Is Leica really working on a new CCD sensor for the M9?

[Emile de Leon]

If I spent that much money on an M9 or even an ME...and a 6 month turnaround time for a built in inherent defect..that would not make me happy..
Leica should just update the sensor..with a good reliable one..
Or revamp the lower priced M line entirely..

 

[Kwesi]

If I spent that much money on an M9 or even an ME...and a 6 month turnaround time for a built in inherent defect..that would not make me happy..
Leica should just update the sensor..with a good reliable one..
Or revamp the lower priced M line entirely..

My turnaround time was one week.

 

[rod64]

My turnaround time was one week.

And what was the cost?

 

[Huss]

My turnaround time was one week.

Mine was 4 months.

And this was over a year ago, before this corrosion news came out and 'everyone' started sending their's in.

 

[Kwesi]

And what was the cost?

It was replaced under goodwill warranty.
This was before the announcement.

 

[Kwesi]

Mine was 4 months.

And this was over a year ago, before this corrosion news came out and 'everyone' started sending their's in.

I think it's was just lucky timing on my part.
I'm sure the wait is longer now after the announcement.

 

[fireblade]

.........BUT is prone to corrosion by humidity once the coating gets scratched.

I don't understand how you could scratch the coating on a sensor.

...Leica should just update the sensor..with a good reliable one..

update the existing one, or replace it with a completely new and different sensor? .... easier said than done because Leica would have had the existing sensor made to function optimally with their lenses.

 

[jaapv]

I don't understand how you could scratch the coating on a sensor.

Just try wet cleaning without blowing off hard pieces of dust like mini-sandgrains first.

 

[fireblade]

Just try wet cleaning without blowing off hard pieces of dust like mini-sandgrains first.

I understand that, i've wet cleaned many a sensor, but if a sensor scratches so easily then you would have to say that it is an inferior product....no?

 

[Archlich]

My personal assumption is by September the current M-E will be replaced by the 24MP M-E Type 240, or what ever number they decide to package it up with. No more defective new products thanks to the CMOS.

The M9 support will continue until they run out of the KAF-18500, by then the only option will be to upgrade. It could happen anytime, just hope Leica would by the brick from us for at least a nominal sum when it comes.

 

[jaapv]

I understand that, i've wet cleaned many a sensor, but if a sensor scratches so easily then you would have to say that it is an inferior product....no?

Not really. If you scratch your lens cleaning it would you call it an inferior product?
User error is a better word....

 

[Huss]

Not really. If you scratch your lens cleaning it would you call it an inferior product?
User error is a better word....

I never touched my sensor. Not once. Ever. And I live in dry Southern California. And mine 'corroded'.

 

[willie_901]

As far as we know new KAF-18500 units (with original sensor cover-glass assemblies) are still available.

The scratching issue is tricky.

Might it be fair to speculate that a extremely light cover-glass scratches that ordinarily present no optical consequences (immediate or long-term) with other cameras eventually transform into larger, corrosion-enlarged defects on M9 KAF-18500 units?

The hypothesis is even the smallest disruption of the cover-glass coating accelerates the delamination of the water sensitive IR filter layer.

An alternate scenario would be the cover-glass protective coating (or coating application process) is simply defective and eventually humidity will penetrate the coating defect(s). This means even a cover glass with a perfect, scratch-free surface would eventually display optical artifacts.

 

[jaapv]

Might it be fair to speculate that a extremely light cover-glass scratches that ordinarily present no optical consequences (immediate or long-term) with other cameras eventually transform into larger, corrosion-enlarged defects on M9 KAF-18500 units?

That is exactly what is happening. It may even be that the smallest defect on a molecular level can be an entry port for moisture to start the corrosion process.

 

[gunston]

Acc. to an article in the latest LFI magazine, Leica is NOT working on a new sensor. They are working on a new cover glass for the sensor and most likely also an improved coating. The issue is the cover glass type which blocks infrared better than the M8 sensor cover glass type BUT is prone to corrosion by humidity once the coating gets scratched.

hi, which LFI edition mentioned about it.
Could you share more with us the status?

 

[willie_901]

That is exactly what is happening. It may even be that the smallest defect on a molecular level can be an entry port for moisture to start the corrosion process.

This is completely consistent with all the anecdotal evidence. Even in a clean room with all reasonable precautions to prevent any injury to the cover-glass coating, the coating could be compromised.

This us quite different than lens coatings as most lens coatings have been quite difficult to damage for a couple of decades.

 

[Luke_Miller]

Neither my M9 nor Monochrom have ever been wet cleaned (or contact cleaned at all) since they first left Leica's hands. Neither sensor glass is scratched, but both have experienced corrosion. Certainly seems like something in the manufacturing process leaves some sensors vulnerable, while others seem impervious.

 

[CameraQuest]

Neither my M9 nor Monochrom have ever been wet cleaned (or contact cleaned at all) since they first left Leica's hands. Neither sensor glass is scratched, but both have experienced corrosion. Certainly seems like something in the manufacturing process leaves some sensors vulnerable, while others seem impervious.

Considering the process of manufacturing, assembling, and quality control,

its difficult to imagine that some sensors (if not all) are not cleaned at least once before the the M9 / M9-P / MM / ME are shipped to dealers.

Stephen

 

[shadowfox]

jaapv is just sharing information that was shared with him.

There is no reason to shoot the messenger because you don't like the message. jaapv has proven himself very Leica knowledgeable time and time again. While the poll is certainly too small to be accurate, 1% failure seems too small a failure rate to many as well.

That said, until Leica shares hard facts stating how many cameras out of what total production have developed sensor corrosion problems, we will not know what the accurate sensor corrosion figures are. The discussion shows a lot of frustration and impatience over how the problem solution has played out so far.

Stephen

😱

Huss asked what is the source of the 1% figure.

How is that 'shooting the messenger'?

I'm sure a lot of people are wondering the same thing also.

 

[gunston]

Is the coating issue being rectified ?
Any news?