problems are bad connections. In your case the switch might have bad contacts, and sometimes further use can polish the electrical contacts for an improved electrical connection.

I hope this helps.

Cal

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Hi Raid,

I hadn't thought about that. Maybe I should take it to the Leica store here in NYC while I'm here.

The glass has been cracked for some time. I have no idea how it got cracked because I've always been very careful and never dropped it.

The camera's ISO function worked just fine when I used it at my nephew's wedding last Saturday in Richmond, VA. It was dark so I had changed the ISO to 2500. Now that I'm in New York, for some reason it's not working even though it functioned fine last weekend.

I bought the camera used from someone on RFF so of course there's no warranty.

Thanks again for your input.

Ellen

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I utilize a schott glass screen protector on my Monochrom. Is this the Schott glass you are refering to?


In your case the switch might have bad contacts, and sometimes further use can polish the electrical contacts for an improved electrical connection.

Cal,

Yes, I think this is the Schott glass I'm referring to. It says "SP 8250" or something like that on the upper right hand side of the screen. I remember the fellow who sold me the M9 (from an ad on RFF) telling me something about the protector being on the back of the camera.

That makes sense that it's an electrical connection problem. After all, it was working just fine last weekend and now it's not working at all.

Thanks!

Ellen

 

[dogberryjr]

It's funny you should mention the broken Schott glass. I installed the same protector on my M9 and I'm fairly certain the protector broke while the camera was safely tucked away in a cabinet. It was unsettling when I found it, and I could not remember doing anything that might have caused it to break. I was relieved to find the Leica glass underneath quite intact. As Cal mentioned, you'll need a heat gun (or hair dryer) to remove the old glass.

As to the ISO issue . . . well, I wish there were as simple a procedure.

 

[Calzone]

Ellen,

If you want to change the Schott glass protector, my lab is on the Upper East Side (72d Street and York). We could meet and take care of that one problem.

Cal

 

[rscheffler]

Regarding the ISO problem... what ISO is it stuck on now?

One aspect of the M9 is that there is no quantifiable improvement to image quality as the ISO is increased in the camera, vs. leaving it set to ISO 160 and pushing DNG files in software, such as Lightroom. This has been explored by a number of M9 users, including me, and was measured/proven by Jim Kasson in his blog. His conclusion was that there was little difference in the ISO 160-640 range between setting it in camera and pushing in post. Above ISO 640 it was better to push in software.

One downside to this is that preview images on the LCD, and later when viewing on the computer, will sometimes be very dark and difficult to judge.

This assumes the ISO is stuck at a relatively low value. If it's above ISO 640, then you'll want to be able to change it before shooting...

Leica USA is in Allendale, NJ, about 45 minutes away by car or train (NJ Transit Allendale station, then walk ~15 minutes, or try to find a taxi). I'm not saying it's possible, but they might be able to help you out if you call the customer service rep and explain your situation. They will sometimes agree to look at a camera same-day, though with this problem, there's no guarantee they can fix it right away. Best to call and plead your case. The techs seem to work early morning to mid afternoon, so best to drop off early in the day. I've dealt with Roxana Lynch a few times now and she has always been willing to help.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I installed the same protector on my M9 and I'm fairly certain the protector broke while the camera was safely tucked away in a cabinet.

It was unsettling when I found it, and I could not remember doing anything that might have caused it to break.

My sentiments exactly! It was very unsettling when I first noticed it. Maybe it's just a given, when installing these screens, that one day they will break.

When I look at it, there appears to be a screw in the lower right hand corner that attaches it to the M9. I'm wondering if the pressure from this screw having been tightened eventually causes it to break.

Ellen

 

[raid]

Leica usually repairs internal issues free of charge if it is not a damaged camera due to the user's fault. My M9 was bought used too, but Leica NJ replaced the board and the sensor for free (for the parts), plus about $500 for labor. I got back a like new M9.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Regarding the ISO problem... what ISO is it stuck on now?

It's a guess, because the screen is blank giving me no information about the current ISO, but the last time I used it, as I recall, I set it to ISO 200.

Ellen

PS I probably won't have time to visit the Leica place in NJ but thanks for the info.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Ellen,

If you want to change the Schott glass protector, my lab is on the Upper East Side (72d Street and York). We could meet and take care of that one problem.

Cal

Cal,

Thanks. I may take you up on that. But I assume I'll have to stop at B&H and buy a new one to replace it before I visit you at your lab?

Ellen

 

[rscheffler]

Just take a picture with it and review it on the camera. Above the image it will give you the ISO value.

If it's at ISO 200, then don't worry about it, assuming you shoot DNG and post process all your files. In situations where ISO 200 is too low, just shoot at the shutter speed and aperture you need for the situation, then push the DNG files later in software. It will at least allow you to use the camera now and wait until you can send it in for service. (Maybe worth mentioning this doesn't work for Jpeg files, so be sure to set the camera to DNG)

Be aware that Leica's service turnaround times are quite long... from a few weeks to maybe a couple months.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Just take a picture with it and review it on the camera. Above the image it will give you the ISO value.

If it's at ISO 200, then don't worry about it, assuming you shoot DNG and post process all your files.

It's at ISO 160. That's what it said above the image I just took. However, and this part is interesting, for the last 10 to 15 images I took, the ISO has varied from 160, to 400, to 250, to 200 to 320! All of this was without me being able to adjust the ISO setting! In other words, it changed the ISO by itself!

 

[rscheffler]

Looks like the camera is set to Auto ISO, which is perhaps a lucky thing for this situation.

 

[dogberryjr]

. . . it changed the ISO by itself!

It's possessed. Or on auto-ISO. Possessed seems more interesting though.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Well I can unequivocally state this: I NEVER use Auto ISO on any camera!! I took a class once (for my Nikon DSLR) where the instructor said he does not recommend auto ISO. Since that class, I have made it a point to never use Auto ISO.

So I don't know how it would have gotten set to AUTO ISO.

 

[Calzone]

Well I can unequivocally state this: I NEVER use Auto ISO on any camera!! I took a class once (for my Nikon DSLR) where the instructor said he does not recommend auto ISO. Since that class, I have made it a point to never use Auto ISO.

So I don't know how it would have gotten set to AUTO ISO.

Ellen,

Sometimes I use auto ISO on my Monochrom because of a cool advantage. I set the tipping point at 125 of a second, so if the lowest ISO in aperture priority mode sets the shutter speed below 1/125 th of a second the film speed gets bumped higher.

Basically in changing late afternoon light instead of selecting 320 (base ISO on a MM) and having to monitor my shutter speed and bump the ISO up and down constantly manually, I can set the Auto ISO to bounce back and forth between say 320 and 640 or even a larger range to keep my shutter speed above 125th of a second.

If I have plenty of light Auto ISO does not kick in to bump up my film speed, unless I need it.

Cal

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Does the M9 store user profiles like an M8?
If so if you select those what have you stored as iso settings?
I have one at auto and another at 320 for example. If the other profile settings are not well away from what you want that should change the auto iso to that of the profile chosen.

 

[kbg32]

The M9 will change the exposure even if you set the ISO manually. Mine is not set to Auto. Someone at Leica explained to me how this works. It was quite some time ago now and I have forgotten!