SD Card Full error

[s800]

Anyone else having problems with their M8 deciding that their card is full?

I thought it was my Toshiba card, so I picked up an "approved" Kingston- which I thought was okay, but after one session of shooting it now becomes "full"- even immediately after a formatting in camera - and shuts down.

Also, 50% of the time, formats are failing and are just endlessly writing to the card.

I've tried three cards now, one "on the list" and all less than 2GB (1G, 1G and 512M). Attempting to format in camera or on computer has no effect. I can sometimes get an additional frame or two by pulling out the battery.

The same cards are working fine in Pentax and Canon DSLRs and various point and shoots. My firmware version is 1.06- is anything newer available?

The good news, is that when this camera actually works, it takes amazingly sharp photos.

I fear that I'll be taking this back, but not because of image issues...

 

[John Camp]

Yeah, I had that problem last night; just dinking around with it eventually corrected it. I took the card out, the battery out, put the battery back, the card back, formatted a couple of times, tried to erase a couple of times...someplace along the way, it started working again.

JC

 

[Jeffery Smith]

I just got my M8 on Thursday, and today (two days later), I finally got one card that worked. That's one out of 5 that I've tried. I would like to know if this glitch is something that can be fixed with a firmware upgrade. If not, I have a mind to return the camera to B&H.

 

[Joe Mondello]

I have three SD cards -- a 4GB from my G7 a 2GB from my R-D1 and a 1GB that just has to be around here somewhere!

The 2GB card works fine in the M8 even making separate folders for Leica and Epson, but putting a blank 4GB card in the M8 yields a card is full msg. Go figure.

 

[Jeffery Smith]

I got a reply from Leica regarding this issue. Their technical staff indicated that many cards do not conform to SD standards. They also indicated that "Transcend" and "OCZ" cards do work, and that formatting the card by a computer does not work.

 

[clarionensis]

my 4Gb sandisk SDhc cant work, any solution? thanks.

 

[J. Borger]

It's not always just the card but also the cardreader used on the computer!!!
Ii did not have issues with this anymore since i used "safe hardware remove" in windows XP before removing the card from the reader .....

 

[jaapv]

Han is right. Using the cardreader correctly is mandatory. Plus using a card from the approved list, and never formatting the card on the computer (although some users report no problems there). Plus not using the USB port on the camera. Not only can that corrupt the card, but a power surge could damage the camera. Finally, SD cards can and do fail with depressing regularity, especially the el cheapo ones. And there are fake branded ones on the market as well.
Firmware- you are three versions behind. It would be wise to download the newest version:

http://www.leica-camera.de/service/downloads/rangefinder_cameras/m8/index.html

The next important update will be sometime end of April.

Oh- and welcome to the forum.

 

[clarionensis]

I know that some cameras will not work with anything larger than a 2GB card.

I bought a 4GB card for my SD700is, and was depressed to see that it did not work. Now the card is used as a portable storage device. Soon to be mailed to someone who can use it.

the M8 spec clearly stated that it supports SDhc. my Dlux 3 can use this card but not the M8, i just wondering why!!!!

 

[Bob Parsons]

the M8 spec clearly stated that it supports SDhc. my Dlux 3 can use this card but not the M8, i just wondering why!!!!

Nowhere have I seen it written that the M8 currently supports SDHC cards. The M8 manual and their on-line literature only states "SD cards up to 4GB." There is no mention of SDHC.

For some examples of cards including 4GB ones that we have found work, but may not be on Leica's list see here: http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/15295-sd-cards-m8.html

We're hoping with a firmware upgrade SDHC will be supported.


Bob.

 

[Jeffery Smith]

The 4gb SanDisk will not work. The 2gb are fine.

 

[clarionensis]

Nowhere have I seen it written that the M8 currently supports SDHC cards. The M8 manual and their on-line literature only states "SD cards up to 4GB." There is no mention of SDHC.

For some examples of cards including 4GB ones that we have found work, but may not be on Leica's list see here: http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/15295-sd-cards-m8.html

We're hoping with a firmware upgrade SDHC will be supported.


Bob.

thanks Bob. yes. you are right, the spec is from dpreview instead of leica, i mixed it up. sorry. http://www.dpreview.com/articles/leicam8/page2.asp

 

[clarionensis]

i forgot to mention that the SDhc card do support my Dlux3, no problem at all.

 

[dsshakin]

Erasing SD cards

Erasing SD cards

My problem is not in reading the cards but in erasing them. My Windows Media Center says will erase the card when done copying files, but it fails to do so, and then of course they are still full and without available capacity for the next use in the M8. Is there a quick erase function on the camera itself, that cleans the whole card off all at once? Don't have my manual handy here ...

 

[rogue_designer]

Is there a quick erase function on the camera itself, that cleans the whole card off all at once?

Formatting the card.

 

[jaapv]

My problem is not in reading the cards but in erasing them. My Windows Media Center says will erase the card when done copying files, but it fails to do so, and then of course they are still full and without available capacity for the next use in the M8. Is there a quick erase function on the camera itself, that cleans the whole card off all at once? Don't have my manual handy here ...

Formatting/erasing the card in the computer is not a very good idea with digital camera's in general. Best use the format function in the camera.

 

[dsshakin]

Thanks much ...

Thanks much ...

Thanks, one of those situations where one is so happy to get one's hands on the device that one can't be bothered to read the manual cover to cover. I've just been wanting to go out and shoot with this camera ever since it was announced. Now it's a reality and the images look fantastic. (Of course, my hand still tries to find the winding lever every time!)

One other query (and I've appreciated all your input). When shooting whites (and there is still some snow on the ground here in NYC), does anyone tend to play with the digital corrections available as camera features or just slow the shutter (-- as I've always done with film)? Usually I'd prefer not to take the time to error correct with the firmware and would rather just do it the old-fashion way, but wondering if there's a better look one could attain using the software ...

Thanks, regards

 

[Ronald M]

Do not erase images on the card. Fill it, downloading as you desire, and reformat in camera. Erasing random images can cause problems.

 

[jaapv]

Thanks, one of those situations where one is so happy to get one's hands on the device that one can't be bothered to read the manual cover to cover. I've just been wanting to go out and shoot with this camera ever since it was announced. Now it's a reality and the images look fantastic. (Of course, my hand still tries to find the winding lever every time!)

One other query (and I've appreciated all your input). When shooting whites (and there is still some snow on the ground here in NYC), does anyone tend to play with the digital corrections available as camera features or just slow the shutter (-- as I've always done with film)? Usually I'd prefer not to take the time to error correct with the firmware and would rather just do it the old-fashion way, but wondering if there's a better look one could attain using the software ...

Thanks, regards

DNG files offer quite some scope for correction, especially when underexposing as invariably happens with snow.
However, the best results are obtained with correctly exposed captures. Treat the camera like slide film and expose for the highs.

 

[gkase]

sandisk doesn't work...

sandisk doesn't work...

I just got my M8 and my Sandisk ultra II one gig SD card (new) doesn't work...card full error message...I quit trying to format it at an hour of blinking red light...the card works in two other cameras no problem...hmmm...not a good sign.
My opinion is that a professional camera should work with virtually any card...especially one recommended by the manufacturer. Has anyone sent the camera back or are we supposed to try to find a card that will work...obviously unacceptable requirement...
George