Help identifying M9 sensor issue

[travellingcello]

Hi all,

I noticed strange lines showing up on my pictures at small apertures. As you can see in the samples, in the top left corner (in landscape orientation) and of course in the same place when in portrait too.

I am aware to some extent of M9 sensor crack issues and the coating issue, but from what I have seen from searches this doesn't look like the coating issue - perhaps more the crack?

I am puzzled however as it doesn't seem the lower of the lines/marks doesn't extend out to the edge of the sensor, and in all images I have seen of sensors with cracks they all extend out to the edge as one might expect when something cracks.

It also causes pretty severe vignetting in the affected area, which is easily corrected in most pictures, but as you can see from the one with foliage it is problematic occasionally

Can someone tell me what this issue is? I unfortunately am travelling and don't have a rocket blower with me, and have only just had a chance to examine the sensor under a magnifying glass which did not reveal very much.

Please excuse the boring photo:

[/url]L1003535 by Jun, on Flickr[/IMG]

Crop with adjustments to make it really stand out:

[/url]L1003535-2 by Jun, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]L1003352 by Jun, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[willie_901]

The first photo seems to exhibit symptoms constant with the M9's prevalent IR filter degradation defect. These flaws become more apparent as aperture narrows.

I will speculate the issue with the second photo is unrelated to IR filter delamination/degradation. There are several possible causes for the foggy corner in the second photo. One is flare. The other could be condensation on the sensor. Even a finger print smudge on the lens front or rear element might be the culprit.

 

[travellingcello]

Ah perhaps I should have made it clear - do you actually mean the 3rd photo with the plants? Because that is the same part of the sensor just in portrait orientation - you might just be able to make out those hairline marks, and it is causing some sort of ... as you say, flare effect...! It causes an opposite darkening vignetting effect in other photos, so I'm a bit confused about its behaviour.

 

[jaapv]

Very likely corrosion. Rather typical bubbled "scratches" - send it in for a new sensor.
The second one is most likely flare caused by a filter mount. The curved shape is suggestive.

 

[willie_901]

I meant the second photograph, not the crop of the first.

The "hairline marks" are consistent with IR filter corrosion/delamination. If the flare/vignetting is due to these corrosion defects, this is the first report of this complication I've read.

I can not imagine a scenario were those IR corrosion marks could cause flare/vignetting over such a large area of the sensor.

It seems there are two different issues with your camera.

 

[jaapv]

The flare is caused by the lens/filter, not by the sensor.

 

[travellingcello]

I should have made it clear also that the 3rd picture is also a huge crop..... Anyway thanks for your input, I'll get it fixed I hope!

 

[pepeguitarra]

Agree that the first photo (& 2nd) shows what seems to be consistent with the sensor degradation. Mine stared with little dust-like points, but never flew away wit the hand blower. Later the grew a little bit (never like this) and it seemed like something had melter inside the sensor. The photo with the leaves and fog seems to be like flare, or maybe the lens was dirty (oily finger touched it?). Send it to Leica, they will determine if that is sensor problem and fix it (replace it).

 

[pepeguitarra]

The first photo may be boring, indeed, but I like it.

 

[TR3B]

Can you see the corrosion on the sensor to the naked eye or only apparent on images?
The reason I ask is I am in the market for a M9 and would like to be able to identify the issue upon inspection

 

[willie_901]

Can you see the corrosion on the sensor to the naked eye or only apparent on images?
The reason I ask is I am in the market for a M9 and would like to be able to identify the issue upon inspection

A single photo of the sky at f 16 or 22 is a sufficient test. These apertures will also reveal dust balls, oils spots or any other removable debris on the sensor cover glass. The worm-like defects in the first image are typical of IR filter delimitation. Sometimes the defects resemble semi-transparent clumps. Often light cleaning marks on the sensor cover glass delaminate first because humidity is the culprit so any disruption in the cover glass surface coating could increase the rate of the IR filter layer's degradation.

You can find other examples here.