Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Leica & Alternative Gear | Join Upload & Sell

My first Leica M11 glitch?

1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

Yesterday while shooting I got an card error when the camera was trying to write a file to the card. I turned the camera off and back on and shot the rest of the day without issue. I formatted the card in camera after transfering the images to my computer. I shot most of the day today with the same card. This afternoon I again got a card error message. This time no matter what I did the camera wouldn't write to the card. The camera also couldn't show my images already taken from the card.

Thankfully the M11 has internal memory so I was able to keep shooting today without issue. When i got home my computer was able to download the images from the card, and from the internal memory so only 1 image was lost. I tried the card again in the camera and it seemed to work after formatting. However, I have lost confidence in that card, replaced it, and threw it away.

So, I am left wondering if this was a card failure (on my second time in all my life), or has a bug finally surfaced in my M11 that is killing my cards. Not sure how to know the answer except to keep shooting, and see if I start experiencing more card failures.

Anyone else have similar experiences with either cards, or the M11?

Steve

Nov 13, 2023 at 12:16 AM

soarfm
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

There is a known bug using UHS-1 SD cards with the latest firmware update for the M11. Apparently no problem with UHS-2 SD cards. Leica says they are working to fix it.

https://leica-camera.com/sites/default/files/en_2.0.1-m-family-release-notes.pdf

“Information regarding memory card use
•
In rare cases, the use of UHS-I SD may result in some technical issues. An optimization for these SD
cards is planned for a later firmware update. Leica recommends using UHS-II cards to generally avoid
these issues, and to guarantee the best possible performance for your camera.”

Nov 13, 2023 at 12:45 AM

1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

I am aware of that issue. I have only used USH-II cards in my M11 including the Sony G card that just failed.

Nov 13, 2023 at 01:06 AM

jigesh
Online
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

If you're on firmware 2.0.1, you may want to keep FOTOS off until you need it. This is unconfirmed but some on the leica forum have observed this combination create issues.

Nov 13, 2023 at 05:42 AM

BrandonSi
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

FWIW, I had problems with Sony Tough cards and am now getting the occasional corrupted DNG's with my Lexar card. I've ordered some Delink from B&H to test.. but you are not alone.. something is up with the SD card write processed.

Nov 13, 2023 at 08:36 AM

1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

I have been shooting the M11 almost every day for over a year now without issue. I replaced my card with anther of the exact same kind. I guess if this also shows issues I will switch to internal memory as my primary.

Nov 13, 2023 at 08:51 AM

nadroj
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

Was your Sony TOUGH card manufactured before the recall? There will be a small white star on the back if it was created after the recall. I had one without the white star fail in a Canon body the same way, and I also threw it out. I haven't had any issues with any cards with the white star.

Sony: Replacement Program for Some SD Memory Cards

Nov 13, 2023 at 09:10 AM

soarfm
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

I have an M11 and an M11M.

I haven’t used them in a couple weeks but did get some UHS-2 cards. Only upgraded firmware in one of them but beginning to think I should shoot to internal memory first and overflow into SD card. Btw, I never fill up my 64gb sd card in a day’s shooting so this shouldn’t be hard.

Nov 13, 2023 at 10:42 AM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

1bwana1 wrote:
Yesterday while shooting I got an card error when the camera was trying to write a file to the card. I turned the camera off and back on and shot the rest of the day without issue. I formatted the card in camera after transfering the images to my computer. I shot most of the day today with the same card. This afternoon I again got a card error message. This time no matter what I did the camera wouldn't write to the card. The camera also couldn't show my images already taken from the card.

Thankfully the M11 has internal...Show more →

I'm sorry to hear about this, Steve. I faced a similar problem with my previous M11, but in my case, it had an early firmware. Even with different cards, the issue persisted, leading to random freezing. I used UHS-II SD cards from Sandisk and Lexar, just like you, and the issue didn't occur with the internal memory. My second M11 didn't have this problem, but one day, it just shut down and never came back on. That one might've had a hardware failure.

If it keeps giving you trouble even with different cards, it might be a good idea to send it to Leica NJ. There could be a silent hardware update, and it's best to get it looked at before the warranty ends.

Nov 13, 2023 at 11:23 AM

1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

Fred Miranda wrote:
I'm sorry to hear about this, Steve. I faced a similar problem with my previous M11, but in my case, it had an early firmware.
Even with different cards, the issue persisted, leading to random freezing. I used UHS-II SD cards from Sandisk and Lexar, just like you, and the issue didn't occur with the internal memory. My second M11 didn't have this problem, but one day, it just shut down and never came back on. That one might've had a hardware failure.

If it keeps giving you trouble even with different cards, it might be a good idea...Show more →

Thanks Fred. Hopefully it was just a card issue not a camera issue. I want to be sure to identify if it is a camera problem so I have kept the AD card as primary, and the Internal Storage as secondary just as before. For now all sees OK, I have shot about 100 test images to the new card, done multiple single and batch deletes, and formats with no issues. I will keep the thread updated as I learn more.

I did notice some unusual scoring on the problem card contacts. I have only been using it in my M11, and the Sony card reader. If there is something about the M11 that is physically damaging card contacts that could be a big hardware issue in my opinion. I will keep my eye on this. The cure would be to just leave the card in, and download images to the computer through USB-C. The M11 is flexible in so many ways, but non of this is acceptable if it turns out to be the problem.

Nov 13, 2023 at 11:33 AM

gordec
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

So these issues can develop overtime with M11 not when you first start using it? It's pretty strange. I'm looking to move to M11 given all the quality of life updates like usb charging and internal storage.

Nov 13, 2023 at 12:42 PM

RustyRus
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

I have NEVER NOT ONCE had a freeze on my M11 using internal memory-

Some Sony G cards makes it loose its damn mind-

My guess is they haven’t perfected writing to internal storage and external-

I stopped using cards- Fotos app or plugging it in works perfect for my workflow-

Nov 13, 2023 at 12:53 PM

stockshas
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

Few months ago at the Leica DC store one of the salesmen was adamant about not using Sony cards in Leica cameras. He said they had seen lots of issues with that. I had never seen it being an issue with any of my Leicas and was in a rush so was not able to find out what specific issues they saw.

Nov 13, 2023 at 01:21 PM

1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

gordec wrote:
So these issues can develop overtime with M11 not when you first start using it? It's pretty strange. I'm looking to move to M11 given all the quality of life updates like usb charging and internal storage.

I hope everyone keeps in mind that at this point I have zero evidence that it is the M11 that caused the problem. This is an old card with many delete and format cycles on it. At this point i believe it is most likely the card, not the camera. My M11 has preformed flawlessly for more than a year.

Do not judge the M11 by this one incident.

Nov 13, 2023 at 08:54 PM

1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

Latest update on the M11 SD card issue.

I was on line looking for a new card. Then it popped into my mind that I was so focused on the contacts on the card that I had not checked the write protection switch position. I dug the card out of the trash, and sure enough the switch was sort of in the middle of the slot. That is probably why it would intermittently not write, but would always play back. I moved the switch to it's proper unlocked position and thoroughly tested it in both the M11, and the A1 including full 30fps RAW mode. It performed flawlessly.

At this time I think it likely that the Glitch I experienced on the M11 was that it has a bad part. That part of course is the me, the photographer. If this turns out to be true, hem my M11 remains glitch free. It's owner, not so much.

I'll keep the thread posted if his turns out not to be true.

Nov 14, 2023 at 06:02 PM

nadroj
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

Ahh, good hunch! Glad to hear your camera might be fine!

1bwana1 wrote:
I have only used USH-II cards in my M11 including the Sony G card that just failed.

Just curious, I’ve only ever seen Sony G (Tough) cards that are a single piece with no write protection switch. Was this a different type of card than a Sony G (Tough) card, or an older version I haven’t seen that had a write protection switch?

Nov 14, 2023 at 06:08 PM

1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

nadroj wrote:
Ahh, good hunch! Glad to hear your camera might be fine!

Just curious, I’ve only ever seen Sony G (Tough) cards that are a single piece with no write protection switch. Was this a different type of card than a Sony G (Tough) card, or an older version I haven’t seen that had a write protection switch?

My card is a 64gb Sony G card. It is not a tough card . It does have the write protection switch as shown in the picture below. I think it was others in this thread that mentioned the problems with "tough" cards. As I said it is an older card and appears not be sold new anymore.

Nov 14, 2023 at 06:58 PM

nadroj
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

Ahh, gotcha! That makes sense, I forgot about those. That’s correct, it was only the M Tough, G Tough, and the standard M cards that were part of the recall. These standard (non-Tough) G cards are safe, ironically.

So glad this worked out!

Nov 14, 2023 at 07:03 PM

stgrove
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

I had a big problem while in NYC with my M10M and a Sony Tough card. Switched back to Sandisk and never a problem again. I use Sandisk 300 write or Lexar 300 write cards only in 3 different M's and 3 SL.

I had also heard that BH got a batch of bogus Sony Tough cards that were causing all kinds of problems. Traveling now but must look at back of remaining Tough Cards to see if there is a star on the back as noted above.Never did get confirmation about the bogus cards.

Never used a Sony in my M11 so it remains a trouble free camera for my 3 M11 variants.

That just reminds me that I did have a problem with a newish looking SD Formatter on my Mac before the M11 came out. Stopped using it after it seemed to cause a conflict with the Sony Cards and M10M and reformatted in camera after that without further issues.

Nov 15, 2023 at 08:02 AM

Nomads
Offline
•
[X]

p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · My first Leica M11 glitch?

This definitely doesn’t sound like a camera problem to me. So it should be the card was locked. I use Sandisk cards and once in a while I format them using SD Card Formatter.

If you use Mac or IPads and you insert the cards there then lock the card before inserting it into a Mac device. Leicas don’t like the hidden Spotlight folders.

I’ve had a write error once and I instantly took the card out and check the lock switch. Sure enough it was locked because I just used it to edit on my iPad.

Nov 16, 2023 at 08:03 AM


FM Forums \| Leica & Alternative Gear \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.