Leica M9 FF-CCD corrosion on sensors

I was informed by Leica that the problem that my M9 had was not a direct sensor problem but it was a problem with a part that is connected to the sensor, so the sensor had to be replaced. I thanked "Kirstin" and Leica.


Thank you for your email. We sincerely regret that your M9 was defective and had to be send in for repair. Judging by your description of the fault a printed circuit was defective not the sensor itself.
This can happen since electronic components are more susceptible to external influences (temperatures, cosmic rays etc.). Since this particular circuit is attached to the sensor board the whole component has to be exchanged. This is the reason why Leica carries the cost for the part and charges only for the labour once the camera is out of warranty.

I hope this answered your question.


Kind regards

Kirstin Masney

Leica Camera AG
Customer Care
Am Leitz-Park 5/ D-35578 Wetzlar / Germany
 
splitimageview said:
Not always.

When I worked at a Leica dealer there were often focus issues right out of the box with new bodies and new lenses. We often shipped them (body and lenses) direct to DAG for precise matching, before the customers took delivery. When the M9 came out he had a special quick-turn program for this, maybe he still does.
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Strange... Then something wasn't in spec when it left the factory (or something happened enroute to the shop/customer). Sounds more like a QC or handling issue.
 
Quite common, actually, with digital M bodies...lots of threads on lens/body calibration on the usual forums...
 
splitimageview said:
Quite common, actually, with digital M bodies...lots of threads on lens/body calibration on the usual forums...
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I sent my 75 Lux to Sherry figuring that most definately I needed my lense to be calibrated and cleaned due to threads on forums.

Sherry told me to save my money and returned my lens with the body I sent with it. She said, "The few specks of dust do not require any cleaning, and the lens checks out fine."

I wonder how many lenses got calibrated whether they needed it or not.

Cal
 
Ah- but when one can blow up images to insane proportions on a screen that one can touch with the nose, any irrelevant discrepancy will show up.
 
jaapv said:
Ah- but when one can blow up images to insane proportions on a screen that one can touch with the nose, any irrelevant discrepancy will show up.
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Lucky me. My 75 Lux worked great on my Monochrom. It pasted all my tests.

The truth is that the focus is very shallow, so shallow that a level of perfection is required. Any image imperfection in my case was due to me and not my gear.

I do agree with you that digital is demanding, but then again the rewards are great. I take responsibility for my mistakes, bad technic... It is nice to get the feedback and critical evaluation at the tip of your fingers. A
27 inch Eizo is also another great tool.

Cal
 
jaapv said:
Ah- but when one can blow up images to insane proportions on a screen that one can touch with the nose, any irrelevant discrepancy will show up.
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The early front and back focus problems are well known -if you are going to make statements like that, please end them with a ;) or a :D
 
Depends on the f stop. This way mine M9-P sensor looked like at f8 while at f16 the spots has been bigger.
It has been the corrosion.
Good luck.

nightfly said:
Dirty sensor or corrosion?

20140813-L1001464.jpg
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willie_901 said:
They did unite. and now Leica will be replacing thousands of sensors assemblies.
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You don't need to be a pixel peeper to see them - they are just sometimes difficult to distinguish from dust or other specks -

I used a surgical microscope. The one (Monochrom) I was sure of, what looked like a scratch was a row of bubbles, resides in Wetzlar, for the time being, the M9 which had some less obvious spots has been completely cleaned by Leica and will probably arrive back sometime next week.
 
Just had a shoot on Sunday, and the results from my crappy CCD sensored M-E were so good and the camera such a pleasure to use, that I'll wait for Leica to come out with a fix.

I was looking at the Nikon D750 (as I have a bunch of Nikkor lenses), then I saw the numerous black banding/flare complaints and watched this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LynWn0DvdO0

This is with the latest and greatest Nikon, so.... seems not everyone else gets it right either.
On the other hand, I just read a user report (with photos) comparing the A7 to the A7ii, showing that it seems that the sensor reflections that plagued the A7 have been fixed.
So that maybe a back up option for me if/when I have that 4+ month wait to get my M-E fixed. I'll use my Zeiss and Voigt 35 and 50mm lenses on that, which apparently work great.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1336222
 
raid said:
Based on Leica's announcement, I should get reimbursed for the $500 labor to replace rhe sensor.
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You will not get back your $500. Look at your recite the charge is for other services like, meter system check, clean dial, and adjust for good working order. I know because I wrote N.J and got the answer. Your sensor was replaced at no charge. The retail value for the sensor is about $2000..
 
This is old news now as I posted already that Leica explained to me why I was not covered.
Not only did they replace the sensor, they also replaced the board.
 
If Leica only charged $500. for a new M9 sensor and board including labor I would buy every broken M9 on E Bay and send them for repair.
Say $1000. for a nonworking M9 plus $500. for repair I could easily make a $1000 on E Bay.
I could sell factory rebuilt M9's all day long for $2500 on E Bay.
So if you only paid $500, for a non covered sensor and board repair I want to get in on that deal
 
whatever said:
If Leica only charged $500. for a new M9 sensor and board including labor I would buy every broken M9 on E Bay and send them for repair.
Say $1000. for a nonworking M9 plus $500. for repair I could easily make a $1000 on E Bay.
I could sell factory rebuilt M9's all day long for $2500 on E Bay.
So if you only paid $500, for a non covered sensor and board repair I want to get in on that deal
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So, let me understand your drift. You think that Raid's $500 bill, which reflects Leica's goodwill and sustained ethic of responsibility toward Raid specifically, presents an exploitable scenario on which you could build an "M9 flip" business model where you profit from Leica's apparently too generous warranty.

Leica behaves well toward Raid (and others like myself btw) and your response is to try to exploit that behavior, not simply to have your gear repaired, but to profit.

Clever. Like bayoneting the wounded.

The logic does break down a bit on examination. There won't be many non-working M9 bodies available for $1000 if Leica fixes them for next to nothing.
 
A further breakdown is that there are zero Leica M9 cameras with broken sensors for sale on eBay....:rolleyes: Actually I cannot recall ever seeing one.
 
I don't take such comments seriously. We are lucky that Leica works with its customer base this way.
 
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