Leica M11 family members are in line for firmware update 2.5.1. It mainly concerns wireless security and connectivity, and introduces the new ability to securely format the internal memory. The firmware also resolves a bug that caused low battery warnings even when the battery was adequately charged. In addition, the update ensures full compliance with Article 3.3 of the EU Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU).
As usual, we recommend keeping the firmware up to date even if you don’t think you will need the specific amendments. There could be small tweaks in there to improve the operation of the camera. The firmware applies to all versions of the M11, M11 Monochrom, M11-P, and M11-D.
As part of the firmware update instructions, Leica has reissued advice on the use of SD cards. In rare cases, the use of UHS-I cards would result in some technical difficulties. Leica recommends using UHS-II cards to generally avoid these issues, and to guarantee the best possible camera performance.
Full instructions for downloading and installing the firmware are detailed in the fact sheet below. As usual, it is important to avoid any interruption in the update process which could lead to serious and possibly irreparable damage to the camera. The five essentials are:
- Start with a fully charged battery
- Do not switch off the camera during the process.
- Do not remove the memory card
- Do not remove the battery
- Do not detach the lens
The instructions are identical for all members of the Leica M11 family apart from the M11-D, which needs a special sequence of button presses to initiate the upgrade in the absence of a display screen.
You can download the update files from the Leica support site here. There are four distinct versions, so make sure you choose the one for your model.
| M11-P: The Camera with credentials | Leica M11: Primus inter pares |
| M11-D long-term test | M11 Monochrome after eight months of testing |
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