LEICA M9 / SD Card Compatibility

Here is the official statement from Leica's Stefan Daniel, Director of Product management, Photo and Jesko van Oeynhausen, product Manager Leica M-System.

Leica Camera has recently become aware of customers experiencing compatibility issues related to select types of new memory cards when used in the Leica M9.


First of all, we would like to thank you all for the lively participation on our call for assistance to solve the SD-card issue with the M9. With this information, we would like to give you the latest information on the status:


The facts from today’s point of view are:

• We have a very limited number of customers approaching Leica for this issue. Most users do not have a problem.
• If the fault occurs once, it can be reproduced.
• Images can be lost in case of this malfunction and the card can be damaged/destroyed.
• There are no indications that it is a firmware bug in the latest firmware 1.162.
• It is not a general incompatibility of certain cards, the M9 is in general compatible with SDHC cards, including newer San Disk Class 10 and Class 1.

What Leica is doing:

• Our dedicated technical teams are actively working on identifying the root cause and solving the problem.
• SD-cards in question are being tested at Leica’s QA department intensively to find the root cause for the malfunction.
• We are in contact with SanDisk and getting their full assistance.
• We started a structured query in the Leica User Forum to get a better overview about the customer’s experience.
• As soon as possible, we will communicate the issue's origin as well its solution.

Until the solution is found, what can be done if this malfunction occurs?

• If possible, use cards that worked well in the past: Keep on using it, don’t format it.
• Please avoid formatting cards in the computer.
• If you are forced to use new cards: Use them carefully: try to avoid browsing through the images on the screen while the red LED is blinking.
• In case of malfunction, please stop using the card. If images are lost, try to recover them.

As soon as we have news on this topic, we will let you know. 

Leica Camera AG

Stefan Daniel, Director Product Management Photo

Jesko von Oeynhausen, Product Manager Leica M-System