_goodtimez
Well-known
What does a HOT PIXEL look like from a resulting point of view?
sick of reliability issues...
- Thread starter Phil_F_NM
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Spyro
Well-known
Sorry about that mate, I hope it all gets fixed quick smart for you.
But...
...they dont.
leica has been making losses from camera sales for many years and only this year they managed to pay their shareholders a tiny dividend.
Leicas dont make financial sense to customer or manufacturer. It's a passion, enjoy it 🙂
But...
...they dont.
leica has been making losses from camera sales for many years and only this year they managed to pay their shareholders a tiny dividend.
Leicas dont make financial sense to customer or manufacturer. It's a passion, enjoy it 🙂
Lss
Well-known
Regarding reliability of digital cameras, my M8 has given me the least amount of headache per photo, per day, and probably per euro, out of any serious digital cameras I have owned. The only issues are small rangefinder adjustments and the poor compatibility of third-party batteries (for which it is not necessarily fair to blame Leica). On the other hand, every single Canon DSLR has given me trouble that has resulted in losing a few photos or losing many more opportunities, and I have owned several. It happens.
slaguod
Newbie
OT - You can use older Nikon manual focus lenses on Nikon DSLRs in general. The Nikon manual focus confirmation system also works very well. Here (at Ken Rockwell) is a table (scroll down) which details compatibility between different Nikon DSLRs and the various generations of older lenses - which will meter, which will only work manually etc.
user237428934
User deletion pending
It's not too bad to have a digital camera with only one hotpixel imho. My 5D2 had four of them but Lightropm took care of them automatically. My M8 does not have these problems.
RF issues are a different thing though.
RF issues are a different thing though.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
I'm a bit confused about this out of warranty affair. Each serious repair brings its own certificate for a year's guaranty on the whole camera, and Leica offers the purchase of an extended guaranty.
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
Hmm well then Leica owes me two years warranty, my camera has been back now 2 times and is going back for a 3rd time to finish repairs that have taken months and months to do, Leica Solms is a mess in my opinion - a bunch of unprofessional very confused people, they had my camera for over 2 months and did nothing with it and Leica NJ has had it now again and will get it back to repair things that they didn't take care of in the first place.
My 11 year old M6 works better and is way more dependable, though sadly most of my clients want digital, b/c it's faster for them 🙁
Tom
thegman
Veteran
If the M9 and M8 do not satisfy you, then I'd get shot of them. I think 99% of the reason we buy Leicas and the like is the feeling they give us. If you're not getting that feeling, then I'd trade them in, get something like a 5D, and use the change to travel and stock up on film for the M4.
Alternatively, maybe tell Leica of your feelings and maybe rather than make you wait for a repair, they could give you a replacement right away, at least on loan.
Alternatively, maybe tell Leica of your feelings and maybe rather than make you wait for a repair, they could give you a replacement right away, at least on loan.
gavinlg
Veteran
Doesn't the m9 come with adobe lightroom? If so, lightroom removes them automatically. Every digital camera I've ever owned has has stuck or dead pixels. It's normal. Just either run a pixel map in-camera (if you shoot jpegs) or use lightroom and never see it every again - it's hardly a camera problem...
ray*j*gun
Veteran
Come on, if my D90 can make flawless images time after time after time why would Leica be unable to achieve such competence?
I love my Barnacks and my M2 but I don't even consider the 8's or 9's.
I love my Barnacks and my M2 but I don't even consider the 8's or 9's.
user237428934
User deletion pending
A hotpixel does not prevent you from taking flawless images. I bet there are enough D90 out there with hotpixels but the image software takes good care of that so most users never know they have this problem.
gavinlg
Veteran
Bet any money your d90 has hot pixel/s. If you shoot raw you wouldn't notice them anyway - they get sampled out in the conversion by most software.
I totally agree with you. One of my M8s had to have the rear screen reattached at the cost of about $1200USD, One year on and now the rear dial has stopped working so I need to send it in again to have that fixed.
My other M8 needs to be sent in to repair a dead pixel line.
So basically another few thousand to get them both up to speed.
My canons, however, have never missed a beat. In fact for the repair costs of the M8s I could buy another canon body.
peter_n
Veteran
The issue is one of reliability rather than a specific fault. Nikons are very reliable and digital Leicas are not. There was a survey here maybe a year ago of the type problems/no problems with your M9? I believe the idea was to achieve a large enough pool of responses to give statistical significance to the result. Last time I saw it the fault rate was about 25%, which to me as an amateur photographer is way too much of a risk. I'd love to buy an M9 and I have the glass for it but I'm not prepared to put up with the aggravation.
MCTuomey
Veteran
Sorry for your frustration, Phil.
If you think dSLRs don't need hot pixel remapping, think again. Every one of the Canon dSLRs I've owned got a re-map job at some point, except for the 1D III I'm using now, probably because I haven't used it much.
Digital capture entails its own set of issues and requirements. Any brand or make. And Leica dRFs are, imvho, beset by a fair share. They are a special breed, nothing like the pro brick-like dSLRs that are the alternative small format digi equipment of choice if you want a more rugged reliable camera. The M8/9 problems frankly have to be accepted and worked through if you want to shoot digital with RF gear. We just have to put up with it, or return to film capture, or shoot a tough dSLR.
There is a clear reason why pros shooting digital leicas are in such a minority. An M8 or M9 is relatively delicate and needs service more than most working photographers would put up with. Amateurs and hobbyists, well, they've got time to spare compared to a pro and, necessarily in the case of Leica gear, money to burn on their avocation.
Me, I really like the output, especially in print, from the M8/9 with the glass I have. That's the upshot. An M8/9 is expensive to acquire and expensive to repair and maintain. At this point, I'm reconciled to those facts. The pictures make it worth it to me.
If you think dSLRs don't need hot pixel remapping, think again. Every one of the Canon dSLRs I've owned got a re-map job at some point, except for the 1D III I'm using now, probably because I haven't used it much.
Digital capture entails its own set of issues and requirements. Any brand or make. And Leica dRFs are, imvho, beset by a fair share. They are a special breed, nothing like the pro brick-like dSLRs that are the alternative small format digi equipment of choice if you want a more rugged reliable camera. The M8/9 problems frankly have to be accepted and worked through if you want to shoot digital with RF gear. We just have to put up with it, or return to film capture, or shoot a tough dSLR.
There is a clear reason why pros shooting digital leicas are in such a minority. An M8 or M9 is relatively delicate and needs service more than most working photographers would put up with. Amateurs and hobbyists, well, they've got time to spare compared to a pro and, necessarily in the case of Leica gear, money to burn on their avocation.
Me, I really like the output, especially in print, from the M8/9 with the glass I have. That's the upshot. An M8/9 is expensive to acquire and expensive to repair and maintain. At this point, I'm reconciled to those facts. The pictures make it worth it to me.
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gavinlg
Veteran
I understand what you're saying, I would agree that the Japanese DSLRs are very reliable - my 5ds have been flogged and never a fault, but I don't consider a hot pixel on a digital camera to be a problem. It happens to all of them.
eleskin
Well-known
Lenses baby! For me I could not care less about the camera!!!
Lenses baby! For me I could not care less about the camera!!!
I have 2 M8 cameras which have been fine, but there may always be a lemon at an expensive price. I have tested the m9 3 times and the result for me was to buy a second M8 (the M9 and M8 are too close in performance to justify the cost).
I am much more likely to buy the new Nex 7 for $1,200. Sensor is close to the M8 in size, 23 or so MP and superior high ISO. I will use the extra cash savings for more glorious M lenses!!!!!
Lenses baby! For me I could not care less about the camera!!!
I have 2 M8 cameras which have been fine, but there may always be a lemon at an expensive price. I have tested the m9 3 times and the result for me was to buy a second M8 (the M9 and M8 are too close in performance to justify the cost).
I am much more likely to buy the new Nex 7 for $1,200. Sensor is close to the M8 in size, 23 or so MP and superior high ISO. I will use the extra cash savings for more glorious M lenses!!!!!
SonC
Established
I've had my M8 for four years and it has never been back. So far no issues at all.
Hope yours get resolved.
pgk
Well-known
First, have you signed up with Leica as a Pro user (assuming that you are a full-time Pro)? I've found Solms' pro service to exceed any other manufacturers although I've only used it once.
Secondly, much as I like Leica M digitals, I could not make a living by using just RF cameras (I'm apparently the only Pro using dMs that my Leica dealer knows) so I have dSLRs too. Unless you are extremely specialised I would assume that you too have a dSLR system (which can be used as a backup?).
Thirdly, I have had one issue with my 2 M8s - a line at 640ISO dealt with under warranty within a week including international shipping so it does sound as if you have been unfortunate to me, and dSLRs have issues too I'm afraid.
Sign up to Leica's Pro service and persevere and you might just be surprised.
Secondly, much as I like Leica M digitals, I could not make a living by using just RF cameras (I'm apparently the only Pro using dMs that my Leica dealer knows) so I have dSLRs too. Unless you are extremely specialised I would assume that you too have a dSLR system (which can be used as a backup?).
Thirdly, I have had one issue with my 2 M8s - a line at 640ISO dealt with under warranty within a week including international shipping so it does sound as if you have been unfortunate to me, and dSLRs have issues too I'm afraid.
Sign up to Leica's Pro service and persevere and you might just be surprised.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
When I was using my M8 to shoot gallery openings I often had to clone out the odd hot pixel in post ... which I didn't mind to much. The crappy high ISO performance bothered me far more!
I've also noticed the odd hot pixel in my D700 ... however, they seem disappear in the transition to tif.
I've also noticed the odd hot pixel in my D700 ... however, they seem disappear in the transition to tif.