Sad day for me - my M9 died

[Michael Markey]

Each time I think about moving to a digital Leica, the same reliability and longevity issues come up. I can tolerate electronic obsolescence but not sensor terminal weltschmerz!

Agreed …. I`ve been reading about these problems for far too many years now for me to ever contemplate moving to a Leica digital body.
I still use an old A7R2 for my Leica glass when its not on a film body(which isn`t often these days).

 

[Philip Whiteman]

I'd replace it with a Fuji X-Pro2, especially now you can get one for £800/$800

Sadly, it's a waste of time trying to use M lenses on the X-Pro - but Fuji's own are brilliant and as inexpensive as the camera (and my X-Pro1 never gave a problem of anything like the terminal nature of those suffered by M9s).

For my tuppence worth, the real pleasure in Leica ownership remains with the film Ms that I still use.

I hope the M10 is a better bet than the 9 - but after your experience...

 

[David Hughes]

Trouble is we only learn about the dud ones. There might be thousands out there unaffected. Leica could do a little more to reassure us...


Regards, David

 

[Bill Clark]

Canon stopped 5D support years ago.

Sorry to inform you; I have a Canon 5D and it has taken just over 300,000 photos and has never once had a problem. Matter of fact I own a Canon 20D I bought in 2004, on my coach Monte Zuckers recommendation, and it still works just fine even tho it now serves as a backup. The original battery from my 20D I still use.

When I first dove into digital, I would usually carry one of my Hasselblad film cameras as a backup but never had to use it as a backup.

 

[xichlo]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

What i don't understand is that how the sensor died so fast, within a few days. I can understand the corrosion issue, but the whole sensor died is another issue. You can see in the attachment, the photo came out perfectly, beautiful color. I shot with 35mm cron V1 LTM mount. Straight out from the camera.

And only the next day it started to have issue and then died after that.

Digical camera will fail but not a total failure like this.

This is my 2nd time my Leica camera died on me. The first was a Leica Minilux with a nice Summarit lens. It is now a paperweight or I can convert it with an HK adapter. Anyway, My Olympus MJU is still kicking.

 

[agfa100]

I think the only camera Leica made that did not have some type of elec. issue was the M-5 my meter still works and I use my M lenses on a A7s that is just a lot of fun.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I'm sure that Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, and Panasonic cameras all have their problems, but when you pay 2x-4x more for a Leica, you expect they will last 2x-4x longer. Also, the financial hit you take when a Leica goes down is breathtaking.

 

[helen.HH]

sorry to hear about your M9

prices for the M240 I have seen at $2400... It's a lovely camera
did very well in low light, did not notice it being heavy in weight the way people describe
I do think it's worth looking into

 

[xichlo]

Can the M240 and M10 produce the skin tone like the M9?

This is a photo straight out from M9 the last day I was in Paris and the lines started to show up.

I looked at the photo and I still loved how the skin tone and color came out. It was way better than my wife Fuji XT2 and Sony A7 . or even Canon.

there is something special about that CCD sensor.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Sorry to inform you; I have a Canon 5D and it has taken just over 300,000 photos and has never once had a problem. Matter of fact I own a Canon 20D I bought in 2004, on my coach Monte Zuckers recommendation, and it still works just fine even tho it now serves as a backup. The original battery from my 20D I still use.

When I first dove into digital, I would usually carry one of my Hasselblad film cameras as a backup but never had to use it as a backup.

My 5D started to acting up just after end of support announcement.
My 2009 Canon 500D still works. But no support.

Again, still works and still supported are two different things. Sorry, to inform you 🙂.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Can the M240 and M10 produce the skin tone like the M9?

.........

there is something special about that CCD sensor.

🙂

But, go on Flickr M240 group and check thousands of images.
It might suit you. Just check images provided in 1:1 size or close.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of M9 colors, but no any other FF camera has noise free images at low base iso. This is visible at 1:1.

It is hard to get M9 and even more harder to get rid of it.

🙂

 

[xichlo]

I wish it is that simple. the photos on Flickr are hard to tell if they have been post-processed or not. Some i have seen are heavily post-processed that I felt Iphone probably can do the same jobs. 🙂 🙂

🙂

But, go on Flickr M240 group and check thousands of images.
It might suit you. Just check images provided in 1:1 size or close.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of M9 colors, but no any other FF camera has noise free images at low base iso. This is visible at 1:1.

It is hard to get M9 and even more harder to get rid of it.

🙂

 

[D&A]

xichlo,

Did you try what I suggested in my earlier post today (above)? It's worth a try.

Dave (D&A)

 

[xichlo]

Hello Dave,

I just did, with 2 new SD cards and still the same. Thank you very much for your recommendations.

I sent photos to Leica NJ to see what they will response. I need them to explain to me why the Sensor went bad that fast before I pay $1700 to replace it.

xichlo,

Did you try what I suggested in my earlier post today (above)? It's worth a try.

Dave (D&A)

 

[agentlossing]

Can you folks explain to me why you put up with that quality and longevity?

Sorry, I wouldn’t think of buying any Leica with electronics.

They must not care.

Obviously the true answer is that there isn't another viable way to shoot M glass with a digital rangefinder. We can all pretend that Leica bodies are some phenomenal product but the truth is that's all that is available. C'mon, Cosina, I'm looking at you! Give us a digital Bessa!

Sent from my TA-1025 using Tapatalk

 

[xichlo]

Nothing wrong with putting Leica lenses on other bodies, people are doing that with Sony A7xx.

this is a funny story few days ago before my trip ended, I went to a famous cafe in Paris, and a waiter set me up at an empty table in the corner. There was a nice table next to the windows , i asked if I could sit there, the waiter hesitated to allow me, probably it was for some frequent guesses. The manager saw me and he said yes and allowed me to sit at that table.

He then winked at me and said nice camera. I am not sure if I put a Leica lens on Sony A7 and carry it around my neck , the manager would allow me to sit that special table. Maybe he is a Leica man 🙂

 

[Beemermark]

The probability of a camera failure increases with age, as any camera ages the probability of failure increases. For the Leica M9 age, or use, or environmental factors had nothing to so with it. ALL sensors were bad due to manufacturing defect. That's the sore point. Any reputable manufacturer will stand behind their product when they determine that they screwed up. Look at Nikon with the D750, they issued a recall due to shutter issues all the way back to 2014.

 

[Henry]

My feeling is that the 240 raw files with “embedded” profile set are almost the same as the m9, thought not exactly the same, skin tone is the closest with auto color balance.

I shoot mostly with 5600k color balance so I end up not caring what skin tone it creates, but it’s ok.

Personaly i give the edge to the 240.

 

[Henry]

Another point on the m9 failure. Those cameras are very poorly sealed, and they are older now. Moisture is doom for electronics, in the end. Over time it is inevitable.

My 5d is pretty well sealed, but literally all electronics are doomed.

 

[D&A]

xichlo,

I'm glad you tried other SD cards as if for nothing else, it brings the certainty that the sensor or electronics is at fault. As to whether to address senor replacement, or a M240 or M10 is a question that you'll get a myriad of responses. There is no right or wrong answer, especially that there are others facing the same dilemma. The closest you'll come to knowing what's right for yourself, is to try and borrow or rent a M240 and/or a M10. That will go a long way to knowing what direction you want to take. That in itself is more important than well intentioned opinions. A camera body should inspire and when it does, a person's photography generally soars.

Dave (D&A)