Instruction manual

157
FORMATTING THE MEMORY CARD
It is not normally necessary to format (initialize) a
memory card that has already been used. However,
if a card that has yet to be formatted is inserted for
the first time, it muss be formatted. In such cases the
Format SD card sub-menu appears automatically.
The Leica M-E allows you to select whether you
only want to format the memory card or to actually
completely delete all data on the card, e.g. to protect
against misuse, by overwriting.
Notes:
• Simple formatting does not irretrievably delete the
data on the card. It merely deletes the directory,
which means that the existing data is no longer
directly accessible. The data can be accessed again
using appropriate software.
Only the data that is then overwritten by saving
new data is actually completely deleted.
Nevertheless, you should get into the habit of
transferring all your pictures onto a secure bulk
storage medium, e.g. the hard drive on your com-
puter, as soon as possible. This is especially impor-
tant in case the camera is handed over to a service
facility along with the memory card.
• Depending on the memory card used, formatting
can take up to 3 minutes.
Procedure
1. In the main menu (see p. 102/119), select Format
SD card (4.1.26), and
2. select the desired function - Yes, No or Overwrite
in the sub-menu.
3. If you really want to overwrite the memory card,
you then need to confirm this in the relevant sub-
menu to protect against unintentional settings.
Notes:
• Do not switch o the Leica M-E while the memory
card is being formatted/overwritten.
• If the memory card has been formatted in another
device, such as a computer, you should reformat it
in the Leica M-E.
• If the memory card cannot be formatted/over-
written, you should ask your dealer or contact the
Leica Information Service (address, see p. 175) for
advice.
• Acces even to protected pictures (see previous
section) is deleted when
• Depending on the capacity and read/write speed
of the card, overwriting can take up to 60 minutes.
You should therefore check the battery charge level
first (see p. 108). If the battery capacity is exhausted
during overwriting, a corresponding message
appears in the monitor.
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS WITH THE SELF TIMER
You can use the self timer to take a picture with a
delay of either 2 or 12s. This can be particularly use
-
ful, for example in the first case if you want to avoid
the picture being out of focus due to camera shake
when releasing the shutter or, in the second case, for
group photographs where you want to appear in the
picture yourself.
Setting and using the function
1. Set the main switch (1.17) to
.
2. In the main menu (see p. 102/119), select Self
timer (5.1.3) and
3. then select the desired delay time or Off in the sub-menu.
4. To start the delay time press the shutter release
button (1.18) to the first pressure point, see p.
114).
• The LED (1.7) on the front of the camera ashes
for the first 10s of a 12s delay time, then it stays
lit continuously to show the progress of the delay
time. The countdown is shown on the monitor at
the same time.
While the self timer delay time is running, it can be
aborted at any time by pressing the SET button (1.20) –
the relevant setting is retained and the function can be
restarted by pressing the shutter release button again.
Important:
In self timer mode, the exposure is not set by depres-
sing the shutter release to the pressure point, it is set
immediately before the picture is taken.