Leica M-9P getting new Sensor, the Good and Bad...

[Gregm61]

Sent my M9, previously converted to black paint M-9P specs, to Leica to have the sensor cleaned. Lo and behold, I get the form in the mail Friday stating the sensor needed to be replaced (estimated return of April 5), which I really was not expecting, and under the "Good Will Warranty", no less. That's the good. Great actually I guess...

The bad.....the vulcanite covering is no longer available, so they'll be using a leatherette covering. I really liked the "feel" of the body compared to my grey M-9. Oh well, good with the bad....

 

[jaapv]

You can go for another a-la-carte leather (at a price) or get it home and change the leatherettte covering by one from Cameraleather.

http://www.cameraleather.com/colors/

 

[nobbylon]

mine has the new style leather and its ok. i'd prefer the 4034 aki asahi but he no longer does it. It's a shame they cant save the old one. they do peel off in one piece if youre careful.

 

[Richard G]

I too like the Vulcanite. After I got my M9-P they then changed to something which was not quite the same, and presumably I now have that on since I had the sensor replaced. Truth is I actually do like the leather covering of my Monochrom more, so I think we can be happy. The biting grip of my M2 vulcanite was never quite there in this modern digital's vulcanite.

 

[jaapv]

mine has the new style leather and its ok. i'd prefer the 4034 aki asahi but he no longer does it. It's a shame they cant save the old one. they do peel off in one piece if youre careful.

And they stretch and won't fit exactly any more doing so. 😉

 

[Rob-F]

I'm pretty sure the original vulcanite material became unavailable before the M9
came out. Maybe yours had a more recent cover that was a replacement for, or similar to, the original vulcanite?

Great luck, that they replaced the sensor!

 

[kermaier]

I'm pretty sure the original vulcanite material became unavailable before the M9
came out. Maybe yours had a more recent cover that was a replacement for, or similar to, the original vulcanite?

Great luck, that they replaced the sensor!

The M9-P came with a very nice old-style vulcanite covering, different from the M9. I'm also mourning the passing of my M9-P's vulcanite with sensor replacement.

 

[ian_watts]

Yes, my M9-P had a sensor replaced in early 2013 (sensor cover crack not corrosion) and Leica politely informed me that they were unable to replace it with the same 'vulcanite' style cover that it was originally sold with. The replacement was less textured (or at least less knobbly) but was slighter grippier IMO.

 

[Gregm61]

Sounds like a good alternative. The "grippier" part sounds like it might be similar to what they are using on the new M262. By the time I have the M9 back in April I'll be able to compare. 🙂

 

[surlysimon]

My Vulcanite seems to have survived the sensor change

 

[jaapv]

They probably found a last bit in the back of a drawer. For a sensor change the Leatherette must be replaced.

 

[Rob-F]

It seems strange that the cover should be ready for replacement on such a recently made camera as the M9P. Some of us are still nursing along the original vulcanite covers on our M2s and M3s!

 

[Huss]

It seems strange that the cover should be ready for replacement on such a recently made camera as the M9P. Some of us are still nursing along the original vulcanite covers on our M2s and M3s!

That's because those cameras were designed to use a new sensor for every shot.

 

[Fraser]

My m9 had its vulcanite changed by Leica can't remember why but it is less bumpy but more grippy/rubbery if you know what I mean.

 

[jaapv]

It seems strange that the cover should be ready for replacement on such a recently made camera as the M9P. Some of us are still nursing along the original vulcanite covers on our M2s and M3s!

A totally different construction. To get at the innards of a digital M one must split the two halves of the body shell.

 

[Gregm61]

Two weeks short of 4 months and my M9P is back in my hands, new sensor and upgraded firmware installed. It is, a beautiful thing.