Leica SL3 Firmware BUG FIXED | Firmware v.1.1.9 is ESSENTIAL

[@rudigerwolf9626]

The “bug” is that the existing files are overwritten. In my test, I duplicated the bug by taking images, replacing the battery while the camera is on or in standby (inconsistent with user instructions), and then taking more images. The images taken after battery extraction will be named with the same file names as the images captured before the battery extraction. My guess was that the last file name captured is not written to permanent memory unless the camera goes through proper shut-down process. That clearly does not happen when the battery is extracted while the camera is on, in standby, or frozen. I’m thrilled Leica acknowledged the problem and has issued a fix. And thanks for your rapid reportage.

[@mathphotographer]

Spot on, thats why I used the word „overwritten“ repeatedly. And its great Leica fixed it immediately!

[@gordoncahill1170]

Wasn’t just the last files. Could be a file you shot hours ago. And not every shot was overwritten. Just a batch somewhere in the middle. So unless you remembered every shot over a day in order you may not even know it happened.

[@gordoncahill1170]

If by, immediately, you mean 3 months, then yes, it was great.

[@rolandrick]

Leica fan boy here. Independent what happens to the camera, that includes the range from switching batteries in standby mode to drowning it into the ocean or forgetting it on the moon, no mistreating may ever affect the content of the cards.

[@rolandrick]

@@gordoncahill1170Agreed. Bugs like that request an overnight fix.

[@hilro0928]

Will you do a comparison of sl3 vs x2d this time? Especially sl 75 apo vs xcd 90V or sl 21 apo vs xcd 25v or sl 35 apo vs xcd 38v. I am very looking forward to having such comparison videos. Thank you for always sharing new information.

[@davidd1930]

The problem of course is that when the camera is in standby mode, it is not possible to know whether it is in standby mode or whether it is powered off. This represents poor implementation of this switch.

[@mathphotographer]

Yes indeed

[@danilotorre1857]

I totally agree with you

[@aljawad]

Excellent review. I purchased my SL3 the day it came out, and when I learned of the write-over bug I attempted to replicate it on my camera, but luckily the result was negative. I’ve already upgraded to the newest firmware, and I sure hope it will fix a far more annoying problem I’ve noticed: the camera seems to restart on its own? I’ve had this problem on just a few occasions and while using different batteries, it is rare and I did report it to Leica - but it is very annoying to think the camera might behave erratically during a mid-shoot? So far after the upgrade I did not have this happen, but if it does I will send the camera for service.

[@madtom67]

Yes! The Super-APO-Summicron 21mm is fantastic! 🤩 Glad that the bug got fixed, although I never encountered the problem! As usual, many thanks for sharing this valuable information!

[@mathphotographer]

Many thanks!

[@rolandrick]

Ouch, such a card erase is a disaster and should not happen under no circumstances. Did you also try the case “removing battery while top display is still on” when switching camera into standby mode? Maybe that was the poisonous combination 😬 or it happened when the camera is going automatically into standby mode, that’s another possibility also.

[@Gvacam1222]

Great video as usual 👌fyi I got the issue lost a hundred pictures 🙄 out of rage i sold my camera in hours..now waiting r5II to pair with my m11mono 😂

[@paulhab7267]

Hi Matt can you answer mea question I’ like the x1d 50cii but it’s poor focus, so what is your view on the gsx 100sii vs the x2d100c or would you go sl3 🤔

[@sromrell]

My camera had the issue. I was using a SD card that was too slow and shooting continuous. The camera locked up so I popped the battery and then started shooting again. I lost about 100 photos. After switching to a CF express card the camera has never locked up again. I reported the missing photo problem to Leica back in May I think. I thought they did a great job. They said they’d investigate, they stayed in touch, and then released a new FW. ✌️out Maths

[@mathphotographer]

Peace out!

[@albedo0point39]

I think you have better information than me… but I’d heard that the bug was slightly different. It wasn’t so much that it deleted the images immediately, but somehow the battery removal reset the file name counter back to some lower number. Now, new pictures would have filenames that would overwrite existing saved images, since the filenames overlapped for some numbers. This would make sense in the ‘standby’ concept. Perhaps the latest file number was just in temporary memory and had not been saved off to permanent storage. So the reboot would see it reset back to that earlier number.

[@mathphotographer]

I think thats spot on, should have formulated it that way, thanks

[@amaitra]

Unless the card undergos a low level reformat (usually not done) - a recovery program may be able to retrieve much of the content.

[@mathphotographer]

Thought so too!

[@b.2221]

This is unacceptable for a camera that is aimed at the top professional photographer who needs reliability as a priority for their career.

[@eugenheller4182]

Zum Glück konnte Leica das Problem lösen. Einige Momente kann man nicht reproduzieren, wie du schon gesagt hast. Ich will mir gar nicht ausmalen, wie ein Hochzeitsfotograf alles verliert. 😮😮😮

[@mathphotographer]

Spot on

[@carstenklein7110]

👍 erster 😊. Gruß, Carsten Villa Petersberg

[@mathphotographer]

Gruss zurück :)

[@Joamonica]

Blurbing so much about "user's fault" and "not in the manual allowed" (warning: I was happily enjoying the shooting experience with SL2 S, so simple and intuitive, and opposite of that I rented a SL3 and found it basically a horribly complicated experience): That manual is pure crap! CE regulations clearly express a manual has to be understandable. English screenshots in all languages are simply illegal in terms of what CE demands! Of a camera for that price I expect at least a well made manual. @Mathphootgrapher, I really don't care about the amounts of dosh you're burning on your gear, but declaring a severe firmware bug a user's error is ridiculous! I don't know any other manufacturer delivering such an issue which will cost any trust and confidence a customer should habe on a photographer AND his gear of choice.

[@Photojouralist123]

This issue as a professional photographer would end your career very fast!!! This a nightmare and its commit suicide time. Therefore any pro jobs I ALWAYS have my NIKON with me! DSLR's or Z . I NEVER ever missed a shot and as a photojournalist I got many front pages. But this Leica issue is career ending in my profession .

[@RS-Amsterdam]

Hi Math, hope you are doing fine ! Nice video but what @albedo0point39 wrote is pin pointing the problem more accurate. Hope this update will do the trick for everybody although it is a bit weird that not EVERY SL3 with that same firmware has that problem ! Next week there is a pop up shop at my camera store with older film Leicas, very interesting. Take care and till the next one Greetings from a HOT Amsterdam 🌞