squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Hmmph. It is visible on all my pictures, at all ISO. Very vexing.
ampguy
Veteran
fix-up software
fix-up software
There's another thread about using fix-up re-mapping software on your files, either here or on getdpi or the l-camera forum. Are you sure it's not a dirty sensor?
fix-up software
There's another thread about using fix-up re-mapping software on your files, either here or on getdpi or the l-camera forum. Are you sure it's not a dirty sensor?
Hmmph. It is visible on all my pictures, at all ISO. Very vexing.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
There's another thread about using fix-up re-mapping software on your files, either here or on getdpi or the l-camera forum. Are you sure it's not a dirty sensor?
If it's like what you see here, and in my threads, it ain't no "dirty sensor" - it's a fault in the Kodak sensor. It's an entire line of dead pixels
That said, it can be fixed, just, if the thing is out of warranty, at a cost.
Dave
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
There's another thread about using fix-up re-mapping software on your files, either here or on getdpi or the l-camera forum. Are you sure it's not a dirty sensor?
Yes, of course I'm sure--see below.

And yeah, Dave, it's under warranty--that was a priority for me. I emailed both Leica customer service and Stan Tamarkin, and I'm sure it'll get resolved to my satisfaction. Meanwhile I may try that post-processing solution Ted's talking about...I can't remember where I saw it...
And of course I can use my M7!
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
You know, the maddening thing about this is, the sensor remapping ought to be able to happen in-camera. It's not rocket science--if Epson figured out how to do it, Leica ought to be able to as well. It seems to me that only one of the pixels is actually dead, and the rest is a software interpolation problem. Brian ought to be able to comment on that.
I guess I'm a real Leica digital customer now! :bang:
I guess I'm a real Leica digital customer now! :bang:
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
FWIW, here's an ISO2500 file, shot with the lens cap on at 1/8000 and opened in the very unforgiving IrfanView. (Photoshop doesn't show noise so brutally.)
The dark line is a new wrinkle--it appears to be a line of dead pixels. Though it doesn't show up in almost any of my pictures--so far I can only detect it in a single one, taken at 2500, where it appears as a bright line.
Pixelfixer takes care of the red line quite handily but not the dark one.
The dark line is a new wrinkle--it appears to be a line of dead pixels. Though it doesn't show up in almost any of my pictures--so far I can only detect it in a single one, taken at 2500, where it appears as a bright line.
Pixelfixer takes care of the red line quite handily but not the dark one.

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retow
Well-known
This is a typical example of The Red Line Problem. Absolutely all - all - M8s I know of have had this problem. It is nothing less than a quality scandal. That said, Leica wil fix this free of charge. I have heard that they even fix it on cameras that have gone on to the second user and is outside the warranty period.
Two M8s here as well, one from Jan. 2007, the other since Dec 2008, no Red Line, whatsoever.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
No problem with Leica. I had green cameraleather on one of my cameras - it had to go to Leica who sent me a friendly mail: They were sorry they could not replace the nice leather after removing it and could they offer me a free Vulcanite upgrade. Actually this happened twice on the same camera.I am leery of calling Stan because of the griptac. Do you think he'd give a crap?
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
I've never heard of Leica charging for this on out of warranty cameras. It is not a sensor fault, it is caused by cosmic radiation and happens on all sensors. The difference with Leica is that an AA filter will camouflage this to some extent - and the M8 and M9 have no filter. Pixel mapping is more or less routine maintanance for digital cameras, especially if they have been subjected to a lot of air travel.If it's like what you see here, and in my threads, it ain't no "dirty sensor" - it's a fault in the Kodak sensor. It's an entire line of dead pixels
That said, it can be fixed, just, if the thing is out of warranty, at a cost.
Dave
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squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
No problem with Leica. I had green cameraleather on one of my cameras - it had to go to Leica who sent me a friendly mail: They were sorry they could not replace the nice leather after removing it and could they offer me a free Vulcanite upgrade. Actually this happened twice on the same camera.
Excellent. I'd be happy with free vulcanite.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Btw, if people are worried by this kind of thing, why not purchase a guaranty extension?
http://de.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/7023.html
http://de.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/7023.html
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
I've never heard of Leica charging for this on out of warranty cameras. It is not a sensor fault, it is caused by cosmic radiation and happens on all sensors. The difference with Leica is that an AA filter will camouflage this to some extent - and the M8 and M9 have no filter. Pixel mapping is more or less routine maintanance for digital cameras, especially if they have been subjected to a lot of air travel.
Japp,
Would you like me to post a scan from Leica showing what they charge for this? My camera was brand new yet still got charged. Maybe it's because my dealer sent it in instead of me - but I was the one that got the bill (albeit reimbursed by my dealer).
WRT "cosmic radiation" - I've only seen this on Leica M8's - I'm not saying ALL M8's have this happen, but if you at least search on it, you'll find more than just the three guys here who've seen it and had it happen.
Just because it happens to the three guys here doesn't mean it happens to everyone. Conversely, just because it doesn't happen to you or someone else doesn't mean it doesn't or didn't happen to anyone.
Cheers,
Dave
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
VERY fast response from Leica:
Unfortunately there's a 12-week turnaround. I will probably just bit the bullet, since my warranty won't be renewed and I'd like to have my M8 when the weather warms up...
Mr. Lennon
Your email was forwarded to me in NJ.
Provided there is no physical damage to the M8, we will correct in at no charge under warranty. It will need to come to our Service Dept in NJ, it cannot be corrected with a firmaware update. I am sorry to say but your warranty is not extended another year.
The attachment is shipping instructions.
Dave Elwell
Leica Camera Inc. / Customer Service Mgr.
1 Pearl Court/ Unit A
Allendale, NJ 07401
Unfortunately there's a 12-week turnaround. I will probably just bit the bullet, since my warranty won't be renewed and I'd like to have my M8 when the weather warms up...
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squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Just a quick update...Dave Elwell at Leica has been fantastic. Much better customer service than I anticipated. He has even offered (no promises!) to try and expedite my repair, since my camera was a recent purchase. I sent the camera today; let's see what happens.
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